school

Conversations About Kindergarten

Posted on July 16, 2014 Written by Tonya

It’s already starting.

I can physically feel him slowly pulling away from me, needing me less and less.

I knew it would happen. Not at five, but eventually.

Lucas, what are you looking forward to about your new school?

Making new friends.

Anything else?

Having a new teacher.

Are you feeling nervous at all?

No.

You know it’s a much bigger school then the one you are used to and while the teachers will help you, it’s okay to feel nervous.

I know.

And you can talk to Mommy and Daddy about any feelings you’re having, good or bad. It’s perfectly normal to be nervous when you go someplace you’ve never been before with people you’ve never met before.

I know. At least Katherine and Colby will be there.

True.

Do you think I’ll be able to take the bus?

Um, that might be an option. [Thinking: NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!] You don’t want Mommy to drop you off and pick you up each day?

Yeah, but I also think it would be nice to walk in all by myself.

Audible painful sigh. Can sighs be painful?

Well, why don’t we talk to Daddy and see what he thinks. It’s always good to diffuse/put off/rely on the other parent in times like these, no?

Okay.

To date, this has to be one of the most crushing things I’ve heard come out of my son’s mouth. Crushing and true.

He’s growing up, my little boy.

My five-year-old.

My kindergartner.

He wants to take the bus! Eek!!

Growing up is easy, it’s the letting go that’s hard.

Show & Tell

Posted on February 24, 2014 Written by Tonya

After having Lola I couldn’t drive for two weeks and while being chauffeured around was nice, there’s nothing like the freedom of being behind the wheel of your own car.

The first place I drove to was my OB/Gyn’s office for an incision check and then the grocery store, because of course…

The next day I took Lucas to school.

It was a very special day.

Not only was it Valentine’s day, but it would be the first day Lucas could introduce his little sister to his classmates and he was very excited. On the way there Lucas, who is still getting used to the fact that Lola now goes with us everywhere asked if we could bring her in so that he could “show her off”.

Lucas attends a small Montessori school and we know all the staff so everyone knew we had had the baby and was anxious to meet her.

As soon we entered Lucas’s classroom, circle time was already underway and silly me thought I could slip in and slip out without interrupting, but his teacher promptly stopped what she was saying and gestured to me to come to the front of the classroom, where she placed a tiny chair at the feet of 22 eager children and made us that day’s show and tell.

Let me just say kids are awesome, but four and five year olds are particularly cool. They leave no stone unturned and hold nothing back. While Lucas beamed with pride from his spot in the circle, I tried my best to introduce his sister, praise him for being a good big brother and address these curious minds:

“Why is she wrapped in a towel?”

“Where is her hair?”

“Does she have arms and legs?”

“Why is she sleeping?”

“When I grow up, I’m going to have a baby too. Well, my wife is. How do you get a baby.” [I ignored this last part.]

“My baby sister poops a lot, does she poop a lot?”

“When she talks, does she say ‘go go ga ga’?”

Lucas and Lola – Valentine’s Day 2014

Now when Lola and I drop off or pick up Lucas we are kind of old news. Kind of… babies tend to draw a lot of attention no matter where you go.

Dotting I’s & Crossing T’s

Posted on November 14, 2013 Written by Tonya

We’ve been reading the books, reminiscing about when he was a baby, letting him pick out onesies, answering and asking a lot of questions, visiting friends with newborns and talking about how things are going change, but no matter how hard we try to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s, nothing can truly prepare our household for a baby or Lucas to be a big brother.

After learning from a good friend that there was such a thing as a Sibling Preparation Class, I promptly took to the Web and signed up Lucas.

I figured it couldn’t hurt for him to hear from someone other than Mommy and Daddy how to be helpful, patient and careful with his baby sister, our baby, as we call her. Lucas even got a lesson in swaddling and diaper changing.

Seeing the gleam in his eyes as he shared with the instructor how he has seen our baby doing somersaults on a computer screen in the doctor’s office made my night, but I especially loved how he suggested that someday his little sister attend a sibling class of her own so that she can learn how to be a good sibling too. My smart little firstborn.

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Day 14: Today I am thankful for my husband’s successful business, European Collectibles on PCH, a classic car dealership. It is his dream realized and our livelihood and today is celebrating its three year anniversary! #30daysofgratitude

Too Cute Halloween Peep S’mores

Posted on October 30, 2013 Written by Tonya

Lucas came home from preschool last year on Halloween with a treat bag full of goodies from his classmates. I felt like a total heel because we didn’t send any treats (I didn’t know!!), so this year I wanted to make sure we/I did. I am the least crafty person I know so I’m constantly ~~stealing~~ borrowing other people’s ideas. I wanted to do something different than just sending a bag of standard fun-size candy.

Low and behold… While waiting for a doctor’s appointment yesterday (nothing like procrastination!), I was going through my Instagram feed and found the cutest and more importantly easiest idea posted by Mamainlalaland.

