Candice & Todd's blog: summer is finally here!

Summer came a bit early for Mercer - he only went to school parts of 2 days during the last 4 days of school (parts of Mon & Tues). He sat at home with the dog Wed & Thurs during "finals week" at the high school. He didn't have any finals (exempted some because he had good grades), but he did have to finish a project for one class and went in to re-take a test he didn't do well in another class just to bring his grade back up to a B. He ended the semester with all A's + B's. woo hoo!

This is his "last day of 10th grade" photo! Really!

Isabella had a fun week for those last 4 days of school, however.

They had a yearbook party one day, field day another. They had an awards ceremony and board-games one day. They ended with a class picnic. Whew that's a lot! We told her that this stuff doesn't happen in middle school - so enjoy the week! (no more field day. No recess. Probably none of the others either.)

The picture is of a "5th grade ad" that we put in the yearbook. (of note - the 1st photo is of Mercer on the 1st day of 5th grade + Isabella on the 1st day of Kinder. And - you can compare her height to now - her 1st day of 5th grade based on the detail on our front door!)

She loved her time at MCAA. Here are pics from the awards ceremony. They've begun renovations on the school building and would not be able to hold the awards ceremony there, so they had it on a church up at the square. (Mercer had his 5th grade ceremony up on the square as well, but it sounded like this is not a normal thing.)

Isabella got a certificate for all A's + B's.

At the end of the ceremony, the students go "ring the bell" to signify their time has been complete.

The seniors go back during the last week of school to their home elementary schools... . it's a Marietta City Schools tradition.

So, the seniors who are graduating that went to MCAA -- they go back to walk the halls in front of the elementary students, then ring the bell one final time.

She has 2 "home" elementary schools. Her first 3 years were at Westside. Her last 3 years were at MCAA. (That first year she left the 1st school and went to the "advanced academics" school in 3rd grade was a bit rough, but she loved it by the end of that year.)

She definitely found more of her groove at the other school! So glad she was able to attend.

This is Isabella's "Last Day" photo.

On the last day, they gave a sign to the "graduating" 5th graders for making it through elementary school / wishing them well in middle school to take home and proudly display.

She had fun the week before the last week as well. They took a day trip to Chattanooga! They had to be at the school a little after 6 am... and pick up close to 7:30 at night!

(whew those poor teachers!) They went to a zoo and into a cave. They went on a hike as well.

Neither Todd nor myself could go chaperone, so I am grateful that the group Isabella was in - she gave the dad my # to send ahead some photos.

Looks like they had a good time! (The last photo - her friend (Julia, I think) - goes by "fudge" so that's why Isabella is pointing at her. She brought home a couple of cool rocks. (I'm sure she bought candy, but that didn't make it home!)

The same night that she went on her trip, I had a student showcase (to feature designs for the Tiny House for MCS students & families) and to show some of the examples from the AIA design competition.

Here's the description for the Tiny House work for the attendees. (it's really important work! I will build on it next year with my upper level students and hopefully get some really viable solutions)

Mr Grant - the engineering teacher - did a BIG production (we were just a little side-bar to his event.)

The next night was the baseball banquet. There was something that was pretty cool: one of the dads works for a media company and made an amazingly professional video. It was shockingly good!

Here are some screen shots from that video. (AND we have a mom who does professional photography who is always clicking away at the games, so we have fantastic photos that went into the video!)

It just blew everyone away.

And - if that wasn't enough - someone (I'm assuming the coach) contacted the Braves Manager Brian Snitker also had a cameo with a personalize message for the Varsity and JV teams.

He also referenced former MLB Braves player, Dansby Swanson, who went through the Marietta school system / graduated from MHS.

The rest of the evening was "meh" after all of that!

Mercer got a certificate for playing and there wasn't really a good photo op for the JV team - they were just sprawled out along a couple of walls in the seminar room at the school.... as seen in this long shot above.

LOVE this photo that the photographer / mom caught - the teammates in the dugout going crazy during one game when Mercer (#21) was crossing home plate. She captured great energy!

That week continued to be a busy one! We went out to dinner at the end of the long, tiring week (instead of cooking!)

