6 Years + 7 months! (October 2019)

Ryder has settled back into school really well and he really seems to like his class and his teacher.  This year’s teacher uses Class Dojo, an app that lets teachers award students points for displaying good behavior and also share photos and information with parents.  Ryder is still super competitive and he likes to come home and check to see how many points he has earned.  We also like to look at any pictures and talk about them together.  There is a reward for whichever student gets the most points in a week.  Ryder won for one of the first weeks of school and he was so happy about it. 

Ryder still really loves reading and has continued with the Henry Huggins series.  I love to see him reading and enjoying my books from when I was young.  I got him a couple of Halloween chapter books this month from Scholastic and one of them was a huge hit.  It was from the Weird School series and the book had him laughing out loud and re-reading sections out loud to me and Vivi.  They were both in hysterics!  Ryder has also really been into math lately.  He worked on a workbook that my mom had given him one day when he was home with her, and he’s been asking to learn how to do the harder problems.  This month he learned how to ‘carry the one’ in addition problems and he was so proud of himself when he got the harder problems right!

We went to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson MA for a WWII era re-enactment.  There were a bunch of working tanks driving across the field, re-enacting what a battle was like.  Ryder was up on Janda's shoulders yelling out the names of all the new tanks that were coming onto the field.  Obviously due to the technology, it was so much louder than the Revolution re-enactments that we've been to.  Those technology advances made the battle super exciting though; there was so much going on in terms of explosions and gunfire.  After the battle, we went into the museum to see the tanks.  Ryder absolutely loved it and he pulled out the drawing supplies that he brought with him and started drawing the tanks.  An artist who was working at the museum stopped to talk to Rdyer about drawing, so that was very cool!

There were a few Halloween events this year, so like last year, Ryder had a couple of different costumes.  The first event was Trunk or Treat at Beeman and he and Vivien decided to wear their glow in the dark skeleton PJ’s and skeleton masks.  Then for his First Grade Halloween parade, he decided at the very last minute to be a pumpkin, so we McGyver’d a pumpkin shirt for him.  The last event this year was Trick-or-treating, and we had another last minute costume change.  He decided that he didn’t like the camo jacket for his army man costume, so twenty minutes before we left, Ryder tore through the house putting together a Spartan costume!  Halloween night it was nearly 60 degrees, so he actually ended up with a more historically accurate costume once he took his shirt off!

My little pumpkin dressed up for his school parade

My happy Spartan got a full sized kit-kat!

Climbing a tree in his PJ's

Drawing the tanks at the tank museum

Just chilling at home

4 Years + 10 months! (October 2019)

One of the funniest things that Vivi said this month was “Fine for you, not fine for me!!”  We were taking about something at dinner and whatever I proposed, she didn’t like.  I said it would be fine, and then she said “Fine for you, not fine for me!!”  It was so funny that she would be able to express that idea in such a succinct way.  She used it again in another conversation, but that time she said, “Good for you, not good for me!” 

Vivi was still my super-duper garden helper when it came time to pick our pumpkins.  We had a few dozen of them growing in our little patch!  After I pulled them or cut them free from the patch, Vivi carried them over to the picnic table.  She remembered that we had stacked all of our pumpkins there last year, so she felt like we needed to do it that way again.  She put some gloves on, like me, and helped me move most of the pumpkins and then she and Ryder arranged them.  A few days later, she helped me move most of them to decorate the steps and front porch.

Since there were a few Halloween events, Vivi had a few different costumes.  The first event was Trunk or Treat at Ryder’s school, and both she and Ryder dressed up as skeletons in the skeleton PJ’s.  Then Vivi had two Halloween parties and parades at school, so on day one she was a princess in purple and on day 2 she was new She-ra.  She liked the parties and parades, but for some reason she didn’t want to to the donut game, which she had told me in advance.  I’m not sure why she didn’t like that game, since she does like donuts, but both days she was not interested in participating.

On Halloween, Vivi wore her She-ra costume.  It was actually very warm that evening, so she didn’t need too much extra clothing over or under her costume.  She started out with a jacket, but that came off super quick.  Now that Vivi knows what candy she likes, she was sure to get those kinds when possible.  She came home with a ton of M&M’s and Hersheys.  As always, once we got to the end of our route, we pulled the kids home in the wagon.  Vivi had already been riding in the wagon on and off; she seems to love that part!  When we got home, all the candy was dumped out and sorted, then a few pieces were eaten before we got ready for bed.

