The First Two Weeks of June

I think Jeff and I are going to start calling these two weeks, "The Blur."  Each year, as teachers, we forget the depths of insanity that the last couple weeks of school hold.  Looking back from where I sit now, on June 27, I vaguely remember scrambling to purchase parent volunteer gifts, purchasing and delivering 33 helium balloons to the seniors graduating that Melissa and I taught in 5th grade, planning for Jeff's track sports banquet,  grading last minute work and filling out report cards...and THE REST I caught on camera!  :)

We bought a tent trailer!  I think this was June purchase-therapy for the bedraggled teachers.  Scott went with Jeff to pick it up as we were waiting to get our van's towing package set up.  Watch out, wilderness--here come the Lochheads!

Joshy decided to try the potty this month.  Jeff and I aren't quite ready for starting the potty-training routine with him, but he's interested--and he's pretty good already!  He usually goes right before bath time or bedtime or when he gets up in the morning.  (One day after swimming lessons he even POOPED in the potty!  We celebrated by eating lunch at Costco!)  This kid is such a big boy!!!

Bath tub letters were earned after a great day at the speech therapist.  We took Josh in to see if he needs a bit of help--he barely qualified, so we're in the midst of getting insurance lined up to help him out.  Gracie insisted that the G and the R were the right way in this picture.  She's always called herself Gracie, but the other day I did hear her say her name was Grace.  It will be fun to see which name she starts preferring.

This was one of my last "regular" days off.  A leisurely morning of baths and then books in bed.

We were SO BLESSED to have Debbie and Randy come stay with us for a couple of nights!  Daniel had a graduation party, so these two flew up to see him--and we were so glad that we were home base for them!   Carson and Cassie came over for a BBQ on Friday night, and we even got to squeeze a game of Catan in.  It was such a fun time!

The rain finally held off long enough for us to open up the trailer...

The second oasis in this crazy time was the presence of the Websters!  They came to stay with us as they vacationed in Spokane and caught up with friends.  Highlights included a fun hike at Bowl and Pitcher and Liam's (successful!) haircut.  :)

Van Sickle / Lochhead / Webster kid party...

Joshy, Liam, and Grace watching the Care Bears...

And somewhere amidst all of this fun, the students went home on their last day of school.  Sigh.  It's always a bittersweet time for me--summer on the horizon, but a classroom community coming to a close.

As this chapter of our year closes, I love that these pictures capture what is really important to us--not the details of June that invade our days, but the people and moments in which we are present.  We are truly blessed!