Last Day of Elementary

Today was the last day of school for the elementary kids. The kindergarten teachers asked for parents to come pick up their students, so Katharine and I started to walk to go get Peter, but after 4 houses, Katharine said it was too hot, and since we were late leaving, I turned around and hurried back home. We got Corey's car to drive over. (Corey was gone with LSN to Uptown Cheapskate to buy clothes). I picked up Peter, and then they were excited to walk past the 2nd grade door where there was a bubble machine. We headed to the back lawn to wait for the fire truck. They had lots of jackets, gloves, water bottles, etc out on the ground from the lost and found, and told people to take whatever they could use, so Katharine grabbed some disney princess water bottles, and I took some winter gloves to add to our stash. Peter was getting worried that he was going to miss it cause we weren't close enough. Katharine didn't want to go near the water spray. I found Owen, and Owen took Peter. It was cute to hear all the kids squealing with happiness. They got wet!

 

Daniel is the shirtless that you can see at the front of the firetruck here.

I hung back with Katharine and most of the parents who were trying to stay clear. The fireman did shoot it towards us a few times, and so K cried, but it wasn't bad. 

I took Daniel and Peter home. Daniel wanted to get out at the bus stop, where there were some fun balloons to celebrate the last day. 

Owen rode his scooter home. All the kids bikes have been in the shop, but Corey was able to pick them up at 2 today. 

As for the older girls, today was the first official day of summer break! They didn't go yesterday for the last day, and they all slept in until noon. I told them last night that sleeping in like that is going to be a fine. I want them up and doing 8 things before 8. I made a paper for them to each write out their 8 things, that they can have in their summer books. Doing 8 things at 8 will earn them some money, getting up after 9 is break even, and after 10 is a fine that increases with each hour. Natalie was done with her 8 things and working on her chores at 8:30 - practicing violin at 8:40 am! Not bad for the first day of summer! Thank you, Natalie, for playing along!

Lily got up at a pretty decent hour, VERY decent for her. I was glad to see them up and playing cards with Eliza. 

It has been really fun to have Joseph Eliza and Mary here. They are leaving Monday, so time is ticking now. They wanted to spend time with the kids, so they took LSN to the Jordan River temple and they did baptisms. Before they left, Natalie was snuggling with Mary.

I thought Natalie looked really mature in this pic! I got a glimpse at what a 20 year old Natalie will look like. Her sisters scoffed and said Natalie only older because Mary is so small. Haha, I guess that might be right. I got a turn with Mary while they were gone. I was in my happy place, hiding on the dark low bunk in Sophi and Natalie's room. Pic of them at the temple - 

Natalie snatched her back after they got home.

Katharine took cues from how all the older girls are wanting to hold Mary, and decided she would like to love on the water bottles like they were her children. Three water bottle families.

Rocking the silver waterbottle baby...

She does that with the shampoo and soap bottles in the upstairs bathrooms sometimes. And the pepto bottles (3rd pic). She does it with dish soap too. So I guess really any bottles. After J&E got back with LSN, we went out on a date together with Joseph and Eliza and Mary. We went to Bandits. Bandits forgot to put my dressing in the side AGAIN. I didn't say anything, but I did make a note to self, and if they mess it up next time, I'm going to send it back. It is too much dressing.

Back at home, everyone was ready to love on baby Mary again. The kids have all been sweet and doing a good job taking turns. 

We'll soak up the last few moments we have with them before they head back to Ohio.