Graduating and Promoting Day

Yes our girls are homeschooled, but they are homeschooled through a charter school. This really gives them the best of both worlds. Well in my opinion anyways. Today was the last day of school and Phi finished 5th grade and Louie finished kindergarten. This made today a big day for us. This morning we had Phi's 5th grade promotion. Yes my tiny baby is going to junior high next year. I don't understand how this is even possible but today's ceremony was a big wake up call that this is real. 

Since there are only three 5th graders in Phi's class and seven kindergartners, they combined the 5th grade promotion with the kindergarten graduation. And yes there were little kid graduation caps involved.

 For the last week I or so when I thought about my youngest finishing kindergarten I would get all weepy. But it came to the big moment I was just super excited and proud. When you celebrate these kinds of milestones when you are a homeschooling parent you feel a sense of pride and a sense of relief. When we started homeschooling Louie I was so worried that homeschooling two kids would be too much and Louie would never ever learn to read, write or count. But as you can see here. She did it. We did it.

Giving the side eye with her diploma.

This year with Phi was so bittersweet. I knew this would be our last year of homeschooling, and of elementary school. I also knew that as she got older working one on one with her parents was not going to be so smooth. This year was a lot of eye rolls and arguments and there were times that were really hard for all of us. But I kept telling myself how lucky I am to get to be with my daughter everyday,all day long. There were some days that I had to remind myself that over and over. Over the last 3 years with this program Phi has done some amazing things and she has excelled.

 She is such a smart kid and when she puts her mind to things she can do absolutely anything.

 A few weeks ago her teacher asked Phi if she would give a speech at the ceremony. She worked a few days and wrote a really great speech. But then it was time for her to give her speech and I cried like a baby because she was absolutely amazing.

 Just see for yourself...

I don't know where she gets this poise and confidence from but it blows me away.

At the end of the ceremony they had a passing the torch ceremony. With a fake torch of course.

When certificates were handed out each teacher said a few words about each student. Phi's teacher talked about what a great leader she is. How she is so helpful and smart. She called Phi her "right hand man" and gushed about her artistic talent.

 Louie's teacher talked a little bit about Louie. She said that when school started she thought of Louie as a quite, studious well behaved student, but she was so wrong. She did let us know that she still is very well behaved but over the year she had seen Louie for who she really is. She called Louie vibrant, creative and hilarious. She also called her an otter expert. I think that sums up my youngest perfectly.

The girls were so happy that Nana, Tata and Grandma Kim all came to help celebrate. Yes my parents drove 3 hours very early in the morning to be with the girls. The girls felt the love today.

We are very proud parents everyday but today was awesome to see our girls be recognized for all their hard work. People may think that homeschooling is easier than regular school, but believe me it is harder. My kids work so hard, all day long, learning everything they can. They have to learn to manage their time a prioritize their schedule. The hard work is well worth it.

We are so proud of you girls!