Summer Bucket List #1: Zoo

The girls made a list of things they wanted to do this summer and they said we had to do them in order. So, #1 on the list was Zoo! We scratched that off the list on the 2nd day of break. 

Giraffes

Train ride!

It was hot for early June!

Charlie: That's a wrap on Kindergarten

Charlie had a great year! She started off the year by coming home exhausted every day after school, by the middle of the year that was no longer an issue. At the beginning of the year she did not want to walk the trail to school by herself, by the end of the year she was thrilled if she got to do it without Evy! Her reading took off this spring and she is reading at a first grade level. There were three Charlies (another Charlotte and a Charles) in her class this year so she was called Charlie C. all year long. It still cracks me up when we are out and she sees a friend....the friend yells "Charlie C." to get her attention. She may be known as Charlie C. for the rest of her elementary career. I think Charlie is a social butterfly because she rattles off 4 new names every time I ask her who her friends are. She plays with different kids at recess all the time and I can't believe how many kids we run into every time we are out....they all know Charlie C. Charlie said she knows she had a good year because she never had to sit in the thinkspot. She is ready to rock 1st grade!

Back to school night. 

1st Day of Kindergarten

Charlie and her teacher, Ms. Schieltz on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Party

Last day of Kindergarten

Evy: That's a Wrap on 2nd Grade

What a year this girl had! We've been watching Evy's school performance since her reading scores were just barely keeping up with benchmark at the beginning of first grade. She is very bright so it wasn't making sense to me that her scores were just barely at benchmark. In February we did some private testing and found out that Evy has mild dyslexia and ADHD Inattentive type. Bingo! Evy was fantastic during this entire process, we had lots of appointments for testing and follow up and she had a positive attitude during it all. I could not be more proud of her. By the end of 2nd grade her scores shot up and I know she is ready to crush 3rd grade! 

It was so fun to watch Evy develop more friendships this year. Her crew includes Kathryn, Laela, Addie, Hadley, and Keelin. Evy's teacher, Mrs. Schintler was very helpful this year and says "Evy is a joy to teach. She is always prepared and ready to listen and learn. Her overall behavior in class is excellent. She is a tremendous role model in the classroom." That's our girl!

Brain Break at School

Valentine's Day Party at School

 

Science

On her birthday she got to bring a book to school and read it to the class. She picked Giraffe and a Half.

This school year Evy was on a basketball team. She had so much fun with these girls. It was a really positive experience. 

Last Day of 2nd Grade

Will's Bedtime Shennanigans

Oh Boy! Up until two years old Will was a piece of cake to put to sleep. But at age 2 we took away his pacifier and it's been downhill ever since. We managed to keep him in the crib until January of this year when we converted his crib to the toddler bed. He slept well in that for a couple of weeks and then decided he wanted to sleep on the futon in his room. This is an old futon stuck in his room for no particular reason. Safety railings would not stay attached to the futon so he would fall out multiple times a night and wake up. It was a disaster. So, we decided to take the plunge and go full force into the full bed. 

Hanging off his futon. We sold the futon in a garage sale for $40. Good riddance! 

Big boy bed with safety rails! Will picked out Star Wars sheets. 

He still is a nightmare to get to sleep, fighting us for at least an hour each night. But at least his room looks better now. Right?!? Ugh. 

Dance Recital Weekend

For the first time, the girls were in separate shows which means we had a weekend full of dress rehearsals and recitals! 

On Saturday Charlie performed a tap dance to "Sea Cruise" and a ballet dance to "It's a Small World"

Following Charlie's recital Evy had dress rehearsal. 

On Sunday, Evy performed an acro routine to "Kids in America" and a hip hop routine to "Wild Wild West." The girls were thrilled that cousin Kate came to watch. 

Lots of love in the audience for these girls!

It was a packed house at both recitals so we are thankful that Papa Dick is always punctual and arrived early enough to snag seats for all of us!

Dance Pictures

This week the girls had dance pictures. It's so cute to see them get so excited for their costumes.

May Day

Our doorbell rang at 7:30 a.m. and I thought "What the heck is someone doing ringing the doorbell." I quickly looked outside and saw my on the ball friend and her daughter running back to their car. On the step were 3 may baskets. Wow! I didn't even remember it was May Day and my friend was so on top of her game that she had them dropped off at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday morning!!! After school our kids really wanted to make some May Baskets so we looked through the candy bowl and scrounged up enough goodies to make 3 baskets. Each kid got to sprint from the van to the front door and back before the neighbors could catch them. It was hilarious and I have to remember to do this again next year!