Rhodes5 in Deutschland: School is out for the Summer!!!!!

I know it seems a little late, but we (today) are just beginning summer vacation! Mia's last day of school was yesterday, and I have to say it feels pretty darn nice to have her home (and to sleep in - even though I only slept in until 5:45 today, but just knowing I COULD sleep in, felt pretty good!). Mia was beyond happy yesterday. The German tradition is that on the last day, you get your "Zeugnis" (report card), and it is A BIG deal. In third grade, your report card is VERY important and is the beginning of deciding your future. After 4th grade, depending on your Zeugnis for 3rd and 4th grade, is when you are tracked into schools. Depending on your notes (grades), you will head off to different level schools. The report card is very important!! She did very well, and being that her Mom and Dad can't really help too much (being that everything is in German), she especially makes us proud! It was extra cute yesterday too seeing the kids run out the door after the bell rang - what a great feeling to begin summer vacation! Some of the boys even belted out a popular soccer song - so funny!

We picked Mia up after school and went to a cafe to have breakfast (she got out of school at 9:30 am - basically enough time to get her Zeugnis and say goodbye to friends). A fun little way to begin summer vacation. Here are some random photos of the last few weeks...

I forgot to add this one earlier... This is when Bailey and Camden were still in the U.S. and we were talking on Face Time. Bailey had just flown up to Maine after spending 3 weeks in South Carolina. It made me so happy to see how happy they were to see each other :-)

This is a funny one...Mia's school had a music concert. Each class sold something to raise money for a school in Africa (what a great lesson), anyway... Bryan and I laughed because the 4th graders sold "Non - Alcoholic Cocktails as their fundraiser - only in Germany :-) They were really yummy too!!! One thing that I especially liked too was the fact that the kids did everything (the kids made the drinks, took the orders, and handled the money - another reason German kids are so capable!!!)

Mia's class sold handmade greeting cards...

In 4th grade, all Germans take the bike test and receive their bike license. The 3rd graders had a beginning lesson though (the school even has bikes for all of the kids, so the only thing they have to bring is their helmet!) You can see Mia being all serious :-)