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Tuesday, May 14th, 2013Dear JSL,
For months now, I have been teasing you and begging you not to turn six. Of course, I knew that no matter how I wished and begged it was not really going to happen. Although I look forward to watching you grow up and become more independent, I am going to miss these moments because they are going so quickly.
My Kindergarten Kid is going to be heading into first grade soon. Not only did you learn all of your alphabet and letter sounds over the last year, you learned to read and write. Your sweet little messages makes me smile and I adore how you know just what to do or say to everyone to make them feel loved and special. Here is a look at your fifth year.
To celebrate being five, the two of us set out on an adventure last year. We started to read The Magic Tree House books. Over the months, we caught up to where the author was writing. Of course, Perry and Jake were always close by and you loved going to Nursery School. It was also the time where you learned how to ride your new scooter. (May 2012)
A lot of milestones happened soon after you turned five. You said goodbye to your amazing speech teacher and to everyone at nursery school. Suddenly, you were my new Kindergarten Kid. We had a few weeks together before NHL was finished with third grade. We went to craft events and had a lot of fun together. (June 2012)
Over the summer, you, NHL, and I continued to have fun going to crafting events, checking out items at the library, and exploring other items. You quickly discovered that you really like mini-golf when we went with Nana and Papa for the 4th of July. Later in the month, you and I went out alone and made a new special friend while looking for a birthday present for NHL. (July 2012)
The reminder of the summer was filled with crafts, reading, going to the park, and birthdays for Daddy and NHL. We also went on a few special trips to Hoffman’s and then, before we knew it, it was time for Kindergarten Orientation. (August 2012)
September was a tough month for both of us. Taking my baby to kindergarten was hard, but it was a big adjustment for you as well. Soon we had a new routine that we continue to this day. Each morning, we practice the Kissing Hand so we both feel better about being apart each day. You also expanded your ducky collection, got a new baby doll, and started Hebrew School that month. (September 2012)
The Fall saw another hurricane threaten to come into the area. While you were home two days, we did crafts and played. We also went on your first kindergarten field trip to check out the apple orchard. No apple picking since the crops had a bad year. When the weather was nice, you played on your scooter and enjoyed looking at caterpillars. Halloween meant that Captain America saved the day for all of us with his fantastic smile. (October 2012)
As the weather grew cooler, we worked on reading more and you started to get homework from school. Thanks to the book fair at your school, we found Pete the Cat and you fell in love with this silly singing feline. Thanksgiving weekend meant that cousins came into town and you loved seeing them and playing with some early Chanukah presents. (November 2012)
As 2012 came to a close, you were keeping busy. You finished up Art Club, became the Star of the Week, and stayed with Nana and Papa for a few days. You also fell in love with my new laminator. Together, we made Disney map projects for you to use on pirate play. Of course, you also loved lighting Chanukah candles, playing in the snow, and spending time with NHL and me during winter break. (December 2012)
2013 started off and we spent a lot of time trying to stay warm outside of school each day waiting for NHL. At home, you loved doing homework, working on your reading, and making crafts. You spent some time helping me with reviews about iPad apps as well. While we never made a giant snowman, you loved creating one for a school project to share with your friends. (January 2013)
Snowstorms and power outages happened a few times over the winter. You had so much fun helping us to make forts and playing inside them. There may not have been snow outside, but you were keeping warm. You loved spending time in your fort with NHL using your LEGOs. Slime was also a big hit during winter break. You spent many hours using that over and over again. (February 2013)
After a long winter, you were ready for the spring and could not wait to get outside. You loved getting to test out your new Big Wheel and racing up and down the block. This was also the time we convinced you that you could read to all of us. It was so much fun sitting down to listen to you read us all a book. I quickly saw that my “baby” was growing up way too quickly during this time. (March 2013)
After we celebrated Passover, we spent time going out to places in our community. You adore going to the NY State Museum and had so much fun checking out all of the CANStruction items featured there. In addition to this, you loved meeting new authors and illustrators at the Book Festival. You were so proud of the book that you picked out, the drawing you made, and wearing your wizard hat. (April 2013)
Now I look at how grown up you are and can hardly believe my eyes. In six short years, you have changed so much, but at the same time you are still the sweetest little guy who genuinely wants to help and make others happy.
Though I have tears in my eyes as I type this, I am excited to see the little boy that you are becoming. I can not wait to see more of your personality come alive in the years ahead. Thank you, JSL, for letting me be a part of this journey with you. As much as I am sad to see you get older, I am excited.
Happy 6th birthday sweetie and here is to many more happy and wonderful memories ahead.
