Life of Ryan » How-To https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com Children's Book Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:36:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2 Spaced-Out Ryan (A Two-Part Story) https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/beautiful/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/beautiful/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:32:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/
What are you doing, Ryan?

I’m Learning About Rockets, Dad.
It’s time for bed, Ryan.  You’re still researching about rockets?
Yes, Daddy.  I’m Really Interested in How Rockets Work.
O.K., Ryan.  Let’s explore rocketry– just like we explored flying airplanes…

Good morning, Ryan!  I have a pleasant surprise for you.
I found a mailing tube… and here is some cardboard box material that the nice lady 
at the Hallmark Card store gave me when I explained that we wanted to 
make fins to build a model rocket.
Daddy–– it’s SO BIG!
You’re right, Ryan.  Our mailing tube may be Too Big!
We can cut it down a bit so that it is better proportioned
for our model rocket.
This is Exciting, Daddy!  Thanks!!
What do we Do First, Dad?
How many fins should our rocket have, Ryan – 3 or 4?
Four, Daddy!
O.K.  Our cardboard box will unfold into six individual sides.
How Large is Each Side of our cardboard box material, Ryan?
It’s 4 inches by 6 inches, Daddy.
How Tall should we Make the Fins, Dad?
Well– I researched and I found out that the fins should be 1/4 (one fourth)
of the height of the rocket, Ryan.

So – how tall should our rocket model be if our largest fin size is 6″, Ryan?
Four times 6 inches, Daddy.  
Correct, Ryan.  6″+6″+6″+6″ = 24″ tall for our model rocket.
I’ve measured and marked our mailing tube at 24″ with a rubber band.

I will cut our cardboard mailing tube with a fine-toothed hacksaw blade.
It will make the best cut but will be hard work because the small teeth cut very slowly.

I Drew a Fin and Now I’m Cutting It Out, Daddy!

If that fin works well, Ryan– we can use it to trace more fins 
so that they all look exactly the same.
Let’s prop our first fin up against the side of the rocket to see how it looks, Ryan.
It Works, Daddy!  It Really Looks just like a Rocket Fin!
You’re right, Ryan!  It really does look splendid!  
And– I think it is the perfectly correct size fin for our model rocket!
I’ve Traced and Cut Out Three More Fins, Dad.  (Plus One ‘Extra’ – Just in Case)

The fins that you cut out and that we glued on look great, Ryan!

But that glue is just ‘temporary’.  I want us to do a little extra work, Ryan.
Let’s add a glue line along the edges of the fins to strengthen them, Ryan.
Daddy.  ‘Something’ is Missing on our Model Rocket…

You’re correct, Ryan.  What is missing is a nose cone for the top of the rocket
and some stripes to make the rocket look beautiful.
I didn’t forget, Ryan.  Here is something that we can make a nose cone with
and here is some bright orange ‘Duckie’ tape to make stripes with.

Am I Doing it Right, Dad?
Excellent job, Ryan!  Push hard on that tape and keep it lined up well.

We Did It!  Daddy– we Made a Model Rocket at Home by Hand!
And it Really Looks like a REAL Rocket, Dad!  For REAL!!!

Oh, Dad!  This is FANTASTIC!!!
Let’s take it outside, Ryan.

Wow!  It is BEAUTIFUL!

It Looks Like it is Going to Take Off!

V-R-O-O-M ! ! !

Thanks for Helping with my Incredible Rocket, Dad!  
Tonight I am going to Dream about Being an Astronaut!!
Goodnight Ryan.  Stellar Dreams, Buddy!

End of Part 1
(If you are reading this to a child… this is a good stopping point – tomorrow is another day!)


Good Morning, Ryan!
I’ve Got a Surprise for you this Morning!
Daddy!?  You got me an Astronaut Suit?!
Yes, I did.  Try it On, Ryan.
Oh!  You Look Good as an Astronaut, Buddy!

Daddy!  You even Got me a Space Helmet!
 Astronauts Need a Space Hemet to Breath in Space ’cause there is No Air in Space.  
Try it On!

I’m an Astronaut!!!
Now, we’re Going on a Surprise Trip, Ryan!
Where are we Going, Dad?
I can’t Tell you.  Because it’s another *Surprise*, Ryan.
Just Relax and Observe Nature.  It will be a Long Trip– 70 miles!!
Where are we, Dad???
We are at the Tripoli Tampa Rocketry Association Launch Field, Ryan.
It is one of the Best Model Rocket Fields in the entire U.S.A.

