Schools Out for Summer!

Well, another school year bites the dust! We are moving from the evens to the odds again. Ready for 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade!

First day of school...

After the last day of school.
Matthew had a great year! His favorite award this year was a plaque for reading over 20 bluebonnet books. Matthew has grown up a TON this year. I get comments all the time about how much older he looks this year. Sad, but true!
Thomas had a wonderful year! He got perfect attendance and Outstanding Citizen for the Year in his class. Our favorite thing for Thomas this year was his shift in attitude towards reading. He always has done well on reading tests, and was even reading 150 words per minute after the first semester of school, but has never had the passion for books until this year. Thomas says that his teacher "changed his life" by introducing him to Mark Twain and he has read Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer twice each. He spent an hour the other day making out his summer reading list. Way to go, T!
Miss Mary Beth had a wonderful kindergarten year! She is reading like a pro and wants to spend the summer having school with Mommy. She was also Outstanding Citizen for the 4th 9 weeks. She made wonderful friendships this year and couldn't have asked for a better introduction to school.
Matthew and I have had lots of fun during his 5 years in elementary. I'm going to miss his smiling face in the halls and the fact that he always was happy to see me. I have heard that there is so much less parent participation in intermediate school, so I am glad that I got to spend as much time as I did with him in elementary.
Kindergarten Graduation! I was so proud of myself for maintaining composure!


The kindergarten program this year was one of the cutest I have seen. Mother Goose's Rocking Nursery Rhymes. Mary Beth was a flower in Mary Mary Quite Contrary.




Leaving kindergarten and heading into First Grade!




So happy that Nana could come to the program since Daddy had a trial that was going on during the program.

Oh, how we loved Mrs. B!
While I didn't cry at the end of kindergarten, this next scene nearly did me in. I came in to talk to Thomas's teacher, and I found Thomas crying. He loved Mrs. M so much and had a fabulous year. I love his sweet sensitive spirit.

This was also a tear jerker. At the end of school, all the kids in school line the halls and start chanting "Woodway!" and "Fourth Grade!" The entire Fourth Grade class high fives all the cheerers. What a neat tradition and very emotional for the parents!

Matthew's final walk through Woodway.

Matthew's third grade teachers were always so encouraging to Matthew!
My 1st grader has left the building!
It seems like Mary Beth and I usually end up eating oriental food on the first or last days of school. I picked Mary Beth up early from school and enjoyed eating at our favorite Thai food place to celebrate a wonderful year.

Matthew's good buddies who sat at his table this year.
What a wonderful, special year for our kids! I am ready for a break, but will always look back fondly on the year that my three babies were together.

End of the Year Parties

Today was a little crazy. I ran to the kindergarten party, left to see a patient, ran back to finish paper work, went to the 2nd grade party, left to buy teacher gifts, ran up for the 4th grade party.

It was hot. It was fun. 1/2 day left. Amen.

Racing bff, Whitney.
Whitney said, "On three say BEST FRIENDS!!" They are so cute together. ;)


Trying to get Mary Beth to smile.


Thomas has grown 4 inches this year! 2nd grade has been a growing experience for him!





There aren't as many pics of Matthew. A few minutes into the party, he asked me to stop taking pics of him! He got home after 10pm last night and was so ramped up after his game, he couldn't sleep until 11. He was a tad sleepy today!
I see London, I see France... you fill in the rest!

Last White Sox game!

Last night was our last White Sox game of the season. It ended up being my favorite game all year. We beat the number 1 team with a walk off single.

Last night, Matthew made one of his best plays that I have gotten to see him make. He was playing short stop. Their number 1 hitter came up and hit a low line drive. Matthew's seemingly instantaneous reaction was to dive for the ball. He reached out and landed on his belly with the ball in his glove for out 3!

This was definitely not the most successful team we have been on, but one of my favorites in terms of players/parents. Matthew had a lot of friends from school on his team. I will miss talking to my friends in the stands. I enjoyed watching Matthew improve this season and learn how to be a catcher. We'll enjoy the break from Little League for a while, but always look forward to next season!

I was proud of our boys for having energy to play until nearly 10 pm after a full day of playing at the Waterpark during school!

Mary Beth was so proud of her brother!

A Day to play!

I must show a picture of my little cowpoke. Mary Beth is never a big fan of me leaving town, but she always perks up because Daddy takes her shopping every time I am away. He picked up this useless but adorable hat, along with fake fingernails, at Justice for her this weekend! Bryon and I balance each other well. I guess practical and impractical are both important in life!

There will be many posts this week, but here are a few pictures of the 4th grade trip to the Waterpark. The 4th graders have worked hard for 5 years and have made great friendships. It was a nice day to celebrate the end of an era.