Another school year flew by...they seem to be moving quicker and quicker the older the kids get. I can't believe next year we'll have an 8th grader, 4th grader and 2nd grader! I swear TJ just finished Kindergarten. This was a really positive school year! We've not had a "bad" year but things just feel easier as the kids are older and more independent. I also realized this year that the older I get...the better I handle things, the more mindful I am of my time and the more reflective I am about friendships and what truly matters. EUREKA...I'm totally okay with being mid-thirties and what my life is like.
Some highlights of this year....
All three kids soared academically! TJ made honor roll every quarter and became so independent with monitoring his school work and grades. Beau loved third grade and we were so thankful for the most amazing teacher! Finley loves school..she's the kid who comes home and asks for me to make her problems on the whiteboard. Even when I'm super tired, it's hard to say no to that. She's kind and fairly quiet at school. She keeps close to her friends and truly gets bothered when kids don't follow the rules or don't pay attention. One of her biggest gripes was kids who would just not sit still in circle time. We talk a lot about just taking care of ourselves and not worrying about others. One more year until she'll be with me at East and I can't wait!
TJ ran for ASB Sergeant of Arms the week before school ended and he won! I'm so excited he'll be involved in student government next year because that was my thing in school and I want him to experience all the great aspects of student leadership. He's our social, everybody knows-him-everybody likes him kid. It makes me feel so good when teachers and other kids tell me he's that one kid who is nice to everybody. He's mellow and goofy and the best line in his speech was, "I have a good sense of humor and like to joke around. The best person I like to make fun of is myself..." And the audience laughed. He's just one awesome 13 year old...who has a terribly messy room and the smelliest feet you can imagine....So I pick my battles and move on...
TJ continues to like sports and lifts weights a lot. Sometimes I look at him and think Holy Cow..he's huge. He's tall and strong and just not the little boy I once had. TJ played his second year of trombone and was pretty stoked when his band instructor asked him to try the tuba next year. He marches with the pep band and played Pomp and Circumstance at graduation. Even though we live in a small school district, our music department is amazing and TJ is a great example of how music helps make kids well rounded.
Another really great part of this school year was Beau at East with me!!!! I loved having my buddy there everyday and catching sneak peaks of him in the hall, at recess, in class and at assemblies. He would write me notes and leave them on my desk and every time he walked by my office window he waved! As cool as he tries to be, he still loves his mommy a lot. One really interesting thing I learned about Beau this year that kind of surprised me is he's a rule follower! He's very aware of school rules and not breaking them. I guess this kind of surprised me because he's also a bit mischievous. But much more so at home I've come to realize. Beau excelled in math...loves it and his teacher absolutely pushed and challenged him. He doesn't like to read, however he's good at it, especially when it involves taking AR tests or some reading challenge. He would wear sport shorts every single day if we'd let him, prefers t-shirts with the sleeves cut off as his favorite shirt and intentionally wears mis matched socks. Sigh. Pick my battles on that topic every single morning. Beau is our creator and energizer bunny. Give him a box and some tape/scissors and he's happy. He loves to ride his bike around the neighborhood and had his first broken heart this spring when his BFF (who lived down the street) moved to Ellensburg. It was hard for us to see his sadness, but that's also life.
Finley's teacher told us all year that she's the kind of student that every teacher wants...rule follower, kind, very focused and eager to learn. I have no idea who she got those qualities from because that wasn't me or Husband in first grade. Actually I attribute it mainly to her age. She's one of the oldest kids in her grade and her behavior matches that. She has no time for dramatics or nonsense and just seems so much more grown up than a lot of her classmates who are 6...as she'll be 8 in a week. Finley is my reporter. Everyday after school I would get a play by play of her day. She doesn't miss a thing. She has the memory of an elephant and her reenactments of various incidences were very funny. She is strong and tough-both mentally and physically. Clearly the product of two older brothers. It takes a lot to hurt her feelings...which is good because life can be mean.
One huge part of our school year involved hair...yes HAIR! This school year will forever be the year of hair. TJ's last hair cut was October 2014 and he's set on letting it go. He can make a ponytail and his girl friends (not girlfriend) can French braid it!! Initially it was annoying to us, but finally Husband and I both got over it. It's only hair. If this is the worst thing he does, great! We go to almost all of EWU's home football games and have gotten to know a lot of the players. His favorite lineman has long shaggy hair past his shoulders. He swears he not cutting it until college-we shall see. He has to wear headbands whenever he's doing anything physical-thankfully there are manly/sporty headbands out there. Along with that, Finley has been growing out her bangs aaaaaalllll year. Good Lord we are almost able to pull them all the way back into a long pony. I'm not sure what prompted this move, but we've committed and I had to get very creative this year because the rest of her hair is so stinking long. Beau was on a hair cut strike (mainly because of older brother) until basketball season, then he realized he wanted a trim. And Husband...oh to have so much hair as Husband! Sadly all that long, shaggy, thick hair is turning gray quickly!!! There's always jokes about who has caused all that gray hair (me!) but no matter how hard I try to persuade him that perhaps a little 'Hair Color for Men' might not be a bad idea, he'll never go for it. And that's okay. Husbands so true to himself and I respect that.
As we settle into the first week of summer and fill our days with swim team and all sorts of camps, I am already feeling my battery recharge. For me it was a busy and rewarding year. I'm beyond excited for a grant program my school was awarded starting next year called The Leader In Me based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This has been a game changer for so many people and just the small taste we had of it this year showed us how profound of an impact it will have over the next 5 years. We had some staff retirements, some move because of their spouses jobs, and some relocate to be closer to where they live (sick of commuting) and because of that next year is filled with a sense of new beginnings and exciting growth. I'm so happy to be part of it and even more happy my kids get to experience The Leader in Me first hand. I plan on documenting our progress so others can hopefully follow.
In the meantime,15 days until our Maui family vacation and 77 days until school starts again...time to soak up summer.
My mantra for the year!
I saw this on Instagram and it just made me smile! I think it's so true and I try to remember to be positive and optimistic every single day!
#teacherkidproblems. These two stinkers spend a lot of time hanging out after school while we work.
My sweet Beau! This was from the Fall.
Typical morning heading to school, books and hot chocolate. Note the shorts...it's winter.
Another fine example of their outfits. Chosen by themselves..of course.
Track & Field was a first this year for TJ! He won Most Improved for his team and every meet surpassed his previous throws. It must have been the hair.
Our spring jog-a-walk-a-thon at school! This was a major fundraiser that I planned and we raised over $11,000! The weather was cold and gloomy, but the rain and lightning started only in the last few minutes. Phew!!! Every kid needs to experience a jog-a-thon!!
Last Day with Nana and Beau.
The night before the last day of school TJ had a party. I was tired, a bit grumpy, had a boat load of work to still do before I checked out for the year...but the thought of the last day of school pushed me forward! :-)
