Another year down

Wasn't it just yesterday that I took this picture? All three of my kids getting on the bus together starting grades one, two and five. They will never all be on the bus together again, and it isn't until I write this that I realize this picture is so special. Where did the year go?

Alanya will finish first grade on Monday, and she has come a long way. It was a rocky start, but her reading has greatly improved and she will do just fine. Her teachers compliment her for contributing yet knowing when to sit quietly and listen. She is enthusiastic and has many friends. I have been joking with her this week that I spoke to the principal because I want her to stay in first grade forever. I want her to grow up, but there is something about a little girl in first grade. You just want to freeze it and keep it forever.

Ben continues to shine and second grade kept him busy as the teachers challenged him to work even harder. Some weeks he had more homework than our fifth grader, but he handled it all with a meticulous perfectionism, wanting everything to be just right. His handwriting is beautiful, and he sometimes is old beyond his years as he chit chats with adults - one of his favorite things to do. At the same time, he's still a little boy who loves a good potty joke. Ben continues to surprise me. Today he brought home a paper and he was supposed to draw a picture of himself in the future. He drew himself at a computer with a big sign over his head that says "MIT". That's Benny.

Noah is finishing his years at elementary school and will be moving to the middle school in the fall. He is my sensitive child who cries watching TV shows. He is outgoing, and a rule follower. His handwriting is atrocious, but his teachers still love him. He listens, questions and participates. Even though we call him "No" for short, he never says no when given a chance to do something at school. He worked in the school store for a month which required us to drive him to school early every day. He was a member of "the Green Team" at school to study and analyze waste in order to educate the other students on where they could make improvements. He sang in the choir and participated in Math Olympiad. He chose to participate in a competitive book club that met weekly and competed with other teams. Most memorable for me, he sat on a committee with me, teachers and administrators that presented our school for a statewide award for excellence. (We finished in the top three as a finalist) Middle school gets me nervous, but I won't have to worry about Noah. He will always find his way.

Another year gone and my little ones are not so little anymore.