This past week was the last week of the 2011-2012 school year. It was filled with milestones and quite a few tears. Some tears were of the good variety, some of the not so good variety, but I'm only going to talk about the good variety.
Archer officially finished up his years as an elementary school student this past week. He is growing up WAY too fast! He's over 5'2" tall, only 1/2 a shoe size smaller than me (and I have BIG feet), and is just becoming an amazing young man. However, he should still be my little baby boy. I keep telling my kids they do not have permission to grow, but they just do not seem to listen. Off my tangent now....Archer's last week of school was all about fun and celebrating the milestone. There was a social with pizza and dancing, a breakfast, a morning of fun at the Brunswick Zone, a clap out (can we say tears?), and then finally a continuation ceremony. I have never attended a clap out for the 6th graders before and it is a tear jerker for parents, teachers, and students alike. The 6th graders are taken through the school (in our case both school buildings) where the halls are lined with the younger students, teachers, staff, and parents. Everyone there cheers and claps for the 6th graders. The 6th graders are given a couple flowers they can give to their favorite teachers. Archer had me get flowers, white roses, which he handed out to each of the teachers he had had. As we walked through the halls saying goodbye he looked at me and said "Mom this is my LAST time being here as a student". He held back the tears as the nostalgia hit him hard. At the continuation his teacher talked about each student individually and what they had, and did, mean to him. Then he was done. No longer in elementary school, but a middle school student. I know that he will do well in middle school, that he can handle anything that is coming. I am just not sure that I am ready for it yet. A couple more years of him being little would be fabulous! He is still my little boy though and he knows it.
The second milestone we reached this past week was Princess's kindergarten graduation. It was our fourth and last kindie graduation. Our school puts on a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom program for the parents. Each kindergartener is given a letter which they paint on their shirt and make matching hats for. They learn the story "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and sing it with actions. It is so incredibly adorable! Then off to the classes we all go. Princess's teacher does a sweet little program and she cries every year (she has had 3 of my kids in her class), which makes me cry! My oldest is done with elementary school and my youngest is just starting her journey through it.
A mother should not be required to sit through a 6th grade continuation AND a kindergarten "graduation" within 12 hours of each other. It is very tear inducing!
If that were not enough to make me weepy, I spent the last 45 minutes of the school day in Angel's third grade class. Both Angel and Archer had Mrs. V for 3rd grade. She is an AMAZING teacher and we just love her to pieces. This was her last year teaching at our school as she needs to be closer to her family. I am very happy for her that she was able to find a new job closer to home, but sad that she will no longer be at our school. I understand that she needs to do what is best for HER kids and not stick around just in case my kids get her as a teacher. It would be incredibly selfish of me to think otherwise. We will still miss having her here at our school, but will continue to stay in touch.
The journey continues for us all through these changes in life. They are all GOOD changes, even if they leave us with tears in our eyes.
I was blessed on Father's Day to be able to spend parts of it with all of my dads! The morning of Father's Day was the last of our family reunion (more on that later), so I was able to have breakfast and give big hugs to both my dad and my step-dad. After the long drive home with my family we stopped at my in-laws to see my father-in-law. It was wonderful to see all my dads. 
