Last Day of School

It's so hard to believe that the school year is already over.  It seems like just yesterday, the boys were starting Summer Orientation at Urban Montessori Charter School and we were frantically still trying to find a place to live so that we could be in Oakland for the start of school (two weeks later!)

First day of Summer Orientation at Urban Montessori - August 2012
This was taken on the porch of the Milheims, friends of friends who had never even met us but let us stay at their home for a week while they were on vacation.  We were thankful for a place to stay so the boys could attend 3 days of orientation and we could keep looking for places to live.  

Last day of school, taken on our front porch, the house we moved into three days after school started.  It was a wild and crazy school year, filled many ups and downs but we made it! 

Poor Jonah...after switching classrooms mid-year, his new teacher AND his new, beloved assistant teacher both resigned mid-year for various reasons, leaving the class with no teachers and no opportunities for closure.  They finished out the year with substitutes.  Really rough year for Jonah.  I don't even want to include the picture I took of him on the last day of school with the substitutes.  It's just too depressing!

On the other hand, Nicolas and Riley had a wonderful year in which they learned to read, write, add, subtract, multiply, and so much more.  They drew dozens of maps, learned about all of the continents and can name more countries in the world than I can.  Best of all, they formed a wonderful classroom community and made a ton of special new friends who they will get to be with again next year.

Riley and Nicolas on the last day of school with their super amazing teacher, Ms. Jen.  

We celebrated the last day of school with a special treat!  That afternoon, our old neighbors from across the street in Sacramento, came down to Oakland to go to the A's game with us.  It was the perfect way to kick-off summer vacation.

Jonah with one of his favorite people on the planet, Robbie.  These two grew up together and spent nearly every day with one another when we lived in Sacramento.  Jonah misses Robbie very, very much and was so happy to be at the A's game with his buddy!  

The crew, reunited!  They really wanted to catch a fly ball, but no such luck. 

 We went on a special Superhero Fireworks Night so when the game was over, we got to go down onto the field to watch the fireworks - super fun to be on the nice grass of the outfield!

It was pretty late by this time but rather than getting sleepy, Jonah got more and more hyper.  He was dancing around, being a goofball, and keeping everyone entertained while we waited for fireworks.  

Really fun family night and a great kick-off to summer!

The very next morning, Riley woke-up, went to the couch and starting reading the book that his teacher had given to him as a gift on the last day of school.  I think that's the sign of a good kindergarten year.  

First and third grade here we come!