Old Friends Back Together Again

Patience, Mike, Violet, Oscar and Simon came back to Minnesota for a visit at the end of May. The crew came over to our house. We started off playing a drawing game called "Picto-phone" where you draw something pass the paper then next person writes words for what they see. Then they cover up the picture and the next person sees only the words and has to draw what they see. It was a hilarious activity to get us all talking and smiling. Then Emma set to finishing her drawing for the library card contest.

Violet and Patience gave suggestions to help her make finishing touches and we dropped it off at the library right before the closing time. While adults talked, the kids played Apples to Apples and Cornhole.

Here is a picture of Emma and Violet at one of our first get togethers (they are both in orange). They were both toddler/preschool age at that point. It is hard to believe that Charlotte (the one in the front) is moving onto college at Northwestern next year. Analise had just been born when we took the initial photo and the boys would come a few years later.

Once again lots of laughter was heard and the group got along really well. It was great to catch up and see where life is taking others. Mike just got his license to drive truck and Patience switched to a new position at the hospital. Violet has started driving a bit and the boys are growing up so fast. It is hard to believe that all of the group will be in middle school as of next year.

End of Year Party and Summer Plans

Emma and Analise wrapped up their school events with the end of the year party. Emma hung out with Tabi, Cassidy and Lily. After the beach party, the 8th grade headed to Ava Carr's house for another evening gathering. A variety of sports were played and people hung out for one last time.

Cece, Lily, Hannah, Emma, Nevaeh, Lilynn, Gracie, Emma H.

Analise hung out with Tessa, Ella and Ellie. Then Analise went over to Tessa's house for more hours of fun. She came home exhausted.

Emma and Analise both are going different directions with their interests this summer. Emma is taking a biochemistry class online and Analise is taking a weather class. They both want to explore art a bit more as well. Analise will be focusing on her gymnastics an additional day of the week over the summer while Emma starts to tutor an elementary student in math.

Here are some current photos of the girls as Analise moves onto 7th grade and Emma moves onto 9th. High school here we come!

Top Golf and a Revisit of Last Year's Retreat

This is a photo from last year's end of school retreat to Lilli Putt mini golf. I missed adding it into the mix last year. Emma golfed with Cassidy, Tabi and Grace.

This year the group went to the driving range called Top Golf. The crew has changed a lot over the course of a year. They are much more mature and ready for what awaits in high school and beyond. Emma golfed with Nevaeh, Tabi, Lily and Lilynn. Emma said that the members of her team all played golf and many had been to Top Golf before. So competition was stiff in her group.

As for Analise's experience at Top Golf, she said the event was like bowling-just with a club instead of a bowling ball. Everyone got a chance to swing multiple times and then points were added up. She was proud to win one round and hit the ball out the farthest. Of course everyone was in the house colors. Analise was part of house Hope. They won the kickball tournament this year. Emma was in house Justice.

Ella, Analise, Ellie, Tessa, Fiona

Sixth Grade Graduates

Analise's group was excited to celebrate the end of the year together. Analise and all of her friends received academic achievement awards. Analise has worked hard to be in the 4.0 and above academic group this year. The group had fun with their end of the year outings to the driving range in Woodbury and all school track events. Below are some photos of Analise's artwork from this year. All of her works turned out beautifully but her favorite was the zentangle piece. Dan liked her seed art crane, Erin and Emma liked her dragon eye.

Emma and Friends

Emma is excited about her next adventure at St. Croix Prep. At the same time, she is also sad that her friend group is going different directions in the coming year. We wish the best to them all. We know that we can always go back to Liberty if St. Croix doesn't work out, but we are really hoping the change will be a positive one.

Emma and Lily

Lily, Emma, Tabi, Cece, Svea, Olivia

Emma and Tabi

Nevaeh, Lilynn, Eloise, Lily, Tabi, Emma, Hannah

Tabi, Eloise, Lilynn, Cassidy, Nevaeh, Emma, Lily

The Core Four

Olivia, Eloise, Tabi, Nevaeh, Hope, Lily, Lilynn, Hannah

Lily, Cece, Tabi, Eloise, Cassidy, Nevaeh, Emma, Gracie

Eighth Grade Graduation

Emma's class had a special graduation this year. The school did a slideshow with baby pictures that juxtaposed student current school photos. They also had a slideshow with all the special group events that have occurred for her group since kindergarten. Awards were given for academic achievement as well. Emma has worked hard to be on the A honor roll each semester and was part of the student council this year. As part of the graduation, Emma's classmates had to come up with top words to describe her then the teachers compiled the words and narrowed the choices down to four personal traits. Emma's four words were: sweet, logical, studious and graceful. As parents, we received a handwritten thank you note from Emma detailing how much she appreciated us sending her to a private school for her middle school years. Emma received a white rose along with her awards for the year and the event ended with confetti tubes that surprised the whole group. Of course one tube didn't pop and the boy group had quite an interesting time finding ways to make it explode.

Here are a few photos of Emma with her artwork from this year.

Biking the Dakota/Luce Line Trail

We spent some time biking on the Luce Line Trail for Memorial weekend. The weather was a bit colder on Saturday but it still felt nice for biking. The gravel trails gave us the feeling of being back in a simpler time. We have all been overtaxed with work and school and are very much looking forward to summer and a calmer feel to our days.