Schools out forever... well, more like 2 1/2 months.

Let's all take a moment to let out a huge sigh of relief.

*Sigh*

There.  I feel better.  I would like you to know that I, Courtney Merrill, survived another school year.  Why am I complaining?  Because I make everything about myself, silly.

Yes, yes, the girls may have been the ones going to school for seven hours a day, but I was the one helping them through an hour of homework after school everyday (and that didn't include the 20 minutes of reading every night).  I had to calm Adi down when she received a most dreaded "C" in math on her report card (no worries- she pulled it up to a "B" by the next semester and has now been solidly standing on an "A" for the last two semesters).  I had to practice multiplication facts with Pipes until I passed out- ok, ok.  I kinda had to relearn my multiplication facts.  I co-authored a total of 12 book reports this past school year (maybe it was only 8- but I'm going for the dramatic so I'll stick with 12), and once again learned how to write a cursive Q.  I had to dry Adi's tears when Piper won Principal Pride and she didn't , and then dried Piper's tears when Adi chose her friends over Pipes.

Together we've read fairy books, vampire books, Harriet the Spy, Pippi Longstocking, three of the Harry Potter books, Cam Jensen, a Taylor Swift biography, Franny K. Stein adventures, all about Ramona, traveled in the Magic Tree House, Joody Moody, and last, but never least, the colorful princess books.  Yeah- I totally took advantage of my Prime Membership on Amazon.  Bet they regret giving me free two-day shipping!

There were, however, some things that they had to do on their own.  Adi had to learn how to give up some control with her friends and let them choose what they play (yes, she is so my daughter).  Piper stepped up and played peacemaker with her little group of friends... a roll which I see her at home stepping into more and more these days.

Look how they've grown!

From this:

To this:

And from this:

To this:

You can also tell a few other things from these before and after pics.  First off, their uniforms are worn.  They are ready to be retired permanently.  Mostly because I didn't buy them any more of them all year long.  Good job Old Navy uniforms!  You have served us well.

Another thing:  I have stopped ironing their clothes.  Pure laziness.  That's the only excuse that I have.

In August, Adi will be moving up to fourth grade, Piper to third, and Porter *gulp* to Kindergarten (so very thankful that it is only half-day out here).

That's right, lil' buddy.  You have graduated from Mom-Preschool (first day pic right there, baby) and will be movin' on up!  You know your letters and all of their sounds (and have even started sounding out basic words), can count to 20, know numbers 1-10 by sight, can name all of the basic shapes and colors, almost know Mom's phone number, can say the Pledge of Allegiance, know the days of the week and the months of the year (as long as we're singing them), memorized 10 nursery rhymes, and can whoop Mom's butt at Go Fish.  Thank goodness for the internet.  

Lil' Wyatt has probably grown the most over the past nine months.

Yikes!  He's a monster now!  He runs, not walks, everywhere he goes.  He climbs everything- you will most often find him sitting in the middle of the kitchen table just smiling.  He waves good-bye, "arfs" like a dog, blows kisses, throws massive head-slamming tantrums, now drinks from a sippy cup instead of his bottle, gave-up on pacifiers (he has been sucking on one again, though, since he's been sick), watches 5 whole minutes of Caillou or Sesame Street if Mom turns it on, and likes to be read a book and sang to before bed time. 

Yeah, Wyatt's been a little sick so he wasn't too fond of having his picture taken this morning.

This past school year was full of such fun, learning, and growth, but I am so looking forward to lazy days of just doing nothing.  Well, I still have to cook, clean, wash clothes, fold clothes, break-up fights, yada yada yada...  But I won't be getting up at 5:30 to make breakfast.

SCORE!