First Day/Last Day 2010

Wednesday was the last day of school for Hannah and Rachel, and I took my traditional Last Day of School pictures before sending them off. But first, let's look back at the First Day of School, a mere 9 1/2 months ago...

Just look at how much they've grown this past year!

And off they go! I only cried a little - my sadness at seeing another year gone was offset by my excitement at the thought of enjoying a wonderful summer with them!

Welcome Home...

Charlotte!

Now that some time has passed since the loss of our dear Ida, we felt it was time to welcome a new little friend into our home. I had told the kids that we would get a new hamster after school let out for the summer. Today, I took them out for a few "errands", and surprised them with our final stop at the pet store. We chose a larger short-haired breed like Ida, since they tend to be sweeter and gentler than the smaller hamsters. Charlotte is actually a little bigger than Ida was. And she's the only blonde in the house!

About her name: The girls were starting to come up with "frou-frou" names for her - I was expecting something like Twinkle Toes to be suggested next. So I encouraged them to come up with a name that would be given to a person, like Ida. Eventually, we decided on Charlotte.

Oh, and it appears she's got a bit of spunk in her. On the ride home, she chewed this hole in the bottom of the cardboard box we used to transport her! I can't imagine having to find her in the depths of my minivan if she had escaped!

Charlotte is currently sacked out, probably exhausted from the move - she chose the very same corner where Ida used to sleep, under the wheel. It was fun to watch her dig around in the bedding and examine her new home. We're really looking forward to getting to know her and making her a part of our family!

Added bonus: I found a great book about hamster care at Goodwill for 59 cents!

Tea For Two

Around Mother's Day each year, the second graders of our girls' school present a program of songs and readings for their moms and other special guests. I loved attending Hannah's "Tea for Two" two years ago, and was looking forward to Rachel's Tea this year. I had to bring David along with me because there was simply no one we could confidently leave him with so soon after coming home. I was very nervous that he would not be able to stay quiet during the program and would be a distraction to the other moms. I even went out and bought a stroller in order to have a place for him to sit, but that would help me make a quick getaway if he got restless and noisy. I needn't have worried. He was an angel through the program. He enjoyed the music so much and just watched and listened to Rachel and her classmates. About two thirds through the program he started to get a little restless, but I was able to pick him up and walk him around the back of the room while the program finished, and he made it! In the mean time, the children finished the program with a song called "Teach Me" that made me cry so much that I could barely see...

Doesn't our Rachel look so sweet? She really enjoyed herself...

Rachel was chosen to play the xylophone during one of the songs!

When the program was over, we all went back to the classroom for refreshments, and to view some special projects that our second grader had worked hard on. David had a delightful time with so many sweet second grade girls fawning all over him! He has a way with young ladies...

She Didn't Get It From Me!

In fourth grade science, the final topic of the year is engineering. Hannah and her classmates were given the task of designing and creating a pasta car using basic engineering priciples. When their cars were completed, they raced their cars. Guess whose car came in first place?


Her Italian Nana can do wonderful things with pasta, but I bet Nana's never tried this!

I loved hearing Hannah chat away at the dinner table using all sorts of engineering and physics terms. Even if her car hadn't placed first, she learned so much. The prize was just a sweet bonus!

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

We invited our newest travel group out to our home last Saturday. PJ and Annie, their two big sisters, and their parents spent the afternoon and evening with us, eating and playing and getting caught up. The two big sisters are Abbie's age, and she loved having girls her own age to play with. All the kids were very good with the littlest ones. Some friends had given us a sand and water table, and it was a big hit. By the end of the evening, after lots of food, sticky freezer pops and sand, the little ones were a mess. So we threw them all together into the bath tub! David was a bit bewildered at having company in the bath, but it made for great pictures and a great memory!

Kindergraduate!

How fast this year flew by! Abbie's first day of Kindergarten seems like just a few weeks ago...

And suddenly, the school year is over and Graduation Day is here!

Here is the Graduating Class of 2010. Can't you just feel the energy on the risers?

Our proud graduate!

And yesterday was the last day of Kindergarten for Abbie!

Ready to take on First Grade!

David always comes out to the driveway to wait for the bus with his Abbie!

Rachel wrote this poem for her second grade teacher...

Farewell, Mrs. S----
I'm going to explore
All about 3rd grade
And open the door
To a new class and teacher
Won't that be fun
But I will still miss you
When the school year is done
You were always cheerful
The best teacher yet
You are a teacher
I'll never forget!
Signed, Rachel

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition."
- Martha Washington

(I believe George heard Martha utter these words from the bottom of an enormous laundry pile...)

Spring Birthdays

We celebrated two birthdays this spring. Hannah turned 11 on April 18th, and Rachel turned 8 on May 2nd.

Neither girl is particularly fond of traditional birthday cake, so I asked them each what they would like for a birthday treat.

Hannah chose homemade snikerdoodles...

...while Rachel chose cannoli!

Teeth!

The Tooth Fairy made a couple of visits here this spring!

Abbie lost her first tooth...

And Rachel lost a top front tooth (one of my favorites to see missing!)...