Last weeks of school

School resumed June 10. It was a Thursday, we had been off for 10 days and it already felt like summer. Going back was not that fun and rather rude. BUT we plugged along and endured the end of our school year. 3 more weeks went by so fast!

The 4th graders got a year end field trip in addition to two field trips earlier in the school year. The parents were invited and I really didn't have any desire to go but Maddy really wanted me to. I went on the same field trip last year with Jack in 2nd grade but said OK and signed up to go.

In all honesty, I'd much prefer to go on field trips with older kids. They are so calm and sweet and listen. The bus driver however was on the kids case and was constantly watching the kids like a hawk instead of driving practically. She was so worried anyone was talking or turned around. But we didn't let it stop us from having fun. This was the girls in our group, we also had some boys but they didn't want their pictures taken esp with girls!

 Alli, Maddy, Emily, Brinley  on the bus

 Emily, Maddy, Alli, Brinley at the Utah Natural History Museum

 Here are the crazy boys with our group. Ryder and Mason at the Mammals exhibit.

 Maddy and Mrs. Gray. Honestly, she has had wonderful teachers. I didn't care for her 1st grade teacher. I am so grateful for teachers who love what they do and teach and work hard to make their students aka kids love to learn. This year has been no exception for Maddy. She has branched out and made new friends who transferred to our school this year because of the boundary change. She is not shy, but knows when to be quiet in class. She follows the rules and is a great leader.

Her report card was also perfect. All 4's and E's. Mrs. Gray asked if she could box Maddy (and Alli) up and move them with her to her new school. She is changing schools to a school that is closer to her home and on a traditional schedule. She said we should only have to be on year round school for one more year. I've heard that a lot. Either way, year round school has been enjoyable. June was harder but we managed and it kept the kids busy. 

 Jack and Mike started All Stars. They had practice 3-4 times a week and a couple games. The first game the boys played very well and had an easy win.

Mike also participated in Ragnar. This is Mike after his first of three runs/ legs. It was hot and I'm sure running was brutal in the hot afternoon sun.

 While Mike was running, I checked the kids out of school early to go see the new movie Inside Out. Uncle Dan and his girlfriend Bethany and her kids were in town. We HAD lots of seats for our group and enjoyed the show. It was a little slow moving for me but once again I cried at the end. These Disney movies sure know how to pull at Mom's emotions!! After the movie, we took a picture with some of the cousins.

 Maddy also started playing softball again for Gene Fulmer recreation. This is most of her team, I think one is missing. The team has given Maddy a lot of confidence and she has enjoyed having more playing time this summer. We are grateful some friends are also on the team.

 Back to school. The 4th graders have been learning all about Utah this year as part of their learning curriculum. This is B,C,D tracks 4th graders performing song about Utah. Each person had a speaking part also. It was so well done. I really loved listening to the music, the recorders songs, watching the square dancing, and being a part of the show.

 Maddy is in the middle row in white (with her eyes closed)

 Not sure where the girls are looking. Maddy and Alli after the performance. These girls are best friends and just mesh so well with one another. They can play one thing for hours without tiring or asking for a snack, they are both easy going and can laugh and have the best of times. They also are playing more piano duets. They are so excited they finally got to be in each others school class. This was the first year! Fingers crossed the Wakley's can move to D track and they can be together again.

 And another picture with Mrs. Gray, She also gave me a hug goodbye and the tears started to flow for both of us. She is an amazing woman and will be missed by both Maddy and I. I sure wish she were staying to teach Jack next year!

 Here we are back to baseball. 2nd tournament for the Copper Hill Gray Wolves was over the weekend that Ragnar was. IT WAS SO HOT! 100' triple digits.

 The last game was in the evening, and as  you can tell by the score although the temperature had dropped so had our A game. We lost and were out of the tournament. It was a hard loss for all the boys Jack included. The coach was going to have another player sit for another game and Mike didn't feel it was fair to that boy, so he switched the line up and had Jack sit so the player could play. Only 10 boys could be on the roster at once and so poor Jack (and another boy) did a lot of sitting. While it was nice the other child got playing time, it was hard for Jack to have to sit and watch and then loose and be out of the tournament. All Stars was a lot different then I expected. A good experience but a lot of money for not a lot of play time. It was also the team Jack was placed on. He was playing against 10 year olds, who are a little better because they have had more playing time. But Jack learned also and got better as the season went on.

End of year also means award shows, talent shows, field day, water day and of course FUN! Testing is done and it's time to play after all it is June! 

This year the Falcon Award assemblies were held by track so Mike and I were able to go one time and see all 3 kids get their awards in addition they were able to see their friends also get their awards. Kindergarten was first up!  

 She was pretty excited to get her first Falcon award and dog tag along with several of her class mates.

 3rd grade came soon. Jack LOVED 3rd grade and partially because he had the students favorite teacher as his teacher. Mr. Lovell. He was amazing. He cared about each child in his class and worked hard to see that each succeeded. He helped lots with their reading levels, multiplication math facts and specifically Jack with his Diebels test score. Which I am proud to say at the end of the year was above grade level. Thanks Mr. Lovell for an amazing school year for Jack (and me).

 We missed the photo, but Jack went and stuck his head in Falco's beak. Sad that we missed the photo!

 4th grade always follows 3rd grade. Maddy and Jack are 20 months apart but one grade apart in school. We held her back (she could be in a higher grade) not because she wasn't smart or taller than all the other kids but just because we felt it was right at the time. We later moved to Utah and now she has LOTS of friends on her street that are the same age. Prayers are answered even when you are not sure why you are doing what you are doing at the time.

 And a final picture of the kids with their awards. And Lilly wearing her back pack because we were going to school and she wants to go so BAD! Soon enough, all 4 will be off. But let's not think about that yet.

The next day was field day for kindergarten to 3rd grade. And then the following for 4-6 grade. I volunteered to help both days. It was 2 more triple digit days. Lilly was a trooper and enjoyed our time out jumping rope with the big kids! 

 And then the last day of school for Lexi was a day earlier than the big kids. Here she is with Miss Smith (she's getting married in September but to Lexi will always be Miss Smith!) She had the best year! After we left, Lexi said I'm going to miss Miss Smith and Kindergarten. I told her to ask if she could come back to Kinder next year. I'm going to miss my Lexi when she goes to school all day in August. Sigh, it's hard on Mom's watching these kids grow up right before our eyes!

And that's a wrap for our last weeks of school! Summer break has officially started! We have 7 weeks of summer break which is the perfect amount of time!