Last Moment of School

As is tradition in the Chung household, if my schedule allows, I like to greet the kids at school on the last day.  Woody, Erik and I made the short walk over to greet Ingrid and Annika coming out of their classroom:

As of this moment, we are the parents of a second and fifth grader (and eighth grader and Pre-K'er)

Last Day of School

Today is the last day of school and the completion of the first year at Santan Elementary for Annika and Ingrid.  It also means that Morgan is half done with Junior High School.  HALF DONE!  I can't imagine what I will feel like writing a year from now when I mention there is a HIGH SCHOOLER in the family.  Before I get ahead of myself, I'll stop.

I made the kids run around and find the clothes they wore on the first day of school and line up the same way so I could get a before/after picture.  NONE of my four kids thought this was a good idea.  None.  Perhaps I could have come up with promises or bribes or visual images of post-last-day-of-school treats to get them into the clothes.  Instead I went with an out-of-breath, "just do it!" kind of request.  That's why you get all of the smiling faces.  The lone dissenter - Ingrid - who refused to frown thinking the skirt looked kind of cute.

Anyway, here they are in their last morning before school.  It was ten minutes before the bell when I started taking pictures.  Annika changed her outfit after the last picture to follow the Santan fourth  grade tradition of wearing a tie dye shirt on the last day of school.  Wouldn't want to break tradition.  Oh, and they made it to school on time.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being sixty seconds away from the school door (if you sprint).

And for comparison, here's the first day of school pic:

Gaining Independence

Erik ordered a milk shake by himself today.  He finished his lunch at In N Out and asked for a chocolate shake.  Woody said yes, but that he would have to wait for him to finish or order it himself.  Erik took Woody's card and strolled up to the counter like a lean fifteen year old.

"Chocolate Milk Shake"
"You want a chocolate milk shake?"
"Yeah."
"And..."
"Here." [Hands over card]

The cashier rings it up and asks if he wants to sign it.  Erik's eyes got big and then saw me in the background and pointed.  I signed.  Another cashier hands Erik back the card and the chocolate milk shake.

Success!

Memorial Day Weekend Annual Peach Picking

We couldn't let a Memorial Day Weekend go by without our annual stop at the neighborhood peach orchard.  The orchard is across the street from the kids school, so close we could take a wagon.  However, like last year, we went in the afternoon in the heat.  It is 95 degrees today so the A/C was welcome for the short ride in the car.

Speaking of short ride in the car, Woody's parents arrived around noon - driving from Los Angeles.  We were able to drive to the peach patch in our car because our new van is a 7 or 8 passenger van.  Today was the first day we tried it out - the six Chungs and Harmony and Harabagee.  Annika loves the middle row jump seat.  It fits her size to a T.

As the official family photographer, I had a great time taking pictures, despite the full sun.  As you can tell from the photos, the peaches were small, delicious and juicy and the trees were full.

24 pounds and three Otter pops later and we were on our way home.

At home, Harabagee noticed his body was itchy and red.  He's allergic to peach fuzz but didn't tell us and still went along for the fun.

Swim Lessons

Our good friends, Janet and Michael Althoff, agreed to give swim lessons to our younger kiddos at their pool this summer. Janet has taught many kids how to swim, including her own three. Morgan tagged along just to hang out by a pool. She eventually went in and Michael began teaching her how to dive.
 Erik and Ingrid began their lesson by working on putting their face in the water and blowing bubbles. Ingrid took to that almost immediately. Erik eventually put his face in. Janet was a bit shocked when she was called, "Grandma", more than once, by Erik. She got him to repeat her name, Janet. Eventually, that turned into "Jama", which rhymes with pajama. Sort of a cross between Janet and Grandma. Michael thought it was hysterical.
 When Janet asked if Erik would go underwater with her while he was sitting on the pool step, he replied matter of fact, "No, cause I'll fall or die." I honk he'll need a few more lessons. Oh my.

Moving On - PLA Annual Move Up Ceremony and Picnic

Premier Learning Academy celebrated its PreK graduation and Move Up Ceremony for its students last night at Tumbleweed Park.  Erik was delighted with the outdoor venue - a chance to run around on the grass with his classmates in the evening.

Families brought picnic dinners and blankets to watch the annual school slide show.  It was about 90 degrees outside, but down in the retention it felt much cooler - a gentle breeze and nice night hues.  Woody and Annika went back to buy drinks at a convenience store (I forgot drinks).  In the meantime, I took advantage of the setting sun to get some pictures of Erik.

The kids took turns receiving their certificate and bubbles, and trying on the graduation cap and gown for a picture.  Erik wanted nothing to do with it.  With the sun deftly behind the west mountains, we were out of good light for a picture anyway.  We took one the next morning at school.

When the school year starts again at the end of July, Erik will be a new Pre-K student.  Yeah Erik!!!

Tucson - Family Fun Day

I love spontaneity.  I'm not always good at it, after all, I'm a project planner by training.  So I feel compelled to say "yes" when Woody throws out an idea like, "Hey, do you want to go to Tucson?"  "Now?" "Yeah." "OK".  Half hour later the Chung gang, in record time, is off on an adventure.

Our museum and other adventure memberships from AZ and CA allow us reciprocity with participating museums.  Therefore, our Phoenix zoo membership allowed us to get in free at the Reid Zoo in Tucson.  The Arizona Museum for Youth membership got us free entry into the Children's Museum of Tucson and the AZ Science Center membership gave us free access to the U of A Planetarium.   A whole day's adventure for the cost of gas and food.

We started out at the Children's Museum at 10 - just after it opened.  We made record time leaving the house in the morning and getting on the freeway to Tucson - a 90 minute drive.  The museum had some fun pieces, but was rather small.  After an hour or so of play, we were off in our car, looking for the zoo which was about a 5 minute drive.

The Reid Zoo in Tucson is smaller than the Phoenix Zoo, but we immediately liked it.  Peacocks had free roaming and it was fun to see their fanned feathers and blue necks all over the zoo campus.  Erik brought a stuffed elephant and was asking around every corner if the elephant exhibit was next.  At the Phoenix Zoo, he pretty much knows the lay of the land and doesn't use the map.  The giraffes are "up close" to the visitors as is the Tiger cage.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon.  We even bought a family sized pizza for lunch which was cooked fresh to order.  When it arrived, it was a gigantic pizza, more than we could eat, and was a great price.  We had our fill of water and then left the zoo around 3 PM intended to head home.

In the parking lot, we decided to push on and at least have a look at the Science museum and planetarium.  So glad we did!  One of the country's most famous geology exhibits is at the museum which is directly in the middle of University of Arizona's campus.  Parking proved difficult as the signs didn't indicate whether Sunday parking was allowed.  In the end, we parked tentatively and walked the university's mall to the center.

With only 45 minutes before closing time, we had just enough time to get a good view of the exhibits, use the restrooms and check out the geology collection in the basement.  The planetarium will have to wait for a return visit.

Our drive home was fun and quiet.  Woody and I chatted the entire way while four kids either slept or read books.  We arrived back in the valley just before 6 PM.  And with gift cards from my sister for Christmas, we enjoyed a steak dinner at a restaurant with zero cleanup.

I love it when spontaneity comes together - like a plan!