Zachary takes May Day very seriously. He loves learning the moves and he was excited to perform. I went in early to help the kids costume up, and he kept reminding me to "stop calling it a skirt, Mom!"
Mrs. Yamada's class plus siblings.
Mrs. Yamada's boys, the Tongan warriors.
Zac and his "brothers."
May Day is organized by grade, and all the parents can snap quick pics between dances.
Zachary is ready to dance.
He told me that a lot of his classmates weren't hitting their head beats correctly. It was fun to watch his concentration and precision.
My birthday was a couple days later. This year, instead of going out and getting a sitter for dinner, it sounded better to take the kids with us. Zachary was so excited about my birthday all day, he said he "wanted to cry."
This is a classic Zachary look right now. "Really, really???"
Kate had to poop four times the next day and her tummy hurt her all day. I'm guessing it was the full order of fish and chips.
The dinner was full of laughs and conversation. Our kids are at an age that it really is fun to dine out with them now!
Time for presents!
Brady got a bunch of pregnancy gag gifts--things I couldn't live without during Kate's pregnancy like lemonade and a Costco-sized barrel of Tums.
Some plumeria bath soap, too. Nice.
And my favorite surprise, a necklace.
The kids wrote me songs and laughed and laughed.
Kate's picture for me.
Zac's picture for me, including my "favorite hair blower."
Kate "graduated" from preschool at Sonia's house. The funny part of this graduation is that all the kids are returning for another year except for Max, pictured far left.
Throwing their caps in the air.
Post grad dance party.
Zac and Kate had several birthday parties to attend in a two day period. This is a popular week to be born.
Zachary was one of three first graders to win an award for achievement in Kid Bizz. That program hasn't been easy for him but he's getting better at it.
We had one last beach outing with the Clarks before they took off early for summer vacation.
We're going to miss Courtney and her huge sun hat.
The last few days of school were full of parties and included everything but learning. The teacher in me finds that hard to swallow but the mom in me thinks it's adorable and fun. Zac's class had the most over-the-top class party I've ever seen, completing their year of Disney-themed fun.
Photo booth Minnie Mouse and Jake.
Prize packages to take home.
Mickey cookies and pencil holders.
Hand made critters and center pieces.
Face painting.
Zac and his brothers getting their princess on.
I loved that Kate participated in Zac's class so much this year.
Disney-themed food, followed up by a Disney-themed candy bar. Not one candy bar. A bar full of Disney-themed candies.
Mickey Zachary.
The last day was a color run and dance party. We are going to miss Mrs. Yamada so much. She taught Zachary for two years and is transferring to Wilcox Elementary to be closer to her home. Kate is devastated that she won't have her for a teacher, but we are counting ourselves lucky to have her for the time we did. She was firm, nurturing, and always pushing kids to achieve more.
At school pick up, Zachary said, "First grade was SO AWESOME, Mom!"
A couple more pics with the brothers.
Playing in the backyard with his stomp rocket.
I was in Oahu the day after school got out, so Brady took a half day and went on a hike adventure with the kids. I get to do a lot of little adventures with the kids and it made my heart happy to see them having so much fun with dad.
That weekend, we headed off for a bonfire at Polihale. The waves were so big, it made a little lake in the sand and the kids loved skim boarding it. We got a flat tire on the dirt road, but got it taken care of with some friends.
We got home that night at 11pm and paid for the late bedtime for several days with the kids, but my opinion of Polihale remains the same: it is worth it every time.
