Welcome To Summer

Today was Will's last day of school. I don't know who was more excited, Mike and me or him. I think Isaac probably tipped the excitement scale in his favor though. I am so ready to have my boy home! We all are. He has had an interesting Kindergarten year. It started in Kansas, ended here. There were two teachers, two different classrooms, different kids, two different phone numbers and addresses to master, different handwriting styles to learn, different schedules to meet. He handled it all so well, learned some great lessons and now I get to keep him. He is mine and we are going to have a GREAT summer, just enjoying the schedule free, carefree lazy days.

Yes, If I think about him being done with Kindergarten already I get a little pang in my heart. The thought of him growing up so fast, and the thought of all day first grade....well I'm not thinking about that yet.

Today was a day of Celebration, and did we ever celebrate. So bring on the sunscreen, the flip flops, the long days at the pool, the Popsicle diet, drinks from the hose, picnics in the shade, water fights, visits to family, etc... We are ready and waiting.

Mike came home early today and he and Ike painted this beautiful, awesome poster that greeted Will when he got home. Oh, I was so excited for Will to run through this poster. The best part, other than the adrenaline of bursting through wrapping paper, was he had a new, much needed, bike waiting for him on the other side. We were so giddy, it was almost like Christmas morning. Oh and folks please admire Mike's Orca whale he painted down on the low right side of the poster. If this Stats thing doesn't work out there just might be a future in Poster Making.

Here he is, holding his report card looking so handsome.
They sent all the Kindergarten students home with fantastic Tattoos on their arms. What? If you look close you will notice cross bones with a skeleton and one nasty looking pirate on Will's left arm. He told me it was all part of the fun and games. I'm still a little dazed and confused, but he of coarse thought it was wonderful.
(Is this some weird right of passage they do here? Aargh Matey, All righty then.)

Will had a great idea this year, and I think it might turn into a tradition. Will invited all his classmates to come to our neighborhood park for some celebratory cupcakes, water, and fun right after school. We sent out a mass e-mail, and even with the heat, we had a pretty good turn out. The kids never get sick of playing and moms don't mind talking in the shade so it worked out nicely. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the park activities, but Isaac got a shot of some of the cupcakes at home before the festivities. He put on the sprinkles and I think he did a good job.

After the park, we went home. Will got to run through his sign, find his bike and then there were a few extra goodies on the table for all the boys when they walked in the door. Did I mention it felt like Christmas morning a little bit.


This day was off to a fantastic start but got even better when Mike took us to lunch. That is always so much fun!

After lunch we went home and had to wait for the funnest thing of all. More excitement, I know it boggles the mind, but........

Tonight The Neighborhood Pool Opened!

YEA!
We got to go to the big neighborhood party at the pool to pick up our pool keys and set the summer off right. There were friends, pizza, drinks, dessert, and swimming. Not much trumps this combination at our house. It was a perfect summer evening. I even thought, "hey I might get used to living here after all."

Ikie enjoying pizza!

Two cute boys taking in the magical night.

This kid never left the pool. He ate his pizza on the walk home at 8:45 tonight.
~
But the most magical moment of this magical day for me, was while walking home from the pool, in that perfect, summer evening twilight, with my favorite people in the world, we spotted our first fireflies of the season. It was a gift from above. Just one of those simple moments of life that for some reason stay and are always remembered. Fireflies are the true welcomers of summer here in the heartland and we were happy to share our perfect day with them.
Tis the Season!