Makig some Mommy and Vivi art

At school

With our pumpkins

At the tank museum

She made her own little tank

Halloween party at school

Walking with her trick or treat bucket

6 Years + 6 months! (September 2019)

Ryder’s first day of first grade was right after Labor Day.  He generally likes school, so he wasn’t unhappy to go back, but he was definitely nervous.  The first day of school I could barely get a smile for his picture and he was very nervous standing in his class line, waiting to go in.  He had a great first day though, and I got a smiling school photo the second day.  He got right back into his routine of getting ready for school, his weekly school lunches and the things he does at school- like his recess and arrival games with his friends!

When the colder weather arrived in the mornings towards the end of the month, I got Ryder’s fleece foot pajamas out of hiding and he was thrilled.  Ryder would have worn fleece foot pajamas all summer long- I had to hide them because in the past he would wear them to bed even on super hot days!  He has not, however, come around to the idea of wearing pants to school.  I have tried to convince him a couple of times, but no dice.  He has steadfastly refused, claiming that the tall socks that he pulls up to his knees keep him plenty warm!

Ryder has a been a little bit less interested in World of Tanks this month and more interested in his tablet video games.  He has been playing an archery game called Bowmasters for a while, but this month he found a new game called Lords Mobile.  From what I have seen, it appears to be a bit of a world-building game.  In order to download it, we had to delete some things off of our tablet, so he helped me figure that out and he’s been playing it ever since!

The last weekend of September, we got out the Halloween decorations.  This year Ryder was a little bit less interested than he has been in the past.  He let us take everything out while he did something else, and then came over to check stuff out.  He still loves to check the lights to see if they still work and he helped put things out and chose what to hang on the mantel.

First day of school line up on the playground

Second day of school

Third day of school

In the pumpkin patch

At the orchard

4 years + 9 months! (September 2019)

September means back-to-school, so back to school Vivi went.  She was not necessarily looking forward to going back to school, but she handled it well.  There were a few tears on the first day, but that was probably at least partly due to the fact that I brought her and leaving me is still a hard thing for her.  She was right back into the routine as soon as I left.  She stays for the whole day three days a week this year, so I think that she’ll have a pretty smooth transition to full days next year. 

It started to get a little cold in the mornings toward the end of the month, so I pulled some of their fleece foot pajamas out of hiding and she couldn’t be more thrilled.  All summer long, she kept asking me where they went!  If I left them in her drawer, she would have worn them almost every day, even the hot, hot ones!   We have also started pulling the pants out, with no complaints from her.  She changes several times a day anyway, so if she’s hot, she has no problem going to find something else.

The last weekend of September, we got out the Halloween decorations and started putting them up.  This year it was Vivien who was the most involved and the most excited to get everything up.  She helped unpack the container and then immediately started putting things out. 

A little end of summer fun

Fun pool day

First day of preschool

Some fun at the orchard

A serious shot!

Now that's a Vivi face!

6 Years + 5 months! (August 2019)

This summer Ryder set a goal for himself to read all 10 books in the Eerie Elementary series.  The series is part spooky, part mystery and part funny.  He read the first one early in the summer, and when it was obvious that he liked it, I told him that it was part of a series.  He immediately wanted to keep on reading and then decided to read all 10 over the summer.  It’s really cool to see him curled up with a book and totally engrossed in the story!  He more than achieved his goal, as he finished the series with probably about two weeks to go in summer.  Time to find a new series!

Since it’s summer, Ryder has been totally into going to the river.  He loves to practice swimming and he really enjoys the kids kayak that Janda got him.  He hops on the kayak, paddles around along the sandbar and catches boat wakes.  Then he pulls the boat onto the sandbar and swims for a while, or looks for sea creatures, before jumping on the kayak again!  We’ve also been going to Good Harbor this summer and he likes body surfing.  He’s ridden a few waves, although to really get a good ride, you need to be a strong swimmer.  He’s got the idea though, so as his swimming improves, he’ll be catching good waves!

One of Ryder’s classmates this upcoming school year has been spending one day a week at her grandmother’s house two doors down from us, so she’s been having fun with another kid to play with in the neighborhood.  They play really well together and all three kids have been having a lot of fun.  They pull out the bikes and scooters, or explore our yard or her grandmother’s, or just find some toys to play with inside.  It’s been awesome, because every Thursday, the kids have ready-made plans and an extra fun day.

On one of the last days of summer, Ryder and Vivi created their own art/science activity.  I’m not sure what it started out as, but it ended up being squirt painting with eye droppers and paint they made for themselves out of old, mostly dead markers.  A few years ago, I used dead markers to make some watercolor paint and somehow Ryder remembered that and off they went.  It kept them entertained for almost the entire day.  I even got in there and made a few paintings!

