This week Lucas starts grade one. It will a change for both of us with him gone all day. And the other big change is that he will be going to a new school. I wanted to try him in French Immersion as both Alexis and I went to french immersion and did well with it. Lucas is a very academic kid and I think he will do really well with french immersion. But now that the time is coming I am worried about him. He is quite introverted and we learned this summer that he gets really nervous in new situations.
This summer he went to a couple of camps. I thought it would good to keep him entertained but a lot of it was a fight. It was new environments with new people. Most of the time he was happy when it was done but to get him to go was a challenge. Even yesterday he had an upset tummy and I wonder if it was because they were having a water fight which was something he hasn't done before.
So this week he is a starting a new school and is taking a bus and there will be all new people and in a new language. There is part of me that thinks it is good to push him out of his comfort zone. And that the more he does now maybe won't be so nervous of new situations. But there is another part of me that thinks maybe this is just his personality and he won't change.
What do other parents out there do? Push your kids out of their comfort zone or let them be who they are? Can I effect Lucas's personality at this age, or is he going to be who he is....
Ahh parenting. Makes you think...
Jenn
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
To Lucas on His 6th Birthday
To Lucas on his 6th birthday,
As I sit here tonight, my memory of when you are born, is starting to fade. I remember some of the important parts but the details have all faded away now. For the first couple of years after you were born I use to think your birthday should be a celebration for the feat that I went through and for surviving your first years, but now as you are older and you are so much fun, and my memory of what it was like to give birth has faded, I see your birthday more as a celebration for you. So Lucas here are some of the highlights of your 6th year!
First you started, enjoyed, excelled at kindergarten, which I know is like.. of course it's kindergarten. But I'm glad your first school experience was a good one. We had seen glimpses of how you were as a learner (which is SO good), but we were proven right with school. Your teachers loved you and you loved going to school. Plus you did quite well at it. You can read most things now and you can write or try and sound out alot of things too.
You continue to be SO SO much like your dad. You love computers and games. You are not a morning person and can eat a lot. You love to learn and are introverted. Lego is your favorite toy and you both love to stay home and play. But you can belt out a song just like your mom =)
Being the first born you taught me so many first. You taught me how strong love can be. You taught me how to survive on little sleep and how to have my priorities straight. You taught me about all the different types of diggers and turtles and sharks and dinosaurs. You taught me that consistency is one of the most important things in parenting. You showed me that Darryl is an amazing father and I love him more for that. You taught me how to dance to "Fix You" and to burp a baby and that Ovol is a wonderful invention. You taught me that a baby and a little boy and a big boy's laugh is the best sound in the world. You taught me to trust my instincts and that I love being a mom, especially your mom.
Happy Birthday Lucas
Love Mom
As I sit here tonight, my memory of when you are born, is starting to fade. I remember some of the important parts but the details have all faded away now. For the first couple of years after you were born I use to think your birthday should be a celebration for the feat that I went through and for surviving your first years, but now as you are older and you are so much fun, and my memory of what it was like to give birth has faded, I see your birthday more as a celebration for you. So Lucas here are some of the highlights of your 6th year!
First you started, enjoyed, excelled at kindergarten, which I know is like.. of course it's kindergarten. But I'm glad your first school experience was a good one. We had seen glimpses of how you were as a learner (which is SO good), but we were proven right with school. Your teachers loved you and you loved going to school. Plus you did quite well at it. You can read most things now and you can write or try and sound out alot of things too.
You continue to be SO SO much like your dad. You love computers and games. You are not a morning person and can eat a lot. You love to learn and are introverted. Lego is your favorite toy and you both love to stay home and play. But you can belt out a song just like your mom =)
Being the first born you taught me so many first. You taught me how strong love can be. You taught me how to survive on little sleep and how to have my priorities straight. You taught me about all the different types of diggers and turtles and sharks and dinosaurs. You taught me that consistency is one of the most important things in parenting. You showed me that Darryl is an amazing father and I love him more for that. You taught me how to dance to "Fix You" and to burp a baby and that Ovol is a wonderful invention. You taught me that a baby and a little boy and a big boy's laugh is the best sound in the world. You taught me to trust my instincts and that I love being a mom, especially your mom.
