Three Kids and a Dog: Hailey's Lasts at Prospect

Our last child has finally ended their career at Prospect Elementary school. We started at that school in the fall of 2013 with Austen (Hailey was not even born yet) and finally reached the end in the spring of 2025 with Hailey. That's almost 12 years of consecutive time at Prospect.

Elementary school seems so long while middle school and high school just seem to fly by perhaps because our kids get busier as they get older. Since it seems like we've been there for years (and we have), I can't say that I wasn't looking forward to being done with Prospect although we've had really great years and some great teachers there.

Hailey was better about the end than I thought she'd be. It started in early May with a visit to the middle school for step up day. The incoming 6th grade girls then got together for a meet and greet at the local park complete with some getting to know you games and fun. Then it was time for her last Daddy Daughter Dance with Tom. A few awesome moms from our grade set up a special dinner for all the 5th grade girls at one of our restaurants in town before the dance. Then all the 5th graders walked on down to their red carpet debuts for their Hollywood themed dance. So much fun and Hailey looked very grown up! Of course I had to do her hair several hours beforehand due to the fact that I had to leave at noon to take Austen to a soccer game in Wisconsin and I wouldn't be back in time before she left for her pre-dinner. This was actually quite hilarious as I tried some bendable rollers in her hair the night before. However, I put a shower cap on her head for her to sleep in with the rollers (came with the rollers) and that effectively made her hair and all the products in it sweat so she woke up with wet hair and condensation in the shower cap! I could not stop laughing although I had to redo her hair in the morning. Despite this memorable moment, she looked great and had a good time with her Dad and her friends.

The lasts came to an end last week with her "promotion" ceremony for our 5th graders at Prospect on Thursday afternoon. Austen and Peyton were both present with Tom and I to see Hailey receive her diploma.

And while she's not exactly excited about middle school, she did not cry leaving Prospect. I'll take that as a win for my child that doesn't love change. Congrats to Hailey on finishing out 5th grade strong and qualifying for both advanced math and advanced language arts in middle school (the only one of my kids who qualified for both entering middle school - the other two only qualified for advanced math entering middle school).