I'm always a little amazed at how much the kids change over the course of 9 months, though I feel like as they get older they changes slow down a bit.
I doubt I'd want to do a side by side comparison of myself!
I'm certain this year aged me. It was a challenging one and I was all too glad to bid it adieu. Each time we finished a project/commitment/sport/ etc. I would feel a little more relieved. Schedule wise it was just a tough year, add in all we had going on with Andrew and the time that took and I was hanging on by my fingernails by the time the last day of school arrived. Andrew's psychiatrist said she felt that while all we did was good, it took a toll on Andrew as well. We were both struggling when it was over and very anxious for a break. So I really felt like celebrating when this day arrived. With the exception of the last day of college, I don't think I've ever been so happy on the last day of school!
I quickly took the kids' photos before piling into the van and Andrew was just not feeling it. He gave me this face as soon as I snapped one of him smiling. And I had to take a photo of him because this is SO Andrew! He has made this face since he was a toddler and can look so sad!
I dropped the boys off for for the last day in their "hawaiian" clothes. It is always "Hawaiian" day on the last day of school for them. Mom gave Matthew his outfit for his birthday so that worked out great!
As parents line up to pick up their kids we hand the teachers tags with our child's name. They take the tags back to where the children wait and call out that child's name. Once they have their tag, if they are first grade and up they can walk to their car and give the tag back to their parent. So that is what Matthew is doing in this photo. I always love to see the kids at the end of the day. Truth is, Matthew is often grouchy and Andrew is tired, but I'm always happy to see them. Everyone was all smiles today though! School was only 2 1/2 hours long. Not enough time to get worn out! And Matthew was SO excited about his gold medal (you can see it on his neck) that he received that day for the amount of miles he ran in the school running program.
It was so cute when the kids came running out of school they were cheering and the teachers/principal were lined up blowing bubbles over them as they left. They do this every year and it's just fun and festive. By the time I got up to them most of the kids had left so the teachers were dispersing but you can see some of them there.
We left school and drove by our house and the kids said, "Where are we going?" And were so excited when I said, "Auntie Shannon's!"
She put together an ice cream party for the kids which was so sweet.
Hannah had another celebration so we missed her, but this little crew was happy to be together. Claire and Kaitlin are SO much alike (and getting more so by the second in both good and challenging ways!) I'm amazed sometimes at how similar our kids are, we just had them in a different order as Grace and Andrew are such kindred spirits as well.
Shan set a festive table for the kids.
The kids delighted in mid-morning ice cream with toppings of their choice, and then we headed back to our house....
Where we celebrated summer vacation by doing what we longed to do all school year.....
absolutely nothing of significance!!
