Brendan's Last Day of School - June 18, 2010

My boy had the nerve to finish his Junior year in high school which means that -- horror of horrors -- he will be a senior in the Fall. ACK! Because he made such tremendous progress this school year, he is being placed in a high school/transition class in September. Yay, Brendan!

This is how I found him minutes before he woke for the day at 3am to go to school. He is snoring away under that blanket.

Right after school... clearly the 3am awakening is catching up.

The girls and I were planning to pick him up at school on his last day and take him out for a last day of school treat. When I mentioned this to him, he laughed. Yes, laughed! And said haltingly, but clearly, "No, fank you, Mom. I want bus." I guess it's not cool for Moms and little sisters to pick up almost seniors for treats :o)

Aine's Last Day of School - June 17, 2010

Miss Áine Clare celebrated the last day of the school year with her classmates on June 17th.

This shot was taken right outside her classroom before school.

Later that afternoon at the pediatrician's office.

Sulking on the couch the next morning after I told her there was no school.

Ciara's Last Day of School - June 11, 2010

Ciara's last day of 6th grade has come and gone and she is eagerly looking forward to being a 7th grader. (see last photo) I completely forgot to take a picture of her by herself (I blame the sleep deprivation), so below are pictures of Ciara with her three junior high teachers all of whom left at the end of the year :o(

Nana and Bruce joined Mom and Dad for the last day of school Award Ceremony and cheered and clapped as Ciara accepted First Honors, the Principal's Honor Roll for being on the honor roll for three consecutive trimesters, and the President's Excellence in Education Award. Go Ciara!

What's wrong with these pictures?

Maybe the one on the couch should switch with the one on the love seat? Nothing doing.

The End of May...

I am very behind on blogging, so here is the first of many.

Every year on the Friday before Memorial Day, Áine's school has Luau Day.

The hair is making a comeback. Yay!

Life

Tiffany Haeberlein, the principal at Áine's school, passed away unexpectedly yesterday due to complications from a pulmonary embolism. She was 36 years old.

This is a loss to the La Rosa Rascal community and to our family.

Áine made almost daily visits to her office so Ms. Haeberlein could to the touching of Áine's nose, hair, cheek, ear. Ms. Haeberlein always called her by name and Àine was always filled with joy when near her.

I told Áine the news this morning while getting her ready for school and she uncharacteristically sat still and listened. And I ended by telling her that Ms. Haeberlein was in heaven. Áine looked upward and a smile like none other came across her face. My ethereal one had once again made me catch my breath.

For me personally, from the moment I met Tiffany seven years ago when she was a Kindergarten teacher and ran a monthly program called "Partners in Print" with Ciara's Kindergarten teacher, until my last encounter with her a few weeks ago, she was never anything but kind and gracious and always straight-forward which I appreciated.

She was the first principal in a long line of principals, schools, and districts, to be an active participant in one of my children's IEPs. She knew Áine and was able to offer insights and share stories about her. She always respected my role as mother and advocated for the best for my daughter. (She even had a place for Brendan to sleep during the times he had to accompany me.)

While the news of her death is fraught with sadness, her legacy of a life of giving is a blessing for which I am grateful.


It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had. - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross