May 22 - School's Out FOR SUMMER!

And that's a wrap for the 2024-2025 school year!

Julia
Favorite Class: Psychology

Least Favorite Class: Macro Econ

Summer Plans: Orca swim coach, Puerto Rico, possible trip to NC, college essays, final SAT prep

Mom's Memories: I feel like I barely saw you this year. You left for school at 5.30am every morning and when you arrived home around 3pm, you would eat a snack and then disappear into your room all evening to do homework (with a brief appearance downstairs for dinner). We had great college visits to Iowa State and University of Washington. You have a great group of friends (Mia, Tanner, Maddie) and you guys have fun going to the beach, brunch, shopping, etc. I'm proud of the way you handled swim and academics in a completely self sufficient manner. I'm also proud that you have managed your finances and have used your own money to fund your excursions throughout the year. You also helped out a ton when I was out of commission for weeks in Feb and March. Me, you and Luke are watching The Amazing Race together and I love those evenings. I can't believe you are technically a senior now and you are already planning a senior summer trip with your friends for summer 2026. Craziness! 

Luke
Favorite Class: Math

Least Favorite Class: ELA

Summer Plans: Orca volunteer swim coach (as needed), Puerto Rico, possible trip to NC and possible engineering camp at Penn

Mom's Memories: Oh my little man. You are now 5'6 and not my little man any longer. Your teenage boy appetite kicked in this year and I'm constantly surprised at how much you eat. You have a hard time waking up in the morning and your alarm goes off seemingly for an hour before you get out of bed. You are grumpy every morning and I'm happy to get a 'hello' grunted at me. I have driven you to school almost every day for the last 3 years and we've had a..unique..silent carpool with zero talking. Shawn and Teagan joined the carpool this year and Shawn's mom bringing you home has been a huge help (she also took you to get a few haircuts this year)! You normally come home from school, eat a snack (or multiple) and then hop onto the computer. I rarely saw you do any homework or studying and everything seems to come easy to you (just like dad and Uncle Greg). You are very into your drone as well as composing music. You have jumped in to help with Orcas when needed which I really appreciate.  Even though your friend group shifted midway through the year, I'm happy you have found good friends. You and I have started to watch Survivor together and I'm cherishing these moments together, as well as TAR with Julia. 

Jillian
Favorite Class: Art

Least Favorite Class: Math

Summer Plans: 2 GS Camps, robotics camp, theater camp, summer swim

Mom's Memories: Every morning with you this school year: dad goes into your room, turns off your fans and opens the shutters. You then start shouting "MOM!" repeatedly until I come upstairs and give you 20 kisses on your cheek, give you a hug (and sometimes Bella gives you a hug too) and then you ask me to help you get your clothes for the day. Sometimes you want me to stay with you to get dressed but I tell you to do it yourself so I can make your breakfast. You eat pancakes almost every morning (rotating between pancakes with butter and pancakes with syrup) and I make your lunch every day. Dad walks you to school every morning and he said you are a little chatterbox. You have a big personality and always wants friends over to play or want to be at someone else's house to play. You have recently discovered you can FaceTime Julia and Luke from your iPad and you FaceTime her ALL THE TIME. You love makeup (recently 'contoured' on your way to a birthday party with a blush kit you found in the car) and jewerly, especially earrings since we had your ears repierced this year. I was summoned to school multiple times by your teacher for 'earring emergencies' which included forgetting earrings, backings falling off and one earring breaking. Never a dull moment!

Next year: senior, freshman and 3rd grade.