The beginning of June was filled with much anticipation of summer which was right around the corner, but we had to get through a few jam packed weeks first. All great things though and lots of celebrations so it made for an awesome start to the month!
We kicked off the month with a Saturday get together at the Laugesens. It's always such a great time with this crew and we all always look forward to our cul de sac Fridays and when we plan an additional night or activity it just makes it even sweeter! I'm not sure how I didn't get any pictures of the girls, but I promise they were there!
On Sunday, June 2nd we met up with Nani, Poppa and the Ozeck kids after church for donuts and then we happened to come across the RB Street Fair. We ended up spending a couple of hours browsing the different booths and coming home with all sorts of goodies but it was such a great way to spend the morning/early afternoon. 
Baseball is still in full swing but Joseph is also gearing up for a summer league for basketball so he had tryouts on Monday, June 2nd. He received some money for his First Communion and with that money he decided to buy a Golden State Warriors jersey, socks and compression leggings. He's too funny! He has a few buddies that are really into the Golden State Warriors so he has jumped on the bandwagon...up until a few nights ago he was calling them the Golden GATE Warriors so at least we have that figured out now! He is super excited to finally play basketball in a league though!
On June 4th Ella's class put on the most darling play ever! It was Goldilocks and the Three Bears but it was just so nicely done and was just full of sweetness. Ella had a line that she had to memorize and did so well and then she also received an extra part where at the very end she invited everyone back to the classroom and she knocked that out of the park, too. I think we have all been singing the songs from the play in our heads all month long as they are catchy and fun! 
She's so fortunate to have Nani and/or Poppa, if available, to come to all of her special events!
She was SO excited!
Even though she is still crying almost every morning at drop off (although she didn't cry on the morning of her play), she does adore her teachers. I'll be honest and haven't loved the shared contract for Ella's personality especially for her kindergarten year, but overall it has been fine and she has had a great experience. At home she is always playing school and pretending to either be Mrs. Pinney or Ms. Sutton so they've obviously made a huge impact on her.
As of Wednesday, June 5th Julia is on summer break so let the celebrating begin!!! Her school had an end of the year potluck where she hung with her bestie, Kallie, and Charlotte and had a blast. Jules had a fabulous preschool year. The past few days she has been saying how sad she is that school is over and how much she is going to miss her teachers. The three year old teachers truly are special and I am so glad that we decided to keep her in the 3 year old class instead of move her up to the 4s for that exact reason. I wouldn't say that she made a ton of great friends (she really only ever talks about Kallie) but her teachers said that she is so sweet and kind to everyone and was just always so happy. It is so bittersweet sending her off to TK next year at the elementary school. She doesn't seem quite old enough but my heart is telling me that it will be the right placement for her. 
Julia and Charlotte had their last Thursday with Nani and Poppa this week. They've had quite an amazing year of Thursdays and we are all so grateful to Nani and Poppa for their willingness to spend the days with them.
We had our last official Friday cul de sac party on June 7th and had a blast as always. This tradition is so special and we know it will look a little different next year with the Bestafkas moving away but we hope to continue it for a long time.
We celebrated with some Yogurt Lounge froyo that night to celebrate the week's accomplishments. Ella had a great week of drop-offs with hardly any tears, Joseph was chosen for the Classic "All Star" team for baseball, Julia finished off her school year and Charlotte is always up for a good celebration!
Joseph played in the Classics game on Saturday, June 8th at the Majors Field in RB. He was selected by his coach, not because he was the best on the team, but because he showed good sportsmanship, teamwork and hard work. He was able to hang with all of the kids that were chosen to be on the team and we are so proud of the progress that he made during this season. From striking out almost every single at bat for the first 8 games to regularly hitting singles, doubles and even a few triples to the end. He also is a solid 1st baseman but more importantly he had fun! We are so thankful to Poppa for spending a lot of extra time with him during the season helping him grow and learn as a baseball player. Nani and Poppa came to the Classics game, too, and it was so fun to cheer him on. This is his buddy, Luke, from school who also made the team-it was fun for the two of them to play together. 
