School's Done!

Last week was bittersweet for Miranda and Derek. On Wednesday, they had Derek's final program and send off for his preschool. The kids wore their butterfly hats, sang songs, and then they introduced each child and said what they wanted to be when they grow up. There were some really cute responses, like- a butterfly, a doctor, a race car driver. I think Derek was the only one that said he wanted to be a scientist. They gave us a folder packed with journal entries with pictures and words, photos, and some projects. Derek had two really wonderful teachers, so we will miss seeing them. After the program ended, they had cake and ice cream for everyone. After all the good byes, Larry helped me get the kids into the van. Lindsey started screaming like crazy (I think it was because she wanted to do her seatbelt by herself- a phenomenon that had just started the day before). She didn't stop until 5 minutes after we got home. I think we'd barely left the parking lot before Spencer also was in tears because Derek wouldn't talk to him. I thought my ears were about to fall off! Then Derek joined in for no apparent reason. "Why are YOU crying?" I asked Derek right before we got to the house. "I'm never going to that school again!" he said with such a sad face. I was so surprised! I had no idea he was so sentimental. Larry explained to me later that he and Derek had talked about how you can feel sad when something is going to end, but that there is always something even better in the next class. He must have inherited Larry's sentimental genes because I have always looked forward to change.
Later that day, Miranda came home from "Mrs. Lower's Luau" with her friends. They had their field day and party. Thursday was her last day of school. Unfortunatly, she threw up that night a few times and in the morning, so we walked over to the school at the very end of the day so that she could say good-bye and give a treat to her teacher. It was an anticlimatic end to her first grade year.

Now on to Summer tidbits...
1. I unveiled our new chore chart, money chores list, and summer schedule on Friday morning- I will post more details about that later... I need structure, and so do the kids- especially Derek.

2. Larry waited anxiously in a long line to sign up Spencer for preschool next year. He made it in. It is across the street from Intel, and one of my good friends also has a son in the class- so I have some carpooling relief. With the new baby it will be most welcome. That means that I have a break from teaching preschool this year- I think it will be nice after 4 years.

3. My belly is definatly bigger. I have to break out my "big mama" pregnancy clothes.

4. Derek has decided that he cannot live with the Star Wars Lego Mobile Troop Transport that is now selling for $99. He is determined to earn $2 a day so that he can buy it at the end of the summer.

5. Larry took the kids and camped in his parent's backyard on Saturday night. I joined them in the morning for a Father's Day breakfast. They have so much fun there. Lindsey is just glued to grandpa. They were crazy tired kids, tonight though...