School's Out for Summer!!!!!!

Yes! It finally got here. . . that elusive last day of school. It almost seemed like one of those nightmares where you are running down a hallway but the hall just keeps getting longer and longer.

Marley's last day consisted of a park day. The kids got to play. The parents got to hang out and talk. The pic above shows Marley enjoying the play equipment at the park.

Here I am with some of the K-3 moms. Don't we look like a lovely bunch? I've enjoyed getting to know these moms over this last year. They all put in a lot of work to make the class what it is. And they're pretty nice, too!

Colin didn't go to school today. He'd been pestering us about skipping the last two days. As much as I understood, I thought he should stick it out. An argument the day of his promotion was resolved when we struck a deal. He did something I wanted him to do and I said he could skip out on this last day.

After Marley was done at the park, we met up with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Lee and Aunt Luella (visiting from AZ.) Then, Marley and I headed out to the mall for a very special outing. Can you see what I mean in the picture below?

That's right, she got her ears pierced. We've been talking about it lately and she wanted to do it. Paul and I discussed it and decided that it was okay. Unfortunately, my experience getting my ears pierced was quite different than hers. Poor thing. When the young woman did the first ear, it very obviously hurt her. She has such little ears I think that the piercer poked her behind the ear. It was red there and that's where Marley said it hurt. Then, the ear kind of started burning. I felt like such scum. She was crying and carrying on. I tried to get her out of there for a little while and take her for a walk but she didn't want to go. The problem was, she didn't want her other ear done either.

Finally, she was able to sit still long enough to get the other one done. What a relief! The next one seemed to hurt, also. I paid for the piercing and carried her out of the store. Now it was time for the guilty mom shopping spree. One stuffed Hello Kitty, a Disney princess night gown, a Disney Minnie Mouse phone and a couple of sale clothing items later and we were on our way home. Actually, she really was fine within a few minutes. As we left the mall, I asked her if she regretted getting her ears done. No. She was happy.

The studs are white gold with a crystal pink daisy. Very, very cute! So, all we need to do now, is clean them 2-3 times a day for 8 weeks. That's all. (Um. . . I'm not sure I really thought this through.)

We have had to cancel our vacation plans due to lack of funds. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the situation will change before the end of summer. In the meantime, we are looking forward to Vacation Bible School, swim lessons, summer school, park days, beach days. Whatever we can get! I know that August 31st will get here fast.

P.S. The discoloration around the ear in the first earring picture is from the marker they used to mark her ears. . . not from the piercing itself.