February Fun

I have been working really hard preparing for my Ohio Heroes project. Annie Oakley is really coming together. My costume is done and I just finished my poster. I'll be "in costume" as "Lil' Sure Shot" for our 4th Grade Wax Museum on Thursday night. I am sure that Mom and Dad will take some photos so we'll post them here on my blog next weekend.

Last month I turned 10!!!!! My family went to the Blue Jackets game against Detroit. Most people in Columbus don't like teams from Michigan so it was a fun game to see Columbus beat Detroit. Rick Nash scored three goals which is called a "hat trick." People threw their hats on the ice. I got a free hat from the Columbus Blue Jackets as a birthday gift so I didn't throw my hat on the ice. We had awesome seats thanks to my Grandpa. :-)

Last Friday I celebrated by having a few girlfriends over for a sleepover. We also got to go to a salon to get manicures. That was cool to be pampered like that. Now I know how a Princess must feel.

Friday at school we had a math test, and a economics test. We also had a party! We passed out Valentine's to everybody in our class. Thanks to everyone who gave me a Valentine.

Saturday my family celebrated Valentine's Day. My mom cooked a great dinner.

This week in gym class we have to make up a jump rope routine. My group is Rachel Drobny, Rachel Dinsmore, Kelly Williams, and Maria Caradonna and me. Coming up this Friday Dana Turtle from Channel 6 is coming in to talk to us about weather. Man I have a busy week.

Send me your comments and let me know if you're excited for Spring to get here. I am tired of cold wind, gray clouds and snow!

Riley

Back On Line in 2009

Hi everybody. It has been a while since my last update. The last time I posted to my blog it was before Christmas. Let me bring you up to date on life in the 4th grade.

In early December the 4th grade class from Windermere Elementary was invited to be the featured singers at the Upper Arlington Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. It was very cold that night but there were lots of families there to watch us sing. My dad even recorded it on his Flip video camera. Check out this video from YouTube of our class singing our school song - We Are The Hawks led by our music teacher Mrs. Dulcamp.



It was a great Christmas here at the Carpenter house. We got to celebrate three times. First was the Carpenter Family Christmas party where my Nana, aunts and uncles and 5 cousins came over to eat pizza, play and exchange gifts. I some gift cards for Barnes and Noble and The American Girl store and Justice and some body lotion too.

On Christmas Day I hit the jackpot with some Nintendo DS games, a pink Rip Stick (skateboard), stuff for my American Girl dolls, Calico Critters, a rock painting kit and the really fun game called Pictureka.

Later that day we went to my grandparents house and I got new pajamas, an American Girl designing kit, a Kit Kittredge CD and my new Nintendo DS . I also got some really cool mini-martini glasses that my American Girl dolls really like.

It was an awesome Christmas. Thanks everyone...especially Santa!

Then it was time for New Years Eve. I stayed up until midnight with my Dad watching football and then we watched the ball drop. We saw Taylor Swift (and her ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas) on Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve.


Then it was 2009 and we had to watch lots of football. My dad had knee surgery so he was "King of the Remote" for a whole week. If it wasn't football, my little brother Ryan was hogging the TV for Nintendo Wii.



It was back to school on January 5th and I know one person who was excited for us to be back in school. You guessed it...my Mom. We got back on track with Mrs. Lobao's help with math, spelling and our new section on government.



Our new project is about famous Ohioans. We will study the people we have been assigned and learn about them so we can prepare a biography about them. It will all wrap up in February when our parents and guests can come in to the school and see our "real life" displays of our heroes.



Among the famous Ohioans are John Glenn, Jack Nicklaus, Archie Griffin, Doris Day and the person I was assigned to learn about - Annie Oakley. Stay tuned to The Riley Register and I'll let you know what I learn about this gun totin', horse ridin' sureshot.


I hope you're all staying warm.


From,


Riley





PS Send me your comments and let me know what your coolest Christmas gifts were.