Cuddled up on the bean bag, reading Eerie

Doing tricks on the scooter

Cuddled up at bedtime

At the Schooner Festival

Enjoying his new favorite, mint chocolate chip ice cream

4 Years + 8 months! (August 2019)

Almost every nice day, Vivi asks to go to the beach, which isn’t that surprising since she started asking to go to the beach back in January!  Most days either Janda or I, or both of us, will bring the kids down to the river.  We also started going to Good Harbor during the week when it’s not busy and they both love that beach too.  Vivi loves swimming and splashing in the water, but she also really loves to dig in the sand and to find little animals and just get muddy and sandy!  She is a total beach baby!

This summer a little girl, who is one of Ryder’s classmates, has been spending Thursdays at her grandmother’s house two doors down.  All three of the kids plays well together, but Vivien in particular has been very excited to have a little girl to play with.  She is always on the lookout for Olivia on Thursdays and has been playing with her doing activities that Ryder isn’t always that interested in.  It’s cute to see her playing with another little girl, especially since she is doing more of what she wants instead of (happily) following along with Ryder and the boys in the neighborhood.

Vivi is still obsessed with doing ‘activities’, which is a catch-all phrase for any art or science-y activity that I help set her up with.  She often pulls out the project materials from my storage area and begs to do something.  Now that she’s older, I can give her some materials and let her create how she wants.  One of the last days of summer, she and Ryder made their own activity.  I’m not sure what it started out as, but it ended up being squirt painting with eye droppers and paint they made for themselves out of old, mostly dead markers.  It kept them entertained for almost the entire day.  I even got in there and made a few paintings!

Vivien has been my super-duper garden helper this month.  Our tomatoes have gone crazy and picking them involves some gymnastics, so Vivi helps me by following me with the basket so that I can climb around and get the tomatoes.  I never have to ask her to help me; she always jumps right in and grabs the basket!

The most memorable thing that happened this month was a scooter accident.  Vivi was outside scooting by herself when she fell and on the way down the handles of the scooter hit her face, I think.  She ran in screaming and there was blood everywhere.  I was catching the blood in my hands there was so much and when we got into the bathroom, she coughed and covered half the bathroom with blood!  Once we could really check out what happened, we realized that she lost two teeth, the two next to the front tooth on the right.  The front tooth was also damaged, but it stayed in her mouth luckily.  Once the initial trauma subsided, Vivi has been ok eating and everything, so we’re thanking our lucky stars that it wasn’t worse and that they were baby teeth!

At Good Harbor Beach

She loves her friends

On the scooter

Out for a walk

Taking her dolls for a walk

Activities!

At the Schooner Festival

6 Years + 4 months! (July 2019)

We did the usual fireworks in Gloucester and parade and bonfire in Rockport for the 4^th of July.  Ryder absolutely loves the parades because of the candy that the floats throw out to the spectators.  He is absolutely primed and ready to go to dart out and grab candy when it gets tossed!  He is aggressive about getting out there!  He has always loved the bonfire and I imagine he always will- he is mesmerized by the fire and loves watching the structure go up in flames and the firefighters keep it under control.

We went to the Museum of Science this month too.  The museum is very hands on, so Ryder had a fun time with all of the interactive exhibits.  His favorite part of the museum was definitely the escalator, though!  It was his first time on an escalator and you would’ve thought it was an amusement park ride!  He wanted to go right back up every time he got to the bottom!

This month we took a long trip to Québec City.  We had to stop quite a lot, so it ended up taking 9.5 hours to get there!  Considering how long it took, Ryder was reasonably patient.  Before we went to the hotel, we stopped at a waterfall, Chute Montmorency, just outside of the Québec.  It’s a small nature oasis right in the middle of a city.  Though the park is on the small side, the waterfall was very tall- taller than Niagara Falls.  We parked at the top of the falls and walked over the bridge that is suspended across the top of the falls and then climbed down a huge staircase on the other side.  Ryder is scared of heights, so it was hard, but he was very brave going across the bridge!  After that, we took a gondola back up to the top, and then took another round trip on it for fun!  The hotel was a high point of the trip, of course!  There was an amazing indoor pool that the kids were excited to swim in both days. 

The second day, we went into Québec City, into the Vieux Port.  It was exactly what I hoped it would be, a European style city where everyone spoke French!  There were a lot of cannons along the remparts, which Ryder loved, and we saw a street performer dancing with hula hoops and fire, but the rest of the city didn’t interest Ryder that much.  We did manage to see a British grenadier, so that was exciting, but there was definitely a lot of complaining!  However, once we got back to the hotel and into the pool, he perked right up!  Of course!

In Quebec, the night before we left, Ryder lost his first tooth!  It had been wiggly since early June, so it was a long time coming.  His adult teeth actually grew in behind the wiggly teeth, so I imagine that slowed the process down.  We carefully carried his tooth home so he could put it under his pillow and get his reward from the tooth fairy.  Then after the tooth fairy visited, his other wiggly front tooth feel out the next day!  

