Last Day of School!!

I have to say that I have NEVER been so happy to see this day come! While the kids were a little melancholy about not seeing their teacher and friends as much this summer, I am rejoicing that I don't have to pack lunches, force kids to bed, send them off for 6.5 hours all week, or make them do homework!! I love having my chickens back in their nest for the next 10 weeks or so!

It has been a big year for all of us. This was my first school year with both kids in school all day. I still don't like it and I still miss them, but I did enjoy the quiet. I was hoping to get lots of stuff done.. but between being at school for various reasons and napping (haha... for reals... I have lots of sleep to catch up on after 9 years of not sleeping as much!) I didn't get as much done as I had hoped but look forward to managing my time better next year! Here's a recap of our last day!

 




The kids were NOT into "last day of school" photos. At all. But I did get a few good ones, I guess!! Turkeys!!

Evelyn and her bestie Ellie both won the Presidential Academic Award this year. Only one girl per class gets it. SO proud of theses girls!

Each kid in Matthew's class got an award. Matthew got the "Future Mathematician Award" for being the best math student. He takes after his daddy is this way. He loves math and is quite good at it!

Speaking of the boy, he was fortunate enough to have TWO teachers this year. Mrs. Davis in the morning and Mrs. Pearson in the afternoons. Matthew really had a tough transition into (full day) kindergarten. He started off strong but then really started to struggle leaving me in the morning and being anxious about every little thing. I was at school often to comfort and help him (which in the end really didn't help as much as me just not being there at all). He prayed for courage every night and things got better over time and he saw God answering his prayers and he realized that he was going to be okay! These two teachers were instrumental in this growth and helped him (and me) so much. They, too, were so proud of how hard he tried to be brave and how he overcame these things. I am so thankful for his teachers!

Mrs. West was great and Evelyn enjoyed being in her class. She has yet to have a teacher all of us didn't like!!

I usually volunteer in Matthew's class on Friday afternoons so it was fun to be able to capture his FIRST "Last Day of School"!

 Matthew's buddy Owen. They have been almost inseparable this year!

 Signing their "yearbooks"
 
Each year the 5th graders run thru the hall and high-five all of the "underclassmen". The kinders always think this is pretty cool.


 These kids... those teachers... I will miss them!
 
 Matthew getting his "First Grade Pencil" (It says "I am now a 1st grader").
 
Kids and teachers blowing kisses at the end of the day. Bittersweet goodbyes for all of them.


We continued our "Menchie's on the Last Day of School" tradition and enjoyed frozen yogurt with lots of friends.

These kids... love them and our "Menchie's on the last day of school" tradition! Thankful for the moms and dads of these faces who keep me sane, encouraged, and laughing!

Another school year in the books... a school year that I am happy to be finished with for sure! In no time I will have a 1st grader and a 4th grader. Until then, I plan on thoroughly enjoying my summer!