School is Out!

Seems like we've been making brownies for everything lately -  though this pan didn't fair too well.


Quinn helped himself to it while I was outside working in the yard.  It's original destination was to the neighbor's as part of the meal we were taking in with the arrival of their new baby.  Obviously, we had to make a replacement and eat the 'disaster' - which was probably Quinn's plan all along:).

Addison, Taylor, Anna

During the final days of school in Anna's classroom - they enjoyed reviewing what they learned at Camp-A-Lot.  Chairs and desks were replaced by tents and camping chairs.

They even made a fire and "roasted" s'mores.

Annual Bike Hike 

Aaron had plans to ride this year but unfortunately the date was changed (due to rainy weather) to a time when Aaron had to be in Portland, OR.  I enjoyed the repeat and this year stayed for lunch and the parent/student game of kickball as well. 

Quinn has never met a box he didn't like.  These boxes became part of his puppet show this week.  I sat through several shows...

Jantzen and Anna spent Monday at the Pacer Fieldtrip - students qualified by running a certain number of miles throughout the school year.  Jantzen and his friend, Landen, tied for racking up the most miles in the entire school.

Mrs. Garner and Jantzen
After spending two years together, saying good-bye was tough.  Yeah, I saw a few tears escape Mrs. Garner's eyes...she really loved teaching Jantzen for 3rd and 4th grades.

Anna and Mrs. Joyce

Elsie was excited to bring home these random treasures from the kindergarten classroom.  Each item has special meaning to her.  Hopefully, this picture will suffice for those moments of nostalgia...

While it was the "last" for a lot of things this week - last day of school, last soccer game of the season, last field trip, etc., it was the first for us in the deciduous trees department!

Thursday morning I woke up to this beloved sight.

We have been waiting/wanting to plant trees for nearly six years now (and three houses later).  Never mind the years of growth we've missed...they're in the ground now!

And we're loving it!

Aren't they beautiful?

I love, love, love trees!  

The open country has a beauty all it's own but I've always been very fond of trees.

We planted three apple trees in the back near the garden area.

Hooray - we got the garden planted yesterday.
Now we just have to finish the new watering system.  Always projects and more projects.
Until then, we'll be watering by hand.  And that's a risky proposition.

And Friday evening - Brinley played a duet with her teacher - "Concerto for Two Violins" by J.S. Bach.  It is a difficult piece and she's worked on it for months and months.  Congrats on this major accomplishment Brinley!

I might mention - no pictures of Tanner but he kept himself plenty busy.  His final day of school was last Tuesday and he immediately got started with an online health class he's taking this summer.  By the end of the week, he had already completed 25% of the coursework.  Go Tanner go!

Ready or not - school is out!