Hello hello! Summer officially starts in the Smith household today. That's right it's the last day of school. When I woke the boys up this morning, there was a palpable layer of excitement in the air. They both moved a little faster and had a little more lightness in their step. I, of course, kept singing, "No more pencils, No more books, No more teacher's dirty looks!" and they, of course, were giving me strange looks because they have never heard that Alice Cooper song and I can't sing at all. I digress, but that would make a good scrapbook page or at least a title, hmm. To sum up, the last day of school is momentous around here and I try to capture little bits of it for posterity.
I wish I had started the tradition of taking a photo on the first day and the last day next to the school sign. If you have toddlers that haven't started school, you should try this. Even if it's first day of Kindergarten, last day of elementary. Other photos I have taken over the years include photos with teachers, photos getting on and off the bus, photos at the school, photos in the driveway, photos of the two of them jumping for joy in the front yard, etc. Another idea is to include a summer bucket list with these photos or interview them about the highs and lows of their school year.
A few years ago, I started a tradition, which will only last until tenth grade unless somehow they sprout a new finger on each hand! I take a photo on the first day of school with them holding up the number of fingers that corresponds to their grade, then on the last day of school the grade they will be going into in the fall. I try and get headshots and full body shots so you can see the growth.
Here are two pages I made using last year's end of school photos. Here I photographed the boys at the school in front of the brick siding.
I used the same kit and colors. These two layouts will sit side by side in an album. I really like how they are similar, but different. It also made creating the second page really a lot fater and easier. Less choices in this hobby is always a quicker route!
I hope that the start of summer brings you and your families joy!
Take care,
