Schools (almost) Out For Summer!

What a busy time of year.  The school year is just about over.  Today would have been our last day of school but due to snow days the kids have to go until June 9th and us teachers have to go until June 10th.  There is so much to do to wind up the end of the school year...grading papers and tests, report cards, cleaning the classroom, and for me moving classrooms.  You would think I would be getting used to it, this is the 6th year in a row I have moved rooms.  I am almost a pro at it!

We have some exciting things planned for this summer.  Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-12 Ellie is going to attend Tot Lot.  This will give me time to take a Stroller Strides class with Lily.  For those of you who don't know what Stroller Strides is, it is an exercise class that involves you, your baby and your stroller.  I can't wait!  We have a few "mini" vacations planned for the summer as well.  Over the 4th of July weekend we will be heading up to Winona, Minnesota.  This has been a tradition for a couple years now.  Last year we didn't make it since Lily was so little, but this year I have no doubt she will love running around the campground, getting rides on the golf cart and spending time with her sister and cousin Emmy!  In late July we are having a Hartmann Family Reunion at Spook Cave Campground near McGregor, IA.  We were supposed to do this family reunion last year, but the family decided to postpone it since we knew it would fall near Lily's Glenn surgery.  This should be a great time!  There are so many great-grandkids that are all within a year of each other that there should be no shortage of fun and adventure!  I am teaching a few classes this summer through the YMCA.  These classes are all geared towards infants/toddlers/preschoolers and I can't wait to get started.  It will be quite a switch going from teaching 8th graders to teaching preschoolers.

This past weekend we were able to get out on the river for the 1st time!  Ellie loves riding in the boat and playing in the river.  She is definitly a little fish!  I think her favorite part was hanging on to her floaty and having the waves push her to shore.  Lily wasn't too sure about the boat ride at first or the river.  She was pretty indifferent about the whole experience.  Her favorite part was the snacks!

We had our family pictures taken just about 3 weeks ago and we got the proofs back this week.  The pics were Ah-Mazing!  Thanks to Amy and Kari from Life Photography for offering to take our family photos at no cost!  I will post some of the pics as soon as we get the copyright release.  I can't wait to show them off.

I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather.  We can't wait to get summer started and enjoy the nice weather out on the beaches of the Mississippi!  Take care!

The Duves