Unloading the Phone Pictures

 One thing I love about being at school with the kids is being able to pop in when something special is going on. Juliet had several animals visit her class at the end of the year. The snake was a hit!

 Juliet and her amazing teacher and good friend from class. We will MISS first grade. :(

 Leah went to orientation for her new school and insisted on playing Knocker Ball. Her strategy was to try to hit the biggest kid out there. It wasn't the best strategy. 

 One of Juliet's good friends. They had fun making cookies together!

 Teddy Boy. Perpetual motion. 

 One of Juliet's last days at school. She got her face painted at the end of year party. 

 Soccer trophy. 

 Leah's last lunch at school with 2 of her closest friends. 

 25 minutes after the bell ran on the last day of school!

 I took Teddy to the Splash Park with Juliet and a friend and had so many flashbacks to taking Leah and Juliet as little(r) kids. It seems like a lifetime ago. 

 I like when Ollie keeps watch over Teddy. 

 Juliet had her final Girl Scout party at Lifetime. She climbed so much higher than she did a few months ago. She also showed off her new summer hair-do!

 The girls made up a dance complete with costumes. 

 Teddy's favorite toys: cars and balls. 

Girl Scout Camp

 This year Leah's troop earned an overnight camping trip. Leah was SO EXCITED! We stayed at the Howell Nature Center which had a great set up. The girls had a ton of fun and totally exhausted the adults. 

 They did nature walks, canoes, listened to animal presentations, met and interacted with some animals, and played games. They LOVED it. 

 Leah wanted to be in the "power" position of the canoe (the back). She was so mad when they made me be in the position. 

 

 I didn't stay overnight, but I went most the entire time everyone was awake. The moms had some fun around the campfire that I was sad to miss out on. But, Teddy still needs his mama at night.

Strawberry Picking

 One of our first summer bucket list "check off's"--Strawberry picking. We love this annual tradition. This year Teddy was much more agreeable to the activity, and actively picked (and ate) berries. 

That's A Wrap on 1st and 3rd Grade

 Boo hoo. I feel like I took this picture yesterday, and now there are only 2 weeks of summer left. I've been in this office since I came to Workman when Leah began 1st grade. I remember when Leah started the 1/2 Split class and the spelling words were SO HARD and we would practice words on the white board before and after school. I remember trying and trying for a baby and taking pregnancy tests and ovulation tests in the bathroom. I remember bringing Juliet for Kindergarten orientation and being so excited that we were all going to go to the same place EVERY DAY. I love that the girls could come find me when ever they needed me and bring friends in on recess to help me out with random tasks. I loved when they would flop on my saucer chairs at the end of the day and tell me the drama of the day. This office was right on a main hallway and I would see both girls walk by often.  Now I have to move offices and Leah is leaving to go to TAG. I feel like a chapter closed and it makes me so sad. 

Anyway, these kids had a great year. They had amazing teachers, made great friends, and learned a lot. Juliet can't wait to see who her second grade teacher is, and Leah will be going to another school to join the TAG program. She's a little apprehensive about this (and so am I). But it's a great opportunity for her and getting into the program was one of her primary goals in 3rd grade. 

Juliet Learns to Ride a Bike

 We have this same picture of Leah learning to ride with Juliet running behind her. One day, I hope to get it with Teddy riding the bike and both girls running behind him. 

 Last summer we tried to teach Juliet to ride a bike. She was doing pretty well, but then she started soccer and life got busy and we just kind of stopped practicing. Then it was winter. She was nervous to do it again this year, but she was riding like a champ within the day. 

 Teddy was a great cheerleader for her! 

Girl Scout Bridging

These beauties bridged in Girl Scouts. Leah became a Junior, and Juliet became a Brownie. I've had a Daisy troop for FOUR years, and I'm feeling a little relieved/sad/misty-eyed/excited about not having one next year. 

 I love little babies, and Kindergartners, and the early years. But, as a Girl Scout Leader, I like the kids older. It gets much more fun as the grow! 

 I wasn't great with patches. There were many mornings where I was frantically trying to iron on patches or where I couldn't find the vest/sash all together and needed to go home at lunch and look for it. 

 These girls have made such friends in their troops. I never really stuck with an activity for long as a kid, so it's fun to see the relationships and independence that build when you do stick with it. Love these girls! 

Dance Recital

 Juliet wearing my most favorite recital outfit of all time (Pineapple Princess) and Leah wearing my favorite costume from my favorite dance of hers from all time. 

This year Leah took 4 classes (jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical) and Juliet took 3  (acro, tap, and ballet). They love to dance and often make up dances and combinations. They are amazing to watch. Leah has such an obvious natural talent. I think Juliet does, too, but at this point I get the most joy watching her take it seriously, trying to remember her steps while smiling broadly (I thought the same thing about Leah when Leah was Juliet's current age).  

 For the past few years Leah has begged to join the dance team. It's a huge commitment and I've been very hesitant to allow her to. I put it off for a year after she was invited to audition. This year she was SO READY and wanted it SO BADLY. Then they told us there were no openings on the team. She was so devastated. The next day, they sent a message that she was invited to privately audition. She was ready! She made the team and has told us several times that she made the right decision and that dancing is definitely her "thing". 

 They love to dance! The stage make-up and itchy dresses, not so much, but enough to dance anyway.

This year Juliet wants to audition for the Christmas Show. She says she loves dance, but also loves gymnastics and soccer and isn't sure she wants dance to be her "thing". That's fine with us.