Sixth grade has been a mixed bag for Ayla. She was incredibly excited about it until she started bringing home obscene amounts of homework, projects and strict tasks of responsibility. They held the students hard to their rules in efforts to "season" them for the riggers of middle school. She stayed the course and came out with flying colors.
Here are a few pictures from their 2 1/2 month project called The Living Museum. They selected, researched, wrote papers, and summarized their knowledge into a 5 minute animated speech they gave to the younger grades. Ayla was
Joy Adamson. Faith was
Princess Diana. (Complete with one of Dody's vintage formals and pearls!)
So on June 3rd we celebrated with a very uplifting and sweet 6th grade graduation ceremony. Complete with 2 choir performances (only the 2nd time I've been able to see Ayla perform with her choir!), speeches and awards. Ayla was honored with numerous achievement awards and pins; including 2 year service with Safety Patrol, the ONLY one in her homeroom that maintained TOP Honor Roll all year, and one of the recipients of the Presidential Education Award in recognition of Outstanding Academic Excellence (signed by the President himself, the Secretary of Education and their principal). Following the ceremony was their school dance. Parents gathered across the street for food and drinks. The girls just could not stop gushing that it was the BEST NIGHT EVER!
The next day, also being the last day of school, was a field trip to
Barton Springs. We joined up with their group after Henry's nap. It was Henry's first visit. I felt like I was baptizing him in the holy waters of Austin. We are so incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful and natural place in the heart of our city. It is THE most refreshing place in this world.
It wouldn't be Austin without some serious "Keep Austin Weird"-O's... like this sweet girl and her mermaid tail. Just be glad I spared you a photo of "the naked guy" sunbathing not far from us. ;)
I baked a scrumptious homemade carrot cake from the same cookbook I made Ayla's first birthday cake from. Henry loved it!
Grandmom and Henry.
First jello.
the big guy.
Grampop and Jim.
One of Henry's birthday presents from Grandmom was this adorable froggie pool complete with sprinkler spray. Henry totally dug it!
Grampop and almost all 11 grandkids (missing Michelle, recent high school graduate, way to go Michelle! and Davey, recent hip injury from dirt bike accident survivor)
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