Ryder's first tooth fell out

Paddling like a madman

Waiting for the candy at the parade

Buried at Good Harbor Beach

Finding creatures at the river

On the gondola at Chute Montmorency

On some fortifications in Quebec City

4 Years + 7 months! (July 2019)

We did the usual fireworks in Gloucester and parade and bonfire in Rockport for the 4^th of July.  Vivien likes the parade, but she doesn’t like the non-chocolate candies as much as Ryder does, so she’s not quite as excited as he is.  I think what Vivi likes most about these two events is the fact that she gets to stay up late and be out when it’s dark, which is definitely a treat when you’re little!

This month Vivi has done tons of playing with her toys, gone to the various beaches and done other fun summer outdoor stuff, as well as ‘activities’ and sleepovers!  We went to the Museum of Science this month too.  The museum is very hands on, so Vivi had a fun time with all of the interactive exhibits.  Her favorite part of the museum was definitely the escalator, though!  It was her first time on an escalator and you would’ve thought it was an amusement park ride!  She and Ryder went up and down a bunch of times!

This month we took a long trip to Québec City.  We had to stop quite a lot, so it ended up taking 9.5 hours to get there!  Considering how long it took, Vivi did pretty well.  There was definitely some complaining and a lot of “How much longer?” but no major problems.  Before we went to the hotel, we stopped at a waterfall, Chute Montmorency, just outside of the Québec.  It’s a small nature oasis right in the middle of a city.  Though the park is on the small side, the waterfall was very tall- taller than Niagara Falls.  We parked at the top of the falls and walked over the bridge that is suspended across the top of the falls and then climbed down a huge staircase on the other side.  We took a gondola back up to the top, and then took another round trip on it for fun!  The hotel was a high point of the trip, of course!  There was an amazing indoor pool that the kids were excited to swim in both days. 

The second day, we went into Québec City, into the Vieux Port.  It was exactly what I hoped it would be, a European style city where everyone spoke French!  It was not at all what Vivien hoped it would be and she spent the majority of the day crying, complaining and insisting that we carry her!  She is usually very good-natured, so we were pretty surprised.  She did not complain when we stopped and got ice cream, nor during her nap on a sidewalk bench, but that was about it.  However, once we got back to the hotel and into the pool, she perked right up!  Of course! 

At Good Harbor Beach

Chilling in the hammock, always in her bathing suit

On the gondola at Chute Montmorency

On the rocks at Chute Montmorency

Look at the face, Chute Montmorency

6 Years + 3 months! (June 2019)

Ryder had a lot going on this month with the end of school.   First up he had a showcase night, so we all went in to see his work hanging up in the K-1 hallway at school.  The projects that they made were all really cute and his came out really nice!  Next up he had field day, which Janda and I were able to attend for a little while, because we had a half day.  It was fun to see him running around with his classmates!  Then, finally, he had his last day 2 days after us.  He was ready to start summer!

We went to Thomasland again this year on Father’s Day weekend.  Ryder was tall enough for all of the rides, except maybe one.  He went on the roller coaster with me but I think it was a little too twisty for him.  He seemed like he enjoyed it while we were on it, but he didn’t want to go on a second time.  On the other hand, he went on the Firefighter Flynn ride as many times as he possibly could, just like our last two visits!  He also loved the three story indoor bouncy house and we had to drag him out of there when it was time to go. 

This month Ryder had his last t-ball games and practices, so that’s over for the year.  He had a great time playing and hanging out with all the kids on the team.  He certainly improved his skills a lot and had a lot of fun.

Janda bought a mini kayak for the kids to paddle and Ryder loved it.  After a couple of lessons on how to do it, Ryder was paddling all around down at the river.  He paddled up and down the river and in the little stream that we have, but what he really loves is paddling over the waves that the boat wakes send to shore.  He is very independent and likes to paddle around on his own! 

Of course, since it’s June we went to Fiesta.  We mostly did the sporting events, because Janda and I both rowed this year.  Ryder really seems to enjoy cheering us on!  He and Vivi are the loudest two kids on the beah!  Ryder loves watching the events and he is very into Janda winning!  Janda’s team won their first race, but they didn’t move on in the second race and Ryder was really upset by that!  I guess he has a competitive streak.  We went into the Fiesta briefly on the last night; we figured that they had gotten enough rides at Thomasland!  We let them do a couple of quick rides and get a treat- fried dough.  Ryder got to go on the big slide that he loves and a ride that drops you down to the ground.  He loves that ride and it was closed at Thomasland, so that was good luck!

What a smile!

He loves tanks!

Ryder loves the beach!

Playing with toy tanks, always

At Thomasland

On top of the ferris wheel at Thomasland

Reading some scary stories

At Pavilion Beach

Picking strawberries