Look Ahead!  
See the Rocket Launch Smoke from that Rocket we Just Heard Go Up?!

We have to Drive through this Field Past all the Mommy and Baby Cattle.

These Baby Cattle (called ‘Calves’) were Just Born within the Last Several Days.
It does not Appear that the Rocket Launch Noise Bothers them at all.  That’s Good to Know.

Let’s Watch these Men get Ready to Launch Their Rocket!

  ……3  …..2  …..1   …..0 …..***

*** BLAST OFF!!!***

Look, Dad!  I am Standing Beside a Rocket that is About to be Launched!

 What goes Up…

Must come Down…!
Here’s More Rockets Ready to be Launched, Ryan!
I’m Standing Under the Engine of this Rocket, Dad!
Please Move Away from There Immediately, Ryan!!!  You Could Get Hurt!
Let’s Go See that Red and White Rocket that has just Parachuted Back Down to Earth.

See how it has Separated into 3 Parts, Ryan?
The 1st Stage (bottom– with the fins) has a Rocket engine…
And the 2nd Stage (with the Nose Cone) contains a Parachute 
so that the Rocket can Come Slowly and Gently Back to Earth.
Here is the Used Rocket Motor after it has Fired the Rocket High into the Sky.
The Propellent inside Rocket Motors makes Flame and Smoke and Pushes the Rocket Upward.

Here is a Kit containing Rocket Motors and small Charges to Separate the 1st Stage
from the 2nd Stage and Also to Make the Parachute come Out (deploy).

Boy!  My Sister, Pinkie, would LOVE this Pink Rocket!

Yes she Would, Ryan.
I think that she Would Like that Bunny, Also!

This is from a Funny Cartoon that was Popular when Daddy was a Youngster, Ryan!!!
His Name is Wile E. Coyote and he was Created by Warner Bros. Animator, Chuck Jones

Here is a Man who Comes and Sells Parts for Rockets and Also
Sells New model Rocket Kits for People to Build.
Children and Adults Love to Learn about and to Fly Rockets.

Ryan.  Let’s Watch these People get Ready
to Launch their Amazingly HUGE Rocket!

First they have to Set It Up onto a Launch Stand.
The Rocket is Attached to a Steel Rail that Serves to Guide their Rocket
Straight into the Sky.

Almost Ready!
Taking a Look Around.

…Some Minor Adjustments…

Now Hooking Up the Electrical Connection that allows
the Launch Master to Press the Launch Button from Far Away 
(for Safety).

Here it Comes Back Down by Parachutes, Ryan!

Daddy.  It’s HUGE!
Even the Parachutes are Far Away from me.

This is the Parachute Assembly, Ryan.
It has a Separation Stage, which is a Small Explosive Charge to Push-Out the Parachutes.
Plus it has an Altimeter that tells How High into the Sky the Rocket Flew.

The Owner of the Rocket is Listening to and Counting little *beeps* from the Altimeter.
It Gives *beeps* for Thousands, Hundreds and Tens of Feet.
Their Rocket went up 2,859 feet on this Flight.
Thank you for Showing Us your Rocket, Sir!

Ryan.  Look at this Really Interesting Rocket that Mr. Chris Michielssen has.

He says that It has the Neatest Fin Design, Ever!
It Looks like a Space Ship from the Future to me, Ryan.
Mr. Chris Michielssen Designs Fins for Rockets

We watched this Rocket Go Up…

…and Come Down Right Next to us!!  
You have to Always be Watchful when you Visit a Model Rocket Launching Club!
We have Time to Watch One Last Rocket Go Up Before we Leave, Ryan.
This is a Pretty one and this Man says he Really Enjoys Building his Model Rockets.

The Beautiful Rocket is Returning Safely on its Parachute.
Now, let’s Walk Across the Pasture to our Car.
Thank you, Daddy.  This was a Fun Day!

Goodbye, Cattle!
Goodbye TTRA Rocket Launch Site.
Thanks to Everyone who Talked to Us and Explained How their Rockets Worked.

