Spring Break 2011

We went to Walt Disney World for spring break, and I am just now getting around to finishing the album from vacation. Please check it out! 

Walt Disney World Spring Break 2011

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

We went to visit the Museum Center and Riley really enjoyed the Cincinnati History Museum this time.  Below is a link to the album that I made for him to remember his visit.

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Our Buckeye Fan

I was cooking this morning, and Riley and Reese were watching TV. I left them some brownies and peanut butter buckeyes to eat while I was busy. When we got in the car, I asked Riley if he shared the brownies with Reese and he said yes. I asked him if he ate any of the buckeyes, and his answer was, "I don't like that kind of buckeye; I only like the Buckeyes on the screen (TV sports)".

The Two Lefties

We went to visit Riley's cousin last weekend. Riley was so excited to go and visit him. His cousin was very nice to him, and Riley even stayed the night with his cousin in his room both nights. I heard his cousin read books to Riley and let Riley play with is Lego game on the X-Box. They had a great time, and Riley is really lucky to have cousins to look after him.

This is Riley and his cousin trying to use their weight against the strength of a shark's jaws. The following is a picture from our lunch at Johnny Rockets, smiley ketchup brings back memories of a ketchup mess on the floor!

I Kissed A Girl...

I kissed a girl and I kind of liked it.
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it.

These are the lyrics from a Katy Perry song. My son heard this song on the radio and started singing the song. I heard him and told him that it was an adult song and he should not sing it. He kept asking me, "Why Mommy?" "Why, Why, Why?" I could not come up with a better reason than it was not a kid's song. When I got home, I asked my husband to explain to Riley why this was not a good song for him to sing, and my husband could not come up with a better reason than I had. The evening went on and something happened and a light bulb clicked in my head, I had the perfect reason why Riley should not sing this song. I told him it was a girl's song. That did stop him from singing it for awhile, but sometimes he tells me it is stuck in his head.

During the few days that we were out of school because of the wind storm caused by Hurricane Ike, I was watching my best friend's daughter who is eight. The three of us were in the car together when I Kissed A Girl came on. The girl asked me to turn it up and started to sing along. Riley told her that she should not sing that song because it was an adult song. She told Riley that it was not an adult song, it was a teen or preteen song and she liked it. So, they went back and forth for awhile with me thinking, does it really matter what my five year old, boy or girl, sings? And, eight is not considered preteen in my book!

Talking to Daddy and Strangers

Riley and his dad have a little running joke going. It goes like this.

Daddy: "You're a dork!"

Riley: "No, you're a dork!"

It has moved onto to Riley's replying, "You're a dork and a half".

A few days ago Riley replied to Daddy, "You have long hair and no neck".

Last night we were at the mall, and Riley was talking to the man behind us in line. He told the man, "My name is Riley, but my daddy calls me dork".

Out of the mouth of babes and I could only imagine what the man and his son were thinking!

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down Confusion

After Christmas Riley's classroom implemented a new behavior system that started each child off each day with three thumbs ups. For misbehavior Riley would have to go and turn one of his thumbs to the down position and miss five minutes of recess if he could not correct his behavior. He would have the opportunity to return his thumb to the up position if he corrected his behavior and would be given a small treat at the end of each day for having three thumbs up.

About a week after the behavior system started, I started asking Riley each day how many thumbs up he had at school, and he would always tell me two and show me his two thumbs. Then, he would proceed to tell me that thumbs up meant open, and thumbs down meant closed. (The last is from an episode of Handy Manny when Manny and the tools give Kelly a sign for her store.) I then showed him the example that the teacher had sent home and asked him if he saw these thumbs in his classroom and how many did he get up and he would still tell me two.

Finally, I had to ask the teacher. I explained to her my dilemma and his confusion of having two thumbs, one on each hand v. having three thumbs posted at school. She told me that he has never gotten a thumbs down, and he gets the prize everyday. She said to try and ask him whether or not he got the prize for the day. Today, I asked him if he got a high five, he said, "No, Mommy, but I got a sticker on my mitten, see!" That meant that he got three thumbs up for the day. We are making progress at understanding!

Knock Knock

Nobody's home!

Pirate Party

I convinced Riley to have a pirate birthday party. I found really cool game ideas online and he agreed. It was a nice little party with a few friends from school and a few family friends his age in attendance. The kids walked the plank and went on a treasure hunt. He really enjoyed being the center of attention and could not believe that all the presents were for him. Riley kept seeing Reese's name on his gifts because they were from Reese, but was really excited when they were for him!

Patience Is Paying Off

This is a big week for Riley. Santa Claus is coming tomorrow with presents, and Saturday is his pirate birthday party! He is so excited for these events and has been waiting a long time for them.

The one thing I think he is not eagerly awaiting is I have told him that when he turns five, he needs to give up sucking his thumb. It is about that time and I actually don't think that he sucks it at school, but he does at home when he is watching tv or when he is tired. We need to give it up permanently, and we'll see how it goes!

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Riley

Riley who?

Riley (last name)

This is one of Riley's favorite jokes.