Daniel & Annabel's Adventures: School's Out!

School's out!!! Our elementary school days are officially over. An end to an era. It's bittersweet and yet we are SO ready to move on!!

Annabel had to navigate her last week of school on crutches. Our 7 year running streak of walking to and from school EVERY day abruptly ended that Monday morning. (We had a pretty good run of it walking to/from school every single day for 7 years straight- rain and snow and all that! I'm darn proud of us! We joke we're going to have adopt a Kindergartner so we can keep up the walking, haha!) Her teacher let us arrive a little early so we could get Annabel settled in her class before the halls got crowded. Mrs. Matteson found a chair for Annabel, since she could no longer use the ball chairs that her class uses exclusively, and even a foot stool for her to keep her foot elevated and propped up for more comfort. We brought in a pillow for the stool to make it more comfortable. Annabel's teacher was SO supportive and we're so grateful for all of her help.

Monday was Field Day and Annabel still very much wanted to go with her class to each station. Some stations she could even do- like the shoe kick, instead of kicking she threw her shoe, and then someone had to go get it for her, but hey it worked! But mostly she just watched, sitting on the camp stool we took for her to use that day. She had some very helpful classmates who carried her stool for her and helped her all day. Annabel also got more signatures on her cast that day, too, as her classmates really wanted to join that fun. I got to help at Field Day, too- I was at the finish line at the 50 yard dash station. So fun to see all the kids come through and even visit with my daughter when it was her turn! I also had many teachers stop and ask me what happened to Annabel- I felt like I was a broken record all week whenever someone, teacher or parent, saw her and asked what happened. Everybody was thinking of her and hoping for fast recovery! It was nice to hear all the support and thoughts.

Monday was also the day Annabel had to give a small presentation about Battle of the Books to the third grade class. She hobbled down to Mr. Damery's class and enjoyed sharing all about how Battle worked. I'm glad she could still do that! She had been looking forward to this. We also got a copy of the book list and Annabel was still keen to read all the books (even though Battle is only for 4th and 5th grade in our district). Lynne, my friend at the library, had even texted me (yes, we're on a texting basis! She's amazing!) to say the books were all on the shelf and of course when I told Annabel this, she immediately wanted to go to the library and check some of them out!! Nevermind that she'd just spent all day on her crutches outside at Field Day! She was tired but that didn't stop her. Plus, she was reading a ton because what else do you do when you have a broken ankle?! To the library we went. Lynne also wanted to sign Annabel's cast, which was so fun! Annabel grabbed a big pile of books and steadily worked through them all week long.

Annabel also received her prize for completing the NFL (Never Finished Learning) Challenge. It's a trophy complete with her name and all! It's actually really nice and we're so proud of her hard work. She was so excited to bring this home and show us! Such a fun thing she'll treasure and always remember!

Tuesday was a big day for Daniel- he got a phone!! He was very happy to finally have a phone and immediately started putting contacts in it and making it his own. I'd planned on a phone for Daniel going into 8th grade all along, and wanted him have it in the summer so we could get some ground rules set and work on managing it together. And I wanted him to have it before school got out so he could round up his friends' phone numbers and all that. It's worked out very well so far this week and I know he's excited to be able to communicate with his friends and make plans. It was definitely time, despite my hesitations and reservations, which only speak to my personal feelings about tech use and not to Daniel at all because he's an AWESOME kid and has proved himself trustworthy and responsible. We will see how long we make Annabel wait now...but again I'm still not in any hurry. Eleven year olds don't need phones! Anyway, very exciting week for Daniel and I'm so glad we finally did this for him- like I said, it was time.

And then before we knew it, it was Friday!! The Last Day of School!! Daniel wore his "Please don't make me do stuff" t-shirt to school on the last day- very fun choice and so perfect!! I loved it! We of course took Annabel to school that morning and that meant I could grab a few last pictures of Annabel at school- in front of the elementary building and sitting at her desk in her classroom. It was fun to be able to get these last pictures of life as she knew it. It's a little odd to think that we'll never set foot in this building again.

Annabel spent the day enjoying a special 5th grade breakfast with her friends, a couple assemblies, time to sign yearbooks, and more. And then it was time for the big Clap Out Celebration for the entire 5th grade!! They all walk through the whole school, in and out of every classroom, and then onto the blacktop all while teachers, students, and parents are clapping and cheering- it's a fun tradition and I'm so glad we could do it this year! I only cried a little bit. Annabel did fabulously on her crutches and her face lit up when she saw us...I was holding a Stitch Graduate Plush!!! Ben took a video of Annabel walking by, I waved Stitch around and took pictures and enjoyed the moment! Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Gary came to clap and celebrate with us, too, which was wonderful. We took lots of pictures of Annabel with her friends and Annabel with her teacher and Annabel with her Stitch.

Annabel was SO happy to be done with 5th grade, done with the elementary school, and is so VERY ready to move on to middle school! She is just beyond excited to move up and do more. Annabel was beaming! And we're so ready to see what adventures lie ahead for her, too. So proud of all her hard work thus far! Way to go, Annabel! Congratulations!

And there we have it- school is out and summer is here! Now all we have to do is get out of the cast and off the crutches!

Here are this week's many pictures!

Annabel is ready to go to school on crutches for the first time... Smart girl that she is- she wore her biking gloves to school every day so she wouldn't get blisters! (Her hands hurt so much by Sunday night, after just the little bit of walking with them that first day.) Such a good idea of Annabel's!

Field Day fun!!

Annabel got a special photo op with Rocky!

Rocky borrowed Annabel's crutches while she enjoyed her popsicle at Field Day!

Annabel's NFL Challenge Trophy!! Very cool!

More classmates and friends signed Annabel's class that Monday!

Even our friend at the library, Lynne, signed her cast, too!

We took a bunch of pictures of the signed cast again before our doctor appointment on Tuesday since we knew they'd take it off and re-bandage her ankle.

Tuesday was the big day for Daniel- he got his phone!!

I took this picture of Daniel for my contacts in my phone- isn't it just the best picture?!! I LOVE it!

Finally- it's the LAST day of school!!!

Goodbye 7th Grade! Daniel wore his "Please don't make me do stuff" shirt to school- how perfect is that?!

Annabel proudly sported her new middle school spirit wear sweatshirt, which she LOVES and lives in these days! Goodbye 5th Grade!!!

All done at this school!!

And look at this blast from the past!! (Aug 2015) This was the year Daniel went into 1st grade, the year we moved in to this house. So cute! And so young! Oh my heart!!

One last picture of Annabel in her classroom! It was nice to arrive early before everybody else.

CLAP OUT!!!! HOORAY!!! Way to go, Annabel!!

Annabel and Mrs. Matteson, her wonderful teacher!

Annabel and the cutest Stitch Graduate!!! Such a fun find! As soon as I saw him online, I added him to my cart! And oh it was hard to keep that a secret!! Annabel LOVES him! Isn't she darling?! Can you believe she's going to middle school next year?!