And That's a Wrap!

After the strangest and most unexpected school year, school is finally and officially dismissed for the summer! I'm pretty sure I've never been so excited for school to be out in all my life!

I was so hopeful and excited for this year. While I didn't love the thought of my babies starting school, they were only there about three hours a day. That proved to be great for them and me! It really eased them into the whole school thing, and still gave us lots of time to spend together during the days. It also gave me time to run a quick errand like get my hair cut or teeth cleaned, volunteer in Bren's classroom, volunteer with PTO, or knock out household chores. And some days - although not very often - I just sat in the quiet and enjoyed the down time. 

Having sick kids for weeks in the fall definitely threw a kink in some of that, but overall it was the perfect arrangement for this year. I loved being more involved in the kids' classrooms and more present in the school building. It was what I had always wanted. I hadn't had this kind of flexibility in a decade, and I was thoroughly enjoying it!

Then, everything got turned upside down. Everything came to a sudden and abrupt halt, and we were left trying to pick up the pieces of the school year. Distance learning was a disaster, and emotions were high. The kids missed school, their friends, and their teachers. We missed our routine, the extra-curriculars, and our school community. 

So when I say that we are thrilled to be finished with distance learning and this disaster of a school year, it's true. We are elated to leave distance learning in the dust! At the same time, however, things feel incomplete. With no good-bye hugs or end-of-the-year programs or little graduation ceremonies, it feels like everything was just left hanging. It was all so unexpected . . . we had no idea that March 13th would be the last time the kids would enter the school building for the year. Everything was just left like kids and teachers would be returning shortly. It is a strange feeling, to be sure.

Even though everything feels unfinished, I wanted to capture my kids on the last day of school just like I always do. It's amazing how much they grow in one school year, and this year that seems even more evident to me. One thing is for sure, I am thankful to have had this time with my babies, even if it's what we never could have predicted!

Brecklyn on the last day of Pre-K

Brooke on the last day of Pre-K

My sweet twinbies 💗💜

Brenson on the last day of 2nd grade

Brianna on the last day of 4th grade

Together, we survived the craziest school year we've experienced yet! Through adversity and startling challenges, these kids persevered. They rolled with the changes, and we even had a little fun along the way. 

This season has taught us more than ever how much we don't know what the future holds. We certainly didn't know we'd be ending the school year like this, but as we say good-bye to pre-k, second, and fourth grade, we are grateful for the journey behind and hopeful for the journey ahead. 

Runners of the YEAR!

I'm delighted to announce that you are looking at Catalayah Elementary School's male and female RUNNER OF THE YEAR for 2019-2020! Whooo-hoooo!!!

I mentioned in a previous post that the kids' PE teacher, Mrs. S, allowed and encouraged all the kids to continue running and submitting distances to her after they began distance learning on April 6th. Both of my big kids had set goals to earn their 100 mile medals this school year, but due to some issues with the new distance logging system, sickness, and weather this proved much harder than they anticipated. Last year when Bri was in 3rd grade, she earned her 100 mile medal in February. This year, she had only earned her 25 mile medal by the same point in the year. Bren was doing a little better . . . he was just a few miles away from his 50 mile medal when school was dismissed for Spring Break. 

Once Mrs. S announced that she would continue logging running miles during distance learning, I encouraged the kids to keep working toward their goals. They were able to track how far they were running each day on their watches, and I would email Mrs. S with their distances. Many days, this was a great way for them to cope with frustration and changes, and other days they just enjoyed getting out and running!

After just a few days, they both decided they wanted to calculate how far they had to run each day to reach their 100 mile goal. I was trying hard to not be pushy about the running, but I really wanted them to reach their goal, too! I was very happy with how diligent they were about logging those miles. They ran when the weather wasn't perfect. They ran when they didn't feel like it. They ran when they were tired. They even got up early and ran before church on several different Sundays! They ran together, they ran individually, they ran with Daddy, they ran while I walked, and several times Grampy took them out to run with him. Some days they were very motivated, and other days I had to push them a bit. They even ran some on our treadmill!

After they started running really consistently, those miles started wracking up in a hurry. They both easily earned their 50 mile medals and started working toward their gold (100 mile) medals. Mrs. S was so encouraging, and would release these cute videos every Friday on the school FB page announcing the medal winners for that week. I took these photos of the kids running for her to use in the videos.

Bren hitting those goals!

Thumbs up for running!

Brianna running with a smile on her face!

She didn't give up!

Running together!

When there was about a week left to submit miles, Mrs. S told me that Brianna was in the running for female runner of the year. The runner of the year is the runner that logs the most miles out of everyone in the school, and last year Bri was runner-up after logging well over 100 miles. Mrs. S never mentioned anything about Bren being in the running, and since other boys had earned their 100 mile medals several weeks before he did, I assumed that he was not close.

