the last day

Even though I reported back to work on Wednesday, today is officially the last day of summer break. Greg had off work this week so he entertained the kids when I had to go back for teacher work days. 

One day he took the girls and our neighbor buddy, Austin, to breakfast with the grandmas and the papas then hiking in the mountains. They had a great time!

The air was cooler. It was reported that they climbed all over everything. (Not bad for a phone pic, huh?)

They went up to an area we've been before that has a "slide" that over time water has carved into a rock. The last time we were there it was dry and the kids slid down it several times. This time, there was water flowing over it from recent rains in our area.

Yup.

You guessed it.

They slid down nature's water slide.

In their clothes.

Over and over again.

Apparently it was the pinnacle of the day.

Greg texted me this photo with the caption, "The party is obviously over!" They were tuckered out!

Heather and Stephanie have both given out their back-to-school Starburst treats to their teachers. 

Their backpacks are packed. 

First day outfits are decided upon, but not yet ironed. 

They are ready and excited and nervous.

They are a little sad summer is over. 

Tomorrow they will start 8th grade and 5th grade. How did this happen?

This will be a year of lasts for us. This is the last year Heather will be at my school ~ the last year any kid will tag along with me in the mornings and be forced to occupy themselves while I work. The is the last year Mommy will be just down the hall if she needs something. This is the last year Stephanie will be in middle school. 

Sigh.

Take a look at my teaching blog to see what this is all about.

And this one too.

bursting with excitement

When Stephanie started 6th grade, Greg had the idea to take a little gift when she went around the school following her schedule to get an idea of where her classes were located. Great idea! Why didn't I think of that?!

So she walked her schedule and introduced herself to the teachers that happened to be working in their rooms. I'm using the word introduce loosely here. I think Greg had to initiate some of the talking there. 

In 6th grade, she gave popcorn since she was "poppin' in to meet them." Last year, she gave her teachers candy bars in hopes of a "sweet year." We have to change it up every year because she has the same band teacher each year. Can't have repeats, now, can we?

This year, she is "bursting with excitement" and giving her teachers Starbursts.

I wrapped the candy with patterned paper, backed the printed tag with scalloped card stock, and tied it with baker's twine. I used yellow and blue because those are her school colors. We kept the patterns/colors gender neutral because we didn't know whether her teachers are male or female until we got her schedule while we were at school.

This is a cute, easy, and inexpensive way to make a teacher's day. What teacher wouldn't like to get candy in the days before school while they are busy planning and room rearranging?

Heather will bring her teacher a treat at the meet the teacher day next week.

Want to make your child's teacher's day? Click on the picture above to download the printable.

Punch the circles out with a 2.5" punch or cut them out freehand. Your child's name can go in the space towards the bottom.  If you don't have a large scallop punch, you can adhere the printed circle to a piece of card stock and cut around it leaving a border. Wrap the Starburst with fun patterned paper (I cut mine 5" by 3 3/4") and attach your tag.

P.S. If you are someone who knows Heather's teacher this year, she has requested you keep this information to yourself so she can surprise him. Thanks. :)

     

rite of passage

The year was 1978 and I wanted to see a movie real bad. I imagine I begged and begged. At that time we didn't go to too many movies cuz my parents were working hard to make ends meet.

My dad took me to see the movie that my little girl heart could not live without and I was oh so happy. Just the two of us went to go see Grease!

Oh how I love this movie! I wanted to be Sandy and dance with Danny Zuko.

I'm not sure if he realized what he was getting himself into. Looking back, I just have to laugh. My dad is quiet and shy ~ most painfully shy. If he can get by in life without saying much, he does. (Side note: when he does talk, he's stinking hilarious.)

I was a pretty naive child. Even though I was regularly exposed to racy English humor watching Benny Hill and other such shows on PBS, I was still naive.

I know my dad must have been dying and shrinking in his seat to sit next to his 10-year old daughter during a movie with so many innuendos! Ha!  Thankfully for his sake, I'm quite certain his little girl didn't understand many of the lines. I know for sure I loved the singing, dancing, and Danny Zuko.

I have been telling Greg that it's time to let the kids watch this movie. It's time for them to experience all the delightfulness that is Grease.

Last weekend we rented it and had family movie time. I snickered to myself at all the lines I knew they didn't really understand. I sang along. I even did some of the dance moves during Greased Lightening. I swooned over Danny Z. all over again.

The kids? Well, they liked it alright.

But I don't think anyone enjoyed it nearly as much as I did.

One day when they are older they will watch the movie again and look back on the first time they watched it and turn a little pink knowing they watched this movie with their parents!