Daddy?  Do you Know Which Rocket that I Like the Very Best?
No, Ryan.  Which Rocket do you Like the Very Best?
The One that you and I Built Together.  
This is my Most Favorite Rocket of ALL!!!
…3

…2

…1    Sweet Dreams!

Here is a Nice *How-To* Prepare and Launch a Model Rocket Video by a Young Hobbiest
Here are some more YouTube Model Rocket Launch Videos












]]> https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/beautiful/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/feed/ 5 Great Eggs–pectations! https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/great-eggs-pectations/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/great-eggs-pectations/#comments Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:15:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/great-eggs-pectations/

Wha––?

Ryan.  Pinkie.  Look!
We are Going to Dye Easter Eggs This Morning! 

First, we have to Put Down Newspapers to Protect our Table.

Then, you have to Tie On these Egg Coloring Bibs that I Made for you.
(we cut our egg coloring bibs from plastic bags)

Daddy.  I dont Think that I’ve Ever Colored Eggs Before.

I Know that I Have Not Colored Eggs– Ever!

Well, Kids… it’s Not Too Hard.
And it can even be Easy!

I Like Easy!

The Important thing is to Have a Coloring Bib 
and to Use Lots of Newspapers to Cover our Work Area.

How do we Start, Daddy?

Dip one of your Eggs into a Color that you Choose…

My Egg is Turning Yellow!
Another way to Color Eggs is to Dampen a Paper Towel with Vinegar Water–
then Put Food Coloring on the Paper Towel.

Roll -Up the Egg in the Paper Towel
and Wrap with Plastic Wrap
(the longer it stays wrapped, the brighter it will be)
Mine’s Pretty Bright!
I’m Waiting for Mine to Get Brighter!
Another Way is to Use a Sponge and Dab-On Colored Dye!
Daddy Taught me this and I Like it a LOT!
We’re Having FUN!!!
Daddy– I Just Couldn’t Wait!
I Had to Try an Egg to See if Colored Eggs TASTE Colored!
Oh, Pinkie!  Ryan!
What Splendid Eggs you’ve Crafted!  They are Beautiful, kids!
Now– let’s Clean-Up our Mess.
Much Better!  How Pretty!!!

You kids Deserve a Reward for Doing Such a Great Job!
You Even Stayed Clean!  I’m Amazed!!
(and relieved)

Thank you Daddy!
Yes, Thank you!  That was Great Fun, Dad!
Look!  Duckie Puzzles came with our Coloring Kit!

Duckies are my MOST Favorite-ist Birds!!!
I Hope that the Easter Bunny Likes our Eggs when he Visits!
We’re Waiting for the Easter Bunny.
Waiting… waiting… waiting…
We’re Still Waiting, Mr. Easter Bunny.
We are Waiting Patiently.  Very Patiently.  Very, very Patiently.
Do you Hear Us, Mr. Easter Bunny?  WE’RE PATIENTLY WAITING…!

]]> https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/great-eggs-pectations/feed/ 7 Hey, Ryan! Let’s Play Checkers! https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/pinkie/hey-ryan-lets-play-checkers/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/pinkie/hey-ryan-lets-play-checkers/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:20:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/hey-ryan-lets-play-checkers/

Hey, Ryan!  Let’s Play Checkers!
Do you Remember How to Play the Game?
I Think So… we Each Stay On the Black Squares…
…and Then What do we Do?
I Think you ‘Jump-Over’ the Checkers, Ryan.
O.K., Dog.  Thanks!
But ‘How-Many’ do you Jump-Over, Pinkie?
I Don’t Know, Kitty… Let’s Just Start to Play, Ryan. 
Maybe we Will Figure it Out After Awhile.
I Like This Game, Pinkie!
I Like This Game too, Ryan!
Hey– do I ‘Jump-Over’ your Checker Now?
Don’t Forget… you Get To Keep Her Checkers that you Jump-Over, Ryan!
Now it’s Pinkie’s Turn!  Take His Checkers, Pinkie.  Take His!!!
Take Some More…!
No!  You Can’t Just Take Ryan’s Checkers unless Pinkie Jumps-Over Them.
Well – then, Jump-Over Those, Pinkie…!
Kitty–– it’s Not Her Turn!  It’s Ryan’s Turn to Play… Jump-Over her Checkers There, Ryan!
No!!  Not Fair Jumping Two!!!
Is Too ‘Fair’.  It’s The ‘Rules’, Kitty!
Is Not!
Is Too!
Not!
Too!!
*Hiss-sss* !! *Grr-rrr* !!!
*Acckkk*!  *Oommph* !!!
*Scratch*  *Kick* – *Paw*
*Bite* !!
Quit it, you Two!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re Trying To Play a Game!  You’re Supposed to ‘Just Watch’ !!!
I got my Checker to the End on the Other Side.  ‘Queen’ me, Ryan!  