Rich and I went out with the cul de sac crew parents on Saturday night to dinner and to the RB Inn for drinks/dessert so the kids spent the night at my parents. Rich and I took advantage of having Sunday morning to ourselves and I was able to convince him into hiking up to Potato Chip Rock, since I have always wanted to do it. It was a beautiful morning and a great hike. We parked at Blue Sky Reserve, instead of at Lake Poway, so it made for a longer hike than we anticipated and by the end we actually ran the last almost 2 miles since we just wanted to be done but it was great!
He wouldn't humor me by waiting in line to get up on potato chip so this is as good as we got. Ha! I figured I wouldn't push it (and really didn't want to wait in line either) but I told him I may have to go back one of these days so I can get my picture on top of it!
Once we got the kids on Sunday we just relaxed for the afternoon and got ready for the last 4 days of school!!! Yay!!
Field day was on Monday which was a blast! Joseph's teacher was in charge of the "Duck Duck Wet" game which is a hit with all grade levels so it was a lot of fun. Charlotte and Julia got in on the fun and loved it, too!!
Ella patiently waiting her turn to see if she was going to get soaked...of course, she did!!
Since Joseph is in the 2/3 combo he hangs with his 3rd grade buddies a lot during recess so he had a blast with TJ and Aidan at field day!
On Tuesday, Charlotte, Julia and I spent the afternoon at school hopping from Ella's classroom party to Joseph's class party. They both had ice cream parties and had a great time. Ella's class convinced her teachers to play Duck Duck Wet again so it was pretty much her best day ever.
Rich took Joseph to his end of the year banquet for baseball. The girls and I decided to do a girls night out at Greenspot instead, since we figured it would be a little crazy at the banquet at Round Table. Coach Jason had great things to say about Joseph and we are so proud of his award for "Best Attitude". It's hard to top that!
Girls night at Greenspot!! Love these three sweet girls and their special bond and their love for one another and for me.
Lsat day of gymnastics together for these sweet girls. It has been so fun having Isabella and Ella in the same gymnastics class all year together-great for the girls, great for Joseph and TJ and great for Lynn and I. We are going to be so sad to see them go this summer but so thankful for sweet memories with them all.
And, now, the last day of school pictures for our elementary kids!!! I can not believe that the year is over! It has flown by even faster than years in the past and I'm sure part of it is due to having 2 kids in elementary now. I just can't believe that Ella is done with Kindergarten and Joseph is now half way done with his elementary school career. Ugh. Pull at my heartstrings. These two are SO excited for summer, well, really we all are! I just know it is going to be the best summer yet with so many amazing memories in store for us.
We are so proud of Joseph's progress and growth this year. I remember being cautiously optimistic at the beginning of the year about his 2/3 combo class but I should have just been optimistic. Mrs. Leigh did amazing things with him and his class and she really pushed him to his potential and challenged him. Having older kids in his class made him rise to the occasion and we couldn't be happier, although with all that being said, I do hope that he has a straight 3rd grade class next year. I think it is fine for one experience but overall I want him with his own age peers. He enjoyed being in the combo class and meeting new friends and he definitely gravitated to the 3rd graders vs the 2nd graders-he has always been like that though wanting to hang with the older kids. We just found out that he was selected for Roadrunner TV for next year so next year is already is off to a great start; however, I don't want to rush summer and am so looking forward to having him home every day this summer and just enjoying our time together.
Ella, Ella, Ella. You definitely kept things interesting this year but you have made us so proud and you have matured and grown so much. Thinking back to August when we sent you to Kindergarten you seemed so little, but now looking at you, you are confident and so mature. It's bittersweet. I know that you are so ready for break and I just pray that it is what you need to get you out of the routine/habit of the tears and hysterical moments at morning drop off. This caught me for a loop this year and it finally broke me last week as I left the school in tears, just not sure how to help you work through it, but you finished off strong this past week (probably knowing you don't have to go back for a few months) and I am hopeful that you just need a solid break and will come back as a stronger, more independent 1st grader. You have shown so much empathy, thoughtfulness and kindness to your classmates this year and even though some days you say you don't love school, I secretly know that you do, watching you play "school" at home during most of your free time. I can't wait for this summer with you!
Woo hoo!!! It's summer time!!! Unfortunately, Julia wasn't feeling well on this last day, so I sent Joseph and Ella off to the club with Jen and Lynn for a few hours while Jules and Charlotte both napped but Joseph and Ella had a great time so bring on summer break!! Yay!!
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