Counting down the days

With the 5th Graders about to leave elementary school forever, there's no end of events scheduled to mark their transition.  Today in the Girl's class, parents were invited to come in and hear each student read out an essay saying what their school had meant to them.  Many of them who had attended for six years (counting Kindergarten) called it their "second home".  Our Girl, still a newcomer really after only one year, wasn't quite so fulsome, but still spoke warmly (and rather entertainingly) about this, her second American school experience.

The Boy was along to listen, too, although he was officially off school for the day, having just had his teeth fitted with braces.  Not the best day of his life.  The uncomfortable new metalwork will take a while to get used to - not to mention the absence of popcorn from his diet for a whole year. 

On a cheerier note, at least we managed to track down a new puffle for him this afternoon, and also a Boston Red Sox baseball cap for him to wear to his class's "Baseball Day" tomorrow.  His classmates have promised not to give him a hard time about his braces, but I'm not sure he'll get such an easy ride over his choice of team...