The beginning and the end of summer

On the day after my kids and their friends graduated from 5th grade, they threw their own graduation party.  And when I say they planned it, I mean they coordinated everything from the time to the place and who was bringing what food for their lunch.  I was so impressed (and also I had no plans of throwing a 5th grade graduation party, so this was a smart move on their part!).  The adults took turns hanging out at the park with them and I wandered over a few times to capture the day with my camera. They played at the playground, had a game of kickball and a game of baseball, along with a picnic lunch in the middl of it all!

I figured if I didn't post this tonight - the night before they start middle school - it was never going to happen.  Summer flew by in the blink of an eye and I can't even wrap my head around the fact that school starts tomorrow!  This big milestone is giving me a few mom moments as I hold back some tears. I'm not sure why.  When they headed off to kindergarten, I was more than ready - and so were they.  Maybe it's that this is the start of truly a whole new chapter in their lives, one which can be rather challenging. Maybe it's that I've realized it's only 7 more years now, until they head off to college.  Maybe it's that I know they won't want me at the bus stop anymore.  I'm not sure. I do know they are excited and ready and will be rock stars in their own right.

So, they will wake up tomorrow morning, excited to head to school wearing new clothes, seeing friends they've missed over the past couple of months and ready to have a schedule where they change classes each period.  So, before I crash for the night, ready to get up at 6:30am (UGH), I give you their Fifth Grade graduation celebration.

Sixth grade tomorrow...bring it on!!