Goal # 59: Go bowling (& take Ryan)

Jimmy went back to NC this past week to be with the movers as they packed up our house. I tried to think of some new things I could do with Ryan so we weren't sitting around the apartment for 4 days. I thought this would be a good time to go bowling.

Now, I haven't bowled since before Ryan was born. It has been at least 3 years and I certainly didn't do it with a 21+ pound 5 month old on my hip either.

We went on a day that was rainy and cold. Perfect indoor activity but actually getting everyone out of the car and inside was a challenge. We all got soaked. Oh well.

We got our shoes.

Mine weren't anything special but they had the cutest little toddler bowling shoes for Ryan. Mini bowling shoes! Adorable!!

We got our bowling balls.

Ryan got a 6lb. ball. The smallest I could find and I think I got a 9 lb. Probably a good thing I got a lighter ball since I couldn't support it with my left hand. That hand was busy...

We got a ramp.

They had a cute little ramp that looked like a dinosaur. It wasn't like these other metal ramps (that are actually kind of tall for a kid). It was hard plastic and had a little lip on the top so Ryan could set his ball there without it rolling down until he was ready.

I got my camera ready. Snapped a pic. BEEP! No flippin' card! What the heck? How did I forget that?

It's ok. Jimmy wants to go again soon. So we'll get pictures then.

I either forget my camera all together or forget the card or the battery is dead! I don't carry my big camera bag around and that has all my extras in it.

Ryan did really well. He was able to carry his own ball to the ramp each time and send her on down the lane. This is a good game that teaches "taking turns". On my turns he had to stand at the end of the ball return and wait until his turn. By the end of the first game he was getting disinterested but ended up bowling in the low 90's (with the bumpers).

I bowled a 98. Got 2 strikes and a few spares. All done with Lucas on my hip. Low score, I know. It's been 3 years though!!! Jimmy laughed at me when I told him the scores.

Just wait Jimmy, I'll beat you next time we go bowling!

Goal #44: Fly a kite

If you can believe it, I have never flown a kite in my life. I've always seen people on the beach flying them and wanted to try. And old neighbor had a parafoil but I never actually got to take control of it.

We got a Toy Story box kite this weekend. Jimmy and I wanted to get this Blue Angels Jet kite that had two handles (stunt kite) but we let Ryan get the one he wanted. Trust me, we tried to talk up the jet kite but he wanted Woody and Buzz....When we brought it home all we heard was "My Kite!" and "Open Dis!" since it was still in the packaging.

After Ryan's nap yesterday we went to a soccer field by the highschool that was open and no power lines close. The Weather Channel said that the wind was blowing 10 miles an hour. This particular kite needs at least 7mph winds so we thought we were good. The wind was not constant. We had to wait, and wait for some gusts and then try.

Ryan liked holding onto the string but he liked holding the kite better. After awhile he said "All Done!" because he just wanted to play with the kite and not let it fly!

When it was my turn, I got the kite up pretty high. Higher than these pics. Jimmy was tending to Lucas...

The pull on the kite string was pretty strong even though the winds weren't. It was really neat.

We were out there pretty close to dusk and I thought the sky was beautiful.

Goal #77: Complete a coloring book

I reverted back to my childhood and finished an entire coloring book. I picked out a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse book at the Wal-Marts for $1.00. I love their dollar books. There are quite a few pages in the books. I get these for Ryan once he's destroyed, I mean, artistically scribbled his little brains out on the previous one.

I colored this book in my spare time when the kids were napping or sleeping. Ryan likes Mickey and I knew there would be a fight if he saw me coloring in MY book, because afterall, it's really HIS (in his mind).

I thought this activity would be more relaxing than in was. I just ended up stressing over what colors the characters' clothes were supposed to be and worked out my hand cramps after each page....

Here's some of what I did.

Goal #48: Go to a shooting range

This afternoon we were at Outdoor World Bass Pro Shop just down the road. I brought the camera knowing there was an archery range but it didn't make it into the stroller.

After we looked at the aquarium, animals, hats and coats we headed upstairs to the archery range.

I grew up shooting a bow. I think I started shooting around 3 years old with a little plastic recurve in our backyard in Colorado Springs. Is it crazy that I still remember my address there and we moved when I was 5?

In middle school, I joined the archery team for one year and had fun doing that. I haven't shot a bow since then.

I asked the guy in the archery department if I could try it out again and he got me set up with a compound bow. I remember my mom's bow being a 40lb. pull but I wasn't sure I could pull that so he set it up to 35lbs. and I could barely pull it. I'm glad the compounds have a little give once you pull it back a certain amount. Recurves don't, so you are holding back however many pounds until you release.

I got the bow, set up the arrow, took my stance, drew back the string, aimed and released. OUCH!!!! I thought I remembered having to keep my left elbow locked and the guy assured me I didn't need a guard. Uh, yeah right! I popped the mess out of my left arm. Luckily I had on a long sleeved shirt so it wasn't as bad as it could've been. The guy told me I need to keep my elbow bent a little to keep it out of the way of the string. Well, when I did that, I couldn't keep the string pulled back. I'm weak. I tried again and got it. I released without pain that time.

So the lesson was, elbow bent with a compound, elbow straight (use a guard) with a recurve.

This experience brought back fond memories of target shooting with my dad and sister in our backyard in Colorado Springs and in Fruita, CO.

