Hip Hip Hooray! It's the Last Day of 4th Grade!

It really was a bitter sweet day for Kamdyn.  She was ready for summer, but she was sad that this was her last school year with Sydney.  She came home that afternoon and was a little teary eyed.  She and Sydney have been close since we moved to Apex and have been in each other's class every year.  It will be different for both of them, but Sydney moving away won't keep them from being friends.  Kamdyn has already had a sleepover and Syd's new house.  Sweet friends forever!  We will miss our carpool buddy and the beginning and end of year picture with Sydney, too.  So hard to  believe that they will be in 5th grade!

Kamdyn's End of Year Poetry Cafe

Kamdyn's class had a Poetry Cafe End of Year Celebration!  They chose a poem from their poetry notebooks to read to the audience.  They all did such a great job in front of a very close and crowded audience.  

I can't believe that 4th grade is over and there is only ONE YEAR LEFT for my girl!  Man, time just goes in a whirlwind.  She had a great first year at Scott's Ridge.  We are looking forward to her 5th grade year and we are crossing our fingers for a certain 5th grade teacher.  

Kamdyn Lucy, I hope you will always love learning and will continue to want to excel in everything that you do.  Your work ethic and perseverance are admirable!  I hope you start to realize that being perfect isn't always the best way and making mistakes, even little ones, are how we learn.  You are already moving mountains.  You have so much to look forward to.  I hope this old world never hardens your sweet and tender heart.  You are simply amazing just the way that God made you!

5th Grade...HERE WE COME!!

I love this photo!  They really do love each other!

We are going to miss Mrs. Nowak next year!

SRE Chorus

Kamdyn had a few concerts at the end of the year.  She really loves chorus and plans to be it again in 5th grade.  I love watching my girl sing.  I always loved chorus when I was a kid and I'm thrilled that she does, too!

Spring Concert

Scott's Ridge Elementary Dedication

The chorus and the Kindergarteners sang together.  It was sweet!
Sweet Campbell, our neighbor, is on the top row!

This little priss got her official post card for Kindergarten Orientation!

I can hardly believe that my baby will be in school full time in the fall.  What will I do without my side kick every day?  She has brought such joy and giggles to my life!

She's ready....Mommy IS NOT!!

Old Salem Field Trip

One of my most favorite things about being a work-from-home Mommy is that I get to attend school events without feeling guilty about shirking other responsibilities. I was so happy that I got to go with Kamdyn and her class to Old Salem in Winston Salem.  It is truly a remarkable place.  A city that the Moravians started back in the 1800's.  

The houses and buildings are still mostly the original structures.  George Washington actually stayed in one of the taverns as he was passing through.  The kids got to see how people lived long ago.  They were minimalists which I could completely get behind.  They didn't have a lot of stuff.  Their rooms literally had a bed and one truck for clothing.  We got to see a presentation by a shoemaker.  She explained how the shoes were made with molds and leather.  She told the kids that their shoes would have been made a couple of sizes too big so they could wear them for several years.  One. Pair. Of. Shoes.  She also told them that one pair of good shoes back then would cost the equivalent of $300-$400 in today's time.  But they kept their shoes for years!  

We got to see a tailor in action and a woodworker.  We also got to visit the town bakery for some delicious treats!!

Sydney got to be in our group so the three of us had a super fun time walking around Old Salem.

Kamdyn's teacher asked me to ride the bus so I could help with distributing the snacks that I brought for the class.  She didn't know that my motion sickness was so terrible!!  Nah, I did find, but  that bus was no joke even as a charter bus....it was still really bumpy!

Sitting on one of the not so soft beds!

How the Moravians painted Easter Eggs.  They used coloring from different foods.  It was really neat!

This lady was showing how to make paper flowers.  She said they couldn't get fresh flowers all season for decorating their homes so they make them out of paper.

Woodworker making a dovetail stool.

They were helping him put it back together.

Making and decorating books.

Making artwork that could be seen when hanging in a window....almost like a window catcher, but they punched holes around the outside of the picture so that light could shine through.  Very neat!

We had to pause for a picture with their buddy, Wyatt.  He's not in their class this year, but was at Olive Chapel.

We ventured down to the cemetery.

Pumping water down by the fire station.

Silly girl!!

Pausing for a photo in front of the bridge that connects the visitors center to the town of Old Salem.

Kamdyn and a few of her sweet classmates!

