Last Days of School

The end of the school year was crazy and fun and busy and exhausting and everything in between.  Both girls had end of the year celebrations in their classrooms which seemed to last the entire last week of school.

 Natalie graduated from her Apple Valley School in a cute ceremony and then celebrated the end of a fantastic third grade year with a movie and root beer float party.  Natalie had a great teacher this year and an exceptional year of growth in writing, music, art and math.

 On the last day of school, as if scripted, the luna moths they'd been raising from tiny caterpillars, emerged from their cocoons.  Natalie got to carry one outside and release it as she left for the year.  So cool.

Audrey and I sort of celebrated the last day of school together. I substituted in the kindergarten classroom next door to her for a few hours that morning so that the teacher could attend her son's 5th grade promotion ceremony.  As soon as she returned, I switched my substitute badge for a parent volunteer sticker and joined the kinder celebration as a mommy.  It was a fun, many-hats-worn kind of day. I've really enjoyed substitute teaching, especially in the kindergarten classrooms at our school.

The last day of kindergarten celebration echoed the entire year of kindergarten: awesome!  The kids rotated through stations of bubbles, hopscotch, chalk art, picture frame making, and hallway bowling and ended with a chance to soak four very brave parents with wet sponges.  These four moms were such troopers and dressed for the dunking in masks, floaty tubes, flippers and fins.  A few came up to me afterward and said, "your daughter is a great shot!"  Perhaps we should have signed her up for softball instead of soccer!

What a fantastic way to end a great year!