James’ birthday party is today. He’s been watching us prepare for the last few days, saying, “Yay! Star Wars Birthday party!” James is so easy to please, so today is going to blow his mind. I’m so excited to celebrate this little nutball.
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The Final Countdown
~Annabel’s final day of school is on Thursday! I can’t believe kindergarten is over. She’s sad but I am verrrrry happy to have a break from early mornings, packing lunches, and doing homework. It’s been a great year for her – she’s reading like a champ, can write, and (the most important thing, according to her) she met her best friend. I am trying to think of a fun but very low-key way to celebrate a successful year. If anyone does something like this with their kids, please let me know! After James’ party my creative muscle is mushy.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Meyli says:
This may not be a celebration, but what about recording Annie’s accomplishments in some way? A cute journal of all she’s achieved that you both can fill out. Maybe that’s something you can add to at the end of each school year. She should be proud of her kindergarten success
BIANCA says:
I love this idea!
Lori in CT says:
Happy Birthday party James!
Every year, we celebrated the last day of school with one other BFF family by having an ice cream sundae party. Too many favors of ice cream, bowls of candy, all the toppings, sprinkles, cherries, etc. Plus water balloons, bubbles, backyard fun. My kids are now 16 and 21 years old (we celebrated each year through 8th grade) and remember our fun-but-simple tradition…and we still have a cone on the last day of school!
Dianne says:
From personal experience: Be careful of what you choose to do to celebrate the end of the school year. If your children are like mine, they will expect you to repeat that celebration for each child for every year of school! Choose wisely!! ?
Kim says:
Not very creative but we head to the ice cream shop on the way home every year on the last day of school. We have been doing this for 9 years now and it’s something that can easily be done without the kids expecting a big event. What makes it different from any other trip to get ice cream is I don’t say no. They can get what they want with whatever toppings – it’s Baskin Robbins so they can’t get too nuts and it’s not too expensive. We celebrate the milestone years the same way but add a dinner out or small party to make it special.
Randi says:
Heather – not sure how big your yard/property is, but I have 2 sons, and my oldest is finishing up 5th grade. A couple of years ago, I started hosting an annual water gun battle at our house and we end up inviting like 20 kids over. We set up plastic tote bins around the property and fill them with water as refill stations and set up 2 hoses and/or a sprinkler. I make a dry zone/snack table area and put out drinks, freeze pops, and water. The whole affair is super minimal and costs less than $50 but the kids love it. Good luck!
Joanne says:
When I was growing up (in Seattle), we would always go to the 7-11 for a slurpee on the way home on the last day of school. Fun, cheap, could do it even if we were going somewhere directly from school (grandparents house, vacation, etc), plus since we got to pick the flavor(s), it was an extra-special adventure! We did it all through school- I even did it on my way home my senior year of high school on my own!
stacy says:
We usually go out to dinner and let our children pick the restaurant.
Damita says:
I don’t have kids, but my immediate thought was definitely a stop for ice cream. I like Lori in CT’s idea of an ice cream sundae party even better, especially if you can invite Annie’s BFF over. If that’s too much, a trip to pick out a cupcake or something. Clearly the consensus is to give a sugary treat.
Alison says:
I agree with everyone else—ice cream! And don’t forget to snap a picture so you can compare them from kindergarten through senior year!
Rachel says:
After the last day of Kindergarten, 4 moms & our kids went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream. We continued that last day of school tradition (even though the kids weren’t all in the same classrooms in future years) until those kids were in middle school & then no longer wanted to hang out with mom after the last day of school. That group of kids just finished their freshman year of college… wait, what? How did that happen? =)
Kathy V. says:
I like the stopping for ice cream idea. Maybe invite her BFF and family. Also, I always snapped a photo of my daughter on the last day of school with her teacher. On the first day, it’s just a photo of her, but the last day is a photo with her teacher.
Jennifer says:
Heather, lots of parents at the school where I teach get a copy of Dr. Seuss’s book Oh The Places You Will Go and have the teacher write a message to their student,(keeping it a secret from their child) then they put it away until the end of the next year, etc and the plan is to present the book when their child graduates high school. I can’t believe Annie is finished with K. Time flies! (Long time follower who loves your honesty, wit and candor. You are amazing!)
BIANCA says:
Another amazing idea! Storing all of these up
Stephanie says:
I’m a teacher & was also going to recommend having A’s teacher sign a book. Many parents do that book & keep it a secret. I think it’d be kind of cool not to keep it a secret & let A read & re-read her teachers sentiments over the years. Either way I will do the same for my kids!
RzDrms says:
You could take her to your local big chain bookstore, tell her she can spend $X (say, $20) on whatever she wants, as long as one item is a book. (They always have bookmarks and journals and pens and sooo many other distracting things!) Then you grab a coffee and she a milk, and y’all feast on a delectable or two from the sugary items at the coffee shop inside the bookstore and talk about all her fun memories from kindergarten.
Cheryl says:
Since my son usually gets out of school on a
Thursday, I take Friday off and we go somewhere fun, we have gone to the Zoo, Legoland, Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios (depends where we have passes for that year!). Some yrs it is a surprise and others we let him pick. He is still trying to decide what he wants to do this Friday.
RzDrms says:
That’s really cool, Cheryl!
Aileen says:
Every year when my kids get off the bus I have a bin filled with water balloons waiting and I’m hiding in a bush ready to ambush them. They’re not out till next Tuesday but they’re already trying to form strategy.
LK says:
OMG! The shoplifting story seriously makes my blood boil!!!!
lauren says:
On the last day of school (well the night before) I write on the sidwalk in fron of the house with sidewalk chalk. Summer fun here we come, last day of whatever grade, etc. Draw ice cream or a sun. Things like that. She loves it. I actually do it for the first day of school also. Then after school we go out to eat, her choice. I always sing to her no more pencils no more books when I greet her after picking her up. simple fun easy.