How do I ‘Queen You’?  What’s That???
Put one of those Black Checkers on Top of Mine– so that there are Two Stacked Up.
Now, ‘Queen Me’, Pinkie! 
You’re a Boy, Ryan… I’ve Got To ‘King’ you… 
…There!
Hey– How Did He Get There???  I Think He Cheated, Pinkie!
Not True, Kitty!!!  Ryan’s Playing Fair!!!!  You Just Don’t Remember How to Play This Game!!!
Do Too!!!  Do Not!!!!!         *Hiss-sss* !!  *Grr-rrr* !!!
*Oommph* !!!             *Scratch*  *Kick* – *Paw*
Please get your Kitty off my Dog, Pinkie!
I Can’t!!!  Your Dog is Holding-Onto my Kitty’s Leg, Ryan!!
Just Look At Them Fight!  All our Checkers are Moved!  What Can We Do?
O.K.!  Stop Fighting Dog.  
Stop Fighting Kitty!  
We are Done Playing Checkers for Now.
Yeah–, Pinkie!  You’re Right.  We Can’t Remember Where Our Checkers Go…
I Know… Let’s Play Cards!!!!!

(We Won!!)                                                                                                  (Did Not!!) 

(Did Too!!!)                                                                                                           (*Hiss!!!*)

Anyone Remember the *Rules* for Cards?????!!!

]]> https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/pinkie/hey-ryan-lets-play-checkers/feed/ 4 Let’s Do a ‘Speriment! https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/pinkie/lets-do-a-speriment/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/pinkie/lets-do-a-speriment/#comments Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:22:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/lets-do-a-speriment/

Let’s Do Something!
What Can we Do?
I Know!  Let’s Do a ‘Speriment!
Daddy Gave us this Book with Lots of ‘Speriments.
This one Looks like Fun.  We can Make our own Telephone, Ryan.
Let’s See.  How do we Do This?  
First, we Need some ‘Stuff’.  Let’s Ask Daddy for the Things on this Page, Ryan.
Here Kids.  You can use these juice cans for your Telephone Experiment.


Now we Have To Make Holes and Do Other Stuff.
O.K.  I Found a String and a Hammer and Nails to Make a Hole in the Bottom of our Cans, Pinkie.
I’ll Go First and Show you How.
See?  It Wasn’t Too Hard!
You are Doing Great, Pinkie!
Ryan– we almost Forgot the Toothpicks!
We Break Them and we Tie Them Together with our String– Like This, Ryan.
Now, Pull the String Through the Can.
See?  Now, You Do It, Ryan.
Like this?  Yes, Ryan.
We Did It!  Yeah!!!
Can you Hear me, Ryan?
Pinkie– you’ve Got to Talk Through the Can!
Can you Hear me Now?
I Hear you, Pinkie!  And you Sound Just Like my Sweet Sister!


]]> https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/pinkie/lets-do-a-speriment/feed/ 6 Playing With Our Food https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/playing-with-our-food/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/playing-with-our-food/#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:46:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/playing-with-our-food/
Mommy Says we Shouldn’t Play with our Food 
But Mommy is not Home Today.
Look Ryan!  We got some New Cookie Cutters in the Mail.

Look at these Interesting Shapes.  Let’s try them Out!

Let’s Use Bread – and we can Cookie Cut our LUNCH!  

Ryan–  Why not Invite Dog and Kitty to Play?

Dog.  Kitty.  Would you Like to Help use Our New Cookie Cutters?
OK!  We Like Playing with Our Food!
I want the Bone!  OK!  I want the Fish!
The Dog and Bone are My Shapes!
And This Fish is For Me!
I Get the Bears!  ‘Cause I’m a Bear.
Has Anyone Done This Before?

