Book Club Babies

I have been part of my book club since before either of you were born.  When you were babies, I would sometimes take you with me.  As you got older, someone would watch you while I went.  In the past few years on the night that I host book club at home I have let you stay home with me to see what goes on.  For years, Riley has wanted to be in a book club also, but I have not found one for him.  His interest in books has led to his interest in my book club.  Reese would just like to be where Mommy is, so if I am going to book club, then she wants to go also.  Next month is their lucky month; it is once again my book club hosting month!

Christmas Day

Santa and all were very good to Riley and Reese this year.  From Santa Reese got Bullseye from Toy Story 3 and Riley got a Nerf Rifle.  The favorite game for the Wii that everyone got into playing was Top Shot Arcade, and everyone also loved Reese's stuffed animal, Dewdrop.

Cookies for Santa

Reese decided that she wanted to leave a card for Santa this year.  We didn't have any cookies on hand so we left Santa white chocolate pretzels and Rice Krispies Treats.  Santa are half of one Rice Krispies Treat and most of the pretzels.  He also took the beautiful card that Reese made.

Let Them Be Little

As I was going through my planner on this first day of the year, I found the lyrics to Let Them Be Little by Billy Dean.  They played this song at Kindergarten Screening while we watched the slide show of what kindergarten is all about.  The song made me teary-eyed as I really listened to the lyrics and thought of Reese in kindergarten.  Reese is doing really well in kindergarten and is looking forward to going back to school in the new year.  She has made friends and likes her teacher which is the same one that Riley did not like in kindergarten.

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is:

Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

Let them be little.

The Archery Barn

For the last three weeks Riley has spent two and a half hours a day, two days a week at the archery barn.  There was not enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to have a four week session of lesson so it was decided to offer open archery instead.  During open archery Riley has been one of only a handful of students there and the only one to go and stay the whole time during all of the sessions.  Because of the low numbers he did not have to wait his turn and could shoot as many rounds as he wanted.  His archery skills have improved a great deal during this time, and he is able to shoot four balloons with five arrows on a target 10 yards away.

At the end of open archery tonight Miss Ronda informed us that she would not be teaching the next session at the end of January.  She had taken a job in western Ohio.  Riley teared up automatically, gave Miss Ronda one last hug, and left the barn.  I couldn't blame him because I teared up also and am crying as I type this post.  I think he will miss her because she is what he knows.  He is not always sure and needs someone to guide him gently.  Miss Ronda took the time to do that so he trusts her.  I am thankful that Miss Ronda was Riley's first archery teacher because of her interest and knowledge of archery.  She has given him confidence in himself and his skills as an athlete.  We will continue to take classes at the archery barn as long as Riley is interested, and we will never forget Miss Ronda.  We are grateful that we had the opportunity to work with you for the time that we did.  We will miss you and wish you the best always!

Christmas Card Pictures, Finally!

I thought I had the pictures of the Christmas cards on my camera, but the ones I took were actually from my phone.  Tonight, I finally got around to taking the pictures to post.  Reese has done a wonderful job and has bugged me every night to do Christmas cards.  This project is right up her alley.

The first time I tried this project with Riley, Reese's had was the size on the left.  I believe that Reese may have been over a year old then.  The hand on the right is Reese's present day hand with her own decorations.

These cards are additional designs we came up with to use with the handprints.  Reese has decorated these on her own.  The penguins came out especially well.  The Christmas trees are a favorite for her to decorate.  The reindeer, we made just a few, were a bit challenging to decorate.  Reese got confused as to where his collar should be!

Penguins are Done

After some research on handprint penguins online, we finished up the penguins tonight.  Reese decided that she wanted large googly eyes, a beak, and feet for her penguins.  She painted the bellies white and then added black fins.  The fins were her own idea and they turned out very nice.

Pics tomorrow.