13 Colonies

     **THIS POST IS A MONTH LATE AND GOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE OF THOSE END OF SCHOOL YEAR ACTIVITIES (REMEMBER SCHOOL?)**

     On Monday, June 7th, the parents were invited to a fifth grade play after school.  A couple of weeks ago the kids came home and said "I'm trying out for such and so....I'm gonna try out for....."  I didn't know what they were talking about.  As the kids get older, parents are on a "need to know" basis.  The teacher decides to do a play, tryouts are held, parts are assigned, and then you are informed what day to show up.  I was a little shocked when Jacob announced he was playing the role of George Washington and Kristin was the hostess, an Iroquois and one of the "history police".  My oldest daughter, Megan, had performed the same play in 5th grade, so I was familiar with it.  My recall was that George Washington was a fairly big role...  I knew they were rehearsing at school, but they also said they were supposed to be memorizing their lines at home.  I was nervous.  Baseball playoffs, soccer games, end of year parties, practices....I had a feeling there would not be much memorizing going on at home.  I was right. 
     In the midst of the weekend I felt a panic about the play and said...oh my gosh, what are you guys supposed to wear for this play?  They said most of the costume was provided by the school but Jacob indicated he needed white knee socks, black pants, a white shirt and black shoes!?  Well, we found some black pants, black shoes and I decided to run to Walmart for the white knee socks and white shirt. 
     The morning of the play, Kristin told me she was the one announcing the show and welcoming all of the parents.  Then, I knew Jacob a/k/a George Washington, had the first lines of the play.  Inside I was nervous for them...but they did not seem to be nervous at all, so I put on my happy mom face and said "I can't wait to see it"!!  (Read...God I hope they know their lines and don't get too nervous!!)
     So, there we were on Monday afternoon.  More parents from the class were there than I thought would be able to make it with work schedules.  The kids were cute, the play was a casual and humorous spin on history, complete with the "History Police" (Kristin) saying things like "Book 'em Dano" (Kristin).  Here are some of Jacob's opening lines from the play.

(GEORGE and MARTHA WASHINGTON enter)

GEORGE WASHINGTON: Hello, my name is George Washington.

MARTHA: And I'm Martha Washington. George and I are here to tell

you the marvelous story of how our country began. It's a story filled with

excitement and drama...

GEORGE (interrupts): ...dreams of gold, the clash of nations...

MARTHA: ...and best of all, we get to play the staring roles. Oh George,

I never get tired of this. The bright lights! The photographers! It just makes

me want to salute something!

(LEIF ERICKSON enters loudly. He's accompanied by two other Vikings,

carrying footballs)

LEIF: I, Leif Erickson, claim this land for me and all the Vikings.

GEORGE: Excuse me, but we're starting a show here.

LEIF: I know. I visited America nearly 1000 years ago. I want some

credit for being part of the thirteen colonies. I was here first.

GEORGE: No you weren't.

LEIF: I wasn't?

MARTHA: Not at all. Native Americans were here hundreds of years

before you arrived. Isn't that right, George?

(GEORGE nods)

LEIF: Oh. Sorry. Come on, men. Back to Minnesota.

(THEY exit)

GEORGE: In fact, let's take a visit to the eastern seaboard in the 16th

century and see what's going on with the local tribes.

(IROQUOIS enter)

MARTHA: Here come some Iroquois-and George, they don't look happy.

GEORGE WASHINGTON: Let's move south to Florida to get a closer

look at some of those new European explorers.

     He did a great job and so did Kristin.  Miraculously, they knew their lines and it is a cute, funny, clever little play.  I would share pictures, but they didn't turn out.  The lighting was not good and....I am not a good photographer.  I'm sad because they looked so cute in their costumes, and I have no pictures of it....
    While there, we knew Megan was across town playing her last soccer game of the school year.  So, George left halfway through the play to catch the last half of her game and at the last minute we ended up rushing over there for the last 8 minutes of her game so she would know we were supporting her, too! 
     Another full night as the end of the school year winds down!  Memories from 5th grade! 

Bye Bye Elementary School....

