On Friday, June 23rd, it was Matthew's last day at Hart Elementary School (above) and at Piper's Hill (right). He will be entering fourth grade in August in Shanghai and has completed a chapter of his life with Piper's Hill. Piper's Hill has been a tremendous part of our lives for the past nine years and has been the second home for Matthew since he was three months old. It was very bittersweet.We started the day with a donut party for the kids at the elementary school. Matthew walked around the school to visit his teachers from the previous years to say good bye. In the afternoon, we had an ice cream party for the after school program at Piper's Hill. It was very nice that all the kids in the after school program made a little speech for Matthew and gave him a shirt with their names on it. He also received cards made by the children and will be cherished for a very long time. Matthew and I got pretty teary
eyed with Angelica, the Executive Director of Piper's Hill. Angelica (left) is Matthew's honorary Greek Yia Yia (grandmother). I have known Angelica for the past nine years and have had the privilege of working very closely with her over the past six years, while I was a member of the Board of Directors. I've also had the pleasure of working with Debbie (below) and Bess, who are the right hands of Angelica. Emotions aside, it was a pretty significant day for Matthew and I. 
Tony was on his way back to the US to help us with the balance of the move that will start on Monday, June 26th. Due to weather conditions, there were significant delays from Shanghai to Chicago and Chicago to New York and he didn't arrive home until 2 AM on Saturday morning.
In the meantime, we have lots to do around the house before the movers arrive on Monday and will also be busy with the marathon of lunch and dinner appointments with many people who want to see us before we leave. We'll be moving out of the house at the end of the week and will be camping out in a hotel for the balance of the time. Lots to do before we leave and I hope that we will get it all done.
