Awards day

Here are a few pics from Madelyn's awards ceremony at school today. Tomorrow is the last day!! Good Bye Second Grade, Hello Summer Vacation! Thanks to a good friend who took Dallin so I could take pictures!

La cucaracha...

Ahhhh....Summer....

With the final days of school comes the final Thank You gift for the teachers. Not that I mind, I really appreciate all that these people do to instruct and edify the young minds in my home. Not to mention the love that they show to my children. However, as a teacher (to toddlers, but a teacher nonetheless), I struggle to decide on what to give the teachers in our lives. I want the kids to choose a gift that is meaningful, but useful; appreciated, yet disposable. Let's face it...many gifts that teachers get are lovingly displayed on their desk or shelf until school's out, at which time, they are guiltily bumped into the circular file. If this didn't happen, every teacher who has taught for any length of time, would be living the story of Sarah Sylvia Cynthia Stout. (You know, the Shel Silverstein character who would not take the garbage out...)

But I digress. When it comes to gifts, cost is also an issue, especially when you start to figure in multiple teachers for multiple children (Joshua had two teachers this year...everyday...) You get the idea. Anyhow, this year, Joshua decided that he wanted to give flowers. GREAT!! I have really appreciated the flowers given to me by my kids because there is no guilt in tossing them after I have enjoyed every beautiful moment and fragrance they had to offer! But, again, the cost must be weighed. Not to mention that when we went to the local (not so local) SuperCenter, the floral department had been scavenged of all but the most expensive, least pretty, simple cellophane arrangements. So to plan B. After a three-year-long learning curve, I finally left my hydrangeas alone this year, and as a result, I actually have some beautiful flowers this summer! So I decided to chop 'em off and give 'em to the teachers who mean so much to me and my kids! At the SuperCenter, I picked up some $2 vases, and some floral foam, and home we went to create what you see pictured below! I was very excited...obviously or I wouldn't be posting about them would I? Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, my hydrangea bushes (pre-cutting) and the gifts that they produced.

Ahhhh...Summer vacation is upon us at last. Now what to give next year?

Aren't you so sad you missed it?

This video was made for Parrish's benefit. Didn't want him to get too homesick while he's gone for two weeks. He has assured me that this was most helpful!

Random Happenings...

Josh entertained us last week with his preschool end of the year program..."Rockin' with Mother Goose." It's been a great year, and I can't believe he's headed to Kindergarten in the Fall. (It's really only 10 weeks away, but saying "the Fall" makes it seem like longer.) He can't wait to ride the bus, be at Madelyn's school, etc. I, on the other hand, am experiencing all of the emotions (good and sad) that go with letting go. I am excited for Josh to embark on the next phase of his learning, and he is more than ready...he started reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle outloud to me a few weeks ago like it was Hop on Pop...

That's my Josh!

Madelyn once again had a successful gymnastics exhibition showcasing all she has learned this year! She can almost do the Chinese splits, is frequently (meaning any time she finds an empty space) found doing cartwheels and practicing round-offs, and is improving her skills on the balance beam. Ms. Ning told her recently that she had better pay attention better in class or she would never go to second level! This caught her attention, and she has been trying harder ever since. Ms. Ning is a wonderful gymnastics instructor who is a former Chinese Olympic gymnast, and former Chinese Olympic gymnastics coach! And we only pay $30/month for 2 lessons/week! What a blessing for her to share her talents in our little town!

We got new bunkbeds for the boys this week...our old ones have served us well, but we were starting to wonder when Josh would land on Dallin in the night. Yup, they were the ones from the dumpster in good ole' Northwood Family Housing!

We recently moved Madelyn into the former playroom which meant moving many things around...redistributing toys between the bedrooms, recycling toys at the planned yard sale, and relishing in newfound space created by redistribution and recycling!

Rain + Rain + Rain = Mushrooms on the woodpile!!