STEAM Night at Scott's Ridge

Kamdyn's school had a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math night.  This was a school event that Richard was happy to attend.  Karcie and I were able to stay at home while these two smarties worked hard on different projects.  It sounds like there were a few good competitions and that they had a great time.  I love it when Richard gets to spend time with each girl at separate times.  The girls really soak up their alone time with him!

Scott's Ridge Spelling Bee

Kamdyn was the class Spelling Bee winner for the 3rd year in a row!  We were so proud of her, yet again!  This was the school's first spelling bee since this is it's opening year.  We studied  Kamdyn's words SO much that I thought my brain was going to explode.  Some of the words are so difficult that we have to get Google to pronounce them...seriously!!  We thought the "third time would be the charm."  She ended up in 6th place out of the entire school, which is still wonderful!!  Kamdyn was disappointed, nonetheless.  She misspelled "ecclesiastical."  We practiced that word a lot, but it has so many syllables and standing on stage in front of a lot of people  can get the best of anyone's nerves.  The kid that won had "courage" for his last word!  What??  Anywho, she has her fifth grade year to try to win the whole thing.  It will be our last year of studying those 450 grueling words!!  Apparently, they don't worry about spelling bees in middle school.  

Kamdyn Lucy, you are the smartest, sweetest, soon-to-be 10 year old that we know and we are so blessed to call you ours!!  

She drew #5 so she was relatively close to the front!

Only a few were left!  The girl on the far right is also a huge Clemson fan with parents who graduated from Clemson.  Go Tigers!!  Two out of the last 8 were Clemson fans.  Actually, they were both in the final 6!  That little girls finished 4th.

I was getting nervous at the end so I quit taking photos.  

Kamdyn sings at Nursing Home

Kamdyn's next chorus performance was later in the afternoon the same days as Karcie's preschool program.  (See why my head was spinning in December?) They sang at a nursing home in Apex.  I loved watching the residents faces as they sang along to the music.  The entire time I was imagining that they were singing to Mama Lucy at her nursing home.  When it was over all of the children immediately left.  I encouraged Kamdyn and Karcie to walk around and speak to all of the ladies.  They were so happy to talk to Kamdyn and Karcie.  It was so sweet!  To me, this is what Christmas is about.  I would much rather spend my time in December carrying out acts of kindness such as this rather than rush around trying to buy a gazillion different gifts for people.  Not that I don't enjoy giving.  I just feel that if more people spent time taking care of others and doing things for others that the world would be a much better and less stressful place.  A world filled with tons of happy and giving people!

It was so hot in there.  Kamdyn thought she was going to pass out!

Kamdyn Sings at the Mall with SRE Chorus

Kamdyn sang at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh with her school's chorus.  They have been going to school an hour early every Thursday morning for practice.  This was their first show!  

Lucky for us it was a Tuesday night and there is a Moe's in this Mall....kids eat free on Tuesdays at Moe's!  We had dinner before the show.

It was a fun little night with our family.  Karcie was begging to see the mall Santa, but the line was atrocious.  Sorry, kid!  You have to deal with the Bass Pro Shops Santa.  :)  

Karcie and Mommy selfie!

Daddy and Karcie being silly from the back row!

Our girl is on the front row!

Ms. Schwindt has done a fabulous job with this large group of kiddos!

Kamdyn's School Photo

My photogenic big girl always brings home the best photos.....which is good because we have to pay for these before we ever see them.  I need a proof before I spend good money!  Luckily, my girl never disappoints.  She puts on that precious smile and the photos are always worth every penny!

We love you more than you will ever know, Kamdyn Lucy!

Pumpkin Math in 4th Grade

I volunteered to be the Room Mom in Kamdyn's class this year.  I share the responsibility with two other Moms in her class.  The 4th Grade teachers planned a fun, but educational day for the kiddos on the Friday before Halloween.  I was in charge of coordinating all of the supplies that were needed and the volunteers to man each station.  

Karcie and I arrived just in time to join in the fun.  The kids had a great time while learning many math skills while using a pumpkin theme.  Karcie was super great while we were there.  I took her lunch and she entertained herself much of the time.  It's amazing to me how much she has grown in the past six months.  

Kamdyn loved having us there.....I think!  She especially loved it when we checked her out early after the Pumpkin Math stations were over.

I'm so glad that I get to volunteer in their classrooms and help out when I can.  

Now it's on to planning Karcie's Thanksgiving Feast in her class where I am the only room Mom.  :)

Working hard on the Ipad that Mrs. Nowak let her use because I forgot to bring her activity bag!