I've posted about this restaurant before - it's the new version of the Mexican restaurant that used to be near our house -- it was our "neighborhood" restaurant. We go up to Diana's new restaurant every now and then.

We were able to see the owner, Diana, this time. (on the right) We always see Sandra (on the left) who has a son Mercer's age - also 16 He's in the same grade as Mercer, so we always ask about her son Gabriel. These ladies have been around when our babies were little and they LOVE watching the kids growing every couple of times a year we go visit them in their beautiful spot. We happened to go on Mexican "Mother's Day!" the restaurant was packed, but they still spent time hanging out with us at our table!

Also, that same evening, the "Northern Lights" were visible in Georgia. Sadly, we couldn't see them at our house (maybe too much light pollution) - my picture is the one where you don't really see anything.

These other pictures are ones I found on the web from points in north Georgia (Appling to Jasper).

The "family thing" we did in the past month was to go for a hike on Mother's Day -- ALL of us.

(we actually got Mercer to go with us b/c on mom's day he can't refuse!)

Isabella made me a card - or multiple cards inside of a "purse" envelope with encouraging notes about not grading too much and taking time off on mother's day.

It was sweet (but sadly I had to grade later that evening, of course!)

We took the dog on our hike and the kids were astounded (and so pleased) that he got into the water! (he needed a bath later that evening, of course b/c he got so muddy!)

I ended up hanging back a bit from the family so I could "walk up the river" with this heron as he/she was moving from stone to stone.

Or log to log.

Here is a photo dump from our hike at my fav spot: Sweetwater Creek State Park.

We have not been back to this park in a LONG time - because this is the spot where I dislocated & fractured my shoulder several summers ago climbing around the mill ruins.

Happy to say that our visit was INJURY FREE.

(Todd actually "blocked" this spot from me entering -- this is the fence line that I tried to grab I onto when I was falling / where I hurt myself. no worries - I was NOT going to go back to that spot!)

We went for ice cream and later that night we ordered a Willies taco box - my favorite "quick serve" food.

It was a nice day overall.

Other happenings in May before summer break started:

Mercer had a camping trip - in the rain - with the youth group. He slept next to this lake, but in the middle of the night, his tent leaked and he ran to go sleep in the pool house on the property. #making memories. ha ha.

Mercer started playing on his travel team. (Same team that he played with in the fall, but this is the summer season - they take off during spring while the boys play high school ball.) He likes the black & baby blue uni.

This picture "all dressed up and nowhere to go..." because the field was too wet to continue the tournament.

We went to taste of Marietta event on the square & met up with friends. (M did go with us but he didn't leave with us. He walked home with a classmate who lives on our street.)

And... at the very end of the school year (for the kids): was graduation. (Seniors finish a week ahead of final's week / they have to take their finals early -- if they have any)

I had to go to graduation this year - we were all required to.

I hadn't been to graduation before, but our new principal (yep - we had a 4th principal since I've been there - wrapping up my 4th year!) ... he required us to all go.

I am glad that I got to see the presentation of the diploma to my colleague (the construction teacher who mentored me my 1st year) who's daughter passed away during covid in January 2021 while she was a freshman. I am so glad they did something (although he said it was hard and as soon as he & his wife got the diploma, he said he had to get out of there / couldn't sit through the rest of the ceremony -- which is totally understandable!)

We had to wear a gown + our college hood. (Mine was purple for architecture. Most teachers there had blue for education. Some had funny looking ones - those who earned doctorates. Everything was flouncy -- they had "beret" / fluffy caps that they wore with fluffy sleeves. It was humid, but thankfully not too hot and the rain held off.

It ended up being a beautiful night for the graduates.

School was officially out, but I still had another day of teacher planning / Isabella still had a day of teacher camp.

But, it was a holiday, so Isabella, Todd and I went for a hike on a non-rainy Memorial Day - the day BEFORE my last day + Isabella's last day of teacher camp) We couldn't get Mercer to go on this hike with us, but we plugged through the trail that we normally zip through.

Neither Isabella or I were feeling it this trip, but it's always nice to get out into nature!

On my last day, of course, I packed up my classroom and turned in my keys. It was a hard year. I felt like a "machine" for grading... and... I had more disrespectful / argumentative students this year than before. I of course had some good students too, but whew.