Schools OUT

So the kiddies are officially done with 3rd grade, 2nd grade and kindergarten. Boo hoo. Makes me sad but I'm happy that the school stuff is over with. I still plan to work on multiplication facts and reading over the summer, but no more projects and homework. Yes! And it will also be nice to get on a summer schedule of swimming lessons and summer camps. Julia is trying art camp this summer. I love when they can try new things. Summer is the perfect time for that. Also it's time for swimming in the pool after dinner and drinking homemade mint chocolate chip milkshakes. Yum!

Nicholas' classroom party....

They signed t-shirts....


and made ice cream sundaes...

posed for a class picture...

and made funny faces...

Julia had a class party too...

They had ice cream sundaes too and she posed for pictures with good friends...like Haley...

and Josie...

and Emily...

and Leah (who is moving to California)...

and Lizzie (who is also moving but just across town...sad for them though as they won't be neighbors anymore)...

Posing for the "last day of school" picture....

On another note, the dance recital on Saturday went really, really well. Julia was amazing!! And Gianna was a pro! I am so proud of my girls!!

Julia and Alyssa....

Julia and Miss Stephanie...

Gianna and Savannah....

Look how pretty and grown up she looks!

And here's our "Summer List"...

I wonder how much we'll get to???

Busy busy June

Someone said to me the other day that she thinks June is worse than December. I have to agree. June is a crazy busy month. We have all the end of the year school stuff, the dance recital, a dance competition and endless baseball games. And don't forget all the end of the year gifts that have to be bought for the dance teachers, school teachers, coaches, and even the bus driver.

Saturday is the girl's dance recital. This will be Julia's 5th recital (she'll get a trophy this year) and Gianna's 2nd recital. I'm preparing for a crazy day. Julia is in both recitals this year as she's on the acro and dance teams. She has 4 dances in the afternoon and 6 at night. I better put on my running shoes! I'm already starting to sweat just thinking about all the costume changes. And I can't forget Gianna also has one dance at night too...so wait...that's 7 dances at night!! Oh dear.



Remember Julia's very first recital???



Now look at how grown up she has become....


Rock-a-hula...


The kids had Spirit Day at their school. They have lots of outside activities. I only went for Gianna's class as she is the only child of mine that really wants me there anymore!

Here's Gianna with two of her little friends....

I thought they looked so cute walking around together.

Gianna with her good friend, Ella...she's a school and dance friend. (Is her belly ever going to deflate?!?!)

Then Gianna had her end of the year party for kindergarten. I'm so sad I won't have a "little one" anymore. They will all officially be in school full time next year. It will be the first time in TEN years that I won't have a little one home with me anymore. Boy, that first day of school next year will be a sad one for me. But I also know I'll get used to my free time really, really fast! : )

The last time we'll be in this room. All three of my babies had the same teacher....

Today, the 3rd grade classes did an animal presentation. They did such a great job. Nicholas did his on the Black Bear....

Look at his diorama....I thought he did a fantastic job!

Here's Gianna reading what she wants to be when she grows up...an animal doctor. I have no doubt that's what she'll be too. She is one super smart girl who loves animals!

Good-bye Kindergarten...forever... : (

Baseball 9 year old champions

Nicholas' baseball team won the 9 year old championship! My boy is #2.

Getting his award...

Our handsome boy...

Our proud little family...

Now he moves onto the All Star Team! Go Nicholas!!

Norwood HS Last Hurrah

My old high school is being torn down so the town decided to have a function at the school called "The Last Hurrah". And let me tell you, it was a blast!!!

We all met up at Christine's house before the event for some apps and drinks. Then we all marched up the street to the high school. It's so fun to have a friend who still lives in that old neighborhood. We got to walk the halls of our old school. We went to "senior hall" where our lockers used to be. Of course we don't recall exactly which ones were our lockers but it was fun just hanging out there with all of them exactly as we did 28 years ago. I think that's just crazy....28 years ago! It just doesn't even seem possible. We hung out in the auditorium where we spent endless time together when we were in the marching band. As we walked in, it just so happened they were showing old pictures up on a screen...and weren't they on 1983...and didn't they show me at my junior prom...and didn't they show a picture of a creepy old boyfriend of mine...and didn't my friends let out huge howls and all kinds of silly jokes at my expense. I love my friends just for that reason. It felt so good to laugh that hard.

Me, Anne, Ann, Marcy, Christine, Michele and Patty....such good friends then and now. How lucky am I?

They had one of those photo booths you could cram into and take lots of fun pictures...and that's exactly what we did.

Here we are sitting in our old cafeteria at our old table. We laughed about how awful we ate back then...sundaes and Suzy Q's for lunch...I'm not kidding...every...single...day...and we were all so skinny back then...and Michele still is...brat...

This is our usual pose at Christine's house before high school reunions...We tried to get in the same order...

Did I say how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends? I've shared so much with these girls. Wow...28 years since graduation day. Still don't know how that's possible.

Random school work

JULIA:

NICHOLAS:

If only that were true...("I will be nice to the girls.")

JULIA:

I love that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up!!

GIANNA:

They have to make up their own sentences and then draw a picture about it. It says, "This world is out of control. It is raining steaks."

"Me and Brady are best friends."

"Everything is so perfect here. Everything is so pretty today." That's so Gianna. She loves her little life.

"I have a cool toy. My toy is special to me. I sleep with it." Gianna is a smarty pants. She just turned 6, is in kindergarten and is already reading CHAPTER BOOKS!! I'm not kidding!

Oh Nicholas. All year this is what his spelling tests have looked like. I swear it's because he can't do two things at once...like write cursive and spell. I bet if he was allowed to print, he would do better!!

And Nicholas loves to bake just like his cousin Breanna. I think this is really good! He made it all by himself!