Welcome to Summer!

Casey, first day of first grade

Casey, last day of first grade

Emily, first day of pre-school

Emily, last day of pre-school

Today was the last day of school.  It, like the first day of school, comes each year.  It's on the calendar; set in stone.  And yet I still find myself somewhat unprepared for both.  In August, I'm not quite ready to let them go from my time with them (although I am sure you will hear me say otherwise many times this summer), and in May, I'm not quite ready for them to be done with the excellent teachers and school experience that they've had.  When they were babies, I was always amazed at what they were learning to do next- eating baby food, sitting up, crawling, walking.... And I wondered if I would be as in awe at the new tricks they learned when they were older.  I am now amazed that they are learning to read.  Not just little books, but big chapter books.  And learning to add and subtract and fractions!  And write their letters and shout out colors and shapes.  I guess it's cool to observe, because both girls love going to school to learn and the school they go to is pretty fantastic.  My fingers are crossed that next year's pre-school and SECOND!!!! grade experience will be as wonderful.  But for now, we've got some summer to enjoy!!

Casey got off the bus this afternoon in tears, sobbing.  I immediately knew what the problem was -  my big girl was overwhelmed by sadness.  I outstretched my arms and she ran into them with a fresh set of tears and told me she was going to miss her teacher so much and didn't want to leave her.  As the big yellow bus pulled away, I hugged her and told her it was going to be all right and maybe we would visit her next year.  I so get Casey.  The older she gets, the more I realize we're 2 peas in a pod.  I get attached, too.  I miss what was too easily.  And I sometimes (okay, more than sometimes) worry about what will lie ahead.  Just ask Emily's teachers when I picked her up this morning from school.  It was a bit messy with all the tears I had going on.  But that's just how Casey and I are.  And, fortunately, ice cream can make it all better...

We are making a tradition of going to The Cone here in West Chester for ice cream after the last day of school.  Then this evening we relaxed by eating leftovers, setting up the play pop-up tent in the driveway, playing outside and giving Emily her first driving lesson.  (It's sad but my kids drive a nicer car than I do :)  This low-keyness will hopefully set the tone for the summer:  being lazy, going outside to 'just play,'  hanging out at the pool, and meeting up with family and friends to hang out.  Low commitment is going to be our theme.  The only thing on our radar is Girl Scout camp, vacation bible school and a trip to Hilton Head.  The girls are still so young and the summers filled with sports, gymnastics, lessons, and fancy camps will be here soon enough.  There may be a few (okay, maybe more than a few) times when I will find myself wishing they were back in school, when the "I'm bored's" and "She's hitting me's" become too much for my waining patience, but I will try to fend off those thoughts and just enjoy the summer.  Because before I know it; before I'm ready, the first day of school will be here too soon.