Last Day of School 2016

I know I've already said it before, but that's because it's true, and I can't get over it---this year just flew by! 

I really thought it would drag by.  When school started, our last house had just fallen through, we didn't know where we were going or what we were doing, and this little apartment seemed to be our fate, at least for the foreseeable future.  It was a disappointment for everyone, but there was one thing that we were all glad about it...going to Clarence Center Elementary.  It' a wonderful school, and we knew we were lucky to still be going there!

Kate and Emma were assigned a homeroom teacher for 4th grade, but they switched with one other teacher for a few subjects.  The girls had the same two teachers, and just flip-flopped classrooms during the day.  

Kate had Mrs. Szeglowski, and after a very rocky beginning, the school year actually turned out to be a very good one for her.  She did well in all subjects, and despite not loving math so much, she worked hard and learned to at least tolerate it. :)  She excelled in gym (surprise, surprise), lived for the days that got outside recess, was a social butterfly to match no other, loved to be a part of any planning she could do, and was the life of her classroom.  The kids would actually cheer for her when she came back to class after being gone!  She is a such a delight, and her teacher was a really good match for her. She let her be her, but also helped her to focus on her schoolwork too.  

Emma's teacher was Mr. Hardick, her second male teacher in a row!  She absolutely loved him, and he felt the same way about her.  She excelled academically, got to sit by her best friend Lauryn most of the year, and lived for library days.  She also really developed her writing skills, and at home I am constantly finding papers around the house with her stories on them.  She loves every subject, and during recess she was writing stories with Lauryn or planning some kind of club.  Her class was a really good one for her--they all helped her come out of her shell a little bit, and try some new things too.  

Jack and Henry had an awesome kindergarten year, and I already wrote about the details in their kindergarten graduation post, but I'll just reiterate it here again...great teachers, great classes, a GREAT year!  

P.S.  Kate was grinning ear-to-ear because I let her wear athletic clothes on the last day of school!

Kindergarten Graduation

Sniff. Sniff.

I'm not sure I even want to write this post.  Maybe then it won't be true?!  I can't believe my baby boys are now kindergarten graduates.  How fast this school year went!  They each loved kindergarten so much, and I'm really glad. They looked forward to school every day, and in largest part that goes to their fantastic teachers.

Henry had Mrs. Tomm.  She was perfect for him, and under her wing he blossomed socially.  She gave big hugs, and helped him through his homesickness. He is very bright in all subjects, but especially math and numbers, and she really challenged him.  He made some great friends, and thrived in a structured environment.  His favorite though?  Gym and lunch.  No surprise there!

Jack's teacher was Mrs. McClaren, and he absolutely adored her. She was so good for his personality--so friendly and fun--and he learned a lot from her.  He also made a best friend in his class--Owen--and they were buddies!  They also rode the bus together, and they stuck like glue in whatever they did.  It was so fun to see their friendship blossom.  

I'm just grateful for the teachers that love to teach, love their kids, and love what they do, and that's what we got on both accounts.

Rick was out of town for graduation, which he was really sad about, but we made the best of it.  We all sat out on blankets on the front lawn of the school, and all the cute kindergartners lined up in front. They sang songs, recited poems, showed us some of their best artwork, received the time capsules, and read a paragraph about themselves.  Can I just tell you how cute they were?  I love kindergarteners!!  

The program was followed by treats, pictures with teachers and friends, and playing on the playground until dark.  It was a pretty great day.

Good-bye, kindergarten.  

Jack and his best friend Owen.

Henry and Mrs. Tomm

Jack and Mrs. McClaren

My boys...who smile likes this when I force them to take a picture while their friends and treats are waiting! 

Flag Day Parade

Flag Day is a big day at Clarence Center Elementary.  It's another tradition that we just love, as does the whole community.

The school does a parade all on their own, but is joined by the fire department, police department, veterans, and the school board. Each class dresses up and wear patriotic colors, and then they parade around a big block.  Parents line the sidewalks, and the little town center of Clarence Center is lined with spectators that come to watch.  It's just so fun!!  All the homemade signs and enthusiastic grins--it's such a favorite.

After the parade there's a short program, always featuring The Statue of Liberty, Abraham Lincoln,  and George Washington. Just a couple of quick speakers, lots of patriotic songs sung by the school kids, and a whole lot of patriotism.

Rick was out of town and Ryan was at school, so Caroline and I went and put our our blanket to watch the other four march in the parade.  We saw all of them, and each came over to say hi and give hugs.  Loved it!

Field Trip Fun!

Whew! This was the week of field trips, and I LOVED it!  I was able to go with one day with each of the boys, and then with the girls and the entire 4th grade.  It was a busy week, but so, so fun.

Our elementary school is right in the middle of our little town center, and the kindergarteners have been able to go on so many field trips to places within a short walking distance of the school.  The building department, bank, fire department, pizza company, and candy store were all on the list at the end of year, and during Christmastime they mailed letters to Santa at the post office and then went for hot chocolate at the corner cafe.  It's rather idyllic, and we are truly lucky to have experienced it.  I went with Henry's class on Monday, and Jack's class on Tuesday, to a fun little shop called Creative Essence.  The kids created a darling memory game, and loved being hands on with the craft supplies. The best part was walking there, hand in hand, and asking them questions about all of the things that kindergarteners love and want to talk about.  I wanted to just freeze that moment in time--I know I won't soon forget it! 