Happy Birthday Lucas
Love Mom
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Summer Vacation 2011
This year we took a week and a half off (or at least a week and a half with Darryl) and did a 2600km tour of BC. We started off on a Wednesday and headed to my Oma and Opa's (which I started referring to it as the cottage). We go there every year usually multiple times. Even yesterday I was driving somewhere and thought, could I fit one more visit in before the end of the summer. =) I love it there. It's so nice becuase we have our routines, the dog can come with us and loves it. And the kids love it too. This year they took cues from Matthew and brought Oma and Opa's boat with us. Lucas had a great time paddling around in it. As usual we ate sandwiches and strawberries and chips. It's nice to have a routine, everyone knows what happens and it's pretty much the same thing every day. =)
After a couple of days there, we got in the car and continued to meet Lori and Mackenzie in Vancouver. It was a great vacation. We had fantastic weather the whole time, which makes me love Vancouver. I love how it's so pedestrian friendly and you can tell everyone is active. We rented a really nice condo, so we all had lots of space and there was a kitchen so we could cook some of our own meals too.
The first day Darryl and the boys went to Capilano Suspension Bridge, for those of you who know me well I'm scared of heights, but really only in certain situations. One of those situations would be on a bridge where you can see down. So I stayed with Emma and walked 12km, to find Kits Beach and Davids Tea and the dog beach. Emma loved the dog beach, although she kept drinking the water even though it tasted horrible.
The next day we headed to the aquarium. We put Emma in doggy day care and then headed to Stanley Park and the aquarium. The aquarium was smaller then I remember, but still saw lots of cool stuff. We did have one of those horrible parenting moments in the gift shop after. One of those times when you know other people are looking at you thinking you are not a very good parent - or maybe, the other parents thinking - Oh I feel for you, I've been there too. =)
The third day we went to Granville Island and the beach and saw the big fireworks show in the evening. I forgot how much I enjoy swimming in the ocean. It was quite windy so there were lots of waves. We went back to the dog beach and did a bit of exploring with the boys. The tide was out so we were walking around and Darryl moved one of the rocks and there were all sorts of crabs underneath it. The boys thought it was super cool. We also collected some nice shells from the beach too. In the evening was a big fireworks show and it was beautiful. I forgot how when there is a competition of fireworks how impressive they can be.
The next day we headed up to Whistler, which was very fun. It was one of the days that we brought the camera so I have lots of pictures from it. =) One other fun part for me was all the Davids Tea I drank, and was able to introduce Lori and Mackenzie to something we love.
It was a great vacation. It was fun for us too to see Lori and Mackenzie in Vancouver and make new and fun memories with them.
Till Next Time
Jenn
After a couple of days there, we got in the car and continued to meet Lori and Mackenzie in Vancouver. It was a great vacation. We had fantastic weather the whole time, which makes me love Vancouver. I love how it's so pedestrian friendly and you can tell everyone is active. We rented a really nice condo, so we all had lots of space and there was a kitchen so we could cook some of our own meals too.
The first day Darryl and the boys went to Capilano Suspension Bridge, for those of you who know me well I'm scared of heights, but really only in certain situations. One of those situations would be on a bridge where you can see down. So I stayed with Emma and walked 12km, to find Kits Beach and Davids Tea and the dog beach. Emma loved the dog beach, although she kept drinking the water even though it tasted horrible.
The next day we headed to the aquarium. We put Emma in doggy day care and then headed to Stanley Park and the aquarium. The aquarium was smaller then I remember, but still saw lots of cool stuff. We did have one of those horrible parenting moments in the gift shop after. One of those times when you know other people are looking at you thinking you are not a very good parent - or maybe, the other parents thinking - Oh I feel for you, I've been there too. =)
The next day we headed up to Whistler, which was very fun. It was one of the days that we brought the camera so I have lots of pictures from it. =) One other fun part for me was all the Davids Tea I drank, and was able to introduce Lori and Mackenzie to something we love.
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| Outside the Davids Tea in Whistler |
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| Someday my boys and I will be back here with snow on that hill |
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| Pretending we are skiiers! |
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| Family Photo |
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| Lucas and Nathan standing in the Olympic Rings |
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| Pretending we are snowboarders. |
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| Shannon Falls, on the way to Whistler |
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| Mackenzie dancing on Shannon Falls. |
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| Mackenzie and Lori at Shannon Falls. |
It was a great vacation. It was fun for us too to see Lori and Mackenzie in Vancouver and make new and fun memories with them.
Till Next Time
Jenn
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