We are in the homestretch, people. Two and a half days left of school. Which is about 14 days too long. Seriously, I gave up a while back. I didn’t mean to but I did. I was done arguing with Blondie about brushing her hair. I couldn’t care anymore about whether The Dude’s clothes matched. Hell, I don’t even care if he has underwear on. Folders have been barely checked in weeks, don’t even ask me to sign them. Lunches are an embarrassing game of what crap can I find in the back of the pantry (have some black beans, kids). Bath time barely exists and bedtime has been getting later and later. Every morning has been a battle to get to school. Truth be told, I am not even sure I would have managed getting them to school last week if it hadn’t been for Blondie training for safety patrol. We have just been overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time.

But here we are, in the final stretch. It is almost done. The next two and a half months lay in front of us like a temptress. There is no sleeping in at this house, The Dude prefers to see the sun rise. But there will be lazy mornings. And pool days. Sno cones and s’mores. Adventures to be had and boredom to be embraced. We have made plans and set goals. Trips to the library. Trying new food. Maybe a weekend in hill country, if we can ever agree on a tent. The beach. Learning to ride our bikes without training wheels. 50 cent movies. “Late” nights and board games. Fireworks. The possibilities are endless.

For me this summer means all of this and so much more. It means I will officially have a 4th grader and a 1st grader. It will be the last of my time with Red before he heads off to Pre-K in the fall. This is the beginning of the end for me or the light at the end of the tunnel. if you will. I have not been alone since August of 2007. And in a few short months, I will have more free time than I will know what to do with. Perhaps it is more than consequence that this is all happening at the same time I decided to take back some of my life. This summer I will be working hard to improve this blog. I am beginning to look at it as more of a job than a hobby. So you will see more of me. And I have a HUGE project in the works with a great friend. Within a week or so we will be announcing our endeavor and I really hope you enjoy it because I am really enjoying doing it.

What are your plans for this summer?

Today was The Dude’s kindergarten program. The theme was Bugs, he was cast as an army ant. For months, they have been learning songs and practicing their choreography. For months, we have been practicing his coveted 4 speaking lines. We went over and over the lines, memorizing, slowing down our speech and speaking as clearly as possible. He even worked in a little comedy with a big pretend bite at the end of his statement. It has been a long time coming. The build up has been immense. The amount of excitement has been palpable. It was his breakout moment.

There was singing.

The handsome fellow next to him is Other Jack. They are very similar and yet very different. It has been a pleasure watching them go through Kindergarten together and we hope to know him for a long time!.

There was dancing.

The Marching Ant song was doubly adorable until he noticed the sound equipment behind him. The boy is his father and is drawn to buttons. I held my breath until he refocused. Even his teacher admitted that she thought he was not going to be able to resist the urge mid-song.

And of course, his big moment!

Wait til they have their food in place. 

And they are sitting down just right.

Just when they say “How pleasant this is.”

Give them your very best bite!

Performing with the ants were lady bugs, lightning bugs, one adorable stinkbug who taught everyone a lesson on friendship, and butterflies. He warned me weeks ago that they would be singing a song about caterpillars changing into butterflies that “would make all the mommies cry”. Well, he wasn’t lying. Damn it with the feels. There wasn’t a dry eye in the cafeteria.

Afterwards, the parents joined the kinders for a picnic. Luckily it was dry. Shortly after we wrapped it up, the rain came and the rest of the day has been soggy. It was great fun to watch all these little people who have really grown and gotten to know each other this year run around and play in the field, sticky from celebratory ice pops. A good reminder that we are at a wonderful school.

The Dude’s year is coming to a close. I love watching my kids grow up but I am not a fan of the end of a grade. Between the friends they make, the things they learn, the experiences they have, and the bonds they create with their teachers, seeing that wrap up is almost too much to bear. It makes me sad. A chapter is ending, a new one will begin in a few months. These are the times that I want to hold on to but I know that I can’t and it leaves a weight in my chest. I am incredibly proud of him, my sweet brown-eyed boy. This year could have gone so many different ways for him, it was a gamble to put him in school so soon. But he begged and swore that he was ready. And he is right.