End-of-the-Year Family Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from our Family Date last night celebrating the END-OF-THE-SCHOOL-YEAR! It's a simple tradition, but fun... and it is something you can do with your kids from preschool until high school graduation. More on this date below.

RANDOMNESS #1 - The Boy is officially finished with his "Maymester" today! He is also a Junior in college. WOW! And again... WOW!

He's coming home to a three-day anniversary celebration with the lovely Melia. They have been dating for three years now, and from what I hear from both camps, they are going to have a very good weekend.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Josh isn't graduating this year, but I still get to attend part of graduation. I'm going to help serve the graduating Seniors and their families during the reception following the ceremony. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the caps and gowns... and all the guys and gals I have known the past 17 years.

Who knows? I may have some graduation pictures in the Gallery tomorrow. That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it?

RANDOMNESS #3 - Speaking of graduating, Josh will be a Senior this coming year. Roxie will be a Freshman and as I mentioned above, Austin will be a Junior.

I am older than dirt.

Blog Linkage - Today's list is a little on the small side, but here are three links for you to enjoy today.

1. Go to Big Mama under My Blog List and scroll down to Previous Entries. Click on her post entitled "This only adds to my issues with chicken" dated May 25. It reminded me of my last Field Day/May Day three years ago. I LOVED Field Days as a little girl, and I enjoyed working them as a parent for my three as they were coming up through the ranks. Tie-dye shirts, snow cones, relay races, etc., etc. Good times. Good times.

2. Go to Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List. Click on Home and Garden at the top of her page and scroll down to the post entitled "Knockout" dated May 24. I have seen these roses EVERYWHERE this year, and I thought Knockout was just a nickname. Obviously not.

3. Now click on the Cooking portion at the top of her page. Scroll down to the post entitled "Big Fat Bacon Sliders" dated May 25. Nuff said. I'm making these this weekend. Oh, yes. I most definitely am!

End-of-the-Year Family Date

This isn't an extravagant or memory-making date in and of itself. However, it can become a family tradition... so it's a good thing.

On the last day of school (for all of your kids... it may vary from school to school), plan on taking everyone out to eat to celebrate and reconnect.

This past school year has been very tiring... for the kids AND the parents. Since Josh and Roxie were both finished with school the same day, I checked the "Date" envelope and announced we were going out to eat. The kids and Mikie looked at me with weary, red-rimmed eyes and said, "Really? That would be great."

As I said before, it wasn't extravagant. We went to Logan's. But it was needed. We talked a little about the past school year, but the majority of the conversation revolved around what we wanted to do this summer... on our own and as a family.

We took our time eating, talking, planning and headed home for a movie night. It was a good night. We needed to acknowledge the past year, but spend time looking ahead at what the kids hope will be an "epic" summer.

Add this as one of your annual dates. Take the kids to breakfast the first day of school, and treat them to dinner the last.

Have a good Thursday. I'll be back in the morning to post Weekend Happenings. I'm scared to say for certain, but I think tubing might be in our immediate future. (I hope. I hope.)

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda