***Disclaimer:  I am bragging about my kids in this blog!  Since it is my blog, I feel entitled to do so!    ***

We spent most of our days yesterday and today at the elementary school for Bailey and Madi’s Award’s Days and the parties they had.  We are so proud of all of the girls…they all had a wonderful year.  You know that the schools and teachers are doing something right when the children get upset with you for making them miss a day because you want to stay at the beach an extra day.  When we went to the beach in March, we stayed until Monday afternoon and that was the only day Julia missed.  She was so upset not just because it cost her perfect attendance, but she also missed being in the band, Beta Club and Student Advisory Council pictures in the yearbook.  How was I supposed to know they were taking all those photos that day?!  Also, last week after the recitals,  I offered to let Bailey and Madi go to school late and they passed!

I’m very thankful for the wonderful teachers we have had this year, and all throughout their school years.  There is one teacher, that has stood out…Mrs. Tracy Edmundson has taught all three girls.  She was Julia’s first teacher in Goldsboro…when we went for Open House, Thayer was out of town so I had all three girls in a new school pushing Avery (5 months) in a stroller through very crowded hallways.  After meeting Madi’s Kindergarten teacher and Bailey’s first grade teacher, we realized they had put Julia in a second grade class instead of third.  She was so upset…so we went to the office and they assigned her to Mrs. Edmundson.  We went to her room (by this point Open House was almost over) and Mrs. Edmundson welcomed her so graciously…when I know she was really thinking,  “oh no, not another student already!”  She had put a little gift on each students’ desk, and had an extra one ready so Julia never felt left out.  That year, Julia had migraine headaches and passed out in class twice…once she actually had a mini-seizure. Mrs. Edmundson was so kind through it all.

Then, Bailey had Mrs. Edmundson two years later and excelled!  She tested well enough to enter the Academically and Intellectually Gifted program as a result of Mrs. Edmundson’s stong emphasis on math.  And now,  Madi has finished her third grade year with Mrs. E.  We never thought Madi was as strong a student as her sisters.  She much prefers art, music and talking!  But, due to Mrs. Edmundson’s belief in her, she scored two 4s on her EOGs and was 5th in her class in Accelerated Reading…she used to hate to read!!  We have to wait 4 more years to see if Avery will get to have Mrs. Edmundson too.  Here are all three girls with Mrs. E.

Here are a few pictures of Bailey and Madi getting their awards.  We were surprised today that Madi was given a “Special Effort Award” for PE.  They were so kind to do that for her.  She always tried, even though there was no way she could ever achieve any of the goals for the National/Presidential  Fitness Awards.  Here is Bailey getting the National Fitness Award.   She also received the Citizenship Award and got the Honor Roll medal.  She missed being on the Principal’s List by one B last nine weeks, and one B this nine weeks.  She also was on the Battle of the Books team that won 2nd place in our county.

Here is Madi getting her Honor Roll medal, and she also won a Citizenship Award.