End of the Year Celebration

Yesterday marked the end of our first and successful school year. To mark the day I gave each of the kids a blank cassette tape and recorded them doing a variety of things. Such as displaying their knowledge. For little girl that would be ABC's, counting to 29, spelling her name, singing songs and reciting the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear. For the boy it included ABC's, counting to 107, counting by 10's and 5's, to 10 in Spanish, spelling words and reading a couple of books. They also shared some of their favorite things. They both enjoyed hamming it up and listening to their voices at the end.
In the evening we attended the end of the year celebration with our homeschool support system. Michigan Bomb Squad was there with their robot used to retrieve bombs, scope areas and bring notes in hostage negotiations. The boy got to man the control's and pick up my toxic shoe. We also got to meet Rob Dale our local Meteorologist. My son has been a big fan of his for a couple years now. He is the first "celebrity" name he ever recognized. When his weather reports come on the radio, we have to stop any and all discussion to hear his report. So of course the kids enjoyed meeting him and getting to check out his storm tracker van. The kids also enjoyed meeting the K-9 unit for our local police department. The kids got to pet him and ask questions about the dogs job. Pretty cool stuff.
Then it was time to eat and I am not sure how many people were there but by the looks of the potluck table and the one dish to pass per family, I would say 70 families were present. Multiply all the children and there were a lot of people there. Lots of people, lots of food.
After the meal the firetruck arrived. The firefighters sprayed the kids and they had a blast getting drenched. Mine also decided to play in the sand and dive into mud puddles.
Directly following they assembled everyone to call the kids forward. IT was a small way of recognizing their completion of their current grade. Being the bad mom I am I did not have my camera. So you will to use your imagination and picture about 10 kindergarteners in swim suits. Mine caked in sand, all in a line smiling as they receive their pencil reward.
The kids enjoyed the evening. So did I. I had a chance to talk to some other homeschool families and reconnect with an old friend.
I am now ready to embrace summer. All the picnics, play dates, camping and geocaching I can muster.

Congrats to me and the boy on a school year well done.