-1-
Yep, it's tax day in Louisiana. One month after the federal date, we get to enjoy the fun and excitement of Tax Day a second time in one year! Normally I try to turn in both by April 15th, but we owe state tax this year, so I waited to send in our payment. And we did an extension on the federal taxes because I realized that I had forgotten several medical expenses, and needed some time to do it better. So I'm mailing in our federal return today too.
I am so thankful I took that time, because we'll be getting a lot more back than I first anticipated. It's a blessing to know that we'll be getting a bit of money that will help us out this summer. And it's enough that we're planning a mini-vacation - our first family vacation in 3 years. We'll probably be camping somewhere.
-2-
The countdown to the end of school has begun, but we have no idea when the end of school actually IS. We had most of our snow and hurricane days left, so they should take a few off at the end of the year, but there has to be time for exams, etc. The only time that we have for vacation this year is right after school lets out, so we'd love for it to get out a bit earlier! But we can only wait to find out.
-3-
Meanwhile it's almost time for exams. And Nina is praying hard for the ILEAP results to come in (standardized state test for Louisiana students). The policy at her school is that if you have mastery or advanced on the subtest (Reading, Social Studies, Science, Math), you don't have to take the final exam in that subject. Presumably, you have already demonstrated that you have mastered the things you need to know for that subject and have an A on the final already.
Nina has never gotten below a mastery on any section of the ILEAP, so she wouldn't have to take any finals, except for the English test, which is writing. Obviously, she would love that a lot.
-4-
The bad news today is that she is sick. She is missing school right now. I am waiting on a call back from the doctor's office to see if I can get her seen today, since I'm a bit concerned about her symptoms. She wanted to play DS, but I reminded her that the rules are no electronics when you're sick. She's reading Tom Sawyer right now. It's one of her summer reading books.
-5-
She got a stack of books (for only $11!) through the school for summer reading. She got to pick off a list. I don't think she's going to have many of them left by the time summer starts. She has already read Little Women, Huckleberry Finn, and a few others. We're having lovely discussions about them. And she has ANNE!!! Anne of Green Gables! I hope she loves it as much as I do. (I'm trying not to say anything about it. I don't want to let her know how much I hope she loves it. I love ANNE!!!)
-6-
I just want to say that I don't want people to think all I do is cry or think about our future. I try to think of our blessings, and try to think of how much I enjoy my children. Even when things aren't perfect (are they EVER perfect? Should they even BE perfect? Deep thoughts in the midst of quick takes...), life is what you make of it, and life is what we have been given. And it's good to have.
That's all I want to say on this today though.
-7-
R is always so excited to leave the house. He will put on his backpack and walk around waiting for us to be ready. This morning, he found his school backpack ready to go (I'd packed his lunch, breakfast, and soy milk), and put it on. K called him back to the bathroom to finish with his face and teeth, and he charged down the hall, backpack and all. He looked so cute.
I am planning summer activities to keep him busy. He will still have therapy, but didn't qualify for extended school year this summer. I especially want to take him swimming a lot, so I'm making room in the budget for a swim pass at a local pool. I am happy to think of lazy summer days where we go to therapy in the morning and swim in the afternoons.
One more week of school for R, then he's out for the year (preschool ends earlier than the other grades). Summer here we come!
For more quick takes Friday, click here.
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