We're going back to the start.

A post inspired by photos I thought were lost forever to a dead computer but were somehow miraculously recovered...

It seems contradictory, that the end of the school year would be a beginning.  But looking back now,
all the craziness in those last few weeks was a sign of how chaotic life would become.

We had four kids moving on from three different schools.  So that meant parties and celebrations galore.  Andrew and the other 4th graders celebrated with a bowling party.  Then we had a shindig at the school where there were lots of certificates handed out and the kids sang a fun song (where Andrew was in the back row and I couldn't see him at all) and there was punch and cookies afterwards.  It was great to see Andrew have fun with all his friends--they are all a great group of kids.  We had a good run at this elementary school.  For nine years we had kids attending there, and one year all four of them went together.  So I got a little sentimental, but it's hard to want to linger in a place your child is so ready to leave.  Andrew loved being the BMOC last year but I could tell it had run its course.  Still we are grateful for the wonderful, positive experiences we had at that school and the strong foundation it gave each one of our kids.

Brooke moved on from her short two-year stint at the intermediate school.  Again, there was a party--a luau to be exact.  Brooke hula-ed it up with her friends as any soon-to-be 7th grader would.  And again, there was a formal recognition ceremony, which consisted of some 12 year olds talking about how they learned not to bully (because really there was SO much bullying going on before) and how their two years here were the best two years of their (very short) lives.

Emma and Leah left junior high behind.  The big excitement was finding graduation dresses.  Modest ones.  Two of them.  Nearly impossible.  But very worth the effort, as Emma and Leah looked beautiful amongst girls dressed in dresses that had less fabric than a bath towel.  Strapless, way above the knees, and then add a  pair of high heels and unfortunately the term "street walker" came to mind a couple times.  Surprisingly, I was probably the most sentimental at this celebration.  Overall, the girls had a GREAT junior high experience, which is pretty uncommon.  The "teams" they are on at the school do a great job of having unity-building activities that mix in with the educational side of things.  They made some great memories and friends, and I was feeling grateful that the past two years had gone so well.  And then there was the fact that I'd have two kids in high school in a matter of weeks.

So we enjoyed celebrating our kids' achievements and advancements.  But who knew that the fury of those last few weeks of school was just a small dose of what lie ahead...