The big fourth grade field trip was to Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls, and the girls were thrilled that I was able to come. Rick stayed home with Caroline because it was an all-day trip, and I had already used my babysitting allowances with friends over the last couple of weeks!  

After attending morning program, where the girls were the announcers for the assembly, the girls got on the bus, and I followed behind. We met up at the falls, and there I met up with the girls, a couple of their friends, and their parents.  We had SO much fun!  We changed into our ponchos and shoes, took the elevator down, and then hiked up the steps alongside the falls. We were soaking wet, especially after going all the way up to the Hurricane Deck, which I must say, is appropriately named.   After we finished there, we ate our sack lunches, then walked to the point to see Horseshoe Falls, and for a little hike along the trail.  We lucked out with perfect weather, and it was so fun being there with them.  Usually I have all the kids, and it takes all my concentration to prevent kids from falling into the falls, but this time I could actually slow down a little bit and enjoy the girls.  It was perfect--I'm so lucky I got to go!

The Marvelous Month of May

I still can't believe May is over.  It felt like the blink of an eye!  The weather finally started getting nice, and it was spring-y.  I love seeing all the green fill in on the trees, and everything come to life again after the long winter.  We had lots of opportunities for going to the park, playing outside, eating on the back patio, and soaking it up as much as possible!  

May is such a busy month, and we had our fair share of recitals, concerts, track meets, plays, and sports games.  We also managed to have fun doing other things too...here's a glimpse!

Miss Kate cracks me up. She likes to put on aviator glasses like mine, push her hair to the side, and tell me she looks just like me.  She kind of does. :)

Kate was kind enough to share her umbrella after church! 

Mother's Day was wonderful! I got spoiled with breakfast in bed, the yummies dinner ever, and an afternoon of relaxation. What more could a girl want?

Teamwork!

This is what happens when you're the littlest, and you're dragged around to all of your siblings' activities!  Poor girl...fell asleep in the car on the way to violin, and stayed that way when I transported her inside, all thorough the lesson, and on the way home!

All my girls at the park!

Miss Kate has become quite the baker lately, and LOVES to make cookies. 

Hopscotch girl!

LOVE this girl!

What a fun scene to come across!  What a great dad!

It's not so bad being the one at home to be the taster!

Snuggling with dad...

This is my Kate!  Always climbing something!

She stopped taking naps a little bit ago, but we both discovered she still needed them. She plays hard, and sleeps hard!

Memorial Day Happenings

Memorial Day has always been a favorite weekend of mine.  Celebrating all those that have sacrificed to make our country great is the best reason for a holiday. It's also the kickoff to summer, and means family, food, and fun!

We started off the morning with the Clarence parade, and the kids were thrilled to take their grocery sacks to gather all the candy that's thrown to the side.  We got the most perfect spots right near the beginning of the parade route, which meant we were first to see everything, and we were easily able to leave when it was finished. The weather was perfect--warm, but with a cool breeze--and it was wonderful sitting outside!

After the parade we headed down to East Aurora to see the house, and have a picnic lunch. Next was a trip to Knox Farm, where we explored the trails and forest--and quickly discovered a new favorite place. Then we dropped Ryan off at a friend's house for a party--hiking down to the falls for a campfire!  We drove back to Clarence to the McAffees' house for a BBQ with them and the Hulse family. What fun we always have with them! Super yummy food, lots of laughs, and beautiful weather--can't beat it!

A Fourth Grade Choir Concert and a Fainting Spell

Fourth grade meant taking choir, and while one of the girls (ahem...Kate) wasn't super excited about it to begin with, by the end of the year it was a favorite class. Their teacher is also their piano teacher, and she is wonderful---so good at helping the students learn to sing, and to love music.  The annual concert was held a couple of weeks ago, and it was SO good!  

We did have a little bit of drama though.  Earlier in the day, they had performed at school for the student body.  Emma got really warm, and fainted!  She was scooped up by her teacher, Mr. Hardick, and he rushed her to the nurse's office. (Does this sound familiar?  It JUST happened to Jack at his play!!)  She recovered quickly, and by that evening, she insisted she wanted to sing in the performance.  So...I let her.

During the very last song, her teacher stopped the music and brought her down the stairs, announcing that she needed her mom.  She was so close to passing out again--swaying, closing her eyes--and thanks to a fellow mom and nurse, she was spotted in time to prevent her from actually fainting.  I took her out, got her some water and fresh air, then ice cream. It was all good in the end, but now we're known as the fainting family! I told Kate and Henry that they were NOT to follow suit.

All in all, it was a wonderful choir year, and they are both looking forward to next year!

House Update

We have a house!! Hooray!! After our nightmare last summer, it feels like a dream we're actually this far in the process, and that this fall, we will be moving in!  We've had such fun going every week, checking in on the progress, and watching it go from the ground up.  It's usurped a lot of my time, but I've enjoyed (nearly) ever minute of it. We are just so excited to finally have a home--it's something I won't take for granted ever again!

Her own room!

"Mom, it's like we're sitting on the shelf at the store!"

She was thrilled to find that we had "pinky" house--I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was going to last for very long!