The last day of school, ever

Yesterday John ended his 11 1/2 year long school career rather unceremoniously.

We got up, fed the kids breakfast and carted them off to school.  When it was time to take Nathan to school, we accompanied him to class so that we could deliver some un-birthday chocolate chip cookies and bags of candy, and his class could sing happy birthday to him (he was feeling left out because he has a July birthday, and school is not in session in July).



Nathan and the best kindergarten teacher ever, Mrs. Moran



Then we took Yummy and went to the beach in Winnetka.  It was a little cool, so I enjoyed the warmth of the sun-baked sand on my feet, while John and Will threw rocks into the lake.  We talked of Chicago, how our time here has rocketed by, and how we will miss it.  Terribly, in fact.  When you  move as often as we have, it has a harsh way of making you realize how fleeting time is.  I have learned that I have to enjoy every minute of every day that I have in a certain place, because then its gone.  And we are gone, and in a new place.

Anyway, then we went home.  Yummers napped while John studied for his last final and I packed up the boys' Legos.  When the kiddos came home from school, they played with the neighbors for hours, the girls playing American Girl and the boys hockey in the driveway.  I picked up pizza for dinner because Isaac had missed his orchestra party at lunch time (he forgot about it, boooo), and was heartbroken.

Then John went and took his final.  Two hours later he was home. 

And he was finished.  No more school.  Ever.

John does not love school, but he does love the Lord, and he has done what he felt Heavenly Father wanted him to do.  It has taken a lot of sacrifice and even more hard work.  I am so proud of him.

Make Way for Ducklings (or geese!)

Yummy and I went on a bike ride yesterday morning.  The weather has been absolutely lovely here lately, and we have been enjoying spending some of our last days here outside.  (I can't believe I said that!  Where has the time gone?).

The Canadian geese have returned from their winter vacations, which is both good and bad.  Good: Will loves watching them eat bugs out of the grass while we ride.  Bad: I hate all of the poop that they leave on the bike trail. 

We stopped to for while this morning to watch a bunch of them eating.  They are not afraid of people at all, and will walk right around the bike and trailer.  Again, good for Will, not so good for me.  Yuck.  Will kept saying "I yike it, boods."  Translation:  "I like it, birds."

We saw a bunch of goslings waddling around after their mother.  It reminded me of last year when Nathan, Will and I herded the ducklings in the Trader Joe's parking lot.  It is located on the corner of Lake Avenue and Waukegan road, both very busy roads.  I ended up calling John and getting the number for animal control.  When they didn't help, I just called 911.  John thought I overreacted.  But a policeman did come out and stop traffic on Waukegan so that the mother duck could lead her 11 ducklings across the road and onto the pond and park behind the shopping center. 

Since then, Grandma Anthony sent us the book "Make Way for Ducklings."  It has become one of Nathan's favorites.

In other news. . .

We are trying to eat from our pantry so we don't have to waste anything when we move.  Karen loaned me a book entitled "The Everlasting Meal" which I loved, loved, loved, and it has inspired me to get pretty creative with our meals.  This morning I made a huge batch of granola out of left over grains and nuts I gathered from different cupboards and it turned out delicious!

Yummy and I followed John out to his truck this morning so that Yummers could hear him rev the engine.  He stands on the front porch and says "again, Dad, again" and John revs the engine over and over for him.  (Nathan and Brady used to do the same thing when we lived in Dallas).  Only this morning as John started his truck, it made a very sick sound, followed by billows of gray smoke.  Hmmmm.  I think maybe it wants to stay in Chicago.