A quick trip to Michael’s and the grocery store and an assembly line was set up! The result is too cute…

We put together 30 bags in less than an hour, so there is still time to make these for your favorite ghouls and boys!

Directions for Halloween Peep S’mores:

1 graham cracker (broken in half)
2 mini Hershey bars
1 ghost Peep (they make pumpkin Peeps too if you want to mix it up)
Place in treat bag
Tie (I used orange and black raffia and a Halloween tag I found a free printable for at Anders Ruff Custom Designs. You can download it here.

Directions for making the s’mores (in case anyone asks):

Place an unwrapped chocolate bar on top of a graham square. Top with ghost peep and second graham square. Microwave 10-15 second and enjoy!

I am so thankful for creative people who inspire me. Happy Halloween!

Back To School

Posted on September 4, 2013 Written by Tonya

The pace picks up a few notches.

New shoes, school supplies, backpacks and lunch boxes are purchased.

Friends are reunited fresh from family vacations tanned and energized and new faces mean new friends.

Some mothers rejoice and others rock quietly in the corner counting down the hours until they can see their “babies” at the end of the day.

First day jitters run a muck as outfits are carefully laid out.

Carrying precious cargo, big yellow school buses can be seen on residential streets and freeways twice a day.

The interwebs are plastered with darling faces and goofy smiles holding signs announcing their new grade level.

It’s back to school time!

I love seeing how much Lucas has grown over the last three first days of school; from his over sized dinosaur backpack and beloved lovey (which he still takes to school every day!) to a Cars lunch box the next year and most recently the planets one he had to have. He’s gone from a baby to a little boy in the blink of an eye.

Lucas was just two years and two months old when we sent him to preschool. Sometimes I worry that it was too soon, but from day 1, he has loved it. He is now officially in Pre-K!

The things he learns at school (the life cycle of a chicken…what?!) and shares with us once he gets home continue to astound me and I’m thrilled at how excited he is about perfecting his letters, reading, learning to cut with scissors, coloring within the lines and proudly covering our refrigerator door with his latest artwork. I can’t wait to see where this school year takes him.

I hope all our children have an awesome school year!

This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop Prompt #4. First day of school!

My First Crush

Posted on August 7, 2013 Written by Tonya

His name is Scott Brewer and until recently (like just before I hit Publish on this post) we were Facebook friends. For the record, I never reached out to him in any way, never liked one of his photos or commented on any of his status updates. He didn’t either. I don’t even remember who friended whom.

I also don’t know why I liked him, I certainly never spoke a word to him, but he was oh so dreamy, very all-American looking; tan, blond hair, that would turn green in the summertime from hours spent in the pool, piercing blue eyes and he was never without a baseball cap, which teachers were constantly hounding him to remove.

My best friend at the time, Michelle also had a crush on Scott Brewer. He was never just Scott. Always Scott Brewer.

We were only classmates for two years, if that. Second and third grade.

It wasn’t until five years later when one of my all-time favorite movies came out that I truly understood what a crush was. In the wise words of Jim Baker: “That’s why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they’d call ’em something else.” (Sixteen Candles, 1984).

SIDE NOTE: From his blurry Facebook profile pic, Scott Brewer did not retain his good looks and I find a little satisfaction in that.

There were many, many crushes to follow: Frederic, Tariq, Lorin, Robert, Steven and those were all before I hit high school and my raging hormones really kicked in and I discovered Tiger Beat magazine.

This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop Prompt #5: First crush.

Name That Kindergartner – Update

Posted on March 10, 2013 Written by Tonya

Update: The winner of the $300 Amazon gift card is Amy Pike. Second and third place go to Renee and Julie.

Here’s my then and now.

To see the answers for everyone else, look below.

I remember 5 things about kindergarten:

1. Riding the bus and one terrifying time I didn’t get off at my stop. A police escort may have been involved.

2. Stapling my finger with my teacher, Miss Mills’ red stapler.

3. Naps (glorious naps!) on army cots and the puddles of drool my classmates and I would leave behind.

4. Drawing a picture of my family of four, when there were only three of us. There was a parent/teacher conference and many discussion about lying and my desire to have a little sister.

5. The time I told the lunch monitors that I was allergic to bananas, they made me eat one anyway and I threw up all of her and myself. It also happened to be Picture Day.

I also remember tasting Elmer’s glue (c’mon, you know you did it too!), the smell of Crayola crayons and the squishy delight of finger paint. I loved kindergarten, but man, did I have a dreadful haircut!

A bunch of blogger friends and I have been reminiscing about kindergarten and put together something fun for our readers!

We present to you:

We hope you’ll play along! It’s very simple – just match the picture (with the assigned alphabet) to the blogger whose blog is listed below.

What’s in it for you? You could win an awesome $300 Amazon gift card!!* You can also get to know some of the bloggers listed here, if you don’t already. Plus, you get to have a laugh at our expenses. Don’t worry, we did. Now, go forth and play!

