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!

Update

Life is moving at the speed of light these days so I haven't had much time to breathe, must less communicate with many others.  If you are confused, here's our updates:

1.  We still don't have medicine for Jonah.  There was scheduled "peer-to-peer review" of Jonah's case on Friday (our doctor was scheduled to talk by phone to Cigna's doctor).  The Cigna doctor never called our doctor during the scheduled time and of course she didn't know which of the thousand 800 numbers at Cigna she was supposed to call to get ahold of them.  So unbelievable.

2.  We still don't have a house to move to.  We've tried and tried and tried.  See post from earlier today for further explanation.   

3.  All three boys got into the school we were hoping they'd get into - Urban Montessori School in Oakland.  It's one big way that I can feel God taking care of us during this big transition.  I could write whole post about it...so I probably will...someday.

4.  We've decided that we will start our kids at Urban Montessori on the first day of school - August 27th no matter what.  We feel a lot of peace about this decision. 

5.  Yes, refer to #2.  We have a school, but not a house.  No, I have no idea where we will be sleeping that night.  But, it's time to move.  So move in 2 weeks, we shall.

6.  We are staycationing (house-sitting) in Oakland right now.  We will be back in Sacramento on Wednesday.  From there, it will be lots of packing.

7.  I will continue on in my role as ED of The GreenHouse through October - or until we find someone to fill the position.  I am thankful that I can move without saying "farewell" just yet.  Feels more like a loosening, than a tearing.  While working in that capacity, I will work remotely (from Oakland) for much of the time and will commute up to Sac once a week. 

There, now you are all up-to-speed!

First Field Trip

Two weeks ago I got to be a chaperone for Jonah's first field trip as a kindergartener - a trip to Fog Willow Pumpkin Patch.  What a fun day!   

   

Jonah with some of his buddies out in front of the school, waiting to get on the school bus.

 

Getting on a school bus for the first time...very exciting!

The two kids I was in charge of looking after: Josiah and Jonah (two was enough to keep me quite busy!)

Class picture.  Jonah is in the second row, third from the right

 Jonah, Faustino, and Ethan in the petting zoo.  Do these three boys look like trouble or what?!  Just look at those mischievous little smiles. 

While the kids rode on the school bus, I drive five other moms in my van.  I loved having a chance to get to know them.  There's nothing like an exhausting day of kid fun to form a bond between strangers!