     Well, we all rushed out of the house at 8 am on Tuesday for my two kids (twins, Jacob and Kristin) 5th Grade Graduation from elementary school (remember, we also have to get Grandma going, too which slows things down a bit).  Anyways, we got there and grabbed some seats, I chatted with some of the moms and shortly after watched all the students begin to file in...so cute.  Seems like their kindergarten play was just a couple of months ago.  I don't know why I get so sentimental at these kind of things.
     We listened to the principal give some good advice to the students and then each child gets called up on stage by their teacher to receive a handshake from the principal, a carnation, and a diploma. 
     Everything was going pretty well and then.....the 90 or so students turned and faced the parents and sang "Friends Forever" (have a listen Friends Forever by Vitamin C.)  Well, let the waterworks begin....for me.  It's always the music that gets me.  It should also be noted that Jacob and Kristin noticed me getting all teary-eyed and they were trying not to laugh at me while they were singing.
     Then, after I recovered and laughed at myself for crying with some other moms (most of whom were glad they were done with elementary school) there was coffee, juice and baked goods in the gym...  Took some pictures, chatted some more and then the kids went back to class for a couple more hours of school.
     Soooo...I guess it's just hard for me to believe that after nine years of having my kids in elementary school, we will not be there any more.  No more class parties, birthday treats, no more driving by and seeing them at recess on my way to the grocery store, chats with their teachers, phone calls that their tummy hurts, etc...  Middle school is different.  There is much less opportunity for parents to be involved in the classroom.  Like it or not, they do grow up fast.  Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.  Either way, I am proud of them and the fact that they find growing up easier than I do !!

Kristin entering graduation

"Friends Forever" (the song that "got me")*

The poor kid in yellow cried the whole time :(

Jacob making his exit (Kristin behind)

Where's the love Jacob?

We will miss Mrs. Maxwell

Friends Forever

Our Teacher Gift

Tote/Cooler, Pop, Pretzels, Sunblock, Towel, Spray Mister, Magazine

It's Official!

*Extra Credit if you can spot the class troublemaker...

D.A.R.E. Graduation

     Recently, J and K, along with their classmates, graduated from the 5th grade D.A.R.E. program at school.  The school and local police department teamed up to host a small ceremony to celebrate the completion of the program.  The principal and the DARE officer spoke to the class, the students received certificates, t-shirts, and a few students read their DARE essays to the class.

    I think this program is so important and, like most mothers, I pray that my kids will make the right decisions and follow the advice learned in DARE and "resist" the peer pressure that sometimes exists today.  I am proud of my kids and the essays they wrote about DARE!  Feel free to pray along with me!!

Kristin Receiving Her Certificate from her teacher,  Mrs. Maxwell
(Jacob's picture was too blurry)

 

Principal, Dr. Thorin
Speaking to students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol

My kids DARE essays
(if you can zoom in, you will notice that Jacob is worried 'cause drugs
can make people kill their parents...now I' m worried!)



Jacob's Certificate



My twin DARE grads in their t-shirts!!
(That's Jacob's hands on hip "girly" pose he likes to do!!)



At the "Hop"!?

     Let's go to the "Hop"??  No Easter Bunny involved in this one.  My kids elementary hosts a Sock Hop every few years or so.  The last couple of years they replaced it with a "Hoedown"...so I thought maybe the Sock Hop was dead.  Then a few weeks ago a note came home about a Sock Hop.  Normally, this would be no big deal except for one thing....I had just gone through my kids clothes and made a huge donation pile.  I was anxious to get rid of a lot of stuff so I remembered purposely putting my oldest daughter's poodle skirt in the donation pile thinking....oh, they'll probably never have a Sock Hop again!!??  Oops!  The clothes were loaded up in my car to bring to the Salvation Army.  I literally ended up digging through all the clothes in the Salvation Army parking lot to find that poodle skirt I had "made" before handing over the rest of my donations.  By "made" I mean, I found a poodle applique and "stitch witched" it onto a skirt that....ironically, I had found at the Salvation Army about ten years ago.  I think I actually did sew the poodle's leash on the skirt by hand, though, and that probably took me forever!
     The kids always enjoy the Sock Hop and it is their last year of elementary school (we haven't missed one yet) so they had to go!!  There is a DJ, rootbeer floats, popcorn, cotton candy, a silent auction of gift baskets...as well as a teacher auction.  When my kids were in 1st grade the teachers auctioned off their time and we won the chance to go to Build a Bear with their 1st grade teacher!!  That was a special day!!
     It's funny how when they were younger I could dress them so cute.... and now that they are 5th graders...Jacob wore cargo jeans, his Student Council shirt and a sweatshirt jacket over it!!??  So NOT 50s spirit.  Kristin was happy to wear the poodle skirt but could care less when I told her she should wear bobby socks..or what shoes or jewelry she should wear.  That's okay...fun was had by all and more great memories of elementary school were made....at the "Hop"...

School Invite to the Sock Hop

5th Grader Kristin at the "Hop"



Jacob...at the "Hop"??

Kristin Hoppin' with friends

The Old Days