You've just graduated, what are you going to do next?

I'm going to Disney World!

We have a pretty busy summer planned with MadHatter attempting to make her first Junior Olympics for Track and Field,  Stinkerbell practicing 5 days a week with her gymnastics team, a two week trip to Europe for a family wedding, unpacking all of our worldly belongings and all of the other minutiae that goes with just being alive.  There aren't a lot of days that are just free from commitments except for the first few right after school let out.  I could have just relaxed and enjoyed the free time, but what fun is that?  Instead, I planned a 4 day trip to Disney World to celebrate our recent grad and our soon to be Birthday girl. 

Early the morning after school let out for the summer (and by early, I mean 6 am) we were on the road.  We pulled into Epcot just as they were opening for the day and spent the next 4 full days riding as many rides as we could, stuffing our faces with junk food, and just making memories.  I won't bore you with all of the pictures we took but no post would be complete without a few...

 A new parade!

 

 A birthday present finally fulfilled.

 New ride coming soon.

Just a few steps (and we weren't quite done yet...)

 Soaking wet but no matter, it was super hot so we dried quick.

 Termite hills and upside down trees.

 I drank the beer, they stood in the single rider line for Everest (over and over and over again).

 A bit of rain never stopped us.

That's a Wrap

We started the school year in Germany and were so blessed to do so.  The girls got time to say a proper goodbye to their friends and their expat lives (for a while anyway) and embark, yet again, on a new adventure.  They entered school as the new kids about 3 months after the start of the year (difficult at best) and to complicate it further, they were thrown into an entirely new way of teaching and learning (hello tests and grading).  They took it all in stride and, though it was not without struggle and heartache, they came out the other side with a newfound confidence in their abilities.  Thank you for a wonderful year PTE! 

First Day of 5th and 4th grades.

Last day!

Movin' on up

I don't have many words that haven't been said a million times before about how proud we are of this one for all of her hard work, her adaptability and her unwavering good attitude when it comes to school (and actually, life in general).  We asked a lot of her during her 6 years of elementary school and not just academically.  We tasked her with packing up everything she owned, leaving her friends and familiarity behind her and then asked her to start anew.  We did this not only once, but four times.  In four different countries.  On three continents.  That is a lot for anyone to handle, much less someone that is barely into her double digits, and she handled it all with grace.  I am so impossibly in awe of the young woman she is becoming and know that her future is wide open.  Congratulations MadHatter on conquering Elementary School.

Watch out Middle School, here she comes!

At home and outside of school before the ceremony.

She was recognized for being Student of the Month!

Shaking the Mayor's hand.

Her class.

The slide she made for the show.  It's her first day of Kindergarten in Chile and one of her last days of 5th grade in Germany.

Bits and Bobs

Random goings-on in the second half of May...

MadHatter made the city magazine in two spots with a few girls from her track team.

 Being super silly while we wait for MadHatter to finish track practice.

Field day tug of war and popsicles on a 95-degree day!

 Our things are FINALLY packed, in a container and on a ship home!  It has only been 7 months since we left, what is another 2?

 My usual Saturday (sometimes Sunday) pose during track season.  This time we were in Tampa for the Bay Area Youth Championships.  We left Stinkerbell with Nana and Grampa for the weekend as the meets get long and boring for her.  This is what she and I did over the weekend -

And this is what MadHatter did...Long Jump 3rd place!

My children are getting kind of demanding of the Tooth Fairy.  Good thing we only have a few more teeth to go.

 This one is NOT going to be happy when that container of furniture arrives :)

 I finally got my hair cut!  

 We are pet sitting for Nana and Grampa as they are literally traveling around the world.  Meet Lucy, the dog and ChaCha, the cat.

School dance on the last Friday of school for her class party.  The t-shirt was required wear.

I think she had a good time.

I was lucky enough to help out at this class party - Shrinky Dink key chains and ice cream sundae bar!

 Where else would we be?  This is what she has worked for all year.  District Qualifiers start our road to the Jr. Olympics.  And I finally got smart and wore a hood to protect me from the hot sun as I shoot on the track all day.

 Some very happy girls that all qualified for Regionals in their events.  (Top 16 in each event place.  At regionals the Top 6 move one - much tougher)

Tye Dye fun on Sunday...

I think they did a great job!