end of year celebration

i haven't gotten to help at madelyn's school during the school day since being the secret reader when she was in kindergarten - we haven't even been able to come for lunch the past two years. so i was determined to come help for the end of year celebration. it is her last year in this building so i wanted to be there. but what to do about the boys?

matt was unable to take off from work. the two older boys would be at preschool, which would give me a small window, but i still had manning. so i asked a friend if she could watch manning for the two hours i would be at the school.  because she is awesome, she said yes. but she had her own two boys to get to school that morning and then there was the carseat situation (her sons don't use carseats any more). we just couldn't figure out how to make it happen around drop-offs so we went earlier. 

jennifer arranged with an aid at her sons' school to meet her early to drop them off before heading to a local park to meet me and my crew. we put the three boys' carseats into her van so that she could do the drop-off and pick-up at the preschool for me while keeping manning. then madelyn and i hurried over to her school.

the second graders have been working on a mural outside the front door of the school so i snapped a quick picture with madelyn before we went in - even though we were almost late. (update: i am so glad that i took this picture because it was temporary paint and washed away that night in the rain!)

madelyn just happened to wear the same outfit she wore on the first day of school so here is day one for comparison. i was surprised at how much older she looks.

it was a perfect day for being outside! it just so happened that the second graders came out to work through the stations in the morning so i was able to see madelyn. there was zumba, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, tag (sharks and minnows), toilet toss/corn hole, a relay race and beach volleyball.

i knew that madelyn would choose to have her entire face painted - dolphins swimming in the ocean.

madelyn's teacher was one, of only two, teachers who went through the relay race.

me and my girl!

and don't worry about manning. he was having a wonderful time with "mrs. jenn"! he had been looking forward to it ever since i told him that he was going with her. she sent me pictures all morning. they went to the library, the park and mrs. jenn's house.

and then it was time for the quick exchange. i suggested that we meet for lunch (my treat) so that i could switch all of the carseats back - that is really not a job for wimps. a quick lunch later and the boys and i were saying good-bye and thank you to jennifer on our way to swimming lessons.

i am exhausted! but so thankful that i was able to make it work. love.