Archery

Over the years I have tried to find activities for Riley to participate.  We have tried gymnastics, soccer, Tiger Scouts, and wrestling.  He took religion classes for two years and when given the option to stop, he did.  He expressed some interest in rock climbing because his school has a climbing wall in the gym.

This past August we went to the Health and Fitness Expo.  He tried the rock wall there and decided that he did not like rock climbing because he is scared of heights, but at school, they have spotters so it did not seem as scary.  The Department of Natural Resources had an archery trailer there and once Riley tried it, he was hooked.  We went back four or five times so that he could continue to shoot.

A few weeks into school Riley came home with a flyer for a Beginning Archery class.  At that point we were researching Archery and just getting our reserve books from the library.  I jumped at the chance for him to take a class, but when I went to sign him up, the registration had closed.  I called the contact person to see if there were any open places for him.  She called me back and said that there were two spaces still open, but that there were two people in front of me.  She then called me back to say that one of the spaces was still available because the student was too young to take the class.  I signed Riley up then and there!

About the time Riley finished Beginning Archery we took a trip to Nebraska and went to Bass Pro Shops.  They had a whole department for archery and an archery range.  Unfortunately, the nearest one to our house is two hours away.  We also have the problem in our area that there are few places where Riley can practice his skills.  So, the weekend after we got back, we took a field trip to Bass Pro Shops to buy Riley a bow, arrows, and a target.

Now, Riley practices in the backyard almost daily.  He has continued on and will finish Intermediate Archery next week.  We had a little bit of a meltdown last week when he was asked to switch to his right hand to shoot so that his hand would match his dominant eye.  He balked, but we told him with practice, he should be better right handed.  After less than a week his practice has paid off.  His grouping are closer together.  We have also found a new use of our carved pumpkins: target practice!

Reese's Timeline

We were assigned as a home assignment to make a timeline so that Reese can understand change over time.  Here is what she is turning in tomorrow...

I helped her come up with the events; she told me the wording.

When I was a baby, I stayed with my PaPa and YaiYai at the flower shop and my mommy, my daddy, and Riley at home.

When I was 2, I went to Maui, Hawaii for Christmas with my mommy, my daddy, and my brother Riley to visit my auntie, my uncle, and cousins.

When I was 4, I went camping at Disney World and saw Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear.

Now, I am 5 and I go to Ridgewood and met my friends Cole and Sophie in Mrs. Rieman's class.

The last one was the hardest to come up with because she has only been five for a month.

Washington CD

Last June we got the chance to visit Washington DC for a day. For Riley it was only a taste. He got to see the Lincoln Memorial, Ford's Theatre, the White House, the Washington Monument, and Arlington National Cemetery. We didn't get to visit any of the museums and Riley looks forward to the day we can go back and visit again. (He got his parents' love of travel.) Reese could not get the letters right and from the day that we were there to this day, she calls it Washington CD. She just remembers all the walking. Thursday night in the van Riley brings up the places he would like to visit the next time that we go. Reese says, "I don't want to go there again. There is too much walking." Riley says, "Why not? It is beautiful there." Reese stays committed to not wanting to go back, and Riley is practically in tears thinking that he may not get to go back because his sister does not want to go. I tell them that we will go back in a couple of years and find things that interest both of them.

Reese's First Sleepover & First Play Date

The weekend before Halloween we were at the neighbor' house for a retirement party.  Riley asked if he could stay the night.  We said yes.  Their oldest daughter asked if Reese could stay the night, and I said if she wanted to, she could.  Well, she did, so we came home and packed a pillow case and off she went!  She did a great job!  She came home the next day all smiles and in the same clothes!

Yesterday was the first day that she had a friend over from school to play.  Reese came home one of the first days of school and said that Sophie was her new friend.  I finally got it together and called Sophie's mom and invited them over.  Reese really wanted to invite another boy from her class who lives in our neighborhood over also, but I really just wanted her to have one friend over at a time and said that we might invite him the next time.

The two girls had a wonderful time.  They had a limited time to play because we had other commitments already, but they played the whole time, and Reese was very nice to her!  I am hoping that the girls continue to be friends, and I continue to find time to schedule play dates for them.

Can you take me?

Almost everyday I hear the words, "Can you take me ...?"  Riley loves to read and the more that he reads; the more places he wants to go.  Right now, his interest is in the Civil War so most of the places that he wants to go have to do with that.  We visited Appomattox Court House, VA last year on the way to camping on the bay.  He got to go to Washington DC for a day and that was not nearly enough time for him.

The list of places he want to go just keeps growing, but tops on the list are: Springfield, IL, Boston, MA and surrounding areas, Lexington and Concord, Washington DC to see the inside of Ford's Theatre, back to Portland, ME to go to the Children's Museum, Legoland Discovery Center in Chicago, Walt Disney World again, Legoland Amusement Park, and the National Parks.

At Appomattox Court House Riley participated in the National Parks Services (NPS) Junior Ranger Program.  Upon completion of the program, he received a Junior Ranger Badge.  We also worked on and received the badge from James A. Garfield's House in Mentor, OH.  Riley is also a Web Ranger and has completed many of the programs on that website.  He would like to continue to work on Junior Ranger badges for the National Parks and received the trading cards that NPS has published for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Boy, was he disappointed when I told him that we probably would not be leaving the state for the rest of the year!

Speaking in Third Person

The other day Daddy mentioned that Reese likes to speak in third person.  I did not really notice it before, but once he said something, I started to listen to you.  I noticed that you do speak in third person and that you call yourself Reesey or Weesy because your "r" pronunciation is not very clear.

"Reesey thirsty."
"Reesey likes Halloween."
"Reesey likes Mommy's hair."

You even reversed yourself yesterday.  At first you said, "I want to go to Chik-fil-a," and then changed it when you repeated yourself to "Reesey wants to go to Chik-fil-a with Mommy."

Halloween

With the two of you as children I really like Halloween.  You both get so excited and love to dress up and go and get candy.  For the second year Riley has gone trick or treating with neighborhood friends (Avi & Aki).  This is the first year that Reese walked around the big block in our neighborhood and then asked for the wagon.  Once in the wagon Reese just wanted to keep going. Reese also wanted PaPa and YaiYai to come and share in her trick or treating by walking around with her.

When going up to houses Reese was too shy to say trick or treat or make conversation about her costume with people, but she would always thank them for her candy.  When she was allowed to pick out her own candy, she would pick two pieces!

Riley walked around with Reese and I for awhile and at the houses that she did not go up to, he was a good big brother and brought back two pieces of candy, one for him and one for Reese.

Daddy got the boring job again this year and had to stay at home and give out candy.

They both ended up with lots of candy for the year!

The night before Halloween Mommy and Daddy carved pumpkins for you both.  Mommy carved Anakin Skywalker for Riley, and Daddy carved a monster for Reese.  Reese helped by separating the seeds from the pulp so that we could bake the pumpkin seeds.  Once Daddy was done carving, Reese added the Buzz Lightyear parts.