Mrs. S permitted students to submit miles until Wednesday, May 13th, and I encouraged the kids to log miles every day they could. Brianna logged a total of 110 miles, while Brenson logged 115 miles for the year! Whether or not they were the top runners for the year, I was proud of the diligence and discipline it had taken them to log those miles!

When the video was released this past Friday (the LAST day of school . . . yay!), I watched it by myself and was so pleased when Brianna was announced as Female Runner of the Year. Then, Bren was announced as Male Runner of the Year, and I was shocked! I hadn't even considered that he might get it, and had a very hard time keeping a straight face long enough to show the kids the video! They were both so cute when they saw their names . . . almost shy about it, but so delighted as well.

When we were finally able to pick up the kids' stuff from school last week, their medals and foot charms were all in a bag for them. Each foot charm represents 5 miles ran. They will also receive trophies soon.

Look at all those foot charms!

Gotta love all the hardware!

Yay for crushing those goals!

Those medals represent a lot of hard work and perseverance!

Running Club has always been about a lot more for my kids than just physical fitness, and that has certainly been true this year. I love that they were able to see how their hard work and diligence paid off. I love that they had a healthy outlet for their feelings about all the craziness and changes this year brought us. And, I love that they set goals and were able to keep at them until they were reached. 

I sincerely hope these are the lessons that will stay with them long after the medals have tarnished and the trophies are decayed. Congrats to my male and female RUNNER OF THE YEAR!!!

December Fun - School Days!

The way the calendar fell this year, there were only three full weeks of school between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break. Maybe that's how it always is, but it felt like the days flew by this year. I think I was at the school for something every one of those 15 days! 

One thing we love about our elementary school is the opportunities our kids have to perform or speak in front of a crowd. We feel they are building valuable life skills, and we are so grateful for that! In December, Rise and Shine (the every day morning assembly at school) is extra busy because different groups perform almost every day. This year, Mr J asked Brianna to be the accompanist for the Kindergarten performance. 

She did a wonderful job and didn't seem nervous at all!

I love to see her smile in front of everyone!

During the first week after Thanksgiving break, the PTO hosted a Holiday Shoppe where students could come shop for friends or family. I've been trying to be a little more involved in PTO this year, so I volunteered to work the Holiday Shoppe. I signed up to work the few hours the twins were in class, but several days were very busy and I ended up working longer. That meant that Brooke and Brecklyn had to sit and wait on me until I could get to a stopping place before we could go home. I thought it was really strange that Brooke was waiting so calmly, but it turned out she was running a fever :-(.

The day after I discovered Brooke had a fever, the fourth grade performed at Rise and Shine. I was so sad to miss Brianna's performance, but Chris went and recorded it for me. 

Always smiling :-).

Another day, I volunteered to help the second graders make cinnamon salt dough ornaments. Brooke still wasn't feeling well, so Chris worked from home that morning so he could stay with her. 

I love helping my boy.

We weren't quite done by the time Brecklyn was finished with her school day, so I walked down to her classroom and brought her back to the second grade area with me. She loved making a few ornaments!

Brenson also had a great opportunity to perform with his guitar during Rise and Shine one morning. While most of the second grade sang, he and a few other students played instruments. I'm not sure if he was nervous, but he was certainly serious!

He also did a fantastic job!

Always my serious boy.

Yet another day, the twins made gingerbread houses at school. I had already committed to volunteering with the second grade, but I was able to get away for just a minute to peek in on Brooke and Brecklyn.

Brooke

Brecklyn

Although I wasn't able to help with the gingerbread houses, I did help out at the twins' class party. 

Momma and Brecklyn

Momma and Brooke

Cuties :-)

Pre-K parties are always a little crazy, but they sure are fun! I used to dread class parties, but they are so much easier when you can just focus on your students without other children in tow.

Sweet Brooke

Sweet Brecklyn (and look at that plate of food!)

I like this photo of me talking to the kids 💗.

The same day that the girls had their class party, Brenson also had a class party. Thankfully, his was in the afternoon so it didn't conflict with the girls'. I volunteered to help with his party, as well. 

He didn't always show it, but I think he was happy to have me there. I think, haha.

Bren, Dedrick, and Ryder

The second grade class party was pretty crazy, as well. The kids just get SO keyed up at that age!

The day after the other kids' class parties was Brianna's class party. I was very grateful that all the parties were at different times so that I could be at all of them. G-Jo went with me to help the fourth graders with a snowman craft. 

Of course, Brooke and Brecklyn wanted to make the craft, as well!

The fourth graders were so calm compared to the younger classes. I didn't mind, lol . . . it was just different. Brianna was thrilled to have both G-Jo and me there with her. 

One of my goals for this year was to spend more time volunteering at the school since I had a block of time each morning without kids. I definitely feel like I'm accomplishing that, and honestly I'm loving it more than I thought I would. I consider it a privilege to be in my kids' classrooms with them, getting to know their classmates and teachers on a different level. I'm already looking forward to next year when I can spend even more time with my kids in their classrooms!