Anatomy of the last day of school:

-Get the kids up and off to school.
-Notice that other than the first day of school, this is the only time you haven’t had to argue with them to get out the door on time.

-Head to the elementary school at 7:50 a.m. for the first grade party.
-Circle the school looking for a parking space. Twice.
-Arrive and set up the ‘ocean’ habitat stations.
-Blow up the plastic palm tree, and artfully arrange the pirate treasure chest, sand, and seashells on the tables.
-Listen as the mother that brought the palm tree promises Libby that she can keep the plastic palm tree ‘for her very own’.
-Resist the urge to glare at the nice lady.
-Make ‘pop-up’ shark cards with approximately 2,000 first graders. Wonder if they are cloning more children to send out to your station.
-Tell your child not to pick the tomato from the tomato plant in the class garden.
-Step on blue Jell-o from the ‘ocean snack station’. Notice how nicely Jell-o squishes between your toes when you’re wearing flip-flops.
-Hide the tomato that your child picked in your purse. *Sigh.
-Promise Libby that she can keep the plastic palm tree in her room.

-Deliver teacher gifts that were painstakingly handmade. Think that next year it’s gift cards all around.

-Drop Libby off at preschool for her last day.
-Feel relieved that her party was last week, and that today it is basically a babysitting service so that you can run around like a chicken with your head cut off at the elementary school.
-Assure Libby that her palm tree will be waiting in her room when she gets home.

-Run home to put finishing touches on the 'last day of school' cake. Wonder why you have started all these crazy, time-consuming traditions.
-Marvel at how cute the cake actually turned out.
-Take pictures for blog. ;)
-Gulp down a quick lunch and three ibuprofen. Realize that all you really want is a nap.
-Remember to put the plastic palm tree in Libby’s room.

-Head back to school for the 2nd grade party.
-Find a parking spot more easily this time. Wonder if all the smart parents decided to take the afternoon off.
-Pass out chips, candy & soda for snack during their afternoon movie. Hope that the wellness teacher doesn’t pass by and make any commentary.
-Repeat the following phrase ad nauseum: “Guys, the line starts back there.”
-Mop up spilled water from the coolers to prevent any last day of school ER visits.
-When Libby arrives at school with a friend, tell her again that her palm tree is in her room.

-Take Libby home and put her down for a quick nap. After twenty minutes, check on her in her bed.
-Blow up the plastic palm tree. Again.
-Regret not ‘losing’ the palm tree on the way home.

-Pick up two cranky, sugar-buzzed children from school.
-Be prepared to respond appropriately for the rest of the day to the question: “Mommy, do you know what grade I’m in?!”
-Put backpacks in the laundry room and close the door. Decide that ‘backpack detail’ can wait until tomorrow.

-Realize that it is officially ‘summer’.
-Look around at your reasonably tidy home. Know that it may be the last time it will look this good.
-Listen to the whining start approximately 3 and a half minutes later from the two older kids...
“Why does Libby get to have a palm tree in her room?!! Not fair!”