Since I long ago abandoned the diligent task of monthly newsletters for the boys, I decided to utilize this go-to format to highlight the Holden and Riley Haps of 2010.
HOLDEN
Age: 6, Grade: 1
10. At the Little League end-of-the season event, Holden hit a ball and ran the bases faster than any other T-ball player in the league (and won a $50 gift certificate for a sporting goods store).
9. After about five months of weekly swim lessons, Holden went from a kid who would not let go of the wall to one who could swim the butterfly stroke with grace. However, he still doesn't like the deep end.
8. In the first four months of school, Holden has won two awards each for math and running.
7. At the first parent-teacher conference this month, Holden's teacher reports that he is one of two students in the advanced reading group, reading at a 5th or 6th grade level. She "adores" him and said he is great in math and all subjects, except handwriting. This is nature at work, as both Mom and Dad worked fast, and sloppy. Mom still is.
6. Holden has honed his Big Brother skills and continues to show tons of empathy, patience and love to Riley, even when he doesn't deserve it. He helps Riley get dressed, gives up toys or food to quell Riley's demands and will acquiesce on such things as television shows or where he sits in a restaurant just to keep the peace.
5. Holden had a second season of AYSO soccer and proved that commitment and determination were as much fun as winning.
4. He is in a group of friends at school who he loves to play with. They play soccer during lunch and draw colorful Star Wars characters during downtime at CDC. His besties are: Owen, Tyler F., Tyler S., Brevin and Henry.
3. As expected, Holden's begun experiencing, and loving, the world of video games. His favorite is Lego Star Wars on Wii, which he also plays on his Nintendo DS. He likes the Wii sports games, too, and will agree to fly airplanes or sword fight so Riley can be included.
2. Is learning the art of strategizing, and can beat the pants off you in Chess, Connect 4 and Battleship.
1. Growing up has not changed Holden's sensitive and loving ways. The other night, he promised that, no matter how old he got, he will never stop cuddling with us.
Age: 6, Grade: 1
10. At the Little League end-of-the season event, Holden hit a ball and ran the bases faster than any other T-ball player in the league (and won a $50 gift certificate for a sporting goods store).
9. After about five months of weekly swim lessons, Holden went from a kid who would not let go of the wall to one who could swim the butterfly stroke with grace. However, he still doesn't like the deep end.8. In the first four months of school, Holden has won two awards each for math and running.
7. At the first parent-teacher conference this month, Holden's teacher reports that he is one of two students in the advanced reading group, reading at a 5th or 6th grade level. She "adores" him and said he is great in math and all subjects, except handwriting. This is nature at work, as both Mom and Dad worked fast, and sloppy. Mom still is.6. Holden has honed his Big Brother skills and continues to show tons of empathy, patience and love to Riley, even when he doesn't deserve it. He helps Riley get dressed, gives up toys or food to quell Riley's demands and will acquiesce on such things as television shows or where he sits in a restaurant just to keep the peace.
5. Holden had a second season of AYSO soccer and proved that commitment and determination were as much fun as winning.
4. He is in a group of friends at school who he loves to play with. They play soccer during lunch and draw colorful Star Wars characters during downtime at CDC. His besties are: Owen, Tyler F., Tyler S., Brevin and Henry.3. As expected, Holden's begun experiencing, and loving, the world of video games. His favorite is Lego Star Wars on Wii, which he also plays on his Nintendo DS. He likes the Wii sports games, too, and will agree to fly airplanes or sword fight so Riley can be included.
2. Is learning the art of strategizing, and can beat the pants off you in Chess, Connect 4 and Battleship.
1. Growing up has not changed Holden's sensitive and loving ways. The other night, he promised that, no matter how old he got, he will never stop cuddling with us.
Riley
Age: 4, Grade: Pre-K
10. Riley wakes us up at 6:01 a.m. every morning and comes into our room with four stuffed elephants and gets into bed for a cuddle. We are still working on getting him to not speak to us during that time.
9. Speaking of speaking, Riley doesn't stop. If it's not speaking, there is, at least, always noise emanating from his face.
8. Despite a rough couple years of impulse control issues and angry, violent outbursts, we seem to be on the upswing of this phase. Well, mostly.
7. Riley's imagination is really taking flight and it's fun to listen to him talk as he plays pretend with his airplanes, trains and all the "little guys" that go with them. He often says, "Holden? You play with me?" and it's sweet to see them get on the ground, making up scenarios for their little guys.
6. Trains and planes are still a big part of his life.
5. Riley's speech is still not crystal clear, but we love some of the expressions he uses. He asks us to "uninside out" his socks, tells us the sky is "froggy" and says he likes "doubloons."
4. Riley is described by his teachers as loving and smart, and he is often praised for his good memory.
3. Riley asked if he could join an extra dance class at school and assured us he would listen and follow directions if he did it. Despite our misgivings, we agreed to let him do it. At the show this month, he did the entire dance to Jingle Bell Rock. It was impressive and oh so cute!
2. Riley knows all his letters, the sounds they make, what many words start with and can count pretty high and recognize all his numbers, even doing some math. However, he's not a big fan of writing and coloring yet, but he's getting there!
1. Despite some pretty big challenges, the No. 1 thing about Riley is how loving and sweet he is, right down to the core.
Age: 4, Grade: Pre-K
10. Riley wakes us up at 6:01 a.m. every morning and comes into our room with four stuffed elephants and gets into bed for a cuddle. We are still working on getting him to not speak to us during that time.
9. Speaking of speaking, Riley doesn't stop. If it's not speaking, there is, at least, always noise emanating from his face.
8. Despite a rough couple years of impulse control issues and angry, violent outbursts, we seem to be on the upswing of this phase. Well, mostly.
7. Riley's imagination is really taking flight and it's fun to listen to him talk as he plays pretend with his airplanes, trains and all the "little guys" that go with them. He often says, "Holden? You play with me?" and it's sweet to see them get on the ground, making up scenarios for their little guys.6. Trains and planes are still a big part of his life.
5. Riley's speech is still not crystal clear, but we love some of the expressions he uses. He asks us to "uninside out" his socks, tells us the sky is "froggy" and says he likes "doubloons."4. Riley is described by his teachers as loving and smart, and he is often praised for his good memory.
3. Riley asked if he could join an extra dance class at school and assured us he would listen and follow directions if he did it. Despite our misgivings, we agreed to let him do it. At the show this month, he did the entire dance to Jingle Bell Rock. It was impressive and oh so cute!
2. Riley knows all his letters, the sounds they make, what many words start with and can count pretty high and recognize all his numbers, even doing some math. However, he's not a big fan of writing and coloring yet, but he's getting there!1. Despite some pretty big challenges, the No. 1 thing about Riley is how loving and sweet he is, right down to the core.
