milestone
« Previous EntriesMy Little Guy is Six
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
40th Anniversary Wishes
Monday, March 25th, 201340 years ago today, two very important people in my life got married. Yes, my parents are celebrating their 40th anniversary today. The two of them are such an important part of our lives.
The two of them have always been there for me. They listened to me when I made a change in careers during college to follow my dreams. My parents have also been there with TechyDad and I since we were dating, planning our wedding, and started our family. No matter what time of day or night, I know they will be there for us. Nana and Papa have been with us for the birth of the kids, met and or taken us to the emergency room when a kiddo was sick, and celebrated magical memories at Walt Disney World with us twice.
It only seems fitting that the people that started my love for all things Mickey Mouse and Disney got to be with the boys for their first trip. Then, last year, it made me the happiest to be able to invite my parents with us to a special event in Orlando. They never blinked about taking the boys into the parks alone so TechyDad and I could go to the conference. Instead, they were like kids themselves watching in wonder at the events unfold. I saw just how amazing and magical Walt Disney World is for my parents.
The two of them enjoyed time with all of us, just the kids, and they walked miles exploring all of the parks as a couple. It did not surprise us when they started to look at a destination to go for their 40th Anniversary Celebration. Of course, it will be Walt Disney World in the not too distant future.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. May there be many more happy and healthy years together making magical memories together.
Reading in Kindergarten
Friday, March 8th, 2013When NHL started kindergarten, all he wanted to do was learn to read. He was focused and had a major goal. We knew that he really wanted to do this skill and prove it quickly. JSL is the second child and was certainly ready and able to learn to read a while ago, but there was something different. My stubborn little fellow did not want to do it. He was still clinging to the special time reading together. He did not want to read shorter books to me, he wanted to read longer chapter books and see where Jack and Annie would go next.
JSL eventually realized that even if he could read, I would still read to him. Over the last month or so, my kindergarten kiddo has exploded with his literacy skills. The sounds are all there, the decoding is amazing, and his confidence is growing each and every day. Now, we are working on fluency.
Reading has always been a part of our daily routine, but there is something new to our homework. Each week, JSL’s teachers send home some mini-books that work on high frequency words, decoding, and other early reading skills. As a teacher, it always amazes me to see a child go from barely knowing their alphabet, learning their phonics skills, to reading. Now, I sit in amazement as another child, my baby, is able to read.
What I learned this year, just like with potty training, was not to push too hard. I knew that JSL would read once he started school. I also knew that there were reasons why he was holding out. He showed me that patience pays off and it makes it even more special.
What do you love to read with an emergent reader? We have a lot of books, but always looking for new ideas.
Magical Disney Coaster Moments
Monday, January 7th, 2013You either love roller coasters or you do not. I grew up going on them at a lot of amusement parks across the country with my father and brother. I fell in love with the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios the first time I rode it. Back in May 2009, I went on it with my father while the boys and my mother waited for us. It was Mother’s Day and it was fun to go on a coaster with my dad.
It really was love at first ride. The music, the lights, and the darkness make it an experience. It truly is the smoothest coaster that I have been on and I hoped to share it with others in my family one day.
Fast forward to this past April. My almost nine year old son was finally tall enough to go on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and even TechyDad was interested in facing some fears at Disney World. TechyDad, NHL, Papa, and I went on together while JSL and Nana wandered around waiting for us. TechyDad and NHL did not know that the photo is taken at the start of the ride. As you can see, one had his eyes closed, one is feeling the force of the blast off, and even I blinked.
Definitely a magical memory and I was SO proud of TechyDad and NHL for trying the ride. Needless to say, when we were finished and the line wasn’t too bad – only two of us went right back on. Yes, it was father and daughter time with Aerosmith once again.
Dad had me laughing the entire time, as you can see above. It really was a magical end to our vacation.
Do you have a time when you rode with your parent or child that was special and captured by a photo?
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.
Kindergarten Learning
Saturday, October 6th, 2012Dear JSL,
You have been a kindergarten kid for just about a month now. Mornings are still a bit rough. You say you are nervous and do not want to leave me. Still, the smile on your face at the end of the day tells me a different story. I can see that you are enjoying the time with your teachers, classmates, and learning.
What I love is watching you after school each day. You pull our your Doodle Pro and teach me things that you have learned. You recite the letters and their sounds. You tell me words that begin with the letters. Even on the way into school, you like to rattle off things that you have learned. You are in love with centers. This time seems to be your favorite, especially when there are science activities. You have already learned about the five senses and it made a big impression on you. Just the other day, you were explaining to me how the eyeball has an image that is turned upside down as it is carried to the brain. The science teacher in me was so very proud.
I have also watched you talking to your big brother about math. I knew that you were talking about shapes (which you already knew) in class. What I did not realize until I was looking at your sheets that I had heard you say another word.
Yes, you know how to identify a vertex on a shape. You can count them and the side and record the numbers. I was definitely impressed and you love sharing this information with me. The other item that you have been talking about a lot are apples. Since you are going to an orchard soon, you have been learning about how they grow. I can not wait to hear more about this subject over the weekend and next week. Thank you for taking me on this learning journey with you.
Love,
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