LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

The boys before school.  Take note, by next fall there will probably be 2 houses built in the background.  13 years we got to enjoy open field!

I have to include this photo of our Lydia.  She graduated from 8th grade today!  Lydia received the Presidential Award of Education for having a GPA over 3.8 for the past 4 years!  We love our Liddy!

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Ben with his 5K teacher

Jonah with his 5K teacher

Jonah with his special education teacher and aides from the past 4 years.  

I wasn't able to get photos of his speech, physical, and occupational therapists.  

Ben with his special education teacher and aides. 

I wasn't able to get photos of his speech, physical, and occupational therapists. 

Today is the last day of 5K for the boys.  Next year is a big leap for them going into 1st grade.  They will be in a new special education room for grades 1-4 so new teachers and aides.  For Jonah, this is exceptionally huge because he has been with same special ed teacher and aides for the past 4 years!  They are like family to us.  

So today is a happy sad day for me.  

I am happy because I am so proud of what these boys have accomplished this past year and for Jonah, the past 4 years.  I am excited because they have such great potential to grow up and do amazing things.  What some see as a disability, I see them having Down syndrome as part of what makes them unique, beautiful, and incredible individuals.  I really believe the sky is the limit for these two!

I am also happy because of the amazing group of teachers and aides that have worked with Ben and Jonah the past year and 4 years.  These ladies are an amazing group of women who definitely show their love and concern for their students.  They have taken the challenges that the boys have presented and helped them (and us) overcome those challenges with dignity.  No one at school has ever made me feel like they were disappointed or frustrated with Ben and Jonah.  Every curve ball was taken in stride, and everyone pitched in to help them and find a solution or better way to do things.  What a blessing we have had with our experience at school!  

So a big shout out to Mrs. Suhorepetz, Mrs. Seider, Mrs. Claerbaut, Ms. Laura, Mrs. Poole (1st 3 yrs with Jonah), Mrs. Brochtrup, Mrs. Brayshaw (1st 2 years with Jonah), Mrs. Kloiber, Mrs. Schmitz, Mrs. Brill, Mrs. Velzke and Mrs. Hoffman.  Thank you to all of you.  We so appreciate your help!!!!

I am also happy because summer is such a fun time of year, time to relax and go exciting places like Niagra Falls and Mammoth Cave.  Time to swim and go to the beach.  

I am sad because the last day of school means that all the kiddos just keep getting older.  Stephen is going to be a senior in high school next year, Lydia a freshman, and Abigail will be in year 2 of college- oh my!  I don't handle change well  (maybe Jonah gets his difficulty from me?).  

So I leave you with these two funny cartoons that I think moms will find funny...