Love,
Mommy
Past B-day posts to JSL:
- Today My Baby is Five
- Hello Four Year Old
- Goodbye to my last 2 year old
- My little guy is 2 today
- My baby is 1
Looking Back at Mother’s Day
Monday, May 13th, 2013Ten years ago in May, I was expecting my first son and looking forward to being a new mother. I had no idea how my life was about to change and the love that I would immediately feel for this new little life.
NHL changed the way that I forever see the world. This is nothing negative, but he has given me the inner “Mama Bear” moments where I will fight and advocate until I am blue in the face.
Six years ago, I spent mothers day, extremely pregnant with my second son. I was days from my due date and feeling so tired because I was also battling an infection during the last month or so. Little did I know that the very next morning, I would see my second little boy and fall head over heals in love with another child. At the time, I worried that I would not have enough love for both of my children. Of course, I quickly learned that it would simply expand to fit the needs of our growing family.
Watching the boys on the day that we took JSL home was amazing. The boys have grown so much over the last six years and are now such good friends. They have their moments as all siblings do, but the two will protect each other like nobody else can.
I rarely take photos with the boys because I am usually the one with the camera in my hands, but this mother’s day I asked TechyDad to get one of the three of us.
I always want to remember these moments because my babies are growing up before my eyes and each time I blink more and more milestones are gone forever.
Monsters University is Coming
Thursday, February 28th, 2013Rewind to 2001. It was the year I finished college, the summer I got married, and the moment I fell in love with monsters. Monster’s Inc. came out at a time when we needed to laugh, believe, and be innocent once more (less than a month after September 11). The movie brought us into a world where we learned that laughing was a far more powerful item than fear. We watched the beautiful friendship of Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan. Then, we watched the pair overcome their fears to work as a team and help Boo when she ends up in Monstropolis.
TechyDad and I saw the movie when it came out. Now we share our passion for all of our monster friends with the boys. The boys had to go back to see their friends last spring with Nana and Papa just because.
Now, the entire family is excited about a new chapter of the monster tale coming out. This summer, Monsters University hits the big screen on June 21. We will head back to school and see Mike and Sully as they get educated at MU.
I know that we will be going to see it as a family treat to celebrate the end of the school year. Until that time, the boys will likely watch new trailers about the movie over and over. If you have not seen them yet, here is one to check out what the new movie will be about.
What do you think? I would love to know if you plan on going to watch how it all began with Mike, Sully, and our other monster friends.
Disclosure: Disney PR notified me of the some Monsters University news. I was not compensated for this and simply wanted to share since I adore all things Disney. You know we will be going to see Monsters University when it is released June 21, 2013.
Hello Six Year Blogging Anniversary
Monday, February 11th, 2013During the winter of 2007, I was pregnant with my second kiddo and teaching full time. Spare moments were few and far between, but I was looking for something else to do. My cousin and several friends had started blogging and it caught my attention. On February 4, 2007, I started my own blog.
At the time, it was simply a place to write thoughts from my brain that was going a mile a minute and to document life of a family of three moving to four. I could write about triumphs and vent some about items that confused or upset me. One of my first posts was about heading to a show with NHL. That started my love for sharing photos.
Days later, I wrote about a storm that left us with 19 inches of snow (more than we got the other day in our region).
In a lot of ways, I have grown up along with my blog. I went from the mother of one little boy to two. I shared being wife to TechyDad and our adventures as a couple and parents. We have traveled to Disney and beyond while posting about our many destinations and the items we learned from them. Of course, I have also been able to look back at my posts to see when we first suspected we would become Autism advocates.
It really has been amazing to watch not only my blog grow over the last six year, but the boys with it. Just yesterday, they were sitting together like this:
Now it often looks a little more like this:
I look forward to many more adventures in learning and growing here on The Angel Forever with my family and all that read in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
Long Lost Disney Friends
Monday, February 4th, 2013For 2013, Disney has launched Limited Time Magic where something new and exciting will take place throughout the year. Recently, I watched friends and family members share photographs from their time at Walt Disney World during Long Lost Friends Week.
Although I was not able to make it there to see Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, and all of the Robin Hood gang, I knew that I had something fitting. Here is a photo from a long lost magical trip to Walt Disney World.
This retro photo from May 1983 is with Tweedle Dum, my little brother, and I am sporting pigtails. We were enjoying the day at the parks. This trip would also be our first chance to see the newly opened Epcot. If you look closely at my brother, he also had a vintage shirt on. Yes, it is for River Country which closed in November 2001.
So many magical memories and a day with a character that is rarely seen.
What is your favorite retro or rarely seen Disney character? I would love to know and hear all about your experience.
This post is part of the fun over at Super Jenn and her Monday’s Magical Moments Meme. To join in the fun and link up, head on over to the linky there.
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