With My “Boos” at the Zoo

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This year marks the 10th anniversary of my daughter and me taking part in the Boo at the Zoo event for some Halloween fun. We both love getting dressed up in costumes (always a mom and daughter theme, 🤗) and Quinn loves trick or treating for candy too.

What we love even more is that this is not just a mother daughter tradition but a cousin tradition too! With the busyness of life, we may not see each other as often as we’d like, but this is one outing we all faithfully attend donning costumes, smiles and ready for some quality time with family. I’m grateful to have this time with some of my favorite “boos.” 🥰🤗🎃💀

All the best,

Tanya

Autumn Fun at Peddler’s Village

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Peddler’s Village is a lovely place that Quinn and I frequent during the summer to check out their sandcastle displays and quaint shops. With my birthday weekend lining up with October Feast, I figured why not check out the scarecrow displays for one of our family outings? They did not disappoint! 

I’m so grateful that my eleven year old still enjoys family outings and loves autumn activities just as much as I do. 

All the best,

Tanya

A Sweet Time at Hersheypark with Family

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It’s that time of the year where my daughter and I pack in as many fun-filled autumn activities as possible before the cold weather arrives. Today, we had a sweet time with our cousins at Hersheypark.

Though it was jam-packed with people everywhere we turned, I secured my usual role as bag holder, and Quinn and our cousins, Merissa and Ellie, managed to get on quite a few rides. They even did a little trick or treating and received a bag load of Hershey candy from Reese’s cups to Kit Kats.

With the sun shining along with an occasional breeze, it was a perfect amusement park day. Though it’s only the first weekend in October, our activities are off to a fantastic start.

All the best,

Tanya

Always “Gamed” for a Day of Fun

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I love playing games, and so does my eleven year old. So when the weather thwarted our outdoor plans, we pivoted with a fun-filled day of playing games indoors. We played Hungry Hippos, Guess Who, Sorry and a few others.

I won some, and Quinn won some, but best of all we both had a winning time together enjoying each other’s company and strategizing on how to out beat the other.

All the best,

Tanya

Back to School Night! Proud About What I Know 🤗

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For the past seven years, kindergarten to sixth grade, I’ve been attending back to school nights to meet my daughter’s teachers, find out about the curriculum and to see how she’s doing.

But I also get to learn how I’m doing. Every year there’s a “how well do you know your child” worksheet. For Quinn, some interests and favorites remain the same while others drastically change. What doesn’t change, however, is my hope to always know my daughter well. As I filled out the paper, I was confident yet nervous in my responses. Quinn’s teacher even hovered over my shoulder briefly as I wrote. Then came the big reveal! Though our responses weren’t identical for every entry, there was some overlap for each one. It makes me feel proud still “knowing” my daughter, especially as she’s in her pre-adolescent years 🥰🤗.

All the best,

Tanya

Soaring High in School!

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With three weeks down and many more to go, my sixth grader is off to a fantastic start, and I am so proud of her. Since kindergarten, Quinn has been the first in her class to earn an award at the first school assembly, and she kept the streak going today! Starting a new school year, with new teachers, classmates and trying to adjust and make new friends can be difficult. I know it was for me, but Quinn is soaring high and was the only student in her class to receive the Golden Talon award for her self control and being a model student.

I’m hoping this is an indication of how wonderful this school year will be for her, full of great memories and growth.

All the best,

Tanya

Sixth Grade, Here She Comes! Happy First Day of School

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After a fun-filled summer break, my eleven year old is not only entering sixth grade but wrapping up her last year at her school. I’m happy that she’s excited to meet her new teacher, new classmates and learn along the way.

Though she’s at the same school, I know there will be more transitions and challenges as Quinn gets older and goes through changes, but I’m hopeful that she will encounter teachers and students who are kind and welcoming.

I have a few that I’ll be taking even more “baby steps” as her mom, and will try my best to be supportive without being overbearing, allowing her to navigate some situations on her own, knowing that I’m there if she needs me.

Here’s to a wonderful school year where we both grow, feel confident and learn along the way.

All the best,

Tanya