Last Day of School ... in the middle of summer

June 23, 2011

As you may have noticed, I took some time off from mid May to mid June.  It was extremely busy here.  I will (eventually)  catch you up to speed on what happened during that busy month.
Both kids had milestone end-of-the-years this year.  Tommy finished middle school and Grace finished elementary school.

I am having a difficult time wrapping my brain around the fact that Tommy will be in high school.  I remember high school.  I know I am old, but I can't imagine him being ready for that experience. But, I guess he is old enough.
Grace is a bit nervous about going to middle school.  I think it is because the 8th graders look like, well, high schoolers.  For a 6th graders, that seems really mature!  I agree; some of those girls have more curves than I do.
Here are their end-of-year action shots:
Grace & her favorite teacher, Miss Keeler

 Here is a painting Grace made for her teacher (Miss Keeler loves Paris)

The 5th Grade awards assembly:

 Here she is getting that Presidential Fitness Award she worked so hard for:

Tommy's award assembly.  He would not stop for any photos.  

These are the last day of school parties: 

A Day at the Ball Park

May 10, 2011

Prior to her season-ending injury, Grace was a little superstar on the softball field.  She plays for the Wildcats and so far, the team is in first place, having a 9-2-1 record.  

 Tommy is planning to retire from Little League after this season.  He is now playing second base and has had some pretty good hits, like the one you can watch in action below  (hopefully).

Last First Days!

August 9, 2010

Today is the first day of school.  Because in Scottsdale, we like to start school in the middle of summer when it's literally 112 degrees and everyone is lethargic and cranky from the heat.
Why not crank up those huge school A/C units in the hottest month of the year?

This year is a big one in the Halterhome.  Grace is in her last year of elementary school and Tommy is in his last year of middle school.  So it is the last first day for each of them at these schools.  Since Tommy is a teenager AND in middle school, I did not follow him around this morning with my camera.  I just got a picture before he left for the bus.  Aren't I a cool mom?  Ha!

Grace is still at Hopi, so I felt like one of the crowd following her around snapping shots despite her whining that I don't have to take a picture of "everything she does."

Grace & Alex, buddies since they were infants....

A very clever mom brought this fun sign for the picture-happy moms....

The last classroom shot....ever.  : (

I still have this week off, so I'm off to do fun stuff . . . and nap.  

Karen

Fall Break

October 18, 2009

Today is the last day of the kids' fall break.  It has been soooo hot here that it feels more like summer break.  It's been 100 degrees the past couple days. Too hot for "fall" even in Arizona. 

But I digress. 
Back to what we did all week with the sunny weather.  In no particular order, here are our Fall Break Highlights:
Grace and I made a cake and pumpkin bread and lasagna, all in one day. Not that you can tell from this photo, but we are in teh kitcen in our matching aprons.

Grace and I went to my favorite store, Domestic Bliss, for a Halloween craft class. 

We made these fun decorative "hats."

Tommy went to his first bar mitzvah for his friend, Nicholas Shein.

Daddy helped with the tie.

Look at all the handsome fellas heading off to the ceremony.

Tommy, Grace and I rode the light rail downtown to have lunch with another handsome fella, Daddy.

The kids and I met up with Grandma Joyce & Poppy Don over on their side of town.

We went to a farm with a corn maze.

The kids pumped water,

Posed on a tractor,

Rode pedal cars and saw lots of farm animals. 

Grace and I went to the zoo.

This was in the spider monkey exhibit...the monkeys are right there walking the rope over your head!

We just monkied around all week.

Back to school and work tomorrow. 

Karen

First Day of School

August 10, 2009 First day of 7th grade for Tommy and 4th grade for Grace. It is way too hot here to start school. I wish someone could explain to me why the school district people think it is a good idea to send the kids to school in early August. Crazy! Anyway, here are the annual bus stop photos:



Middle schoolers (all boys...that could be trouble):

The Graces:

While the kids were at school, I enjoyed my day alone and made "First Day of School Cupcakes" for them. I could learn to like staying home, even though it's just a dream.
Karen