That's a Wrap on 5th Grade!

It was definitely not the end of fifth grade that we had planned. We thought it would end with parties, walking the halls and saying good-bye to teachers, the infamous 5th grade pool party and graduation.

Instead it ended with virtual school, Zoom calls, a Zoom graduation, lines of cars picking up belongings left behind, no real good-byes, yard signs and a car parade. 

I am not complaining. I feel lucky every day, we are part of an amazing, supportive school,  we still have our jobs, that we are all healthy and happy and have each other. We are lucky. 

And I am so very proud of Eli. This had been his best year yet. He really had wonderful teachers and I am sad that it was cut short for him and all that he missed, but he did his best to stay on task and completed pretty much all of his school work independently and stayed (mostly) motivated. That does not mean that there was not a TON of complaining and moaning and groaning...don't get me wrong. It sucked. Every day it was hard. But he did it and I am so very proud of him.

I love watching him grow into this amazing, kind, boy (man-child? big kid? whatever he is) and so excited to see how middle school is for him, I just know it is going to be great!

Onward and upward!

 Even our car parade at Kiker was cancelled due to someone who works at the school testing positive. So in an abundance of caution they would not allow us on campus, even just driving through the circular drive. At the last minute, a few moms put together an un-official parade through the neighborhood.  

It was spectacular! SO many neighbors came out to cheer on the kids! I had to hold back tears a couple of times! It was really wonderful and a great way to end the year.

 We have a tradition to do something fun with the Ladds on the last day of school every year. We had to get creative this year....and still keep our distance. So after the parade and a Chick-fil-A lunch, we had a water balloon fight and a socially distanced playdate. Not quite as fun and exciting as years past, but it did the trick!

It feels like just yesterday I was taking him to his first day or Kindergarten!

The Cafeteria

Over the past 6 years that my kids have attended Kiker, I have seen this cafeteria be transformed into kinder-rodeos, track and field obstacles, PTA meetings, game nights, plays and performances, International Night, Market Days, family fitness nights and yearbook sorting stations.

On any given day this is the place where teachers and staff achieve the impossible task of getting 1100 plus wiggly kids to sit silently during morning assembly, and then grade by grade, students head into their classrooms in a single file line (mostly) quietly.

76 days ago our kids sat in these spots. Today, over 1000 bags sit there instead. 76 days ago we had a typical Thursday at school. I had no idea when I snapped this picture, that it would not only be the last time Eli went to Kiker, but that it would be the last normal school day for our kids for an unforseen time.

But on this day, Teachers and staff performed an equally impossible task of collecting library books out of the trunks of our lined up cars and replacing them with book boxes, art projects and other items left at school in their desks on Thursday March 12 not knowing it would be the last time they ever say their classrooms again.

Our kids wont be able to fill this cafeteria for a long time. We miss our school, we miss our normal life. But we know, this too shall pass. We are so grateful for the amazing staff and teacher at our school that have done an amazing job navigating this time for us parents and our kids.

Quarantine Picture Wrap Up From Last Few Weeks

Lots and lots and lots of walks....

Desperate attempts to stay busy.

Outside popsicles.

Clothes optional.

Maggie got a haircut compliments of me!

The boys made up their own version of Naked and Afraid....Shorts and Outdoors!

The snowcone truck came to the hood and we ran into some friends! We sat 6 feet apart and got to visit! Hightlight of the week!

Bike Rides

Lazy days

Sprinkler and hose time

Lots of chalk art

Playing/hanging in the front yard

More walks and bike rides...

Waterballoons and more time in the front yard

Lizard catching

Straight chillin

Trips to the greenbelt

Field trip to Ethans backyard for roasting marshmallows

A little baseball practice

Fun with dry ice

Oh, and I turned 40 and celebrated at home with my favorite people!

Last but not least....virtual school.....and soooo many Zoom meetings....
I have so many feelings about virtual school but I am way to exhausted from all the school this morning to comment now...