I’ve seen Your Mommy Making Cookies.  I Think I Remember How This Works.
How do we do it Dog? 
Well, you Push Down on the Cookie Cutter. 
Like This! 
You ‘gotta Push REAL Hard!  Grrrr!!!!
Et voila!  C’est fini!
Look at my Orange Marmalade Bone!  
That Looked Easy, Dog!  
Now I’ll Try!  
PUSH!  Right, Dog?
Whoa!  Something’s not Right!
I don’t know Ryan… looks like you could use a Paw.
I think so Dog! 
Thank you!  
You’re welcome Ryan.  

We’re Doing It! 
You’re Working Well Together.  
Yeah!!!  
This is Fun, Dog!  
I wanna’ do mine next!  
Here goes!  
I did it!  
I cut out a Fish!  
Playing with our Food is Fun! 
I wanna’ do a Ducky next!  
What a nice Ducky!  
You’re doing Very Well, Kitty.  
I’ll press HARD all over.  
Marmalade!  It’s just Ducky!!  
I like my Ducky!  
Now I’ll do a Dog.  
I Like Marmalade ’cause it doesn’t Stick to the Roof of my Mouth!  

Look what we did!
We can Eat these Parts that are Left too!  
What a Fun Time we’ve had Playing with our Food!









]]> https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/playing-with-our-food/feed/ 6 Daddy – It’s a Beach-y Day – Can we Go? https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/daddy-its-a-beach-y-day-can-we-go/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/how-to/daddy-its-a-beach-y-day-can-we-go/#comments Sat, 29 May 2010 04:49:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/daddy-its-a-beach-y-day-can-we-go/
Daddy – It’s a Beach-y Day – Can we Go?  –Please?
Sure, Ryan.  We can go to the Beach today.

Do we have all our Beach Stuff, Ryan?  Beach Umbrella, Cooler with Food and Drinks,
your Beach Towel, my Beach Towel, Toys, and our Floats –– are we O.K.?


Here we are.  South Lido Park – my Favorite Beach.


We will walk North East, Ryan – for about a Quarter-mile.  


Oh, Daddy!  I am enjoying this Beach-y Day!
You could do that in the Water, Ryan.  Let me blow up a Float for you.


This is So Very Nice, Daddy!  The Water is rocking me Up and Down… Up and Down.
Duckie is having a Good Time, too!
Ryan?  Why don’t you come in to Shore now and build a Sand Castle?  I’ll help you.


Let’s Practice, first, Ryan.  Put sand into a bucket and then turn it over to make a nice Castle Shape.


Daddy– something is Wrong!  My sand is Falling Apart.
I think that we will have to Add Water to this sand to make it Stick Together, Ryan.  


Here.  We can use this  watering can that we brought – like this…


But, first… let’s Work Together and build a Large Flat Base for our Walls and our Towers to sit upon.
You are Doing Great, Ryan–– Helping to make a Nice, Flat Base with your new Grader Tool.


Daddy!  The Water Helped!  The sand is Sticking Together.  I made my First Sand Castle Tower, Daddy!
Daddy.  It’s Nice.  Our Sand Castle is getting Bigger and Bigger!


I like our Walls and Towers, Daddy.  This is Fun! 
This is your First Sand Castle, Ryan.  Did you Enjoy yourself?


I Did, Daddy!  I really Enjoyed playing in the Sand and building a Sand Castle with you.
Let’s take a Break, Daddy.  I need to Rest a little bit.  

                             

Look, Daddy.  Boats!
They’re coming to Shore!

May I Please sit on your Boat, Sir?
What a Nice Boat you have, Sir.
I Wish we had a Boat, Daddy.
Well, Ryan– we don’t have a Boat… but we Do have a Float!  Go try it out.


                             

Look, Daddy!  I see a Shell!
That was Fun.  I liked the Float.
–But I still Wish we had a Boat.
Sorry, Ryan.  We can not have a Boat right now.  
Mommy and Daddy are Saving for a New Roof for our Home.


Our Home is like Building your Castle, Ryan.  We have to Work Hard on it.


I Understand, Daddy.  But I still Wish we had a Boat.
Let’s play with Your Toy Boat, Ryan.















I think I’ll lie down now, Daddy.

                            

                            

I’m Glad we live near a Beach!
It’s Relaxing.
(sigh)

                             

Let’s go Home Ryan.  We had a Nice Beach-y Day, didn’t we?













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