"It's the last week of school??!!??"

I so totally love this picture of Haddon. It reminds me of him way back when he wasn't big, and the littlest things made him excited. :)  The kids' finished up their last days of school, and there were many notable happenings...

Ellie's school carnival, complete with treats, bounce houses, a cake walk (which we won 3x's), and a bunch of plastic toy prize games that the kids couldn't get enough of.  It was fun had by all.

Ellie's class sang a few songs, and then competed in a grand-prix competition where they got to wash each others' goggles, change their tires (shoes), get refueled (eat a handful of crackers), and run all the way around the perimeter of the soccer field.  Ellie's team "The Pirates" did very well for themselves...and were way cute running around in their paper cars. (You can tell Ellie had her eye on the prize the whole time...:)

We had a special visitor.  A little birdie decided that we must not be so bad afterall, you know, after the duck incident... and decided my kitchen might be a nice place to hang out.  Syd and her little friend were playing in the front room when they started screaming for me to come quick.  They had left the back sliding door open, and he came right in.  I grabbed my phone and snapped this blurry pic while squealing and trying to shoo it out the window.  No such luck.  I finally had to trap it in a cardboard box and set it free in the garden. My counters got thoroughly Cloroxed afterwards, thank you very much!

 

Haddon had a 'drive-in movie' in his class.  They got to make cardboard cars, and Haddon chose to make a VW bus.  He was more than thrilled with how it turned out...:)

 

Both Haddon and Ellie brought home glowing report cards that we rewarded with a trip to Arctic Circle for burgers and shakes. (They're so easy to please!) While we were there, Haddon's teacher called to let us know that he would be receiving two big awards at the next days' awards assembly.  He was the top reader in his class, and received the McReader of the Year award, which came with a giant animal fact book.  He was also chosen to be the Clove Award recipient for his grade "In recognition of Outstanding Academic Improvement, Character and Dedication".  This is a huge deal in our school district, and came with a gift card for $20.00 to the local bookstore.  He was prompt in dragging us to the store to buy the 'Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary'.  I haven't been able to peel him away from it since.  Congrats Haddon! We're so proud of our little man!

It's hard to believe that I have a third grader and a second grader in my home now.  When did they get so big?  I'm so proud of both of them for doing so well academically and socially.  Good work you two!

Now, off to the thrills of summer.  :)