School's Out for Summer

I have to admit that while I definitely have been known to sob almost uncontrollably at a Hallmark commercial, school activities usually do not even bring a tear to my eye. I've always looked at beginnings and endings of school years as a natural passage of time. And I've enjoyed watching the kids grow and learn new things. I try really hard to live in the minute with the kids and not to spend a lot of time looking forward or back.

But something about the girls getting off the bus today struck a chord. I now am the mother of two 4th graders. 4th graders. How did this happen? It seems so old all of a sudden. And I'm definitely starting to see that maturity. I see it in the cooperation last night in deciding what clothes they would wear and a joint raiding of closets. For the record, Abby went to school in the outfit Madelyn wore on the first day this year. Madelyn went to school in Abby's t-shirt.

I'm hearing it in Madelyn's giggles as she talks with a friend about what they're going to wear the next day to school. (For the record, they decided to wear skirts.) Madelyn then asked me if she can go shopping with said friend sometime this summer. I see matching outfits in their future. Funny that she doesn't want to dress just like her twin but will more than likely embrace the idea of dressing like her BFF.

I see it as they spend time with Zach in the shallow end of the pool at a party this afternoon. There were tons of their friends there, but they spent time entertaining and playing with their brother. And some of their friends followed suit and played with Zach too. Making Zach feel like a rock star if the smile on his face was any indication.

So as we walked home from the bus stop (That would be the bus stop that is right next door. The bus stop that the girls are more than capable of finding their way home from without my help.), there were a couple of tears in my eyes. I am so proud of the young women that the girls are becoming. They are fun and intelligent. They get my humor more often than not these days. They make me think.

Next week, of course, I'll be knee deep in preparing their summer learning programs. But for today I'm enjoying the moment with my new 4th graders.

Lifestyles of the Soccer Families

Where do I even begin? Memorial Day weekend the family traveled to Toledo for a soccer tournament along with what seemed like hundreds of our closest soccer friends. And it probably was hundreds since almost all of the teams from our club went. And we have memories to last a lifetime.

Memories of what is probably the most disgusting hotel in the state of Ohio if not in all of the Midwest. I had read the reviews. I thought I was prepared. I wasn't. When Kevin told me that he was pretty sure that he had stayed at this hotel in the late 70s or early 80s when in Toledo for some official GMI co-op work, I should have been worried. I wasn't.

There are really no words to describe what we experienced. And I was in too much shock the entire weekend to think about taking pictures. Which should pretty much tell you how I was feeling. Because I take pictures of everything.

It's been over two weeks. The memories are fading. I've heard we're going back to the same tournament next year. If they suggest that all of the teams from our club stay at the Ramada again, I'm exercising my manager executive power and finding another hotel. One that has been cleaned since my husband stayed there some 20 years ago.

So that's what I've been up to. Trying to erase the images from my mind.