Proud Mama.

Todd and I are not the sort of parents that usually brag about what our kids have been up to.  I guess I was raise to believe that if you are "all that" then it will be obvious to everyone around you.  The ones who have to convince you they are fantastic, wealthy, and smart are probably not fantastic, wealthy and smart.  But it turns out sometimes you are just so stinkin' proud of your kids that you want to shout it from the rooftops.  And after an especially challenging start to the year, I really cannot help myself...so here are my screams of praise:

Colin...
is excited to be off to middle school in the fall.  That kid is small, smart, and talks a lot, which are not the best combination for middle school blending.  But, he has resiliency skills that amaze me often.  Kids target his class with the label "the smart kids." Because middle school is a time to not be different, those other kids want to beat "the smart kids" any chance they get.  It makes Colin and his friends feel bad because they didn't choose the label.  So it was especially exciting when Colin's team won the relay race at the all 5th grade track and field day.  Apparently you can be smart and an athlete.  Along those lines, Colin is turning into quite a good little goalie for his lacrosse team.  When he wants something, he is able to work for it.  But athletics isn't the only place he works hard.  He saved for three years to have enough money to purchase his own computer.  He hopes to improve his computer programing skills over the summer.  And he worked hard in school all year to earn the President's Award for Academic Achievement.  He is turning into a well rounded kid.

Zach... 
may be the middle child who feels squeezed; but, he has talents which set him apart as well.  In addition to doing well on both a traveling soccer and traveling lacrosse team this summer, Zach also won his 4x1 track and field event.  The kid is fast!  He won his class cribbage tournament with the most total points in both third grade SAGE classrooms (SAGE=School for the Advancement of Gifted Education).  The kid is a math genius...when he wants to be...and that was shown in the cribbage tournament.  But school and athletics aren't this kids greatest gift.  Zach's gift is thoughtfulness.  While biking the other day, he stopped to pick an unusual flower for his sister just because she loves flowers.  He struggles when he cannot be the best at everything.  He is feeling bad because he did not win any awards at the end of the school year, but in my book he should win a thoughtfulness award every year.

Molly... 
charms the world with her constant smile and good cheer.  Because of this, she earned the Citizenship Award at school this year.  She is a role model within her classroom and the student her teacher can always count on to help out others.  She also completed her year of dance with a wonderful recital.  Her coordination and timing were among the best in her class, which made this mama tear up.  After her year of physical therapy as a toddler, I never dreamed she would be able to keep up with her peers in a ballet class.  She also loves playing on her soccer team, where she scored the first goal of the season.  I am amazed at what this little girl can do.

School is done tomorrow and we have had quite the roller coaster school year.  I am glad to say it has ended on such a high with me screaming my kids praises from the rooftops.  I hope summer brings many more reasons to be proud of these three.