It's the end of the school year and we've been busy with all kinds of activities and events.

Annabelle started tumbling with coach Oscar, she learned how to do a "proper" back bend in the first class! She's also in Ballet I now with the "big girls". Feels like just yesterday that I was walking her into her first combo class at the dance academy unsure if she was going to leave my sight or cry and hide. Now she practically runs into the dance studio waving a quick goodbye to me, God forbid if I hang around and embarrass her in front of her dance friends.

Ian and I went to Annabelle's class picnic on Monday, we brought along our picnic blanket and some snacks, too bad it was 95 degrees out and felt like we were steps from hell. We didn't last long at the picnic or the activities afterward in the dusty, sandy playground at the school. The slight breeze makes you feel like you're being sandblasted and the sticky heat makes the sand stick to every part of your body. Ian and I were ready for some a/c after about twenty minutes of the sweltering sticky South Texas heat. It was really not an enjoyable time but Annabelle had a good time with her friends.

Annabelle graduated from Kinder! The moving up ceremony was yesterday. Annabelle got to dress as what she wants to be when she grows up and she chose to dress as a veterinarian. Her class performed a cute dance to "Old Time Rock and Roll". They even did a little procession wearing caps and gowns. At the end of the ceremony Mrs. Cadwell recognized Annabelle and one other little boy in her class for going "above and beyond" in dreambox math. I was so proud of her! Too bad Justin had to leave the ceremony early to teach his summer classes. I usually don't get too sad about being in the Valley with no family but it felt a little lonely with just Baby Ian and I cheering Annabelle on when she got her award...especially when I looked around and saw all the other Hispanic families with Moms, Dads, Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents and Cousins. After the ceremony the kids who met academic goals in dreambox were invited to jump in the bouncy houses - again in the sweltering heat in the playground.

Today is the last day of Kinder for Annabelle. They celebrated with a pizza party and Annabelle is super excited about staying home with Mom and Baby Ian this summer!

...pics coming soon :)