All the while, Ryan thought he was going to get to shoot a bow too and was throwing a fit for Jimmy. I asked the guy if he had a child's recurve that we could try. And he did.

Ryan was so excited! I told him he had to follow my directions or he wouldn't get to do it. He listened very well. He didn't quite understand that you had to look where you are shooting. I stood behind him and held my hand over his on the bow and helped draw the string back. I tried to get him to lock his thumb on his jaw but he kept backing away. I asked if he was scared and he said "Uh huh!" 

We counted 1 - 2 - 3 go! The bow wasn't strong enough to even make the arrows go into the target. They just bounced off and Ryan would yell "POP!"

On his last arrow, however, we did get it to go into the target. We thanked the man and were on our way. Ryan kept saying "Bow" and "POP" on the way home.

I hope that when Ryan's at least old enough to string his own recurve that we can share this activity.

Fall Activities and Goal #73: Milk a cow

We took the kids to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm today. When we drove up there were hundreds of at least a thousand cars in the parking lot(s) surrounding the farm. We went ahead on in because I told Jimmy the closer it got to Halloween the busier these places would be and if we didn't go because it was busy then we'd never go.


The little gourd farm we went to last year was super low key and not busy at all. This place was a mad house! There was a lot to do and see and don't get me wrong, it was really fun! Just crazy busy. That place must make a KILLING! It was like going to the fair!


There were piles of pumpkins everywhere!

And a giant rocking chair.

Ryan loved all the tractors. 

I thought this was a really cute idea. Hopefully we can go back next year. The measurement is wrong (about 2" under) though because the ground was a little dug out under the sign from the traffic.

We went on a hayride. It wasn't near as fun as the one at the gourd farm. It didn't even go into the woods. We did get to see the "Punkin Chucker" though. It shot pumpkins about 200 yards.

The hayride stopped by one of the pumpkin fields and we got out to take pictures.

There was a "Bengtsonville" set up with a firehouse, school and jail.

Ryan was scared of the fake fireman.

So he would run by him to the (ahem) fireman's pole.

The kid jail was cute!

And the guillotine.

Ryan wanted to go on the "bee side" translation: big slide. It was 90 feet long.

Wheeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

They had a simulated milking cow.

We all took a turn. And this fulfills goal #73 of milking a cow. I'm pretty sure I would not make it on a farm. If milking a cow was really as hard as milking this one, we would never drink milk. The udders were this rubbery stuff and I can't imagine a real cow's udders being that hard. Unless it's cold out...

They had a petty zoo too. Jimmy bought some carrots for Ryan to feed to the animals. I didn't get to go in but the pictures were cute!

Ryan picked out a pumpkin to bring home. He calls them puckins. And since he's 2, in the dawn of self centeredness.....MY PUCKIN!!!



Goal #: 84 Get an IRA

Today, after not working for 2 years, I finally called Fidelity and rolled over my 401k from my previous job into an IRA. It took all of 30 minutes. I don't know why I hadn't done it sooner.

I kept seeing that commercial where the guy left his 401k (and his jacket) at his old job and the green arrow kept pointing him back to his old office. I even got a letter in the mail the other day reminding me that the money was still there. I guess every time I would think about rolling it over I'd get sidetracked and then forget.

It's done now!!  Yay! One less thing for me to have to think about.

Now, if I can just get Jimmy to put money in the account for me...

Goal #9: Start a family birthday tradition

Ryan's birthday was on the 19th. We just celebrated at home on the 18th since it was pouring down rain all weekend. It was nice having it so quaint and quiet this year. Last year, on his first birthday, there was a lot going on & I spent waaaay too much money on his party!! I enjoyed every minute of it but it's nice to have it low key too.

Last year we had painted a plate for Ryan that just said "Happy Birthday Ryan" on it with a cupcake in the middle. We were going to have him eat off that plate on his birthday every year. Since we just relocated, we didn't have that plate readily available. That will still be a tradition and we'll paint one for Lucas too but something just kind of happened this year that I think I'll keep too.

At each meal I put Ryan's "2" birthday candle in his food, sang a quick "Happy Birthday" and let him blow it out. He was so excited to blow out the candle over and over again throughout the day. I'm sure he'll think that's special for many more years. It makes the whole day special and not just cake time... 

Breakfast

Dinner

I took Ryan to the Children's museum on his actual birthday (and ended up buying a membership!) There were a ton of things to do but this museum still wasn't as good as Marble's in Raleigh. With the membership I can take him to the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier(and 250 other kid's museums nationwide) for FREE!

Ryan loves shadows.

This freaked Ryan out at first but then he was running through 5 seconds later. He threw up his hands to stop himself when he first went in. I can imagine it's a weird sensation for a 2 year old.

Playing in the giant water table. I don't know who they are trying to kid with the large aprons. Ryan was still drenched!

But the wind tunnel got him mostly dry! This was fun but you can just go outside here and get the same effect. :)

He really liked the construction station. He can hammer a nail! I liked his technique too. He would hold the hammer with one hand on the handle and one on the "claw" part. He hit the nail head 9/10 times and didn't smash his finger once!

And then he got to drill a hole. There were so many other stations here. Ryan enjoyed them all! Glad I got the membership. This will give us something to do in the winter!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!! MOMMY LOVES YOU!