Last Days of School

 Adara finished preschool on Tuesday, and Emily finished 2nd grade on Wednesday.  I'm thankful that they both had great years this year, teachers they loved and who really appreciated them.

biking to the school cookout

classic... Adara decided not to participate in the class song at the end... while Alden left the audience to join in the performance. 

Adara got a letter in the mail today with her teacher assignment and invitation to an orientation pizza dinner.  She told me with an eye roll that she doesn't need to go because she already knows her teacher, doesn't really care who's in her class, and isn't nervous at all about Kindergarten.  And she hates pizza.  That kid. ;)

And, Alden took his first nap at the pool this week, so it must be summer.

Emily Claire, age 8

You know those seasons where suddenly your kid is so grown up?  This girl has been taking my breath away lately. She's growing in independence and confidence, lately she's really taken to reading on her own (thank you, Junie B. Jones;) and to riding her bike around the neighborhood to visit friends. The birthday notes from her classmates all describe her as silly, fun, kind, and smart.  She's disliked math this year, but after finding out she scored high on an advanced standardized test, has decided again that math is her thing. 

She's had some big challenges this week (learning she'll have a teacher next year that she was scared of, and some things that pushed outside her social comfort zone) and I have been SO proud of how she's handled them, really listening as we talked her through things, and working to have a good attitude.  As I write this, I'm listening to her giggle hysterically with her siblings in the other room.

reading her own bedtime story on the last night of being 7

assembly line making "fruit-erflies" for school snack, then birthday pancakes & bacon

love when they know the best gifts for each other

I asked what she's hoping for this coming year: learning to cook

This little engineer has been hoping for months for a 'snap circuit' set

her birthday was on the last day of school

ice cream with friends

She chose Harpoon for family dinner because of the giant chess set.  It was a perfect summer night for eating outside.