Ok, since I last wrote...school ended, we went on vacation, and it's now the 2nd week of summer break.
The last week of school was a whirlwind as usual. Travis did not drive all week due to getting insurance for him and waiting for the proof and for Ty and I to let it sink in that he can drive. I realized over this last weekend what is bothering me. When we were growing up, Driver's ed was a class at school and you took it all semester. You drove 2-3x a week, if I remember correctly (mostly on the parking lot in school) and you held a permit for a long time. you drove highway, residential, etc. And although Travis has done all that, I just don't feel he has had enough hrs behind the wheel. He only gets 7 through his school...and it probably came out to 6 for all the times he said they came back early. I'm sorry, but 6 hours does not make a good driver. He drove to school and back with me every day, but that's just to school and back. That's not the freeway at rush hour. That is not Saturday night with all the drunk drivers out. and he is a good driver...he's just inexperienced. I think the laws how they are for drivers to get a license are just not adequtae for producing good drivers. maybe it's because I'm not ready...don't know. Just don't feel like he's ready. maybe it's just me that is not ready. I trust his driving. I don't trust him to react properly to the idiots that drive around him.
Last December, there was a "freak" accident on Mid Cities involving some kids from his school and the other high school, and one of the kids died at the scene. That shook me to the core. Maybe because it was at Mid Cities and Davis...and it could have been me or Travis or Ty or Donna or Keith just as easily as that kid. It was at a place that we are at every day. Maybe it was because the kid that died was just sitting at a stop light when it happened....doing nothing wrong. He was not joyriding or showing off for friends. He was giving another student a lift back to his high school during an off period, sitting at a stoplight, with a truck and another car behind him at the light, when someone came up behind them doing about 70 (in a 30) and barrelled into them and it hit with such force that the front car got pushed out into oncoming traffic (as I heard...not sure about facts). It could have been anyone. But it happened to be a high school senior who normally would not have been there but was giving a friend a ride to school. He left behind a pregnant girlfriend (who has since had the baby) and a single mother, I think. I just can't comprehend what his mother went through...is going through. and a baby w/out a father. and all this happened just a couple of weeks after Travis got his permit. it could have been him. I see wrecks all the time. ALL the time. I know people who have died in wrecks. I did not know this boy. Travis did not know him. But it affected me in ways that surprise even me. I can't explain it.
So, back to last week of school. Patrick's class had their party at school, and their family picnic at the park, which we all went to. Ty made an appearance and left...he was not feeling good. Patrick never gave me the note that said to bring our own drinks and some chairs. ugh.
I spent the whole week making Mrs. Luppy a camp scrapbook. it was basic but I got it done and it turned out cute. We gave it to her from the class and they also collected a good amt for a gift card. it was a good time. Mrs. Luppy is such a special teacher. It's a shame they can't all be like her.
So, the day school got out, we left for San Antonio to go back to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. We went when I was pregnant, in 1997. LOVE that place. I could just live there. Well, I could not pay to live there, but I could live there. :) They have several pools/hot tubs and a lazy river (with a "float-up bar"). Travis said it was relaxing...I don't think it was as much fun for him as it was last time, when he was "still a kid". I think he would need to bring a friend next time for it to be fun. Same with Patrick. Although Pat did get to play laser tag for 4 hours the last night. it was a memorial day special thing they had for the kids. I think he enjoyed that. Travis would not go with him, though. Addie was at the pool/beach every day. It's the first year she has not freaked out over sand on her feet. She played in the sand quite a bit. It was a good but too short weekend.
Yesterday, I went to the Great American Scrapbook Convention. It's just not what it used to be. not sure I'll be going anymore in the future. no bargains anymore...no manufacturer's coming out...just not as big a deal as it used to be.
Ty and boys went to races, Addie went to Nana's. Donna and I ran some errands and then ate at Arizola's.
North Ridge Elementary goes from K to 5th grade in our district. It is tradtion for the 5th graders to be released 10 minutes early and parade through the halls and make as much noise as they can for their final walk out of the bldg. This is Patrick's walk...
These t-shirts. I had a thought when they were at camp...it's too bad they have all these shirts that have saying from a camp they did not go to, and I thought about them going where no other class had gone, so I emailed Beth Janke and asked if she thought PTA would sponser a shirt that had a Star Trek theme about going where no one has gone before them. Well...she picked up the ball and ran with it and by the time they got back from camp, they had Classen shirts! I was soooo impressed with how she got things done. Wish I had that quality!!! You ROCK, Beth!! :) (and I think she and her husband picked up the tab...as PTA would take too long to get to committee).
Here's a couple of pages from Mrs. Luppy's scrapbook.
This was kinda neat...I found a web site that will make shaped photo collage, so I entered all the camp pictures and made this...printed on 8.5x11 and used the Cricut to cut out the letters/#.
This is Patrick going through food line at class party at school, next to last day of school.
Patrick and Dawson...movin' on to middle school.
Patrick and Mrs Luppy at family picnic.
Travis at Family Kickball at family picnic. 5/25/11. Look at that flexibility! I'm kicking myself because I realized I did not get a picture of Patrick "up at bat". ugh...
Patrick and Addison in the outfield during kickball tournament. That is Sean Janke to their left. His sons are Travis' and Patrick's ages and we have known them since Travis and Seth were in kindergarten. They also had a daughter a year after I had Addison (Lily). He "saved the day" with the camp week...when it was cancelled, he made arrangements for them to go to Camp Classen instead. He was the 5th grade hero who saved camp!!! If not for him, they would not have gotten to go!
I'll do a separate post later on vacation.
