Last week we went to the zoo.  It had been a little while since we'd gone...well...a lot of while, but I remembered some of the areas the kids posed for pictures in years past.
     Coming home, I wondered where the old photos might be, to be able to compare them.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized, we have no pictures.  Let me rephrase, we have thousands of pictures, but nothing tangible.  No photo albums, shoeboxes filled with memories, picture books.  There are no bins to rummage through to find old adventures or vacations.  Everything's digital and stored on some hard drive or computer somewhere.  I hate this.
     When I was a kid, I used to love going through old photos.  I'd drift through pictures of my grandparents, parents and of baby pictures of my brother and myself.  
     I could go through all the years of what we've saved with the kids, but I either can't find the time, or get daunted by the sheer number of files and searches I'd have to go through.  I should've kept up from the beginning, but it almost seems too late now. 
     In any case, my awesome (organized) husband knew right where to find the old zoo pictures to compare with our recent trip and my jaw dropped at the difference.  I'm glad he knew where the old photos were from a hard drive, but it would've been more fun to find them in a shoebox.  :) 

      Until next time...maybe then I'll print some pictures. 
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      I'm tired.  The end of the school year is about to knock me over.  Events, class parties, ceremonies, graduations...this, on top of work, make the days consist of going nonstop until we fall over at night.  
     Earlier this year, the school had what's called a "Fun Run".  It's a great idea for a fund raiser where the kids run laps and get sponsors to pay per lap.  
     The kids had a ball.  The race resembled the school year in a way, where in the beginning, they were all pumped up and ready to go.  Fresh faces and neat new t-shirts were itching to hit the ground running.
     The funny thing, around half way through, their smiles turned into looks of determination.  They were getting a little tired sure, but what meant more to them was the focus and drive of ensuring their accomplishments.
     Aaaaaaaand then by the end, they were spent.  Beat red faces, sweaty necks and the looks of exhaustion.  They had run a good run but wanted nothing more than to quit.  My little one caught my eye on the sideline as he went by.  He had run so hard with all the excitement and I knew he wondered how much longer he had.
     "You're almost done Baby!  Just keep going!"
     One quick head nod and he rounded the corner for his last few laps.  It was a simple thing, but it was all that he needed.  In his last round or two, a new energy pushed through and he ran like the wind.
     Unlike my seven year old, I'll not find that energy and will be lucky to crawl across the finish line of this year.  
     Tomorrow is the last day though, and it's bitter sweet to say the least. 
      It was just a minute ago that our oldest proudly walked to his last day of elementary school, while our youngest wandered to her first day of Kindergarten.  Her backpack outweighed her as our two middle boys ran by in a flash to catch up with some friends.  
      It will be nice to have a break from it all though.  
      To those of you in that home stretch, with all of its madness and chaos, you're almost there.  Think summer thoughts of no homework, assignments, crazy mornings with backpacks and lunches.  Instead, picture the relief of warm sunny days, late afternoons and evenings of fireflies.   
       Yes, you're almost done baby.  Just keep going.

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