Around these Parts: June

Before Avia left for Texas, she took us all out for ice cream!   The largest table indoors only fits six, so Alice and I shared a small table.  She was playing with the salt and pepper shakers, and Billy was collecting Salt and Pepper in his game, so I sent him a picture. =  )  It was chilly inside, so once our ice cream was served, we moved outside to one of the covered tables.

We watched the slow, sad, demolition of Dimondale Elementary as we knew it.

My mom also treated us to cookies at the MSU bakery store one day when we were out thrifting, we were at the free porch at the recycling center.  Poor Alice was still in school, and William was at camp so it was just EGJ.

Emily and I both wanted to try the spartan cookie and the M&M cookie, so we split both of them!  The M&M was way better, for the record.

After dropping the twins off at Zoey's one day, Emily and I went to a garage sale.  They were very organized, and had a ton of stuff, and were not overly expensive!  We found four restaurant cups for my mom.  I was super excited.

Instead of going home, we decided to 'explore' Eaton Rapids.  Surprisingly, I'd been to most of the independent establishments there, which I suppose may not be all that surprising, as Darb's was the first place in all of Michigan that I ever ate.

Anyhow, we decided to get something light at MooVille, but it turns out, they only serve ice cream, so we ended up at the Mexican restaurant across the street.

Emily created a water bubble in the table.

We split this colorful burrito, and ate it all, it was quite tasty!  I felt a little bit guilty eating at a Mexican restaurant without Billy, but we went out that weekend, so it was not as harsh to 'come clean' while we were out together. = )

After lunch we explored the park, and saw ducks with their ducklings!  The river is still flowing North, btw.

Once we regained our dessert appetite, we did finally go get MooVille.  We brought home a gallon of chocolate milk, which was much appreciated by everyone. = )

Grace's Yard Sale and Lemonade stand overlapped with the Oldsmobile car show again, but we had several rounds of rain, and kept having to move our tables into the shed.  

She found some chalk in the chest that a spider had inadvertently woven together in it's web.

William was super helpful setting up, and showing off the merchandise. lol.

Since we sold so very little on day one, I conceded to a second day, and we just moved the tables under the carport so that we could walk down to the car show.

The next day was a much prettier day, but nowhere near as much traffic!  We did sell quite a bit, at 25¢ each, but a bunch went out to the curb!

Not as much went for free, from the curb, as I would have hoped, but it did all still fit in my car in a single trip to the thrift store, even with the whole family in the car, so my record remains intact!

I scanned the books that didn't sell to see if sell your books would buy them, and there were enough to pass their minimum, so after boxing them up, I made the trip to FedEx, and stopped in for a campfire latte, to get into the camping mood, of course. ; )  I would not recommend, because I didn't like the crumbled up graham cracker garnish, but otherwise it wasn't bad.

My mom gave me a Scooby-doo colored tub that they were clearing out, so now our Scooby Doo things have a new home!!

My mom also cleaned out some rolls that she wouldn't be able to eat before she left.  One of the rolls was pumpernickel, so naturally I bought some brie to go with it, and it was quite tasty!  Emily was also a big fan, and I ended up making her a round every time I made one for myself, knowing that I would have to share.

Summer food is so colorful! Look at this beautiful assortment. = )  

And tonight, we headed to Fazoli's to support Emily's color guard fundraiser!  Everyone enjoyed the food, and we left with another doggie bag full of food.  The gentleman at the counter was super helpful, since three of them ordered a slice of pizza, he changed it over to a whole pizza, to help us save some money!  This Fazoli's is way better than the one near our Houston house.  On the way out Emily did recognize someone!

June has been really pleasant, exciting, eventful, and finally felt like summer by the end.  Next up: July!

later days

Closing out the School Year

William's class got to take a trip to BizTown a few weeks ago, and he looked awfully sharp in his blazer jacket and bowtie! He had a great time, and continues to wear the hat he received as a souvenir because he was the CEO of one of the BizTown banks!

How are we pushing through all of this end of year excitement?  Sugar and Caffeine mostly.  

