So Long, Sixth Grade

Last night, Grace graduated from the 6th grade!  Although technically it's billed as a "Recognition Night," everyone knows we're there to celebrate the graduates.  ;)  Hahaha.  After getting her hair did at the SuperCuts yesterday after school, we had to make one last stop at Kohls before heading home, because she decided that she didn't want to tower over her classmates in the high heels she wears to church.  So black, high-top Converse All-Stars were the inexplicable order of the day!  Once we were home, I de-poufed her hair by flat ironing it and then she got dressed and we were ready to go.

 {What she wants to be when she grows up.  Although she informed me afterward that she just didn't know what else to say.}

Highlights of the evening included seeing Grace with all her cute little friends, discovering she was the girl runner-up for the Citizenship Award in her class, and getting a family picture snapped at the end of the evening.  The only lowlights, really, were trying to keep Jane, Alex, and Isaac from running amuck in the back of the gym while the ceremony was going on.  

(Standing up to recognize being part of the 5K Training Club) 

 Receiving her Runner-up Citizenship Award

Only two boys and two girls were chosen from each homeroom.  I don't think Grace realized she would be winning anything.  :)

I absolutely loved seeing Grace in her natural habitat with school friends and knowing that she was so happy to be there with them.  Pretty much nothing makes me happier as a mom, than seeing my children experience true joy.  She was so funny with that hair of hers -- I could tell she was equal parts kind of excited for the novelty of wearing it down and having everyone fawn all over her about it and equals parts legitimately aggravated having all that thick {hot} hair hanging down and not being able to put it up in her customary ponytail.  Hahahaha.  Oh, Grace.  Growing up is hard.  Hahaha.

 Lining up to walk across the stage.

 These two.

 Trouble, trouble, trouble.

Dancing away!  What can I say? This kid has got the BEAT!!  Hahahaha.

We made it through the program in one piece -- with a special treat at the end when we got to watch some hilarious dancing in the aisle by the sugar bear when the 6th Grade video was being shown -- and after everything was over, the kids were pretty excited to raid the treats and the lemonade.  Grace so graciously allowed me to take some pictures of her with some friends and then everyone happily cooperated with a family photo before leaving.  Hahahaha.  Perhaps happily is the wrong word, but cooperate they all did, and I finally have a current family picture!!!  Hip hip hooray!  

 Oh, Grace.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, and as stoic as Grace is, I know she will be sad tomorrow to say goodbye to her elementary school forever.  The good news is that she has a LOT of younger siblings who still go there, so it's not like she's never going to grace the halls ever again.  :)  Stay tuned for a recap of Alex's Kindergarten Sing and everyone's end-of-year reflections...