Busy as the Reynolds Family

Whenever I’m asked how Shaling, or both kids, or my family, is doing, my standard answer tends to be, “Good. Busy.” I don’t usually expand on that much, lest I bore the person asking. However, I’ll take the opportunity to use this blog to fill you in on what the month of April looks like on the Reynolds family calendar. I'm sure you'll see why I won't be nominated for Suzy Homemaker of the Year.

Hometowns & Visits

We recently found out that Shaling's 3rd grade teacher (her first ever teacher here in America), Mrs. Collins, is retiring at the end of this school year and moving to southern Illinois. She is returning to her hometown.
Last night, we were explaining this to Shaling, describing it as Mrs. Collins going to live where she lived as a little girl. As a testament to just how well she has adjusted to a new country, new language, new foods, new people, new family, and new culture in just over two years time, Shaling pointed at the ground and said in a sing-song voice, "I am going to stay right here. Right here in Springfield."
Brock and I both smiled and Brock gently said, "I remember a time when you were going to move to China."
She replied, "I'll visit China."
Brock informed her that she will needs lots of money. She told us that she has "fifty cents".
Of course, we giggled. But apparently she has a back-up plan. The next words that came out of her mouth were, "But if I have a rich boyfriend..."

Just Following Instructions...

Along with all of the other students, Shaling recently completed some standardized testing. The only difference is that she takes hers with the English Language Learner teacher instead of in the regular classroom, but it is the same test (and the instructions are in English).

On the math portion, there was a word problem that had to be solved, following which the students were to write a step-by-step paragraph explaining how they solved it. Shaling got done unusually quickly, so Mrs. Bivens gently asked her if she’d written down absolutely everything that she had done. So, Shaling sat back down. When all of the papers were eventually collected, Mrs. Bivens saw that Shaling had correctly solved the problem, but her paragraph was, “First, I solved the problem. Second, I circled the answer. Third, I waited ten minutes for everyone else. Fourth, I turned in my sheet.”

Haha…she cracks me up.

On an unrelated note, for those of you not on Facebook, we are so proud of Preston. He doesn’t get a lot of accolades at school, but apparently his teachers felt he demonstrated an exemplary amount of “Responsibility” in January, and responsibility was the January character trait at Rochester Junior High. Therefore, he and a handful of other students get to go out to lunch with the principal tomorrow. Way to go, Buddy!

Drum Solo & Basketball Videos

I could have subtitled this one "How We Spent Our Saturday" -- except I didn't get any of Shaling's volleyball game videod.

Video 1, Preston's Drum Solo, "Happy Day" (he earned a 'I' rating -- they get a I, II, or III, with I being the best):
"Happy Day" - Preston's Snare Drum Solo from Amy Reynolds on Vimeo.

Video 2, Shaling's Not-So-Shining Moment":
Shaling's Not-So-Shining Moment, 2-23-2013 Basketball Game from Amy Reynolds on Vimeo.
Video 3, "Shaling's Shining Moment":
Shaling's Shining Moment, 2-23-2013 Basketball Game from Amy Reynolds on Vimeo.

Shaling & the Snow

We got a couple of inches or so of snow today (and it's still coming). Shaling is loving it. You wouldn't know from this video below that she had never seen the pretty, wet, white, fluffy stuff until she was 9-years-old.

Shaling & the Snow, 2-21-2013 from Amy Reynolds on Vimeo.

I thought some of you would also appreciate seeing these pictures from Valentine's Day. The first one is the top of a shoebox that she decorated. Inside were homemade "aprons" -- made from plastic shopping bags. Brock put them away before I had a chance to take a picture.

This one is the handmade note she put inside with the aprons. The "no matter what" was brought on from having been fairly angry the night before about getting grounded.

 

The Reynolds Family 2012, from A to Z

I haven't been posting as often, because I've become more reliant on Facebook for family updates, but I realize some of you aren't on there. So, for those who are interested, here is a poem that we included in our Christmas cards for 2012:

The Reynolds Family, from A to Z

Alley –as in bowling alley, where Preston participates in a weekly junior league.

