Gianna had field day and had some body paint done.
Gianna + Lily + Ella = BFF...so cute!
This was hanging outside Gianna's 4th grade classroom...
And every year we make our summer list of things we want to do. We don't necessarily do them all but it's fun to try...
Gianna and her friend Katherine on Gianna's very last day at Martin School...
I haven't talked about it here because it honestly breaks my heart, but our town voted down an override which means major budget cuts. Some people in this town weren't willing to pay just a bit more in taxes...a very minimal increase...and now the children in this town are taking the biggest hit of all. What an absolute shame it is. The town is closing an elementary school which means they are redistricting 900 kids. Yes...900! That means overcrowded classrooms AND Gianna can't finish her final year at the elementary school she's attended since kindergarten. She only had one year left at her school and she is being forced to leave. On top of that, every single one of her friends are staying at that school and she is the only one leaving out of her group of friends. I know she will adjust and do well, but my heart breaks for her. There have been lots and lots of tears.
In addition to all that happening, the town is also cutting the middle school foreign language program which means no Spanish I for Julia like Nicholas had this year and no Spanish II for Nicholas. And of course that means all the language teachers are losing their jobs. The town is also cutting Algebra...yes Algebra...at the Middle School. Yes, no basic Algebra for my kids. It's almost inconceivable. We already have to pay for buses and it's capped at two per family, but since they moved Gianna to a school less than two miles from our house, we have to pay for her bus now too. It's going to cost us a small fortune. The police department's budget was cut too and they can't pay for school crossing guards anymore. How safe is that? Several fire departments have closed in town and now have signs on the front lawns that say "call 911". Nice. I'm incredibly sad and incredibly angry at the same time. This town had better get their act together and fast, but unfortunately for our three kids...the damage has already been done. It's a very sad and terrible time to be living in my town right now.
Back to happier times...
Nicholas invited two friends to walk home from school yesterday and I took them to Tex Barry's for lunch. It's this small trailer...not the fanciest of places... but they have the best hot dogs and fries around. Yum! Gianna and I joined them for lunch...
Then they spent the rest of the afternoon fishing and playing video games.
Julia had an end of school pool party sleepover last night...
Look at all that junk food...
They watched the new Disney "Teen Beach 2" movie. So cute...
They played the classic "light as a feather, stiff as a board" game. I thought it was so funny that Nicholas joined in...
He had a lot of fun with the girls. He behaved really well and I know they enjoyed his company...
Abbey, Alyssa, Bella, Julia, Livvy and Sarah...they had a ton of fun...
Gianna had a pool party sleepover last night too...just not at our house! Gianna and her friend, Lily...
And check out these fabulous 4th term and final grades! Nicholas finished the year very strong. He could of had all A's 4th term if he put more effort in. He decides on occasion not to study for quizzes and tests and then he fails them. But when he chooses to study, he gets excellent grades. Let's just forget all about 2nd Term...shall we?? I know he learned his lesson. And I'm loving all those wonderful comments from his teachers...
And Julia got straight A's this term!! Yay!! She's been working for high honors all year and finally did it! What a fabulous report card for her!
Gianna got all 3's (I can't stand their grading system) but that is very good. I love that her teacher wrote her a note instead of writing it to us...
So our kids are moving on to 5th, 7th and 8th grades. I know everyone always says how it flies by...but it really and truly does. : (
Nicholas will be going to lacrosse, hockey and cooking camps this summer; Julia will be going to dance and cooking camps; and Gianna will be going to acting and dance camps. The girls also have dance nationals in July and weekly tumbling classes and Nicholas is playing on a middle school hockey team with weekly games. Phew! That sounds like a lot but I like to keep the kids active and busy.
Here's to a fun summer!!!
