P365 - 2015 - Day 173 - Congratulations to our 6th grade graduates!

P365 - 2015 - Day 173 - Congratulations to our 6th grade graduates!

The photo on the left seems like just yesterday and a million years ago at the same time.  I remember the details of that morning very clearly.  Even without the photo, I can picture what they wore, their new backpacks, The Princess' long pigtails.... My first babies started kindergarten 7 years ago and started their school journey.  They were nervous and excited and above all determined.  They walked in to that school, ready to be students, eager to learn, excited to meet new friends, happy to meet their teachers.  They started kindergarten the way they do everything - they were all in.  I remember The Bear's teacher that year telling me how he coordinates all of the games on the playground... and everyone listened.  Even then he was a leader and a kind one at that.  I helped in their classes that year and watched them learn to write through "kid writing" - I watched The Princess develop her love of reading and writing that she still has today.  Then I blinked.  I swear that was all I did.  And now they graduated from 6th grade.  We moved and they started a new school at the beginning of fifth grade and they entered that first day with the same nervous, excited, determination that they had all those years before.  They were all in.  They took advantage of every opportunity that was available to them - The Bear became Student Council President, The Princess became Student Council Secretary.  They earned awards in academic achievement and excellence and citizenship.  They excelled in sports as well.  Like I said, when they are in, they are all in and for that I am not only proud of them - I respect them as well.
The photo on the right was tonight... my two "babies" graduated 6th grade.  They are about to move on to middle school and start a new chapter in their lives, another first day is approaching... As their principal said in her speech tonight, they have created "vignettes" - moments in their lives, snippets of memories, accomplishments and they will go on to create more.
As I look at these two photos, my heart hitches a bit.  I can't believe so much time has passed and I sometimes need to take a deep breath and try not to cry.  I look at these two photos and I can play all of those vignettes in my mind like a movie.  All of the moments that were in between these two milestones.  While I watch this movie in my mind, I am proud beyond words of all of their hard work and accomplishments, my heart is full watching the people they are becoming, and I wait with baited breath for all they have to come.  Congratulations to our two 6th grade graduates!!  We love you more than you know and wish you all that the world has to offer. xoxo