School's out for Summer . . . Almost!

There are three days of school this week and then it is officially summer break. Abbie is really looking forward to this. Of course, at this point, I think that everybody is just going through the motions. There is no longer any homework, and I think that the teachers are just trying to make it through the day, so I don't think they really have any expectations for the kids anymore (other than don't kill each other). It definitely seems like the daily workload has dropped off and there are more "end of year" parties, etc.

In this photo above, you can actually see both Abbie and Emily at the end-of-year etiquette party. Below, are Abigail and one of the girls from her class performing at the end-of-year talent show - violin, of course!

As for violin, that is also winding down. On Mother's Day, the string orchestra had their final performance at the big performance hall downtown. That performance marked the end of the season. As for next year, Abigail has already auditioned for a spot in the string orchestra, but we will not find out the results of that audition until probably the end of the month. Abbie's new school has a string orchestra, so if she doesn't make it into the one that she did this past year, then she can definitely participate in the one at school this fall.

 (Abigail being goofy outside the performance hall)

As for "what's next?" once school is over, Abigail is enrolled in about a month of camps before we take off on our giant summer road trip at the end of June. We will spend about three weeks in Minneapolis, followed by a driving trip through Arches, the Grand Canyon, and Zion. From there, we are off to San Diego for a week before returning home. All in all, it'll be about a 6-week trip and LOTS of miles on the car.

Before we go, though, we also have to get ready for school to start immediately after we return home. For Abbie, that means completing her required summer reading for school (3 books and a test on each) and getting her set up with her required iPad (which she is chomping at the bit for us to buy). For both girls, it means getting their uniforms ordered and delivered. I think they are both excited about that piece, too.