Costa Rica!

For years, Jason and I knew we wanted to take our family on one big, epic, foreign trip before Ali and Logan leave our home. The original plan was Egypt, but it got too complicated and expensive. Then it was Jordan to see Petra, but then the war broke out, and they cancelled our tour. So then...we decided on Costa Rica! It ended up being a very fun trip, and we were so glad for the experience and the adventure together.

We didn't have a direct flight (we get spoiled living near Chicago, so we usually do), but they were both fairly short flights, so it wasn't too bad. As we were getting off our first flight, the Pilot invited Jake into the cockpit and let him sit in the driver's chair!

The day we got there, we just went to our hotel in San Jose and relaxed. But our views from the hotel told us this was going to be a pretty country.

The next day, we had a several-hour drive to La Fortuna. We stayed in a hotel right across from the Arenal Volcano. It rains a lot there this time of year, so sometimes we couldn't even see the volcano because of cloud cover. We were very lucky that the day we had our hike around the volcano, the skies were clear, so we could get fun pictures! You could even see the steam that is always coming out of the top, but it is often hard to see because of the clouds.

Thanks for Coming

It was so fun having my parents here for graduation, and then for a couple of days after Mexico. They made sure to visit Ali and Eli at both of their places of work, took Jake to the store to buy him a belated birthday gift, and went fishing with Eli.

My dad also helped me with my ever-present puzzles.

My mom altered dresses for both Ali and me! 

Come back soon!

Jake Graduates from Elementary School

We had another graduate in the family this Spring- Jake graduated from Elementary school! We've had kids here for 13 years, so it is the end of an era for our family! They must have started a new tradition after our other kids left of doing a clap-out for the 5th graders on the last day of school. The parents are all waiting in the gym where they end after walking the halls of the school with all the other grades and teachers cheering them on- I loved it!

Jake was lucky to have Mr Fair as a Principal; he does such a good job with the kids. Here's a quick story that shows why I like him: One afternoon, Jake came home upset. He told me that at the end of the day, he was with a brand new student waiting for the bus, and Mr Fair came by and said something like, "Watch out for this kid-he's trouble!" and Jake thought he was serious. I told Jake I knew for sure that Mr Fair was joking, but that I could email him to double-check if Jake wanted me to, and Jake said that yes, he'd like to make sure. So I emailed Mr Fair, and within a minute of sending it, Mr Fair called my cell phone. He apologized to me for causing Jake heartache and asked to speak to him. He reassured Jake that he had been joking, was sorry he hadn't made that clear, and that, in fact, Jake was an amazing kid. See? Great Principal. 

Our fifth-grade team has the kids rotate for different subjects to get them ready for Junior High, so here are all of Jake's teachers: Mrs Fisher for homeroom, Mrs Ricca for ELA, Mr Rogers for Math, and Ms Sack from last year because she is his favorite:)

We had a few friends over for our annual end-of-the-school-year ice cream party and called it a wrap!

Mexico

My parents took Ali and Logan to Mexico for a graduation gift- pretty great gift, I'd say!

 

They did an ATV jungle tour that included ziplining and swimming in a Cenote.

They enjoyed their beautiful beach-side resort (except for the fact that not just once, but twice, Ali accidentally ate something with nuts in it!)

They took a tour to Ek Balam and got to see the cute village of Valladolid.

They had a fantastic time!

Graduation

Wow! We have two High School Graduates! It was such a fun weekend celebrating this wonderful milestone with them. Jason's mom and my parents came to town, and it was such a fun weekend. We started with the Elementary School clap-out. The graduates go to their old Elementary School, and the little kids all line the halls as the graduates all walk past-it's so cute! I was looking forward to this even more than the actual ceremony. I was working at the Elementary School that afternoon. I knew that meant I'd be a bit limited, but I knew I'd see them and knew that others could get pictures. But some of my TA friends came in after the parade and shooed me out to be with my family- it was so thoughtful of them, and it really touched my heart.

Last year, Jake realized he'd be there for Ali and Logan's clap-out, and he's been excited for it ever since.

Favorite teachers: Mrs Kamin and Mrs Fisher.

The BIG DAY!

The youngest brothers are the best sports, so the older brothers let them have a moment in the sun. 

Then last, but not least, was Seminary Graduation. I was almost more proud of them for graduating from Seminary than High School- four years of Early Morning Seminary is no joke!

How it started:

To how it ended:

Well done, Ali and Logan!