Art Show

I have been to the art show at this elementary school for ten years ... in a row!  It is precious to me and wouldn't miss it for the world!  Another last.

I rushed out of my school on Friday to scoop up Abigail (who was home with Anna) to take her.  Scott pulled in just as we were getting in the car.  So off we went with one 'littlest'.

Someday I could do a whole post on Abigail and her daddy twirling her. I don't always have my settings right but I always love to capture her twirling because it's so Abigail.



And when I asked her to twirl again (becuase the setting weren't right, she gave me a little sass.. I love that too)








Made to look 'real'





Another 'last' tucked away in my heart, forever.

Other art shows are here

New Principal (phone shots)

Oh I have so much more to say about this ... on another day... because there is so much to say and I want to get it right. But right now I want to remember...

• Just how beaming proud all three of his girls were of him tonight
• How it felt like surreal, listening to him being recognized in front of all of the principals of the district
• The words that I tried to hang on to with every bit of me.  I tried to memorize when the superintendent spoke, and when Scott spoke.  I couldn't hold on to every word but I remember...
• Scott and I go way back from the time he was assistant principal of Squdron Line school and I was principal.
• Scott turned his elementary school around, closed the achievement gap with a love for children and an incredible skill for leadership and family
• He will bring his skill set to the middle school 
• I want to remember how Scott introduced me and his girls.  "My wife, Tara, 4th grade teacher at .... school."  
• I want to remember watching the girls soak in how they were talking about THEIR daddy.
• I want to remember how Scott said we are and education family and much of our conversation is about school.

There is oh so much to remember from this evening and I will do a 'proper post' one day but for now I must say that emotions are running deep in our hearts.

• To watch him say goodbye to his beloved elementary school where he was for 9 years. 
• To watch him accept this new role with excitement and grace
• And to be there right by his side, as he was with me.  

More, more, more coming soon! 

Choosing Gratitude

We've started the process of saying goodbye to our beloved elementary school.  There are a series of events that lead the process.  I don't want to say goodbye to these years but last chorus concerts, orchestra, flyers coming home about the Fun Fair all push time ahead, and we have no choice but to follow.

This was one of those events.  On an unusually hot day last week it was her last elementary school concert.  We don't lack in concerts around here.  In fact there are many more that will happen late spring and early summer.  But this one pulled at my heart stings.

Maybe because we've belonged to this school for ten straight years.  And maybe its because I can remember Anna's last when Abigail was so little.

'Time is a thief' I've heard.  But I won't let a thief win.  So in these 'lasts' moments I choose gratitude. The gratitude in my heart for this school system, for these schools, for the 'golden path' of teachers we've had in our lives is bubbling up inside me.  I am oozing with pride for my daughters and they years they've spent at this school.  And now as Abigail prepares to leave I can take a deep breath and smile... at each event.

So here, here is last chorus/orchestra school concert.

No airconditioning means no tights when it's 90!



I snap my camera when I want to hold on to a moment. Just how she looked that night.



There were flowers that night. Our family is an orchestra family and if I bought flowers for every single concert it wouldn't be special, but this one was a 'last' so I wanted to mark the occasion.



This particular list of songs they sang was beautiful.







She played in a mini chamber group as they stage behind her was being prepared for the band.



Her size doesn't say middle school yet, but her heart does.





So the first of a string of events is over. And I 'made it through' this one. Instead of tears, gratitude. This time of year... it is such a mix of emotions, and I am so grateful they are all mine.

I thought I'd link this here... this was Anna's last concert at this special school.

So Much to Look Forward To

I'm sad about Abigail growing out of elementary school.  She "graduates" in June.  In June I won't have a child in the safety of one teacher/one classroom all day.  I won't have a child with recess.

It bothers me so much that Anna is in high school.  And is taller than me.  And that the hard/wonderful days of them home with me all day are over.

Scott and I got away last weekend for an hour date.  We went into a cute tea shop, got tea to go, and walked around an antique store. I held his hand and we both agreed that we're going to be okay.

But we are **made** for parenting these two girls.  Made for it.  And we parent with our heart and soul, both of us.  I know many parents (even the wonderful ones) that actually look forward to the last one going off to college.  The new freedom.  Not Scott and I.  We hope it never happens.  That they'll never grow up.  That they'll be little forever.

But Scott reminds me that we'll be the 'kind of parents' who are with them every step of the way.  That we'll always be with them.  It'll just be different. He tells me that our new life will be all about the trip for the weekend to see them in college, being with them in the summer, things like that.

I trust God and I trust Scott of course, but I still wish Abigail would just stay in elementary school.

