Last Day of School

Hard to believe, but another school year is over.  Silas finished up last Friday, Mason took his last exam yesterday and Ella's last day was today.  What a great year they all had!!  

One early morning event that we went to in Ella's class was a book signing.  Each kid chose a topic, researched, drew pictures and wrote the text and then it was bound into a book.  The parents then got to visit the classroom, see all the books and the "author" signed the book for us.

This is some art that Silas did in school, then the PTO had a company take the art and do magnets, mugs, t-shirts, etc.  It was cool.  Those they had to shrink the art (thus the hand print) for the magnets and Silas could not understand why his hand was so small!

Unlike Mason and Silas, Ella actually gets to celebrate her birthday during school. We took snacks and the class sang Happy Birthday.

They sang the "cha, cha, cha" version.  Mrs. C was fabulous this year.  Ella absolutely loved her and today as she was leaving the room, gave her a huge big hug. Mrs. C asked Ella to email her over the summer.  Hope she knows what she is in for!

Silas' field day at school was postponed twice, so it ended up being on the last day of school. I volunteered and was stationed at the "cow milking" area.  They must have known I was a home-grown Hilliard gal.  The kids loved it, though Si doesn't much look like he's enjoying it.

I love this picture - Si's favorite activity was the wet ball throwing.  When his teacher, Mrs. P, was out on maternity leave, Mrs. H (here in orange) was the sub for 8 weeks.  She came back to visit the class on field day and Silas welcomed her back by nailing her with a soaker ball. Look closely in the upper right corner of the picture and you can see the ball that bounced off of her.

Today was the "clap out" at the elementary for the 5th graders.  We have a few friends whose kids are moving on up to the 6th grade building. It's SO emotional and I was glad today that my kids are all going to be in the same buildings next year.  I'll still have a high schooler, an elementary student and a preschooler.  They just all move up a notch.  I'm happy for some even keeledness (not really a word, I'm betting) - it's been a rough week/month/2010.  I'm looking forward to not necessarily a stress-free summer, but definitely spending a lot of time with the kids, family and friends.
And I've got my list of Fun Stuff to do!

First Day of Summer Break!

Yesterday was the last day of school - wow this year went fast!

Ella had a fantastic year in kindergarten. I've forgotten how much they learn so quickly at that age. She also made a lot of friends this year and was invited to umpteen birthday parties for girls in her class. She is VERY excited about being a First grader!


They had a Clap Out for the 8th graders - the 7th graders, teachers and parents lined the hallways as the 8th graders toured the building one last time and we all clapped them out of the building (and they promptly locked the doors behind them). I can't even say "clap out" with out tearing up and getting mushy. They do it at our elementary school too for the 5th graders moving on to the 6th grade building. Seems like yesterday that we were clapping him out there...and now I have a HIGH SCHOOLER!

Lots of summer fun planned...the beach in June, zoo outings, camping...can't wait!!

Wrapping up with mixed emotions

Our final day went very fast....

A few pictures (surprise, surprise!)

Me and Margie taking a walk on the beach this afternoon

We saw Mr. Crabs while we were out - he's quite the grouch and I do not like his beady little eyeballs!

The kids had some final playtime in the ocean before dinner. It was still pretty rough and uneven this evening. By tonight, when the kids went crab hunting again, it was all starting to even out and look like 2 days ago. Amazing to me!

The waves today were breaking at different points on the beach and often would collide into each other and create huge waves. It was nerve racking keeping track of all 3 kids when they were out in it.

You can see my finger on the left as I'm trying to tell Silas to please come up here a little closer (for the 90th time!)

Right now, I am sitting up on the widow's walk, listening to the ocean, having a glass of wine and looking at what appears to be a full or at least, mostly full, moon. I am sad that we are leaving tomorrow but I miss my house, garden, friends/neighbors and Zoe. I love to visit places but I love my home more and get homesick after about a week!

This was the perfect family vacation. The kids had SO much fun. This house is perfect for us. I realized yesterday that even though this is only our 3rd trip here, I feel so at home. Earlier today as I was looking around I figured out why it feels so familiar and comfy. When I first worked with Colleen in our Grandview office, all the furniture that was in the condo/office is the furniture that is here at the beach house. Couches, dining table, end tables, pictures on the walls,
and even some of the same coffee mugs and cooking utensils.

This is a family vacation (much like our Dale Hollow houseboat vacations) that I feel create such strong, lasting memories for the kids - the things that they will want to do with their kids and that we'll hopefully get to do with our grandkids. I see so many grandparents out on the beach with their grandchildren and can't help but think that will be me and Justin someday...gray, beer/wine bellies and running up and down the beach with munchkins that will remind us of our days here with Mason, Ella and Silas.

And it was wonderful to have aunt Maw-gee (as Ella and Si say) and Uncle Bim, Mam-ma and Pap-pa here too. Like I said - a wonderful family vacation.

So, I wrap up the OBX writings anxious to get home but sad to see such a great week come to an end.