Welcome to the forum redgreenmonotomato,that is one hell of a name you got there my friend! I recommend you post your question in the vegetable forum, be brief and to the point.. Near the top of the page there us a "forums" tab, click on it and it will bring You link of all the forums, near the botten right it will say "kitchen garden" or something and that is where you will see vegetable forum... Anyways since your here I'll help you.. To start seeds I would get the brightest light you can, you don't need a special grow light, just a shoplight that is bright... I have a 4 bulb stoplight pushing with cheap flourescent tubes from hardware store.. That Is more than enough for seedlings... I wouldn't bother transplanting then to a bigger pot, why not just start in the pot it's going to be in until you transplant in the garden, it's going to take up the same space in the long run, with less stress on the plant...

Here's my advice

1. Get seed starting trays big enough for the plant until you transplant them in the garden.. Dont use that real small crap

2. Use a good seed starting mix. I use peatmoss, it is cheaper than any other...

3. Bright light.. Put the light as close to the plant as possible with harming the plant.. Leggy plants are inadequate light and the plant is reaching for more light.

4. Have a fan on the seedlings as soon as they sprout.. Every vibration tells the plant to strength... The sooner you put the fan on the spouts the less leggy there are going to be...

5. Water, I use a spray bottle to lightly mist seedling until they germinate.. After they sprouted increase your watering slightly, but always light the soil dry out slightly... Overwatering is the main cause for killing seedlings..

6. Fertilize with kelp or something lower in nitrogen.. Nitrogen makes the plants more leggy... Go easy on the fertilizer you don't need too much..

That should get you off to the right direction.

Hope it helps,
Joe

Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Forum

I just read your post again, an I want to tell you I'm proud of you taking the initiative to grow your own food! We need more kids like you! You dont know what a good thing you are doing for your health and wellness overall.. Don't give up even if you don't have success initially, keep on growing! You could post a reply to this page anytime you need help, I'm here for you!

Keep of growing,
Joe

There is also a forum specific to tomatoes.

The above advice about light and pot size is good. To adequately grow two or three plants of several varieties will require a tube light source about four feet long, or two tubes that are two feet long, and arrange your seedlings in two rows. A normal light bulb will not evenly light the area. The tube lights need to be kept very close to the plants and adjusted upwards as the plants grow.

Start your seeds in pots that are two or three inches on a side. Once the plants are several inches high, they will tolerate a transplant to a 6-inch pot, if done gingerly.

You can plant two or three seeds per pot, but once one seedling has formed true leaves, pinch off the other seedlings in that pot at soil level.

Can't help you on the Spring Break thing. Better find a plant-sitter.

Dear red green you're in the wrong forum, go to tomatoes and vegetable gardening. They are great forums that will really help you. Good luck with your veggies!