The twins' field day was held in the park across the street, and it was held in two waves, because there just wasn't enough space to hold it in the same manner as the old field allowed for.  I was working at the balloon toss station, so only managed pictures of my girls while they were at my station.

I felt like a trash collector each time I subbed at the end of the year, because every time I worked I left with bunches of things heading for the trash!  One such item was a container of butter leftover from their baked potato bar.  I'm happy to report that I've managed to use or assimilate it all at this point!

The instructional support teachers provided a breakfast for the rest of the staff one of the mornings that I was working, and I loved their donut display!  Everything has been themed 'construction' this year, because of the construction, so not only are they living it, but they are also celebrating it!

Speaking of the construction, this is my final picture from the drive through line!

And I didn't get a pre-last-day-of-school picture, so a post-last-day-of-school picture will have to do, but Emily and William are officially off to ninth and seventh grade, respectively!

Alice has four days left, and both of us are d.o.n.e.  But we are almost there!  William starts summer camp tomorrow, so I'll be getting him up and on the bus pretty close to his regular day, but he'll be having way more fun while there, I think!

later days

edit 6-8-25: backdated for continuity.

Dimondale Farewell

So, this rare picture of the back of the new Dimondale building was taken on *my* final day of working at Dimondale, so I'm including it here, though, arguably, it could be included in one of the other posts.  

However, the twins' final day at Dimondale is documented here, so I'm going to keep this final picture of my final "official" day as well.

For two months, or mabye more, Juliet informed everyone that their final school day of the year was also her BFF Kennedy's birthday!

Several weeks in advance she made her the biggest birthday card that she could carry! (The donuts and balloon were not from Juliet.)

To add to the feeling of loss, Mr. Jacobs, the only teacher, to date, who has had all five of my dear ones, retired this year!  I know he will be missed, but I'm glad all my children had him! (This is a stolen image; I was not at his retirement party.)

The last day of school is "move up" day and historically 4th grade clapout, but the twins were given an extension, and this year was 5th grade clapout. Anyhow, while the other students are 'moving up' to their new teachers, the fifth graders were partying and saying goodbye to their kindergarten teachers!

This wasn't my picture, so I'm guessing it was from Jennifer?  But it is of the whole class!

Considering how warm and beautiful the field day was, the fifth grade send off was cold to the point of my toes going numb from being wet and outside for so long!

All three fifth grade classes, plus siblings.  Can you spot Emily? Hint she's on London's back!

I did well with the clapout, despite the graduation song.  

But seeing my babies hurting broke me.

We recovered and snapped a picture of the girls with Mrs. Cermak.

And Emily and William reunited with Ms. Jones one more time! Ms. Jones is one of two regrets about home school. I wish the twins had been given the opportunity to be in her class*.

This ending hurts a lot; and I, personally, am missing Dimondale already, but am simultaneously looking forward to the next adventure! 

later days

edit 6-8-25: backdated for continuity.

Dimondale Farewell

This year, the end of year music concert aligned with the 'farewell' that was open to the public.  It was a little bit cold, but such a nice night to say goodbye to a building that saw our family grow up for 8 years!

Juliet had Kennedy lift her up, so that they could sign the wall in a 'higher' spot!

I held William up so that he could sign somewhere tall, too!

Grace and Luna marked their heights on the wall. = )

And Juliet's graduation day seems far off, but I know it's coming up so fast!!!

Many of the girls had on pretty dresses, but it was just too cold to stay out without sleeves for too long!

Juliet on a drum!

And Grace on a Xylophone. = )  She was smiling at me before, but there were people in the way, so I wasn't able to get a happy picture of her.

And the latest 'in progress' picture of the new school!

Emily was not able to attend, because she had a track meet, and Alice and William left a little early, and then I left a little early, because I had to go collect Emily from her track meet when they got back.  But Billy and the twins stayed the duration.

It was a nice night, and I must admit, I am sad that this building will exist now only in our memories.  At least they were good ones!

later days

edit 5-13-25: backdated for continuity.