Summertime!!

Ryenne's last day as a first grader! Her teacher, Ms. Dunn, has been awesome!!

Last walk home from school as a first grader.

Kai's preschool quote - "When I grow up I want to be a firefighter so I can save people."

Cookie face

On the stage at his preschool "graduation"

A male carpenter bee - I had never seen a male before (the females are the black ones)

Ryenne's getting better every single day!

Big boy with his board

I can't believe that school is over and it's summertime! I'm actually a bit relieved. I'm looking forward to the break with homework and boys who cry all the way to school because they don't want to walk to pick up their sister.

Ry's last day was really great - she had a wonderful year and she's doing so well. I know she's going to be an awesome second grader in August!

Kai's preschool experience ended not as I would have liked it to. The "graduation" was fun, but it wasn't his actual last day of school and they didn't have any of his pictures on the wall - just a quote. I think because he was a part time student, they really put no effort at all into contributions from him. Last day of school had a substitute teacher and zero fanfare. I really think that after Miss Lyn left it just wasn't the same school at all. I'm bummed his preschool experience ended that way, but he's so excited about kindergarten at "the big boy school" he can barely contain himself!

Cruz is registered for preschool also starting in August and it's a preschool we've been on the waitlist for. He is really excited and so am I - his teacher is extremely organized and he'll learn how to put things away where they belong. I am going through a very challenging period with Cruz right now. He is so big that he uses his body to communicate with his siblings by head butting, biting, pushing, and hitting. It's very frustrating. 

Ry's 7th birthday is coming up and I've been bugging her asking her what she wants. She is not a girly girl - more of a sparkly tom-boy and she fell in love with a skateboard at Costco. So I bought it for her, and since Kai has wanted one forever, I bought him one too. And a bunch of water guns. And Ry got her own snorkel set with fins. We've been out practicing on the boards and they are doing great. We had an epic family water fight too. Good things ahead this summer.

I am always doing a balancing act. The kids are having to learn that I have work time and play time and it's hard for them to understand fully but they sure love the play time.

May Happenings

Nekkid Babies Mud Play in the yard - perfect for sunny days!

Kai loves to help cook

Kai helped stir the butter into the noodles and Ry is adding the cheese.

Lots of visits to Nana's House. The boys adore their Nana!

Peter and I got to go out to the MACC to watch Rex Navarette. He is HILARIOUS. We even got to meet him afterward. If you ever get a chance to see this comedian in person, I highly recommend it!

Ry made this and put it on my computer. LOVE!

The boys out on a date with Daddy - they made masks out of their french fry boxes!

This Jackson Chameleon was out on the fence. We brought him inside for some pictures and then released him back into the yard.

My beautiful girl in Lahaina Town

Look what Monkey painted me for Mother's Day!!! I'm going to get it framed and it'll hang in our bedroom.

Happy 21st Birthday Jean!!! We took Jean and Evan out to Mama's to celebrate her birthday

Beach Boy Kai

Underwater kisses!

A bit of water, a bit of sky - Camp One Beach

Always a smiley boy!

Cruz catching a ride on Daddy's back

Peter got me an underwater housing for my phone for Mother's Day. We went to the beach yesterday to play with it. It was SO WINDY! We still had fun playing at the beach though. It's going to be really fun to test this thing out more though.

Mothers Day

Day before Mothers Day:

We are preparing for swimming lessons and I go to braid Ry's hair and she starts screaming at me because she hates having her hair brushed. This has been a battle we've been having for years. I always threaten to cut it off. Well... I had HAD IT. I told her to sit down, I grabbed the scissors, and chopped it off. Admittedly, I was upset, and then Cruz started to play in the hair on the floor and I gave up. I knew I had to take her to a salon to get it "fixed".

We got it fixed and it's short. Really short. Shorter than I intended. But at the same time, she looks pretty darn cute. She keeps rubbing her hands in it making it stand up in all directions. If I can get her to leave it alone when I brush it in the morning then it'll be really cute. But for whatever reason she likes to put her hands in her hair and mess it all up. Ok... maybe that's her thing - messy hair. I dunno. But I did feel pretty bad about reacting so crazy.

Mothers Day:

Peter worked at 7am and let's just say that the kids did not get the memo that they were supposed to be nice to me. Cruz has been extra testy these last few weeks. Really trying my patience BIG TIME. We were invited to a birthday party next door, but I took the privilege away because they were being so awful. I did, however, find a Jackson chameleon and we all got to play with him and hang out. Everyone had fun. It was pouring rain all day so I tried to keep everyone busy. After Peter got off we headed to Lahaina for my photo shoot and we had a big Dagupion family dinner at Kobe to celebrate cousin Shaneel's college graduation. The kids were amazingly well behaved.

Peter snapped these while we played near the Lahaina Harbor.

Beachy Shots

There have been LOTS of beach trips for the kids lately. Lucky for me when I have a shoot and Peter's off, we pack up and go together.

Daddy and the three kidlets with their goggles on (everyone puts their face in the water now!)

After bed-time sand rinse with Daddy

This was just before Kai's haircut. He is getting so much better in the water. Putting his face in now too. Such an incredible improvement!

Cruz the fearless. We have to keep our eye on him like a hawk. He goes out way too deep.

Our little fish. It's like she's made to be a mermaid. She likes to stay in until it's dark.

April and May have been incredibly busy with photography. I am just trying to keep up. I actually had to hire out for some editing - my shoulder is hurting a lot. I've found a really great company that is helping me with the more tedious tasks. This has allowed me to spend more time with the monkeys too and let my shoulder rest.

I had an MRI this week and my physical therapist filled me in on what's going on. Calcium deposits with extreme tendonitis. Going to discuss options with the doctor next week. Might need some surgery. I'm fine with anything as long as it takes the pain away. I haven't slept well all month!

The kids are all back in swimming lessons and loving it. We have just a couple weeks left of school. Ry's May Day is next week and Kai's final school concert is the week after that.

Peter and I just booked a night at the Wailea Marriott to surprise Ry for her 7th birthday. They have a pirate ship pool and I know the kids are going to be so excited. I'm hoping to get a cake and gifts into the room before we check in so she'll be totally surprised. I can't believe she's going to be 7!

We're looking forward to a busy summer - lots of beach days, walks in the forest, photo shoots, ect.