Done

Last day of school! 
Here are my sweet kids this morning before school.

Here they are right now. 

We did the awards circuit, we partied at the park, we watched movies at school all week, we ate donuts and candy, we said farewell to our awesome teachers, we played at the pool with our buddies, and now we are having the two hour chopstick dinner.  life is good.

Our plans for the summer are pretty close to being set.  Between golf, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics, VBS, and day camps we will be on the go a lot.  But my goal is to make sure the summer learning gap never gets opened.   Summer is only 72 days long so it is important to be realistic.  So here are my goals:

1) Read READ read Read READ read READ

If we do nothing else, we will read.

This is Keith's stack of books for the summer.  We won't make it through all of these books, this stack is just his chapter book-read aloud selection (he's very proud of it).  All of these books were recycled from Patrick's personal book stash.

Patrick will likely plow through library books on his Kindle Fire again this summer.  Our library system updated the ebook website and it is really fun to use.  I love free.

Both boys will also work on writing.  Patrick at night before he falls asleep, Keith in the morning.

Lauren is going to start working on her Phonics.

2) Math

Welcome to laminated Math Facts.  Just for practice for a few minutes after breakfast.  Everyone loves using a dry erase pen.  Patrick still has a little work to do on his multiplication to make it stick and Keith is so close with addition.

3)  Art (aka teaching Keith how to cut)
Coloring, cutting, gluing, painting.  I love having these kids at the kitchen table together creating.  And Keith really does need to learn how to cut.

4) Quiet Time/Free Time/Individual Reading

This hour or so will be our break before heading out to the pool deck in the evening.   They can do what they want but reading will be encouraged.  This accordion file is full of easy read books for Keith, organized by level.  Mom will spend her free time enjoying the quiet.  Hopefully Lauren starts napping again.

5) Play and have fun
I know you don't think there is any time left but there is plenty!  All of this only adds up to a couple of hours.  The kids will be up later than their normal 7:30 bedtime.  Electronics and television time will be limited. Legos are at the top of the list for all three kids.

We also have some fun excursions to fit in.  The only thing that will slow us down is 100 degree heat.  Wish us luck!  Have a great summer!

Almost

Since Memorial Day Keith has been quizzing me each day about his status.  "Am I a first grader now?"  We are now one step closer to his dream of being in the first grade!  Today was his Kindergarten performance and I didn't cry! 

That's because I cried when he brought this home last week.  He volunteered for a (small) solo part in the performance.  "I don't know but I've been told!"

I wasn't sure why it was emotional for me (still is) until I finally realized what it meant, this kid who used to ask his brother to speak on his behalf volunteered to talk in front of everyone!  I am so proud of him.  His confidence isn't always the best so it is awesome to see him volunteer and perform. 

Also, he is just a really great kid.  Today was our annual meeting for his Individual Education Plan for Speech and he has just come so far.  It is easy to loss sight of the growth when you are entrenched in the dailiness of life.

He has worked really hard this year on speech and in school so it is great to see his team give him praise.  His speech teacher thinks that he might be done after next year. 

I am so proud of him and his hard work.  And I love the fact that he is a true original (he has a drum and he can hear the beat).

 His memory book.  We are so blessed to have an amazing Kinder Team!  One more Callahan kid to go!  And she is READY.

He's going to miss his BFF Cameron this summer.

Good-bye GG

Yesterday we celebrated the life of Kevin's grandmother, Virginia Mugrdechian.  I love that everyone in the Mugrdechian family gets nicknames!  We always called her Bedgie and she always took care of Kevin and his sister Katie like they were her own grandkids.  Bedgie was Kevin's step-mom's mother and she was such a kind and wonderful woman.  We will miss you Bedge!  Give Chuck a hug for us! XOXO

From the Fresno Bee:
Helen Virginia 'Bedge' Mugrdechian, age 88, entered into eternal peace on Friday, May 17, 2013, at Mission Gardens in Merced, Ca under the care of Hinds Hospice. Virginia was born on July 10, 1924, a daughter of the late Sam and Aroxie Bedrosian. She graduated from Fremont High School in Los Angeles, Ca. in 1942. She worked as a hair stylist with her sisters in her dad's barber shop. She also was a member of the Armenian Church Youth Organization at Saint James Armenian Church in Los Angeles, Ca. She married the late Charles "Chick" Mugrdechian in February 1946. Together they lived in Fresno, Ca. where she worked for Gottschalk's Department Store in the fine jewelry department for more than 30 years. Virginia was a member of Saint Paul Armenian Church. She was a very kind and gentle soul. She had a loving and generous heart, and was always giving to others. We all will miss her sense of humor that she shared with her sisters, Flo and Gloria Thomas. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Charles in 2005; and her sisters, Gloria Thomas from Los Angeles, Ca. and Florence "Flo" Thomas from Fresno, Ca. She leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her loving daughters, Janet Dix and her husband Clay, of Santa Rosa, Ca. and Roxine Callahan and her husband Patrick, of Chowchilla, Ca; and her son Charles Mugrdechian, Jr. and his wife Rima of Monrovia, Ca.; adoring grandkids, Katie Torosian and her husband Brian, and Kevin Callahan and his wife Lindsay; along with her seven great-grandchildren; and the whole Mugrdechian, Bedrosian and Thomas Families. A Graveside Service will be held at Ararat Cemetery, 1925 W. Belmont Ave., Fresno, Ca. 93728 on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Friends and relatives are invited to a Memorial Luncheon which will be held at Pheasant Run Golf Club, 19 Clubhouse Drive, Chowchilla, Ca. 93610, (559) 666-3411 on Sunday, June 2, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Remembrances may be made to Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Ste. A5, Fresno, Ca. 93711. Yost & Webb Funeral Home, 1002 T Street, Fresno, California (559)237-4147

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?n=helen-mugrdechian&pid=164963113&fhid=18468#fbLoggedOut#storylink=cpy

GG with Baby Keith and Grandma Callahan

GG's Great Grandkids