Top Five, Bottom Five: END OF SCHOOL YEAR

Happy LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL, friends!

We. Are. So. Pumped. Around. Here.

In honor of this being our last official week of school, I thought I’d share another edition of TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE!

This time, we are chatting…TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: END OF SCHOOL YEAR.

Because let’s be real, there are some pros and some cons 😉 .

I’m going to share my little list, Andrew will share his and then I hope you share yours too!

The Shull family is R-E-A-D-Y for summertime!

Here we go…

TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: END OF SCHOOL YEAR

#5: THE WEATHER

The weather and the end of the school year just pair perfectly together. The rainy spring days seem to be gone, the sun is shining, it’s not 108 degrees yet…it’s spectacular. Walking to school, being outdoors for field days and other end of the year celebrations are extra fun with this “end of school” weather. It’s like the Lord himself is celebrating too by gifting us this May weather.

#4: CELEBRATIONS

I’m sure it’s the same at your house, but the end of the year is extra special because we get to honor and recognize our kiddos for all their hard work all year long. Whether it’s the banquets for their sports and/or clubs, the final end of year orchestra/choir performances, academic ceremonies, it’s just a great time to celebrate everything they’ve worked so hard for all year long.

#3: SO MANY FUN TRADITIONS

We are “tradition people” around here and the end of the school year brings about so many for our family. There are certain recipes I make on the last day of school, there is one silly song we sing as we count down the days, Andrew and I always go to pick them up together on the last day (to bookend dropping them off together on the first day). These little traditions just kind of make up who we are as a family. I love them.

#2: EVERYTHING FEELS MORE RELAXED

You want to stay up later? Sure. You want to put croutons in your lunch instead of carrot sticks? Why not? You’re wearing athletic clothes for the tenth day in a row to school? Awesome. Everything just relaxes. My kids have fewer tests to study for, less homework to do, the days are longer and the “load” seems lighter at the end of the year.

#1: SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE

Well, of course! That’s the very very very best part! We see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the bottom of the ninth with two outs…the school year is about to wrap up and sweet summertime is so close we can almost taste it.

Those are are great, great, great things this time of year, but I would be lying if I didn’t also admit there were a few “less than great things”…

And here are my BOTTOM FIVE THINGS ABOUT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR…

#5: IT’S HARD TO GET EVERYONE TO FOCUS

Yes, yes for the more relaxed time of year, but child of mine, you still have to go to bed before midnight. You still have to get up and get out the door on time. You must get that homework done and no, you can’t spend the night with so and so on a Tuesday. Come on people, we’re almost done. FOCUS, PLEASE!

#4: THE WEATHER

The weather is both a blessing and a curse. It’s sunny and gorgeous and warm and delightful…and it’s only May 18. If it’s 91 today, what does that mean it will be on August 18? If this is our warm spring weather, what in the world will our summer temps look like?!

#3: SUMMER PLANNING ANXIETY CREEPS IN

Hi, my name is Shay, and I get summer anxiety. I don’t know about you, but I have a SOLID school year routine. During the school year, I can manage my work, my household chores, my commitments, my appointments…I’ve got it down SOLID. Summertime can stress me out though because you know what really throws a wrench into a solid routine? Four children. At home. My school schedule leaves me feeling confident and productive…my summer schedule can often leave me feeling like a chicken with her head cut off.

#2: ALL THE THINGS. SO MANY THINGS.

So many things. There are banquets. And awards ceremonies. Field days. Field trips. Senior graduation parties. Spring football. Cheer fundraisers. Cheer camp. New school year registrations. Sports physicals are due. More graduation parties. Concerts. Art showings. It. Never. Ends.

#1: ANOTHER YEAR DOWN…

Without a doubt the worst part is that it’s one more year down. Andrew and I would do this “raising kids at home” on loop the rest of our lives. With the end of each school year comes the end of one of those years. Next year, I’ll have a graduating senior. The following year, another graduating senior. It’s here. This last chapter of having all four kiddos under one roof all the time is officially coming to an end. Kensington comes into my office every single day after she gets home from school, sits on my chair and talks about her day. These talks are never shorter than 20 minutes and often as long as an hour. On Wednesday afternoon, I hit record on my phone just to record her chatting away…because in about 15 months, she won’t be here sitting in my office telling me about her day. I would do this on loop forever.

And that, my friends, are my TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: END OF SCHOOL YEAR THINGS 🙂