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The Last 10 Days

The last 10 days of 10th grade for Kate, the last 10 days of 9th grade for Danny, the last 10 days of middle school for Michelle, the last 10 days of elementary school for Natalie, and the last 10 days of my 3rd year of working at the middle school brought lots of feelings in our house.

On the Monday of the last full week of school Hubby got to Danny’s away game just in time to see him make a “nice diving catch” in center field and texted me updates while I was at the school district middle school geography bee with Michelle… and Grandma was at our house during Natalie’s cello lesson.  I’m so glad my mom has been feeling better lately and coming over more.  Even though I trust the young men giving my daughters cello and viola lessons and Kate is willing to be home for them, we all agreed it would just look better if there was always an adult around and not make their musicians feel like they are doing double duty as babysitters or something.  

This was Michelle’s first year participating in the geography bee and honestly I think it would be a lot of fun to be the mentor for an activity like this. I am proud of her for trying something new and our middle school can say they took second place in the district!  Those questions were hard!  Speaking of team accomplishments, this group text was sent out from the baseball team dad: “And we figured out that we are NCAC freshman champions!  I don't know that is a real thing, don't usually see banners 😆, but it is worth calling out. We were 10-1-1. Mead was 2nd at 7-2-1.” Sweet!

Tuesday brought us another softball game.  A’s parents were out of town so I made sure to get a proof of life photo after the game.  lol 

Luckily I had a day off on Wednesday to prepare for hosting my coworker’s retirement party at our house right after school.  I made a Cafe Rio copycat recipe for the first time and it was a crowd pleaser.  My other coworkers brought food to supplement and E gathered funds for a nice card and gift card (seen here).  It was great to have them at my house for the first time and I hope I can host again sometime.  We will all miss D so very much!

Hubby made sure to be home from work early enough to take Danny to a high school league game at the high school I did my student teaching at almost 20 years ago.  Sounds like they were ahead the entire time and then lost in the last 15 seconds.  Ouch!

While they were still at basketball, Natalie and I headed to Activity Days to do some yard work for Sister B.  She is always so much fun to be around and somehow I feel like she did us a favor by letting us help her.

Thursday brought us another softball game, this time dressed in white.  I was not the best photographer that day but the girls played really well and can say they won both of their games that week (Tuesday’s game they won 12-9 & Thursday they won 17-6).

On Saturday I got to watch Danny’s last three games of the spring club basketball season.  It was great to see the boys come together through thick and thin and work hard.  I’m going to miss hanging out with the other parents at the games but luckily there is only a month break before summer basketball to make time for those high school league games.

Even with three basketball games we still got home in time for me to take Michelle on a promised trip to Rebecca’s Apothecary for her favorite kind of tea and to look around.  Turns out they had exactly what my irritated face needed to feel soothed as well + we had time to walk around Pearl Street Mall, eat gelato, and bring home groceries from Trader Joe’s.

Sunday was a completely free day which found us doing yard work and house work and found our youngest having A over & they ended up playing a mini softball game with the neighbor girls.  The next day found her taking team softball photos directly after her cello lesson and I think they are going to turn out really well!  And since I was feeling light headed we tried out a pizza place within walking distance and had a great little date.  It was so fun to see the Indiana Fever game playing on the restaurant tv as  well.  Go Caitlin Clark!

The next day was field day at both the elementary school and the middle school.  Natalie got to help be in charge of the parachute station and Mrs. L sent me this photo.  Gotta love that face!  I was grateful that I could be out with our sped 8th graders and see Michelle participate in her last field day ever.  I will miss so many 8th graders so much next school year.  I am just grateful I have incoming 6th graders like my youngest daughter to look forward to!  Also on Tuesday Hubby finally got to pick up his car from the dealership.  He’s so happy to have his car back and we are all grateful for the two loaner cars we had and especially grateful it was all covered under warranty!!!




Danny had his second set of high school basketball games during finals week.  Ask me how I felt about that and if he made it to school on time the next day!  Who came up with the idea to have a summer basketball league before summer?  But it was honestly great to see these boys playing together and getting to hang out with my coworker, J, while we watched.

Michelle’s last day of middle school was on Wednesday fallowed by a 8th grade only party.  She got an award in front of the entire class & invited parents for being such a wonderful office aide.  My coworkers were happy to tell me about it and luckily the admin posted a video on YouTube so I could watch it the next morning since I had been busy in Mr. G’s classroom instead of at the award ceremony/8th grade slideshow.  Like I said on my social medial post of her first vs. last day of middle school: I am so proud of who Michelle is, her values and her priorities.



The next day was the last day of the normal school year for everyone else!  For Natalie, it was the end of an era — she has been going to the same elementary school since she was 3 years old and (for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings).  Now, after 8 years, she and our entire family is saying goodbye to a place we have been coming since we moved into our current home.  Michelle and I got to attend the continuation ceremony and Kate and her friend A dropped by the elementary school after they were done at the high school during the all school picnic.  The principal always does such a nice job speaking and it was so fun to realize how many of the children we have known for so many years.  This is such an amazing group of students!  And I am so happy Natalie had the teacher she did and Mrs. L’s help.  It was kind of crazy to realize how much some of these kids went through in elementary school.  (I sure missed Y and was glad to be wearing my pin.)






Danny was already late to the last day and didn’t mind at all me taking a minute to catch his photo before getting in the truck.  Kate had been closer to being on time and let me take her picture after she got home.  It was kind of surreal to realize it was all over and it wasn’t even 4pm yet.  For the couple hours we had in between the picnic and getting ready for softball, Michelle, Natalie and I attacked our school supply cabinet & drawer after they cleaned out their backpacks.  It looks so much better and should be good to go for another couple of years!  Kate and Danny got right down to hanging out with friends of all social groups and seemed so relieved to be done with finals week.

But the day wasn’t over yet!  Hubby and Natalie picked up AH and headed to a softball game while I did things like this blog post, housework, and making sure my alarm was turned off for the next morning.

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