The Final Count...

157 out of 180. That's how many behavior stickers the Little Ballerina earned this year in first grade. That's an 87%. B+. Not too shabby. I'll take it.

An excerpt from her sticker book. Or bible. This thing ruled her life this year. It determined whether or not she had dessert. A special treat at the end of the week. A play date. The ability to attend a birthday party. Whatever the collateral was for the week.

Displaying these pages is probably not very fair. These were tough months. For everyone in our family. Not just LB. But they do show how much emphasis was placed on this little booklet. What good communication looks like. And how we went from...

"Don't EVER sign me up for school again!" LB, on the last day of Kindergarten.

to... 

"I don't want this year to end! I love Mrs. C!" LB, on the last day of first grade.

What a difference a year makes. And a good teacher.

And yes. Those two quotes were the first lines of my Thank You card to LB's teacher this year.

Thank you, Mrs. C! For helping LB soar.

Moving On...

Summer has finally begun! Friday was the last day of school. And the last day of elementary school for the big ballerina.

Yes. BB is "moving on up" as the keynote speaker called it. And, as her parents, "we're cheering you on."

Keynote speaker? Fifth grade? huh?

I was completely blown away when I looked over the program and saw that there would be a keynote speaker. Annoyed actually, if I'm being honest. C'mon. This is fifth grade. Not high school. Not college. Why do we even need a ceremony?

But then he started speaking. Or didn't. Someone else started speaking as Dr. Adolph Brown roamed around the gym aimlessly. Dressed like this. Minus the microphone. Plus a straw sticking out of his mouth.

He definitely looked out of place in our lilywhitedroppedoffattheschooldoorsinstretchHummerlimos audience. I'm betting many of the women clutched their Louis Vuittons a wee bit tighter when they caught a glimpse of him roaming around before the ceremony began. I'm sure they were quite relieved when he was finally introduced as the real speaker. And they were able to loosen their grips.

But, in the end, the whole place was in tears. His message was so powerful and entertaining at the same time. For both the kids and the parents. Everything from don't judge a book by its cover. (But don't dress like me either.)

• To parents support your children. 
• To kids, parents and teachers are on your backs because they love you. 
• To think with what's above your waist not below it. 
• To surround yourself only with quality people. 
• To words can hurt more than fists. (Yes, Sloan. He did the visual as you described except he tore the paper heart.)
• To the importance of staying in school and reading.
• And finally...in the end it doesn't matter that you have granite countertops. What matters is that you shared a meal with someone who doesn't have countertops. (Sound like anyone we know? ahem...a wonderful heart by the name of Nicolle?)

And when he was finished. The tears continued to flow as our babies walked up one by one to receive their diplomas.

And when the boy with autism's name was called. And he walked up the steps. And the whole fifth grade class cheered for him. Yes, Kim. I had to look up at the ceiling and do my "Mary Had a Little Lamb" singing-thing in my head to keep the boo-hoo'ing from becoming audible.

Fifth grade, people. This was a fifth grade "moving on" ceremony. What the heck am I going to do when she graduates from high school?!?

Rockin' Robin...

She rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing her song
All the ballerinas on our little street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet...

On Friday it looked like this...

By Saturday it looked like this...

Today it looks like this...

Rockin' robin, tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin' tweet tweetly-tweet
Go rockin' robin
'Cause we can't wait for your babes to take flight.

What Am I Going to be When I Grow Up?

song writer

Ten on Ten: June 2011

I'm wiped! What a looooonnnggg day. I almost didn't do Ten on Ten this month. I was too busy running around willie nillie.

Between the ballerinas' field day, lugging a quiver of BSD's surfboards back and forth to the school for BB's 5th grade beach bash in the late afternoon, and LB's recital dress rehearsal this evening, I was hard pressed to remember to take a picture every hour.

But I made sure to at least carry my point and shoot during field day so I could document this extra fun day for the ballerinas.