Winding into Summer

As the school year winds down this week we party and play and start thinking of the fun things we'll do this summer. But first, we must say goodbye to our friends and teachers and schools. It's a fun week. It's a sad week.

Maggie is leaving her primary school to head to the bigger, older, harder, scarier intermediate school. We LOVE the primary school, the staff, the teachers, and it's a big step to go to 3rd grade. We look forward to it and yet we dread it as well. Maggie has had a terrific 2nd grade year. We LOVE Mrs. Hill and how she runs her classroom. Maggie has flourished. She received the "Book Worm" award... her nose is always in a book. She has great friends... Christie, Elvia, Maria, Samantha, Gracie, Nix, John Clayton, Archer, Luke... and more. I really hate for this year to come to an end. But we must. Oh - Maggie is also styling her own hair. She can make her own ponytails and braid them as well. She looks really cute and I always tell people it wasn't by my hand! I can't even braid as well as she does! :) Her plan is to cut off 10 inches and donate to Locks Of Love this summer, before camp. We'll see.

Ruthie is finishing up kindergarten. It seems like a pointless year in August... but then in May I see how much she's changed and what she's learned. She started the year knowing most things a kindergarten student should know. She finishes the year reading second grade material, memorizing math facts, and working on writing sentences. She is a bossy little smarty pants. She makes sure everyone is following directions and tends to repeat instructions to those who might not have heard or understood the first time! Good thing we have her. She has made some great friends this year too... Katherine, Jenna, Cheyenne, Brett, David, Caleb, Tanner, Conner, Skylar, Lexi, Bailey... I hope some of these will be around for several years.

Speaking of friends... Cheyenne is Ruthie's friend who had several strokes a few months back. She ended up in a pretty bad spot and is still in the Children's Hospital. The plan is for her to actually COME HOME next week and rehab. They are looking and asking for financial help to revamp their home to be wheelchair accessible. This is the kind of story you see on TV. I'm sure we'll have good news of great progress soon. We miss Cheyenne!

Bennett had a pretty good 3rd grade year. We all knew it would be new and different and difficult before it ever started. He has a great teacher. I like her style... her structure... her expectations for the kids to DO. I doubt he would agree today, but maybe a year from now. He's gone through some pretty tough spots this year but has worked through it all and has come out a stronger person. I hope it's the last of the overly emotional times... but I doubt it. He is such a sensitive kid... everything bothers him. He's so very literal. We have NO idea what 4th grade holds for him. We know no teachers. We know nothing to expect. I guess that's a good thing. I just need to keep him motivated over the summer. ARGH! Oh, his end of year accomplishments... perfect attendence, Million Word Club (1 of 3 3rd graders), excellent work in Social Studies, and good citizen award for his class. His teacher ROCKS! :)

Lydia is preparing herself to start school in the fall as well. She has finally mastered singing her alphabet and will write her name in her own sort of fashion, when she feels like it. She doesn't identify very many letters or numbers... but she's certainly making progress. She'll be 5 next month. She's planning a swimming party with her friends. I guess I need to work on that!

We took a trip to Stone Mountain Park with a group from our Sunday school class. Lydia and Curtis were still fighting bugs and germs and fever, so they stayed home to rest while I enjoyed the day of playing. The kids got to do the ropes course... Sky Hike. We all rode the tram to the top of the mountain and checked out the view. There was a storm brewing so our sight-seeing was haistened by the conductor's "last call". We all rode the Duck ride on land and water. It was entertaining... but not that exciting. The same "storm" shortened our water part too. We picniced on the lawn and watched the classic Laser Show and fireworks after dark. It was a late night... but the kids had a great time. We were able to take cousin Micah since Bennett would have been the only boy there. We also enjoyed Abigail Butcher, an old school friend. The Jennings, the Baumgardners, and Rebecca all shared in this experience. Good times!!

In this picture... Abigail Butcher, Bennett, Micah, Maggie, Carsen Baugardner, Alex Anne Jennings, Ruthie, Meg Jennings, Sydney Baumgardner.