QVC

Hi!
Ok, I'll be the first to admit it......I Love watching QVC. And, this is the best month to watch it. The gifts, the toys and best of all.....the FOOD!!! Have you seen the food they try and sell you? My mom and I watched QVC selling food for 3 hours this past Saturday. We were glued to the TV. Those Nathan's hot dogs sure looked good. How cute are those tiny weenies in a bun? Then, Corky's Ribs. I've never had a rib in my life, but this guy Corky makes them look so good. Very mouthwatering! And, the best for last is.....Mrs. Prindables. She sells those Carmel apples and Carmel pretzel rods. Man, do they look good. Man, are they expensive! $10.47 for shipping 8 apples?? The bad thing is I have braces and I can't eat Carmel right now. It's such a bummer! I can't wait till I get my braces off so my mom can order me some Mrs. Prindables. Good ole' Mrs. Prindable was on again tonight. The QVC host stood next to her the entire hour stirring that pot of Carmel. I was drooling all over my dinner plate. Have you ever ordered anything from QVC? Let me know what was good.

p.s. here's an update on the wagon trail from my classroom...... My daughter and I were floating down the river while we were bathing. The current got strong and we were yelling for help to get out and no one heard us. I was strong enough to pull myself out of the water but sadly my daughter, Betty, died. I'll let you know what happens to us tomorrow.

Send me your comments!
Riley

Turkey Week

I love holiday weeks at school. We just had two days of class this week. Tuesday was really neat because Mrs. Lobao brought the class in TimBits from Tim Horton's, I won a prize bag for a reading contest and my dad got to come in and read to our class.

We didn't have school on Wednesday so I went to my Grandma's house to help her prepare stuff for Thanksgiving dinner. I peeled potatoes, cut the ends off the green beans and helped set the table. On Thursday we enjoyed a very nice dinner with Turkey and all the other foods you would expect. My little cousins (Shelby and Hunter) didn't eat too much turkey. They mainly ate rolls and waited until dessert for cookies. Taylor just drank her bottle.

I got to spend time today with my other cousins. We had breakfast with my Nana at First Watch. I had a big chocolate chip pancake and bacon. It was yummy. I played with my cousins this afternoon and now am home with my pajamas on watching QVC. Have you ever seen how much food they try to sell you????? My Mommy promised me that as soon as I get my braces off she's ordering some of those Mrs. Prindables chocolate caramel pretzels for me. Yum-O! I can't wait to get my braces off!!!!!!!!!

I'll have plenty to blog about in the next few weeks - a show by the Radio City Rockettes that I will go to with my best friend Rachel and her little sister Jenna, the Nutcracker with my Grandma it will be my 8th year. And a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony with my 4th grade classmates. We'll be singing Christmas carols.

Now, this weeks football picks:

Maryland vs. Boston College - I will pick Boston College
Georgia Tech vs. Georgia - I am pulling for the Dawggies
Florida vs. Florida State - I love my Dad so I will pick Florida
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State - OU is favored so I will pick them
Notre Dame vs. USC - Not a hard pick here - USC

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you eat lots of turkey? Leave me a comment and let me know

Wagon Trains and Wolverines

Hey Everybody - I took the week off last week so I thought I'd get a new post up before the weekend. It's going to be a busy week here with Michigan coming to town.

Wagon Train
Last week we found out that our next project in 4th grade was going to be a pretend wagon train. My wagon train group is Zach, Dana, Maria, Alex F., J.T. and me. We are pretending we are a family from New York in the late 1700's. We are travelling to Symmes Purchase, Ohio. I am the "wagon master."

Our characters are named Norm, Betty, Marian, James, John and I am playing Lisa. I am the mother of John and Betty and I am married to Norm. Marian is the Grandma. James is a farmer who joined us for the ride.

There's a New Kid in Town
Last week we got a new student in our class. His name is J.T.

Extra Duties
This week has been busy. I got to be a DEAR monitor in Mrs. Fox's class. DEAR stands for "drop everything and read." I also had a student council meeting today. We talked about our next Spirit Day and a food drive that we will have before Christmas. We will give the food we collect to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

I also had our second meeting of our lunch time book club. Mrs. Edwards, our librarian, is in charge. We are reading Geek Chic. It's about a girl named Zoey. We haven't read much yet.

Dental Drama
I am excited that on December 15th (less than a month) I will get my palette expander removed. Dr. Marshall says my teeth are coming together nicely.

Pigskin Predictions
After doing pretty good with pro games a few weeks ago, I am back to picking college games this week. The games I am picking this week are:

• Michigan vs. Ohio State
• NC State vs. North Carolina
• Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
• Michigan State vs. Penn State
• Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma

Michigan stinks this year (sorry Micah). I am going with my home town Buckeyes to win this game.

