Team Towner: Cliff, Gina, Laura & Nathan: Let the Summer Begin!

It's only mid-May, but summer break has descended upon our house. Hip, hip hooray!! Yesterday was Laura's last official day as a first grader. She has had a very good year. We are proud of how hard she has worked and how well she has adjusted from the move. Here she is yesterday morning, ready to leave for her last day. This is the same spot we took her picture in on the first day, but I'm pretty sure she's a good bit taller in this shot.......

Laura really took to her teacher, Mrs. McMillan, this year, and we are grateful for how much that helped her settle into her new school. Mrs. McMillan really looked out for Laura from the beginning, recommending her for the talent pool, a group of kids who got pulled out one hour a week for "Monday Math" with the gifted teacher. Since gifted testing only occurs in the spring, and we were still living in Lincoln when the testing occurred last spring, this was our only way to get her any gifted enrichment this year. When it came time for OE (Operation Explore, the gifted program) testing this spring, Mrs. McMillan really went to bat for Laura, insisting to the OE teacher that she would be a great candidate to be tested, particularly since she is so much younger than her classmates and still excels at school. Mrs. McMillan's persistence will not be forgotten: we just got a letter last Friday stating the Laura successfully tested into OE for this fall!! We are very, very proud and excited for her.

Laura & Mrs. McMillan on the last day of school:

Once we got home yesterday, it was time to welcome summer. Laura went in her room, took off her shoes, marched (quite literally) out to the living room and said, "I have an announcement, everybody. My summer is now starting." I love this kid!

Goofing around yesterday to celebrate the end of the school year.

Last night, we celebrated the end of the year with a dinner chosen by Laura (pizza, chips and mixed veggies), followed by a trip to Sonic for milkshakes and sundaes after her ballet class.

Today, we settled into summer mode. First order of business: no 6am alarm clock. Hallelujah! After a fabulous sleep-in, we enjoyed our day of reading books for Summer Reading Club, playing and baking cookies together.

Ready to make cookies! They told me these were their "chef's hats." :)

In the afternoon, I snuck away to the pool to break in my new water dumbbells with a fabulous water workout. While I was gone, summer really went into full gear here at home. Dad got out the Elmo sprinkler for the kids. They played in their swimsuits, "washed" their Big Wheel and car, and had good, old-fashioned summer fun.