May 23... It's Summer?? Okaaaay.... 6th Grade Wrap Up.

Here we are, wrapping up another school year.  I'm always REALLY anxious for summer to begin but this year I'm a little hesitant.  The reason?  Because time marches on too quickly, as we all know, and pretty soon that'll mean another school year is starting and the cycle begins again.  So maybe I'd just rather Max stay a 6th grader for a while longer?  Makes sense to me!

I wasn't even "with it" enough to create the annual "Back to School' post back in August.  How lazy of me.  So here I am on May 23, the last day of the school year, crafting a post to encompass both the first day... a bit of the middle... and the last day.  Dang.

School started early last fall (er, summer!), on August 11.  Swim ended at the end of July and we literally had two weeks off and bam, time for school.  I remember several years ago when it would start at the end of August, like the 26.  Those were the good ol' days.  ha!  This year, Max moved up to the 6th grade only building; a great transition for middle schoolers who are growing and changing and learning.  They changed classes daily.  They had lockers to keep tidy and combination locks to memorize.  They had more independence AND more responsibility.  They also had to start school an hour and 15 min earlier than they did in elementary!  Woof... I hated that!  In fact, since school started at 7:30, and Max was "first on" the bus in the morning, his bus came at 6:19 am!!!  Please agree with me that that time is ridiculous.  So the first day I allowed him to ride the bus so he could see how the bus transfer (yes, he had to change buses up at the high school to ride back down to the intermediate school) worked and all that.  But after that, we slept till 6:45 and I drove him to school in the morning.  I remember being so bent out of shape that first morning because my annual "back to school photos" were in the dark!  BEFORE THE SUN CAME UP!  (again, ridiculous)  Thanks to photoshop I was able to salvage a few since I don't use a flash....  Here are some of Max from the first day, Aug 11, 2016.

 

 

Max grew a lot this year... 3" and 12 lb. to be exact.  But in other ways, too... he made lots of new friends.  He became skilled at time management, as 6th grade meant "no excuses".  He became a lot more independent; I barely even knew what was going on at school!  Parents are out of the loop in 6th grade.  Fine by me, as long as he's doing well!  :)  Max ran for Student Council and got elected.  he attended meetings, pushed fundraisers and drives, collaborated on school-sponsored events, raised the flag during the morning, read announcements over the loud speaker, gave building tours to upcoming 6th graders, and so on.  He completed large, quarter-long projects in math class (ALL done at school, THANK YOU TEACHERS!).  He read many books.  He did almost all his work online using a chromebook like a big kid.  He learned so much and had a great time doing it!  He also got off the bus today, the last day, and wasn't crying for the first time EVER.  Usually the last day brings lots of tears.  Guess he's growing up?  He did say a girl on the bus was sobbing and he couldn't look at her or he'd cry... that's the sentimental kid I know.  ;)

We sold our home exactly 25 days ago, so for the last few weeks Max has been getting used to this rental home while we prepare to build.  He likes it!  (thank God!)  I didn't know where my "spot" would be for end of the year photos this morning, but the driveway with the sun coming up behind seemed like a great place to snap a few pics to show how he's changed over the last year.  I'm so thankful that our school district employs competent, caring teachers.  Max has never had a bad one!  This year was no exception.  He had a wonderful year and I will cherish the memories just like he will....  Happy Summer!

 (his class was "white" for field day today)

My Metal Mouth

I cannot believe I STILL have not updated my blog from all the events of the summer.  I'm terrible.  I do have a free moment right now while Max and Chris play "Madden" on the Xbox to post a few photos I took today at the orthodontist.  Max got braces.  He was almost excited for them but a little nervous of the unknown.  I bet when I keep nagging him to brush and floss he won't be nearly as excited anymore.

His appointment was at 9am and by 10 he was done.  He was mostly concerned with choosing the band color to go around the brackets.  He chose navy.  It's his new fave color, I'm told.  Immediately afterward I drove him to Mason to enjoy a pizza party with his teammates from each swim group who have had the best attendance so far this year.  Eating pizza was no problem.  Eating a huge cookie wasn't either. 

When we got home from the party he was still hungry.  Mac and cheese. Yogurt.  Both went down well.  Later he asked for a F'real milkshake from Speedway.  Sure!  Off we went.  Then tonight I made dinner... baked potatoes with shredded chicken and choice of toppings.  He scarfed it down.  Then he at Cheez-its.  (he asked for chips but I thought the crackers would dissolve better) Pretty sure he's fine.  ;)

I was rather optimistic that he wouldn't be in much pain.  He isn't a complainer.  We never knew he was teething when he was a baby.  Plus he loves to eat so I didn't think a little soreness would get in the way, really.  So far, after having them on all day, he has zero pain.  Weird?  Did they put the braces on correctly?  (ha)  He has super straight teeth (got braces for an overbite) so maybe there's nothing really being pulled right now?  He doesn't go back for 8 weeks!  Hope these 8 weeks do something!!! 

I took photos of Max today, of course.  The Dr. was so nice about it and let me get right up in there.  :) 

 Before.

 Choosing the rubber band color.

 Times have changed since I had braces!  What is this thing?

 Getting the brackets glued on.

 Checking them out!

 And looking over the final product.  :)

After!  All smiles!

