Let the Summer Begin

Tomorrow is the last "official" day of school for my girls.

We've spent the last several weeks closing down this school year, so tomorrow is really just a formality.

I'm a lucky mom.

Our lives are not perfect by any stretch of imagination...but my kids are pretty good kids.

My oldest took the stage at Awards Day so many times that she really shouldn't have ever sat down.

She's a perfectionist and a teacher's dream student, good grades, good test scores, and has high expectations in everything she does.

While those are all incredible characteristics for a young woman to have, they sometimes cause her extra anxiety...we've had to help her with some of that this year.

But, she's gonna be just fine...and we're gonna help her every step of the way.

My youngest has a very similar personality to her oldest sister.  She wants everything to be just so as well.  She's had a difficult year in kindergarten...not grades or anything of that nature, but just dealing with change. 

In this picture she is receiving the "Creative" Award for her class from the principal of the school.  She is a very creative child and likes to make things from scratch...in that respect she is like her middle sister.

My youngest's teacher has been so patient and understanding this year with us all.  She has tolerated the many mornings that we've arrived in tears, the days we've checked out early, the extra reminders to send this or that, and the days that I've been off and we've taken a "vacation day" as my youngest likes to call them. 

We won't have those luxuries next year...but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. 

And then, we ended tonight with my middle child's first voice recital.

I have to be honest.  I wasn't sure how tonight was going to go.  We've all been to recitals where you are wiggling in your seat and trying to discreetly cover up your ears. 

That never happened tonight.

It was such a pleasant recital.  Each student sang a classical song in Italian...yes, Italian!

And, you should have heard my middle child belt out those notes.

Holy Smokes!

Then, each student sang a more popular song; these were equally entertaining with only a note here or there that needed tweaking.

My middle child has frequently found herself in the shadow of her bigger and smaller sisters.  The beautiful, talented woman in the picture with my middle child has helped her see herself for her own value without comparing herself to anyone else.  For this I will be forever grateful. 

We'll be picking up report cards in the morning and then...

LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!!!