School's Out for Summer

It's official.

My babies are growing up.

Little Goose finished her last day of Mothers-Day-Out this week.  Next year she moves up to the big-kid class... aka "real" PRESCHOOL.  No more naptimes.  No more taking teddy bears and blankets to cuddle with in class.  No more being a baby.

*sigh*

Here's just a quick FIRST and LAST day comparison... and of course she insisted on wearing the same dress.  There's no arguing with this fashionista.

Seems like just yesterday she was telling me she wanted to grow up to be a Goosy Goose.  Now she says she wants to be a weatherman.

I didn't even know she knew what a weatherman was.

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And this girl.

Oh this girl.

How a year of Kindergarten can change a kid.

Just nine short months ago she couldn't read a lick and didn't count past thirty.  Now she reads book after book and adds and subtracts like no other.  She rides the school bus like a pro.  And she knows all about dinosaurs and Abraham Lincoln and butterflies.  She can count in Spanish.  She can read a clock and count out coins.

The things she's learned and the leaps and bounds she's grown this year truly are amazing.

We've had an amazing first year at "real school".  We lucked out with an awesome teacher and Molly absolutely loved going to school all year long.  And now this blue-eyed girl is definitely ready to head to first grade.

Another comparison of FIRST and LAST day...

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Am I sad that the school year is over?

Of course I am.  I'm sad that my girls won't be in school each day, learning new things about the world and all the people around them.  I know they'll miss their friends and teachers and familiar schedule.  I'll miss my freedom of having a couple "kid-less" days a week.  I'll miss the projects and homework and holiday parties.

YET...

I am over the moon just thinking about the summer that lies ahead.  I get to soak up every moment of having these two wild and precious girls with me all day, every day.  We'll swim, we'll play, we'll explore.  I've got a Pinterest board full of ideas to make this the best summer ever.  We've got several vacations lined up to make it memorable.  And swim lessons and art camp and weekly playdates with friends.

So bring it on sweet summertime.  We eagerly await your fun in the sun.

Dance Recital 2014

$60 - Dance Shoes
$75 - Leotard and Tights
$150 - Costumes
$1,350 - Dance Lessons

....

Seeing my girls up on that stage?
PRICELESS.

Okay, here comes the sappy mama moment.

My girls insist this will be their last year of dance.  They've decided they want to move on to bigger and better things... like gymnastics and tennis and art camps.

So my heart hurt a little as we neared this year's dance recital.  Acknowledging that my dream of raising two beautiful ballerinas had gone in the gutter was one thing... but seeing their last performance.  Cry me a river.

Yet, I really didn't cry.  I thought I would, but I didn't.

Because watching them up there - my heart swelled with pride and my smile must have been a mile wide.

They were amazing.  Really.

This little goose - with her sassy attitude and bright red hair.  She charmed the socks off everyone in the room.  She'd sway right, then left, then wave to me and smile.  She'd plie and turn, then wave again.  Just before the end of her ballet dance, she decided she'd had enough with the choreographed steps and blew me a kiss.

*swoon*

And this blue-eyed angel?

Last year, she could barely keep up with her hiphop class in Kansas City.  She was shoved to the back row to hide all her fumbles and faults.

Yet this year, she shined from the front row.

She knew all of her steps.  Everyone one of them.  And she had such emotion in every move.  She smiled to the crowd as she twirled and leaped and never once seemed to falter.  She truly blew me away.

After the recital was over, and both girls were giddy with excitement on how well they'd done, I tried one last time to commit them to another year of dance.

Both turned me down flat.

"No mama.  We like gymnastics best."

And that was that.

Nevertheless, whether this really was the last time to see them dance on stage, or perhaps they'll try it again sometime down the road, it truly was a dance recital I'll never ever forget.

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And a few Instagram pics...

M&M Olympics