Max and the Reindeer

I cannot believe I have let all these months go by without posting on the blog.  Bad!!!  I have a whole folder on my laptop dedicated to photos I need to post and write about from the summer and start of the new school year; I have just been too busy (lazy?) to make it happen.  I will… eventually.  For now though I wanted to share these photos…

This fall I set up "Reindeer Mini Sessions" for my clients and had an overwhelming response to them.  I had no clue they'd be so popular!  I definitely didn't plan for that, nor for the amount of editing it would take to make them look as realistic as possible.  *Disclaimer: These reindeer are photoshopped into the image.  While I LOVE the fact that people really believed a reindeer was in the scene, can you imagine the liability of having a huge, live animal with little kids?*  Just before the weather turned super cold I was able to get a few with Max as well.  He was such a good sport, posing at my command as I pictured how I would place each reindeer in the image with him.  It was so fun!  I wanted to share…

Last Day of 5th Grade… Goodbye, Elementary School!

Max has loved his time at Five Points.  He has pretty much had the same classmates the last three years and that leads to confidence and comfortability in school.  Next year will be much different when the ten 5th grade classes from Five Points and the ten 5th grade classes from Dennis come together in one building for 6th grade.  There will be a lot of new faces… and some familiar ones too, and besides that the whole year will be a transition.  Max will have lockers and change classes more than the two times he has been used to in elementary school.  He will start school an hour earlier as well, which I'm really not looking forward to.  He will get to be more independent.  Something he loves!  Also, no more recess… which is good because he won't get another hand ligament injury (see cast in the photos below) but bad because who wants to sit in class all day with no real break?

Elementary school was a great place to ready Max for the changes next year.  He never ever wanted to miss school.  He has loved all of his teachers (and ranks them, of course, according to favorite) and we have never had to worry about what he is doing at school or how well.  He comes home and does his homework right away without anyone asking.  He works independently at home, to the point we are really clueless about what he's even learning at school… mostly I'm ok with that though!  ;)  Less work for me.

Fifth grade also gave Max the opportunity to shine musically.  Max tried out for, and got a role as a soloist in his 5th grade class play, "A Kid's Life".  He had practices during and after school and was really, really excited to play the part of Jimmy.  We couldn't believe this kid, who never likes to be the center of attention, would actually want all eyes on him while he sang, but he did.  And he did great.  He hit notes we didn't even know he could hit.  I'm thankful for video!  We will have it saved forever and ever.  And near the last day of school Max also participated in the 5th Grade Talent Show. Again, trying out and making it with about 12 other classmates.  Those kids were amazing!  So much talent… and bravery!!!  I was so impressed.  Max sang "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars.  Up on that stage.  All alone.  All eyes on him.  Seriously!  What a kid.

Playing "Jimmy", singing his solo

5th Grade Play

 Max, and his friend Brynn, who starred with each other in the play

Max and Brynn sing in a round.

Bruno Mars at the Talent Show.

The talented 5th graders who performed. (yes, that one boy is very tall)

5th Grade Carnival Shirts.  Class of 2023.

While we were sad to say goodbye to Five Points, Max is eager to start 6th grade later this summer.  Yea, I wanna say "this fall" but school starts SO early here that it's still mid-summer!  Makes me crazy. Hope the air-conditioning works!  :)

Cheers to another great year, Max!

First day vs. Last day

 

First day vs. Last day

First day with Flip vs. Last day with Flip

 Walking in the last day...

Spring Break 2016- Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Our favorite time of year… spring break!  It always seems like once we get to this point in the school year and then it's just smoooooth sailing until summer break.  Plus after winter in Ohio we are always ready for a week in the sun.

This year we took up our usual residence in the Destin-area only this time we got a condo in the Blue Mountain Beach portion of Santa Rosa Beach, FL AND we went with our BFFs, the Susecs, plus one friend.  Our condo was a gorgeous two-story, four bedroom apartment on an inlet of the ocean.  In fact to get to the beach we could either walk down the pier or take a private pontoon boat across the inlet and be dropped off right on the sand.  It was so unique and fun!

We spent the week riding bikes, swimming, playing games, visiting local attractions, eating, making coffee runs, shopping, eating more- which always included breakfast at the M&L (Max and Lydia) cafe each morning, relaxing on the white sand beach, and more.  We even stayed out way too late one night, keeping the airbrush store open after hours, to make sure we all got our "retro" air brushed spring break gear.  We also celebrated Tom's birthday (and life… he was hit by a truck while cycling there and had to be taken to the ER!) each night at dinner by ordering and sharing a huge dessert.  Destin is one of our favorite places because there is always so much to do, especially for kids!

Of course I had to carve out time one evening for photos on the beach!  It's tradition.  :)  It's my favorite to edit beach sessions.  If only I lived near a beach year 'round….

We are already looking forward to planning our next spring break together for 2017.  Could not have asked for better people to travel with than our friends.  It was a perfect get away.

Junior Olympics- Ohio State University, March 11-13, 2016

Short course season ended on a high note for Max.  He qualified for the Junior Olympics in 5 events in the 11/12 age group:  400 IM, 200 Fly, 200 Back, 100 Back, and 50 Back, and also swam on three relays with his teammates.  In every single one of his events over the long weekend he swam personal bests.  As always, it was so fun to be there for the excitement and to see the best of the best in the state compete.  It was a wonderful first year with the Mason Manta Rays!  We are now looking forward to the first meet of long course season which starts in just a few days at the University of Kentucky.  Go Max!

 Heading into McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Ohio State University

 Max and Lydia after day 1

 Max leading the heat in the 200 fly!  (his coach texted me with "WOW" afterward)

 Came in first in his heat!

 Backstroke start in the medley relay (Max in the white cap, right side of the photo)

 After day 3.  All smiles.

Springboro Swimmers from different teams gathered for this shot.