Reagan Fuller

Be On Alert

Houston, we have a loose tooth!

The new one is coming in from the back and pushing the little one up and out. Reagan has seen Sydney get a payday from the gold mine in your mouth so she is now making a list of all the Squinkies she has yet to buy. Money should be rolling in soon. Just need to get it out first!

Psalm 1

Reagan Rides a Bike

As a father, I don't feel that I have many parental jobs that are solely my own. But the one that I distinctly own in our household is getting our kids transitioned from training wheels to a 2 wheeled bike. Sydney was my guinea pig and I learned a ton about this mysterious process in which you try and teach a kid how to do something that is now second nature to you. Its hard to explain how to feel something.

Reagan was not interested in learning to ride a bike at all. So I waited. Half the battle is just getting the kid to want to do it. Otherwise, they just fake it and don't put anything into it and just fall over. There has to be desire. But I had given up waiting. Finally, I told her, "This week, we are doing it every day until you get it". I knew it would be painful at first but hoped that we would turn the corner quickly.

Day 1 was mostly just a fight to do it. I decided to teach her on Sydney's bike because the bigger frame and tires seems to get you a more balance-able solution. Once she was on the bike, it was me running behind her keeping her upright. Just getting her to stop whining and just get comfortable was the goal for the day. One lap around the block and that was it. Might be a long week.

Day 2 was kind of a drag getting her out the door again. She didn't want to do it but finally bit and came outside. We started around the block in the downhill direction and she had a couple moments of brilliance as we headed down the street. But then she quickly moved to leaning to the left and I had to keep pushing her over to the right. But she was having fun and that was a break through of sorts. She was comfortable.

Day 3 was here. I told her it would be up to 7 days to nail this thing and we were counting them down. I recall her saying that even after 7 days she would never get it because its too hard. We started off from the driveway and she pedaled her way about 4 houses with me in a dead sprint trying to keep up with her for fear of her leaving me. Did she just go from a cold start to riding a few hundred feet? Oh man. She finally leaned left and we had to recover it. I was pumped! I think you just rode that bike, Reagan! Got her moving again and she was on her own again. I was running hard to keep up. I had to leave her side and cut the corners through the neighbor's grass to catch up with her. She got a little more wobbly on the uphill climb back home but all in all...we got this! She is riding. Summon Mom...

So 3 days and she had it. Mission accomplished. We took a couple days off after this because of weather and timing. Went back out again afterward and I didn't even run with her. I rode a bike next to her around the block. I would push her off to get started then pedal to catch up to her. When we got back home, I rode in front, dismounted, then quickly caught her as she is still pretty goofy with the brakes.

Reagan never disappoints me on these athletic achievements. They always take a little bit of drama though. That's her style I guess. As long as she delivers, I will deal.

Fall at Sunflower Farm

There was no school today but the girls couldn't stand the thought of not seeing their new school friends. So we decided to join a bunch of kids at Sunflower Farm for a fun play day together. This farm is always a favorite of ours and we haven't been in a while so it sounded like a fun time. The girls went straight to the zip line being the adventurist that they are.

Next we met up with a bunch of friends on the big haystack. They played here for a good hour. I don't really get the lure of the haystack but I could definitely be over the age limit on this one.

Next up, the house of corn. What's that? Just what it sounds like. A small house filled with corn. This is usually a big hit of the littler ones as it is one step up from a cool sandbox. The big girls did a great job of playing along with Kayla on this one.

Mom was feeling a little lazy at this point in the day so we mosied on over to the tire swing. Mom definitely got her workout in on that one. My turn, push higher, again......

This place has the coolest tree house configuration ever. They have lots of bridges, platforms, slides, etc., all built around the huge cottonwood trees on the property.

Our last stop of the day was to the pony rides. I am secretly hoping my kids gain a love of horses so I have someone to take lessons with in a few years. Gotta start little.

Before saying leaving Reagan was excited to meet up with her new buddy from school. As you can she thinks he's pretty cool. And I think the feeling was mutual.

We had perfect fall weather for our adventure today. It was great of our classmates to invite us to the play time. We even got to pick out our own pumpkins on the way out. Always a fun time at Sunflower Farm.

First Grade Invades Build-A-Bear

Today I had the pleasure of escorting Reagan on her First Grade Field Trip to Build a Bear. If you didn't guess already this trip is a BIG deal. I missed out on this trip with Sydney as I was pre-occupied with a brand new bundle of joy. So I was super excited to tag along this time. The kids were able to pick from three different bears. The color of choice was this little guy.

The kids were all so well behaved as they waited their turn at the stuffing machine. The great staff kept the kids busy with a game of hot potato. Although, you actually wanted to be stuck with the potato because that meant you were up next. Here is Reagan creating her Cookie.

Next up is the bath and fluffing station. Cookie is looking pretty good now.

Here is the gang all ready to go. Notice the smiles. Who wouldn't be happy after a great trip like this.

Now, the fun part to come is that Reagan will have monthly "bear days." Cookie will be able to join Reagan at school for Recess, Reading time, and special fun dress up days. How fun it is to be in First Grade.