As sensitive as it is, it shouldn't surprise me that AJ also has a sentimental side. Wednesday, I asked him what he wanted to wear for his last day of school, and he answered, "that shirt that's kind of like a baseball shirt."
What? The child who hates wearing clothes that bear letters or numbers (they're just too un-pirate-like) wants to wear a shirt with the word Oshkosh plastered across his chest? Yes he does, for one simple reason. He remembered it was the same shirt he'd worn on the first day of school.
If he'd had his way, he'd have dressed in the entire identical outfit. Unfortunately, the pants he'd worn back then have since fallen victim to his "sharp knees," not to mention a couple of growth spurts. If you click here, you can see how baggy they'd been back in September. The last time he wore them, they were too short. (Though, reading the story of how he'd worn them backwards, I'm wondering if that's a way to start extending the life of his pants. Once he goes through the knees in the front, he can just flip 'em around.)
So what did he learn this year? It's really quite amazing. He now can read and write, add and subtract, and - despite how it looks in the above photo - he can at last tie his shoes. His final report card showed him earning top marks in absolutely everything... except rhyming. I'm not sure why that's a struggle for him. He seems to forget it's the end of the words that must sound the same. For instance, he's made comments like, "Cartoon and carnival rhyme." As the teacher cheerfully noted, we'll keep working on that.
AJ loved his teacher this year. I called home at lunchtime (the last day was only a half day) and Jeff said AJ was feeling a little sad. Why? "Because he misses Ms. Boese."
To celebrate the end of the school year, Jeff took AJ to Adventure Zone. They spent some time in the batting cage, and played arcade games. Definitely a fun father/son bonding afternoon. And would you believe that little turkey scored big while spinning some prize wheel? Jeff described the wheel as having one little notch to win the grand prize - 1,000 points - and AJ landed on it. I was hesitant to ask for what swell prize he redeemed his tickets.
Oh goodie! Just what we needed. Time for one more lesson. About where it's okay to aim that thing.
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