Baseball trip– Amy took in a couple of Memphis Redbirds games & Elvis’s Graceland with some friends.

Campaigning– what Amy is doing in the hopes of landing a spot on the Rochester school board.

Drums– Preston is in drum lessons, played in 6^th grade jazz band last year & is now in the junior high band.

Enrietto– Shaling is 11 & in Mrs. Enrietto’s 5^th grade class. Mrs. Enrietto was also Preston’s 5^th grade teacher.

Float trip– with good friends, we enjoyed a 3-night camping trip, which included a day on the Meramec River.

Goodbye– earlier this month, we bid an earthly goodbye to Brock’s 94-year-old Grandma Devall.

Hoops– Brock continues to play basketball, as well as coach Shaling in various leagues.

Idol –Brock saw Springsteen concerts in Chicago & Louisville and got to touch Bruce’s guitar & hoist him up.

Junior high– Preston is 12 & in 7^th grade at Rochester Junior High.

5K – as a family, we did the Girls on the Run 5K with Shaling & the In His Hands Orphans 5K (some walked).

Lessons– Shaling is taking piano lessons & is in 5^th grade chorus. She gave up trumpet & drums.

Marco Island& Monticello– the two places where we visit Grandma & Grandpa Reynolds each year.

New sport– Shaling recently picked up the game of soccer.

Oval –the shape Preston ran (400 meter) in 6^th grade track last spring.

Pigskin– the Rochester Rocket football team three-peated as state champions in November.

Quality time– what we just don’t seem to get enough of with family & friends.

Rochester– Amy continues to coach the Rochester High School scholastic bowl team.

Softball– Shaling still loves to catch, but with Dad as her coach, also picked up pitching this year.

Trivia– Amy planned and/or helped with several trivia fundraisers this year.

Unaccompanied– Brock & Amy (no kids) enjoyed a trip to Tunica, Mississippi. Brock later went again, solo.

Volleyball– Amy enjoyed a coed outdoor league this summer & Shaling played in a youth league.

Welcome– as avid Illini fans, we welcomed new football & basketball coaches.

Xylophone– one of many instruments Preston played at music camp at the University of Illinois this summer.

Yard –where we buried our beloved Braxtina, the cat we’d had since the summer we married (18 years).

Zero– the number of times we won the lottery, but thankfully not the amount on our paychecks.

Metal Mouth (& Other Updates)

Shaling is getting braces this morning. In late 2011, she had two teeth cut out. The theory is that she lost some teeth prematurely in China and therefore, three teeth were trying to come in where only two teeth fit, but it was happening on both sides of her mouth. Now, the braces will help line those teeth  up. Additionally, like her dad, she has a bit of an underbite. As a youth, Brock was given the choice of braces or having his jaw broken and reset. He chose braces. He is most understanding of what she is about to experience, as I never had braces.
So far she is enthusiastic, but instead of that being a relief for me, it actually frustrates me a bit, as she doesn't truly listen to what the orthodontist and his staff are telling her. As it is a complex subject, the language barrier gets in the way, but she also plays around with the model of her teeth that they made, focuses on what she considers the "fun" parts, and tunes out the important stuff. I realize this is common child behavior, but I think a typical 11-year-old would absorb a lot more of what is being said and I simply wish she would be a bit more studious when the staff is talking to her.
In other news, she has become very enthusiastic about soccer, a sport that she once told me she didn't want to play because she wanted to be able to use her hands. She had a beautiful assist in a recent game and she hustles all over the field. She is currently also playing basketball & volleyball.
Preston recently made the junior high jazz band, which includes only 3 percussionists from 7th & 8th grade combined. He also is doing well in his weekly bowling league. His average is in the 80s, but he frequently bowls over 100 in at least one of his three games.
Brock is at a point of having to deeply contemplate giving up his beloved sport, basketball. He recently endured back spasms, a concussion, and torn ligaments in his shoulder.
I am doing well, but working hard at taking off the 2012 holiday pounds, which were bountiful.