That she would keep forgetting her lunch box at school.

That she would keep having that one sheet of homework.

That she would keep needing her hair done by me each morning - braided or up in a bun.

There's a line I wrote on the bottom of my email to my classroom parents at the end of the first week of school.  "We have so much to look forward to...."

And I've written it on each email since that first day.

I believe that with my whole heart.  We have so much to look forward to.



But this backpack?  It fits her now.  And she knows this school.  Inside and out.  It 'belongs' to her.  She's not just following her teacher in like a little baby duck.



So I sigh, and tell my aching heart that wants her girls little forever, come on heart

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me?  Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God. ~ Psalm 42:5 

and we have so very much to look forward to!

Transitions

Last night Abigail, Scott and I went to her middle school orientation evening. In the school in our backyard, so of course like so many times for events for Anna at that school, we walked.

Nothing hit me until we were about half way there... then, like all parents I thought, what? This is crazy! Middle school? My baby in middle school? The whole idea felt so foreign to me.

But during the tour I noticed all of the other 5th graders. They all looked so young.

And after the tour, the presentation was wonderful and showed just how 'young' you can still be in sixth grade. It was reassuring to this mama for sure.

I'm so grateful for good schools and living in this town that we live in. Because I know, no matter how many times I whisper, "just stay little, just stay little" she won't stay little.

The Last Day of School

Hooray!  It's summer!

The last day of school can be a day filled with mixed emotions.  Happiness for sure!  For the freedom that no school brings.  For a change.  For time.  To think.  To play.  To create.  To be together.

But of course that last day makes us aware that another year has passed, another grade.  And in this case for Anna, another school.

I adore the middle school (grades 6-8) in our backyard, literally.  I love that she's walked through that garden gate, under the arbor, and across the field both to and from school for three years.

I've loved knowing that she's so close to home while she's at school.  There was comfort in her leaving elementary school knowing at least I could see where she was on my way in and out of our house each day.

But those wonderful, close to home years are now memories to pack away.  And we will.  Pack them away and remember them.



Usually in her left hand is her viola. On the last day it was a box of munchkins to share.







I remember when we bought this house in 2001 we had to put up a fence for our dog, Chester. I didn't want the fence all the way enclosing our backyard because that school was there. I didn't have a baby yet, and it almost seemed silly to think that one day I'd have a baby old enough to go to that school. But somehow I knew that I need a pretty walk to school. And so an arbor and gate we put up.



Before Scott became an elementary school principal he was a social studies teacher at that middle school and although he'd often drive to school there were many times that he'd walk right through that gate as well.

So this middle school is special to us. Hard to say goodbye to for sure. Since daddy taught there. Because Anna's years were magical there. Because it is so close. Because it is filled with amazing teachers that we are privileged to know.

After Anna came home from China there were many times that we visited daddy as his school. I can remember bringing a picnic basket with Anna on my hip (yes, we walked through that garden gate) to have lunch with daddy. So many wonderful memories of this middle school.



The staff at this school had a HUGE baby shower for Scott and I when Anna came home. They gave her a huge playhouse for our yard and so many special things.

I took Anna dressed up on Halloween to this school when she was a baby.





When I was a little girl, my own Dad was a teacher at this middle school. We practiced our father/daughter wedding dance on the stage of this school. To say that saying goodbye to this school is tough is an understatement.

This was Anna on her very first day of middle school. Sigh.

(2014)



(2014, first day of middle school)





And after I got over that last walk to school I got Abigail all ready for her last day of fourth grade. And I even got the chance to go to her flag closing ceremony.



Abigail's school. And her walking back to her classroom after the assembly for just a few short more hours of school.



The half day of school flew by and before I knew it, it was time for Anna to come home.



With a big smile and a huge look of relief on her face.



Middle school done! I now have a high schooler!

(Anna on her graduation night last week) (that post is back here)



On the last day of her middle school all of the teachers line up and wave goodbye as the busses pull out. Anna walks out the back door of course so she's never seen this. I've always seen it as I'm driving by to pick up Abigail at her school and wanted Anna to see how awesome her middle school teachers are. So wonderful!



And so here we are at Abigail's school, just down the road. Anna and I waited and out the happiest (now 5th grader!!!) came. Such joy ran straight into my arms!





Home for a snack and a small 'happy summer' gift.











So the girls ate and I read the two new books aloud. Happiness.





I love this book. LOVE! And perfect for Anna.





So we did it. Scott and I. And the girls. Another school year. With all of its ups and downs. Challenges and sucesses. We did it. And now... SUMMER!

(The First Day of School post is back here)