Sports Day

The same week as Gradulation (for ORBJ), FABJ had sports day at her school.  We thought she'd be excited, as she's a very active kid.  She loves to run around outside in the back yard (called the back garden here in Ireland), especially if some of the neighborhood kids are around.

However, the weather was not looking good as sports day approached.

Then, the night before, FABJ tells us that she doesn't want to go to sports day.  She gets all worked up and tells us that she will finish last in all the races.  We were quite worried, especially because - having seen the other kids in her class - there was no way that she was going to finish last, unless she was busy talking to a friend when the race started and got a late start.  That's the only way.

Nonetheless, after a few days of rain, sports day dawned with sunshine - a perfect day (much like the day of ORBJs play date).  FABJ's sports activities began at 915, so I just stuck around and mingled with other parents after dropping her off around 845.  It was such a beautiful day that I was happy to hang out.

FABJ and her BFF

First race is just a sprint.  FABJ wins her heat (girls only).  Next race combines the top runners from the two girls' races (it's a boy-heavy school, as the associated secondary school is boys only).  FABJ finishes second.

Despite questionable form, she finished 2nd in this race

There is a total of 5 or 6 races, and FABJ finishes 2nd in nearly all of them.  As expected, her fears were unfounded.  But that's the problem.  Fortunately, nearly all of her fears are unfounded.  Still, it's a lot of work to constantly explain the "unfounded-ness" of these fears, which of course seem completely founded to her.

End of the "decathlon" - the sack race

The only downside to the day was that the kids came back (after going inside) and did a couple more races.  The text from school said that the sports day finished at 10am, so I - along with most of the parents - left around 10.  FABJ was quick to point out that evening that I missed the last set of relays. That's ok - at least she had a good time in the end.

Gradulation

No, that's not a typo.  ORBJ's day care does a graduation ceremony in May for the kids about to go to "big school" in the fall.  ORBJ called it graduation, so the name stuck (in our household, at least).

She was quite excited about the big day.  They had two songs to sing, so they practiced them diligently.  FABJ even started learning one of the songs, which was very cute.  It was "big school" to the tune of "New York, New York."

A week or two before, ORBJ had a friend over for a play date.  It was her first play date and she was VERY excited.  It was a beautiful day, very sunny and warm (by Irish standards - i.e. over 60 degrees).

I was off with FABJ, but LBJ tells me that the two of them sat outside chatting away like lifelong friends and practicing their song.

They even got their picture taken with a cap and gown (one at a time - they only have one cap and one gown).

The graduate

The ceremony was very cute.  The kids were a bit shy on the song, but they had a great time.  You could see how proud they all were.  Afterwards, there were tea/coffee and cookies, which the kids baked the day before.  A good time was had by all:

Other half of the graduating class

Note the rocket ship in the background - it was the subject of the other song.

School's out ... for ever.

I should note that ORBJ is still at the day care - she finishes at the end of June, right before our summer trip to the U.S. (and, not coincidentally, the end of FABJ's school year).