"School's ... out — for — SUMMER!"

I can't get that song out of my head. (Thanks Alice Cooper.) But Friday was Jack's last day of pre-K. And, whew, what a year! After two great years, it was also his last day at Oakhill. We'll definitely miss it, but we're looking forward to him starting kindergarten in Liberty this fall.

Instead of creating a traditional scrapbook/photo album for the students and parents like they've done in the past, his teachers went digital this year and customized CDs for each of the children — with pictures of them taken throughout the year. Here are a few of those pics that we got to see for the first time.

A pretty gutsy guy.

First in line to pet the chicken at the Red Barn Farm, in October.

Backstage at the Christmas program.

During the luau, where they got to wear their swimsuits to school!

Three amigos — Jacob, Jack and Jake.

Sampling kumquats during the foods unit.

The Parents' Tea at the beginning of May.

Triple threat

Jack had his final intramural soccer practice/scrimmage last Friday after school. He really seemed to like it, and does it all:

1.) Play offense.

2.) Play defense.

3.) Screw around while the coach is talking.

Field day!

Ahhh, I remember it well ... the ol' track and field day. Except Jack's school doesn't have a track. So it's just field day. (And it's much less competitive than ours was.)

He was on the red team and their first activity was the "Tower of Recyclable Materials." Hey, times are tough. Or maybe the teachers are just really inventive. I'll go with both.

This was my favorite: 1.) Line up against the wall. 2.) Kick your shoe.


Next station: Bubble Wars. (It's not a public school. They can still use the word "war" loosely.)

Jack was having a blast.

The last activity I stayed for was some water relay. Look at that intesity!

End-of-the-year picnic

The PTO picnic was at English Landing Park in Parkville last night. Here's Landon with Ms. Trager, Jack's preschool teacher last year.


I have no clue who this child is, but he looked too cool for school sittin' in his wagon, shades on and using his silverware, right in the middle of the action.



Jack looks really tall here.

And really short here.

Oakhill Zoo Crew

Both Leslie and I went on Jack's class field trip to the Kansas City Zoo yesterday. It was a great day for it, not too hot with clouds and some breeze.

Jack and his good bud Jake set off on the first assignment — to tour Africa. All of Africa.




Some of Jack's teachers.



Ridin' a rhino.


Waiting for the tram after lunch (looks like Jack was starting to get tired).

How ironic — the meerkats enjoyed watching all the visitors.

Cuddle partners.

A heap of lemurs.




After the sea lion show, we carried Jack to the car. His eyes were shut before we even got out the gate. Later, when we asked Jack what his favorite part was, he said, "All the animals."

Parents' Tea

Jackson's pre-K class had a little end-of-the-year program yesterday morning.

First, they acted out The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Jack was "one piece of cherry pie..."

Then the children presented their parents with a booklet of how they have changed and grown through the year, a little strawberry pot for Mom, and pictures they had drawn of us.

Spring school picture

Top o' the morning

Right before St. Patrick's Day, Jack and I participated in his school's float for the 25th annual Snake Saturday Parade. Though it was cool that morning, you could tell it was going to be a beautiful day. With everyone looking forward to spring and the festive atmosphere of the holiday coming up, there was definitely a buzz in the air. We found a great parking spot just a couple blocks away, and our walk there made me think back to old college Homecoming parades ... except I was thinking about the healthy snacks we brought along, bottles of water we had packed and if my son was dressed appropriately — not wondering if I had enough beer.

Nonetheless, it was a really impressive float with a pirate theme. As everyone arrived, I made the mistake of calling the apparatus he's playing with below a spyglass. Jack quickly corrected me: "No, Dad. It's a cannon." Ahh, much more violent and deadly. What was I thinking.

Cap'n Jack, getting his "parade face" on.


He snagged a spot right up front, by the same little lass from the roller skating party.


Afterward, Oakhill received the Mayor's Choice award and won $1,000!

"Bebop with Aesop"

Jackson made his theatrical debut last night. (Scratch that. He's been theatrical his whole life.)

Jackson made his stage/acting debut last night. He was Antonio the Ant in the spring musical and his line was, "Mr. Grasshopper, with your antics, we strongly disagree. Our anthem is, 'Be prepared for every eventuality.'"

He delivered it with flair ... and then ended with a Pinky Tuscadero hand pistol to the audience.

The big finish.