Enter your answers on this form.

The 23 participating bloggers, in alphabetical order:

Angela of Angela Amman

Angie of Angie Kinghorn

Deborah of Ask Doctor G

Robin of Farewell Stranger

Poppy of Funny or Snot

Leigh Ann of Genie in a Blog

Greta of Gfunkified

Jennifer of Jennifer P. Williams

Tonya of Letters for Lucas

Kiran of Masala Chica

Laura of Mommy Miracles

Natalie of Mommy of a Monster (and Twins)

Brittany of Mommy Words

Jessica of My Time as Mom

Kimberly of Reflections of Now

Tracy of Sellabit Mum

Elaine of The Miss Elaine-ous Life

Sarah of The Sunday Spill

Galit of These Little Waves

Kristin of Two Cannoli

Arnebya of What Now and Why

Kristin of What She Said

Alison of Writing, Wishing

*Terms and conditions apply:
You must be 18 years or older to enter. This contest is only open to residents of USA and Canada. This contest is open from March 11 – 15, 2013 (closes at 9:00 pm Eastern). Visit the link above, where you will be able to enter your guess for each blogger pictured. (All information will be kept private.) The person to correctly match all the faces with their blog will win a $300 Amazon gift card. The two other closest guesses will each win one $80 Amazon gift card. If more than one person correctly matches all the faces with their blogs, we will randomly pick a winner via random.org. If no one guesses all the faces correctly, the winner will be the person who made the most correct guesses. This is not a sponsored post. Prizes are paid for out of the participating bloggers’ own pockets. You CAN enter more than once! Winners will be announced week of March 18.

“Name That Kindergartner” was inspired by My Blessed Life‘s “Name That DIY Blogger” contest.

A huge thank you to Laura for designing our game pieces, Robin for making this post a lot easier to compile and Alison for being the awesomeness behind DBA!

Class Of 2026

Posted on September 6, 2012 Written by Tonya

How did this…

June 6, 2009

…become this?

September 5, 2012

It feels as though it was just yesterday that I was counting your fingers and toes, learning to perfect the swaddle and swaying you to sleep. Now you know all the planets, are learning to read and have strong opinions on where you’d like to go out for dinner.

You are the gift that keeps on giving and you make me smile each and every day.

Have an awesome second year of school, Lucas! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you.

The Pledge Of Allegiance

Posted on August 10, 2012 Written by Tonya

I’ve noticed a lot of first day of school photos popping up on Facebook and Instagram this week. Seriously, where has summer gone?

Lucas goes to a year round Montessori school and August 1 marked his first full year as a preschooler.

We have come a long way since last summer and I’m constantly amazed at everything he is learning.

This week, his class is focused on the Olympic Games and last week it was Ecuador. I’m not sure why they spent a week learning about the South American country, but I loved hearing him tell about the tortoises and volcanoes on the Galapagos islands, “which are also known as an archipelago”. I die!

Up until a couple of days ago I had no clue he knew this:

I don’t mean to brag, but he’s three. Barely.

Well, I’m impressed and very proud.

School is cool!

I hope all your children have a wonderful fall semester and that your back to school transition is a smooth one.

This Is Motherhood

Posted on May 12, 2012 Written by Tonya

Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder if my mother would think I was doing a good job raising my son.

Not a day goes by that I don’t want to pick up the phone and call my mother to ask her, when I was Lucas’ age, did I do this or that? or seek parenting advice of one type or another.

Not a day goes by that I don’t want to send her a photo of a grandson she never had the chance to meet.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and wish she were here.

Not a day goes by when I don’t feel incredibly grateful for my childhood, the lessons that were instilled in me and the love she showed me.

Sitting next to Lucas yesterday in his classroom for Mother’s Day breakfast, he was as thrilled to have me there as I was to be there. He was beaming; his were eyes brighter and bluer than usual and a permagrin affixed to his face.

I am so proud to be his mom. My heart was overjoyed and I welled up as he presented me with a wooden treasure box he had painted and card that had been decorated with his tiny hand-print.

In that moment, two things occurred to me; this is motherhood, an all encompassing rush of love that you feel throughout every pore and cell of your body and a deep hope that I made my mother feel this way too.

This Mother’s Day, as with every day, I miss my mom.

I miss her wisdom and humor and chocolate chip cookies. I miss her smile and not being able to take a photo without losing her eyes (case and point below). I miss her ability to know when to back off and when to reach out a hand. I miss her laughter than inevitably turned into a coughing attack. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to hear that again.

She was a good mother.

The last Mother's Day I spent with my mom - 2007.

Wishing mothers everywhere a very happy Mother’s Day!

Conversations About Kindergarten

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Show & Tell

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Dotting I’s & Crossing T’s

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Too Cute Halloween Peep S’mores

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Back To School

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My First Crush

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Name That Kindergartner – Update

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Class Of 2026

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The Pledge Of Allegiance

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