I think they will be happy in Chapel Hill - North Carolina wins

Vandy sounds dandy.

Dad says Penn State is favored so I am going with them.

Texas Tech and Oklahoma? I don't know who is going to win this one. Dad says there is a "lot on the line." I think I'll go with the home team - Oklahoma in a close one.

I hope everyone who goes to the game this weekend - including my Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Kevin - all stay warm. I'll be in my Buckeye sweatshirt in front of the fireplace.


Go Bucks! BOO Michigan!!!

It's Cold...I'm Bored...It's Saturday

We just wrapped up a week of Indian Summer and the weather was perfect. We were able to play outside each day after school and I even wore shorts most of the week. Now the chilly fall weather has arrived and I don't like it.

It has been a busy week and it won't end until tomorrow afternoon with my cousin Taylor's baptism.

This week we had our Parent Teacher conferences and I had to lead the discussion. It was fun but I was kind of nervous. Mrs. Lobao was very helpful and my parents didn't ask me too many questions.

We also did our Indian power point presentations. My teammates were Alayna and Maria. It was about the Mingo Tribe that we have been studying.

I forgot to pick football games last weekend because I was recovering from my awesome trick-or-treat on Halloween. I ended up with 179 pieces of candy. I think my favorite kind is either Whoppers malted milk balls or Kit Kats.

This week I am going to try my picking skills with NFL games. Here goes:

Tennessee vs. Chicago
Seattle vs. Miami
Jacksonville vs. Detroit
Indianapolis vs. Pittsburgh
NY Giants vs. Philadelphia

I really like visiting the city of Chicago but I think the Tennessee Titans will like visiting Chicago too. I am picking the Titans to remain undefeated.

I will pick the favored Miami Dolphins

My dad says Jacksonville has been underachievers this year. They even lost to the winless Bengals last week. This week they play the winless Lions and the Jags will find a way to keep the Lions winless. I pick Jacksonville.

My uncle Jeff really likes Pittsburgh and my neighbor Jackie really likes the Colts. Family trumps neighbors so I will pick the Steelers.

I will go with the defending Super Bowl champion NY Giants to beat the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Okay, so we'll see how good I am at picking NFL games. Be sure to watch the games and then send me your comments on my selections.

Riley

Ryan's Birthday Edition

Greetings Readers,

In honor of my little brother Ryan's birthday (he turns 7 tomorrow), I will be making my football picks in just a second. First, I need to let you know that I scored another goal in last week's game. We won 2-0.

Not much happened in school this week. We did have our first Student Council meeting but it was kind of boring.

I got two of my projects back and scored 100% on both. My "Dear Mr. Henshaw" game was a 50 out of 50 and my Mingo Indian Mound was a 40 out of 40. I almost got 100% in my football picks last week but I missed the Clemson game. Still, 4 out of 5 is pretty good.

Here are the games I am picking this week:

Kentucky vs. Florida
Texas Tech vs. Kansas
Illinois vs. Wisconsin
Georgia vs. LSU
Penn State vs. Ohio State

My mom graduated from Kentucky and I know you all know my Dad went to school at Florida. Sorry Mom but I am going with Dad and his Gators in this one. I still love you though.

My Dad and Uncle Kevin were saying that the Big 12 defenses are pretty lame so I think that Texas Tech will outscore Kansas in a shootout.

Illinois travels to Wisconsin this weekend and will be facing a Badgers team that has lost three in a row. I don;t think they'll lose 4 straight so I will pick Wisconsin.

LSU plays at home after two big road games. (My Dad reminded me that his Gators beat LSU 51-21 two weeks ago). I am tired of hearing about LSU so i will pick the Bulldogs of Georgia.

The big game of the day is right here in Columbus where undefeated, 3rd ranked Penn State will play Ohio State. I just watched Lee Corso on ESPN choose Ohio State and I think he made a good pick. Jim Tressel will have his players dressed and ready to play so I will choose Ohio State.

Next week will be a special Halloween edition of The Riley Register. Please leave me a comment this week and tell me what kind of candy you'll be passing out at your house.

Bye,

Riley