The End of Days (of 1st Grade)

So it was just last week (though it already feels ages ago) that Hayden had her last day of first grade. While I'm not sure she learned anything in the last couple weeks of school (there was an awful lot of movie watching and just general disruption due to testing of the older grades), there were several end-of-the-year events that made the last week (or so) extra fun. Some were official, like field day which I volunteered at (but didn't take any pictures), and some were unofficial (like celebrating her last day off the bus). There were several sweet treats (of course) and lots of fun with friends.Let's see if I can remember what all we did.

On the last Friday, we were invited in for a student-led conference. All the parents gathered in the room. The kids sang several different songs they had learned throughout the year - usually learning songs set to common childhood songs. (think a song about bugs set to head shoulders knees and toes - head thorax abdomen, abdomen...)  The kids were very enthusiastic and had a very efficient method of switching places after each song. The front row line would quickly file out to the back, as the previous lines stepped up, allowing every child to be in front at least once! After songs, Hayden came over and talked to us about the work in her folder. Then the kids reconvened on the carpet for a snazzy rendition of "Happy." Afterwards, we met up with friends at Pelican's Snoballs - a place we'd always wanted to go to, but never had - and enjoyed 'New Orleans style' shaved ice treats. Yum!

H and her buds on the carpet before songs

sing with me - head thorax, abdomen, abdomen!

talking to Daddy about her work

snoballs!!!

SO many flavors - E chose cake batter and strawberry lemonade

M loved her pink cotton candy

 In the last couple weeks, H was very interested in having us come in to have lunch with her. E was also excited to do it, because she hadn't gotten a chance to eat lunch with H during the year. The first time, we were planning to come in, Eliza got sick and threw up in the morning, so we couldn't come in to have lunch. The second attempt, we came in a half hour earlier than lunch time (planning to help out in the library) and caught them coming back from lunch.  Testing had changed the schedules. The third time, we managed to make it at the right time, only b/c Hayden's teacher had texted me (at my request) the revised lunch time! Needless to say, after so many tries, it was especially exciting to finally get to sit down in the cafeteria with H for lunch!

H and some of her classmates

H and M (dontcha love M's face!)

 We also made a special occasion out of Hayden's last day of riding the bus. She rode the bus home from school 3-4 days a week, depending on after school activities but the last week of school she only ended up going one day. I met the bus in sunshine and pouring down rain, usually with the dog, often (but not always) with E and M (they sometimes had late naps). She always had the same bus driver, who always greeted me with a smile. I gave him some chocolate on the last day and a thank you note - and E wrote up her own note, copying some of my words and drawing a picture. We enjoyed our last day of sitting by the sidewalk, waiting for the bus.

getting comfy by the sidewalk

Blizz always hopped up to go out to the bus - she knew the routine

bus stop selfie! (again, M with the silly faces!)

and she finally arrives! (with book swap bag in hand)

 And of course, I took pictures on my last morning of driving the morning carpool. We enjoyed listening to Ivy and Bean over the final week. Check it out if you need a book about mischievous 7 year olds!   These two have grown up so much over the past year!

M is mad b/c I didn't want her in the first picture.

 Then on the last day of school, I took picks on the front porch as we waited for the carpool. Then in the afternoon, we skipped naps to pick Hayden up at 1:30 (early dismissal for last day) and headed out for ice cream.

All ready for second grade! What a year it's been!

M was SO pleased to be in the picture!

more goofiness from M

A newly minted second grader can totally rock a chocolate mustache. (She was quite pleased that I suggested chocolate fudge brownie for her flavor instead of plain chocolate!)

cookies and cream beard!

funky face while shoveling strawberry in her mouth (yes, she did drop the WHOLE cup of ice cream on the floor and I let her keep eating it.)

So first grade (for Hayden) is a wrap! Next year, second grade! The books are bigger, the words are longer, the science experiments more dangerous - or something like that. For now, we're just enjoying summer time. Let us know if you want to go on an adventure or go to the pool or just come over and play. We're available!

Who wouldn't want to hang out with these cuties this summer?!