Maddie's Kindergarten Graduation

In early June Maddie completed her last day of kindergarten.  I can't believe that the school year went by so fast!  It seems like just last week we were dropping Maddie off for her first day of kindergarten (Angela with tears in her eyes!)... and now it's over so soon (Angela with tears in her eyes, again).  It was a GREAT year for Maddie... great teacher, lots of great new friends and lots of learning.  She has so many happy memories of her first year of "big kid" school (she now says that preschool is for babies).

Last day of school at Jacobson Elementary!

Four kindergarten classes perform songs

The last day of school included a performance by all of the kindergarten classes that included songs and speaking parts by pairs of students (what they learned, memories of the school year, etc.).  It was very cute.  Maddie and her partner (Nikasha) had the line "1st grade will be so much fun!"

No stage fright here - Maddie recites her lines!

After the performance it was party time in the classroom!  There were snacks, games and crafts.  Mostly it was a chance for all of the kids to spend their last day together having fun.

Maddie and Sage: "We're headed to first grade!"

Maddie and Megan - a friendship from day one

The class poses with the teacher for one last class photo

Friends until the end

Teacher and student... say cheese!

Girls posing for photo... who invited these boys?

After school, the party continued at a classmate's house where there were more games, swimming and pizza!  A sign at the house greeted the children after school: "Welcome 1st Graders!"

Getting read to start the water balloon toss game at the after school party

Maddie leaves Jacobson Elementary next year to attend a new school.  Several of her classmates from kindergarten will be in her class next year so there will be a few familiar faces on the first day.  It's only seven weeks until school starts again!

Luke's Baptism

Luke was baptized into the Catholic church on a beautiful Saturday evening in late May after 4:30 mass with many close friends in attendance.  This is "our" church that we attend every weekend and the church that Tom & Angela were married in and the church in which Maddie was baptized.  We've been attending this parish as a couple for over 10 years.  Rick and Lenore, close friends of ours, were chosen to be Luke's godparents.

Children blessing the water before the baptism

Luke getting baptized

The baptism concludes with Luke dressed in symbolic white garments

Luke with Deacon Steve, Godparents Lenore and Rick and big sister Maddie

Proud family

Children celebrate the baptism at the church

After the baptism we celebrated with dinner and cake at our house.  Lots of friends and lots of kids all had a good time.

Sister bear hugs little brother Luke at the after party

A feast of Mexican food after the baptism

Children picnic on the backyard lawn

A final photo before cutting the cake - who loves buttercream frosting?

We feel so blessed to have two wonderful children to share our faith with and we're excited to watch them grow in their faith and develop their own personal relationship with God.  We're humbled to have the duty to teach them our faith traditions.