I can’t believe he will be in high school in a matter of months! He was at his last school for ten years ( pre-k and kindergarten), so while leaving may be bittersweet, I’m sure he is looking forward to a change of pace and new faces. Kudos to my baby!
Today my son turned 13. Where did the time go?!
Happy 1st Birthday to my darling son!
In addition to our new home, we have something else new dwelling among us –a beautiful, bouncing baby boy! His name is Che and he is perfect! He has totally brought light into our dark days. He is the smallest of the sultans in the Queendom of Morocco! His nickname is the Emperor! I We just looooove him to pieces!
Today is another snow day for me, but not for Nicholas. Even with all the work we did yesterday shoveling snow, I still had a difficult time getting off of our street. However, I managed to get him to school safely. Good thing they are not marking tardies today!
For the last few months I have served as the “room mom” for Nicholas’ grade. I wish I had a room parent for my own classroom! Some of my responsibilities include:
This allows me to contribute without taking too much time from work. But our school breaks are different from my son’s which gives me the ability to use a portion of my vacation to do some hands on work. I also collect BoxTops for education. What are ways in which you participate in your child’s education?
Ian turned six last week. It is our tradition to go out to dinner on the birthday no matter what. Usually we make reservations at Benihana’s and invite family and friends. This year we asked Iam where he would like to eat. Afterall, he is six and might want to go to Chuckie Cheese for dinner.
Much to our surprise he opted for Olive Garden instead. I just knew we were headed to Chuckie Cheese. Darn!!! I was looking forward to visiting with Chuckie himself!
On the way to school the morning of his birthday, Ian changed his mind. He decided on Benihana’s so he could wear the balloon hat and dance. My husband takes them to school so I had no idea this conversation took place until mid day.
I called my husband on my lunch break and he told me about the change in plans. He said that Ian and Imani were in the back seat arguing about where to go. Ian told her it was his birthday and he could go where ever he wanted to go. Imani really had her heart set on Olive Garden and was trying her best to get him to go there for dinner.
After school, Imani did not forget the earlier argument. “Ian we are going to Benihana’s for Daddy’s birthday. I want Olive Garden Ian. You said that first anway. I want to go to Olive Garden Ian. Mommy, how much longer is my birthday? I want to go to Olive Garden.”
Imani was fine after we arrived at Benihana. She even helped Ian dance when the restaraunt staff sang to Ian.
On Sunday, we gave him a big birthday party. Our friends and their children were invited along with our neighbors. We grilled and had cupcakes instead of a cake. The kids loved this idea. Husband found the cupcakes with toy Spiderman and Transformer rings sticking out of the icing.
Ian’s birthday wish was to have a Bakugan. When he first told me what he wanted I had no idea what he was talking about. My husband asked one of the older boys on our street if he knew what Ian wanted. He had one and showed the toy to my husband. When my husband went to find it at the store the sales clerk told him that the store could not keep it on the shelf. I ran around on Saturday looking for the toy. I finally found what I was looking for. Luckily they had just a few left so I grabbed what they had.
Ian’s eyes lit up as he opened each one. I’m still not sure what it does even after watching him play with the Bakugan. It really makes no sense to me. But hey, if he’s happy, I’m happy!
Today Nicholas is turning double digits–as he likes to say! To commemorate this day I have written a poem.
Decade
In a decade you have managed to kindle the fires of my heart.
My sweet tart
The inception of your life was a sacred moment and I am most thankful
For I am blessed by your kindness, your intelligence, your zest for life
Sweet, funny, charismatic, compassionate
Gifted
A talented artist, reader of tomes, awesome scholar, climber of trees, and everything in between
From child to tween
Your interests are varied—tae kwon do kicks to student counsel
So opinionated about current events
If it depended on you Obama would be president
You are for
All things STAR Wars
The Lego King
And Builder of many things
Especially dreams
The world is your canvas
No stone is left unturned
By your unbridled curiosity
Not even stitches could stop you from pursuing adventure
Our nightly devotionals are a highlight
After reading, a kiss, a tuck –in, and a flip of the nightlight
You truly make my heart melt
A “son” that shines brighter than all others
I feel lucky that I was chosen to be your mother
You represent the best of me and dad
a beautiful smiling soul
First my darling baby boy
Now my ten-year-old joy
How proud you must be
Of all you have accomplished
In just one decade.
*Set to the tune of ZZ Hill’s Down Home Blues
My little boy is growing up in every way imaginable. And it feels so bittersweet! Last year Nicholas announced that he did not want me to pack lunch for him any more. He wanted to eat the school lunch. I really didn’t know what to think. I wasn’t necessarily offended, I just felt sad. I like packing Nicholas’ lunch. I take great care to make it nutritious and appetizing. I look through cookbooks and surf the web to find creative ideas so that he does not have to eat sandwiches everyday. I also like to bake treats specifically for his lunch. Plus, a couple of times a week I include a note, stickers, or a small toy. Nicholas has told me several times that he is the envy of the lunchroom. The kids can’t wait to see what I have packed for him. Although it is a bit time consuming I enjoy doing it. It makes me feel good and it gives me the opportunity to do something expressly for him. Wanting to hold on to my little one for a wee bit longer; I convinced him to hold off on school lunch.
While cruising down the aisles at Target yesterday we saw a display of lunch boxes. I planned to buy him a new one for the upcoming school year. Nicholas, however, only looked at them half-heartedly. I knew what was wrong. I casually asked him if he would like to eat school lunch. His face lit up. “I’d at least like to try it Mom, if it’s okay with you,” Nicholas replied. He was so sincere in his response that it made me smile. We continued on with our shopping sans lunchbox.
This year Nicholas, my tween, will be eating school lunch! We agreed that if he did not like it that I could always start packing his lunch again. Better yet, if he does go back to taking his lunch to school, I plan to teach him how to pack it himself. This is a most vital skill in the working world of 30 minute lunches! I’m getting used to the idea and it just might be okay. I’m going to continue my practice of notes and small surprises. I’ll just have to put them in his backpack instead.
Morocco's Bazaar 
