Schools out for summer! Oakton Elementary School (OES) is out for Avery and Emerson!  Seven years at Oakton Elementary.  Seven years since I unexpectedly broke down in happy tears as they climbed the steps to the school bus on their first day of kindergarten. 

Avery and Emerson are ready for seventh grade.  Emerson especially had a particularly tough year with three different teachers and has been ready since early this year to be at Thoreau.  Harper has been going to school with her sisters since kindergarten…it’s all she knows.  It will be four years again before they are all at the same school.  In time, I think she will not only be fine, but also like being the sole Maddy at OES.  The majority of her friends are in a similar situation having older sixth grade siblings. 

They say you should celebrate your successes and graduating 6^th grade is certainly a big one these days. 

Graduation at Oakton High School.  

Emerson was selected as 1 of 3 students out of 133 total 6^th graders to deliver a commencement speech.  Her speech and her delivery were outstanding!  She was both excited and nervous to get on that stage; however, she not only kept her composure, but also delivered like she had spoken to 1000 people at once previously. 

The girls both took the stage to accept their 6^th grade graduation certificates; Emerson also received an award in Academic Excellence. 

Look at these two I seriously can’t believe how grown up they look!  

Family pics!

A 6^th Grade Party was held at OES to celebrate; an event Avery and Emerson had been looking forward to for some time and had to have the perfect dress to celebrate; and a second dress….the same dress that they had worn just two hours prior at the graduation ceremony would not suffice.

Last day of school…Avery and Emerson look so grown up to me….it’s like overnight they look like middle schoolers!

The obligatory last day of school neighborhood group picture was last minute and for the first time ever, all the kids couldn’t wait to get to school!

The afternoon last day activities didn’t disappoint with water gun balloons, super soakers, and new this year Kona ice!  

OES has truly been a great experience; Avery, Emerson, and Harper have grown academically and socially; it is a joy being their mom and having the opportunity to be on this journey with them.