5th Grade Completion

Finishing kindergarten one day and fifth grade the next. 

Muskrat spotting on my morning run :-) 

Isaac has his 5th grade completion ceremony on Wednesday June 14th. As you can tell from the air... the air quality is pretty poor right now here due to the forest fires in Canada. Tonights sporting events were cancelled because of it. 

I was having a hard time catching my breath during the ceremony and I wasn't sure if it was because my legs were killing me from my run, maybe I was still out of breath from the run, and we were standing the entire time. Probably a combination of all of that mixed with the air quality. 

It's been a challenging few years with a move, covid, and returning to school as a somewhat 'new kid'. I know he was happy to be back to Kenwood and finish out 5th grade here but that didn't mean it was an easy year for him. I'm proud of him for being resilient through change, giving school his best effort, and being an overall good kid. He's going to go far in life and I'm excited for his next chapter. 

K is for cookie :-P haha 

 

And for old times sake... here's his end of Kindergarten photo :-) 

(NO WAY! I just noticed Thomas wore the SAME shorts yesterday for his kinder celebration that Isaac is wearing above in HIS kinder celebration, haha!)

Kindergarten Celebration

I'm trying to soak in the silence these last few days before school is out. Tuesday I picked up this hammock stand so I could hang our hammock and get some reading in before heading to school to see Thomas's kinder celebration. 

Thomas is so cute! Front of the line as they entered the room and on stage. 

He has loved Ms. Elfering and has enjoyed school. My baby is moving on up to first grade! 

Saturday June 10th - Tuesday

Saturday wasn't quite as crazy as the previous weekend. I was taking a rest day so decided to squeeze in a walk before taking Emma to her soccer. 

 

After Emma's soccer skills practice we hit Costco then met the family at Thomas's baseball game with Costco lunch. 

In Rookie ball they get pitches from a 'machine' it's more like a sling shot device. They get three balls from that and if they don't get a hit then they get to hit off the tee. There are no outs so batting just goes through the line up and all kids get to run the bases, last batter obviously getting a home run so they can run in. No score it taken, but it's great they get to play and learn the rules of the game. 

Thomas as catcher: 

Thomas was hitting pretty well at the start of the season and has starting to define as we go... Kyle said they are all clearly ready for a break. lol

Saturday afternoon was our neighborhood beach opener. We got all ready to head to the beach and then there was a DOWN POUR so we stayed home inside watching the rain. It cleared up eventually so we walked down (without the beach gear). Thomas and Mary still got in the water, it was fun to see some neighbors and honestly the storm kept the rift-raft out of the beach area so it truly was JUST neighbors with families. 

Sunday was baseball, I worked the concession stand during Isaac's game. Then in the afternoon the girls attended a birthday party and that evening Isaac got to do his golf camp which is Sundays in June although the first week was cancelled due to heat. 

Monday night we took the kids to Sushi Train. Kyle and I checked it out for lunch one day. It's not the BEST sushi in town, but it is a fun experience and the kids had fun picking what they wanted off the conveyor belt. Then Monday evening was a lacrosse game, baseball practice, and Emma had a soccer game. 

Tuesday I had a better bike ride, rode the lakes :-) 

It was also Thomas's Kinder celebration: view HERE.

And Tuesday night the Saints came to visit Isaac's little league game. It was so fun having them there announcing and putting on activities between each inning. As you can see Emma had fun participating in musical chairs. Isaac also pitched two innings. I didn't get a photo, not sure if the videos will come through. 

June 4th - 9th

Sunday Thomas had a game. Isaac had one too earlier in the morning that we all attended. So by the time it was Thomas's turn the other kids were all hot and tired so I took them home and Kyle and Thomas went to his game. I was kicking myself because it was against a team that had one of my besties and I missed getting to visit with her. But Kyle got this sweet photo of him and Thomas: Lance batting and Thomas catching. I was searching for a photo of them as babies (they are born about a month apart) I couldn't find it but of course this photo popped up a day later in my time hop <3

 

Sunday evening we took a forest walk to look at the kids art rocks before they were picked up that day (or next). We found Emma's and Isaac's but we couldn't locate Mary's (which she did bring home I'll go grab a pic to put at the end of this)

Isaac was not a fan of me taking his photo, lol.

Saw a few busy worker bees walking home from the forest. 

As I mentioned a few posts ago I signed up for a triathlon at the end of August, longer than other's I've completed so a little nervous, but getting in that training time. 

And Monday's I volunteer in the lunchroom : 3 shifts 11:30 kindergarten I see Thomas, following is 3rd grade lunch I get to see the girls then I stay til 1:45 and help with 4th/5th grade lunch to see Isaac. I used to do Wednesdays same shifts but had to drop that when I picked up the Wednesday shift at work. A good neighbor friend had a freak thing happen with her son and was no longer able to do the Monday shift (she also has four kids - 3 at our elementary school and worked all the shifts) so it really worked out because I missed those few week I wasn't in the lunchroom. Anyway all that to say here's Thomas at lunch, they were celebrating July birthdays this day so he got a birthday ribbon and crown. 

Tuesday, my first LONG ride in a really long time. Gotta listen to something better next time cuz the book I was listening to was a drag and made this ride not so fun. 

Tuesday afternoon I had the opportunity to walk with the 5th grade classes to the Sculpture Garden. It's about a thirty minute walk from school. I wasn't too thrilled to do this cuz I was tired and after a full year of volunteering I was feeling the need for a break. But I reminded myself I'll miss this and Isaac will be in Middle School next year when the volunteer opportunities diminish... so I sucked it up and went and I'm sooo glad I did. Had ag read time and really loved walking around the sculpture garden. We should totally go there more often it's SO close to our house! 

Once we got to the garden the teachers divided all the students up into smaller groups amongst the 10 or so parent volunteers. I had 7 boys including Isaac in my group. 

The walk there was pleasant, the walk back it was starting to get warm. And we had a creeper follow us from the park which was weird and thankful we had big strong dad's along that took care of it and got the school's security notified. 

Few things from home: Cute bunny in the window! We have had so many buddies in the yard they are a joy to watch. And journals I made for teachers this year as appreciation gifts. 

Wednesday, June 7th, soccer for Emma, boys in tow while Kyle took Mary to her lacrosse practice. Emma is really good at soccer, it's fun to watch her play.

In addition to my Wednesday work shift in radiology I also picked up Thursday and Friday, so full days. Friday morning I got up early for a run before work. 

Caught sight of this muskrat crossing the lake, even got a selfie with it :-) 

 

Beautiful, beautiful morning, despite the haze of poor air quality. 

Friday, Thomas had a field trip to Como zoo. I wasn't able to go since I was working but a neighbor sent me these photos of him while there <3

Emma brought home this fun award! Proud of her, she's becoming quite the reader. 

Friday evening was St. Louis Park Little League night at the Saints game. They had an on field time before the game... but we didn't make it and decided dinner was more important. We ate at this fun place in the Union Depot (train station) over in St. Paul just across from the new Saint's CHS Field.