Last Day of School

It's been cold forever, but that still didn't make it any easier to go to school after Memorial Day.  And Memorial Day was impossibly early this year!  But after what felt like months (but was close to three full weeks) we all made it to the last day of school!

I sent off my 10th, 9th, and 7th graders first,

then my sixth graders!

While we were waiting, we picked up some flowers and had a flower fight.  Juliet and I both thought Grace was collecting a huge amount to throw up in the picture, but instead she threw them straight at Juliet! = (

I did get one of her throwing them high, after fussing at her for being mean to Juliet.

That afternoon, an 11th, 10th, 8th, and twin 7th graders came home from school!

Emily, Grace, and Juliet came up to the elementary school with me to get one more round of books from Mrs. Curits' room, since she retired this year!!! = (  We then brought them up to the robotics rummage sale on Friday.

We haven't been out quite a week yet, but we've fit a lot into five days, and the last day of school feels like it was much longer ago than it was!  Hoping that summer feels delightfully long this year!

later days

edit 6-15-26: backdated (but not by much) for continuity!

Magical Fairy Realm

We all have an itch to go to the Ren Faire, but the last time we went, years ago, it was so unenjoyable, that we still have no desire to return to the reality of it.  Luckily for us, we have a growing Faire, right here in our home county!  Alice didn't want to join, because the weather was looking sus, and William was having a sleepover at Jacob's, so just the five of us met up with the Cornishes. 

Grace and Juliet got all decked out for the event! Emily is pouting because I said "no" she couldn't be in the picture. lol.

This was the first year we arrived for the opening!  Billy and I were prepared to stay until close this time!

The girls got slime, but slime is not allowed in our house, so they played with it every time they sat down at the fair!

I wanted at least one picture sans mustaches!

Turns out Grace's black wings and black hat were for the wrong season, and she got hot!  We walked her stuff out to the car, but she kept the 'stache.

Everyone, performers & patrons, feels fresher in the morning, and very energetic!

Our girls took on the barbarians,

and won!  lol

One of the jousters was injured in an even leading up to this one, so instead of jousting, they had a meet and greet with the horses!

I paid to have the twins thrown in jail.  They had to do a dance and say nice things to each other to be released. 

As the day wore on, our girls were ready to go, so we didn't make it to the end of the day. = (

This year, they had 'trading' with some of the shop owners.  At the front they would start you with a trinket, and you could trade it for other trinkets.  The twins loved it!  They traded for stickers and figurines, and even cool rocks!

It's a lovely little fair, and seems to grow every year!  Their prices are family friendly, too!  Maybe in a year or two they will be a multi-weekend event!  

later days

edit 6-15-26: backdated for continuity. 

Michigan Adventure

 During the last full week of school, the twins had fun, fun, fun!!!

On Thursday, we went to Michigan Adventure.  Avia joined us, but the morning was cold!!!  Sadly, the sixth bus, our bus, was running late.  = (  It was sad to see all of the other busses leave without us.

But our driver finally arrived; she was good and booked it to Muskegon!  We arrived just a few minutes before the park even opened!  So we didn't miss out on any of the fun.

Grace got to ride with Renae up, though she wasn't in our group.  Juliet rode with Charlotte and she was in our group.

Juliet is taller than Grace by quite a bit these days, tall enough that Grace got to ride a ride that Juliet had outgrown. 

Lunch was at 11, and the line was the longest we stood in.  It was moving pretty quickly, until people kept joining their group instead of going to the end, making the line much longer for the rest of us!

Once inside, the food line was super fast, and the food was surprisingly tasty!  It was a buffet style with 8 lines and at least two soda fountain banks and plenty of open seating!  We were there with several other school from all over the state.

This was probably the roughest ride that we rode.  It had lots and lots of ups and downs.

I got a milkshake because Billy mentioned one, but it was disappointing.

Our final rollercoaster was one that I would have ridden many times given the opportunity.  Engaging, but short.

We snapped one last picture with Snoopy.

I was concerned that this park was too small, but we had a great time, and for sure didn't make it to everything that we would have liked to have ridden! Billy wants to do a family run up there, but the drive is two hours long, which is much further than six flags was for me growing up.  On the other hand, I do have two youthful, permitted drivers who need hours, so we might make it happen this summer.  We'll see how we feel after some of our longer vacation drives.

It was a good enough time that I do think we'll go as a family eventually.

later days

edit 6-15-26: backdated for continuity.

Emily Signs Up for Tennis

One afternoon, Emily came home from school and said that she wanted to sign up for tennis, since a bunch of her friends were doing it.  I said "fine." and drove her in to get a physical, since we missed this year's window by one day last year. = (

The start of the season was cold, and really, almost the entire season was cold.  I only ended up making it to a couple of Emily's matches.  She had lots of conflicts between driving, and band concerts, and our personal family schedule.  It was a stressful season for me for sure.  But, if she does it next year, she will be driving!!

She was happy though, because her doubles partner was Emma F.

The twins came to cheer on Emily, but JV tennis is slow to watch, and so they started making pine cone art.

It says "Go Team!"  I promise.

This little bird was loudly defending his or her nest next to the tennis courts.

I didn't get many pictures at the Tennis banquet.  Emily sat with her friends, which was fine, but it was a long banquet, and I was sitting with a bunch of moms I didn't know.  We made lots of small talk, but it was a long two hours.  And really, it felt like it was a celebration of every Varsity player, who got name, accolades, other awards, and best wins recognized, future plans, and then a "thanks for being here JV" when they were done with Varsity.  Which, as large as the JV is, we would not have had time for all that, but I wish we maybe could have been two shorter banquets.

Emily did get her name called, and was given a certificate!  

This time next year, she will be driving.  I am so glad Tennis season is over.

later days

edit 6-15-26: backdated for continuity.