flash backs...

also, if you wanted a comparison of first to last days, here is the blog post from their first day of school!!!

taking a selfie of her new haircut!

growing up so fast.  but playing with her doll house!

my super boys!

showing off at school.  

her "disco eyes" as she called them!

this kid makes new faces now!  he's so cute!

brothers!

last day...

he had to get in on the last day of school pic!

we are in trouble.  serious trouble!

they couldn't stay out of the pics.  and i love that he has an apple in his hand.  he LOVES apples!

yup.

trying to get the big 3...  best i could get!

i can't believe it's the last day of school already!  it feels like we just started.  

i am feeling pretty good about the movers coming monday.  the kids rooms are mostly ready to go, with the exception of trying to live and play in them still. they are each allotted just a few toys.  but trying not to make them the ones we will take with us for the hotel and stuff.  don't want them to get bored too fast! 

my room and the kitchen countertop are disaster zones.  i have cleaned out so many cabinets and drawers that the remainder is on the counter.  and i have to figure out what to do with all that crap.  (sorry mom.)  

but feeling good.  this weekend, i will pack for the five of us, so that the movers don't pack what we need for the next 6 weeks or so.  (however long it takes our stuff to sail to us...  thankfully we don't have to do that sail!)

and, MAJOR answer to prayer, we got offered a house this week!  we know there is an option there!  

a crazy person...

i swore i would never let my kids treat my babies like this.  and then i had a 6 year old and a baby.  and she's so good with him!  and i totally trust her.  and need her help!

getting a haircut!

this was before the SCREAMS!  i mean, crying the whole time he got his hair cut!

she wanted short hair.  like libby.  

the boys after.  james wanted it all buzzed.  this was our compromise!

a.  only a crazy person would take all four kids to get their hair cut on memorial day weekend when it's raining in hawaii and no one else has anything better to do.  but they did really well!

b.  previously aforementioned crazy person may be crazy because she's trying to move with four kids and no husband!  actually, no...  i am really trying not to be crazy!  (i may have raised my voice more than i wanted recently!!)  

nora did ask me tonight (after i made them bring all the books to the playroom- out of their rooms, so they were all in one place) if we were going to pack all books in one box, all other stuff in another.  i told her that, thankfully, i don't have to pack!  (although they may not understand that with all i have been doing- packing up toys so all the correct things are with the correct toys, boxing up baby clothes so i know what we have!)

on the up side... when hubby's not here for this part, we can have things like apple slices and toast with peanut butter for dinner.  with a side of applesauce.  cause that's what we have in the fridge!  (we are covering the major food groups, don't worry!!)  

it was a mix of fortunate and unfortunate that it rained today.  i was bummed we didn't make it to the beach (got haircuts this morning, and then by the time we were ready, it was pouring), but i got a LOT of organizing done.  (read- a lot thrown out!!!)

graduation day...

i love his concentrating face...

doesn't he look so grown up?  and handsome???

walking so intently!

and then he saw me!!!

sitting with his class...

walking across the stage!

with his teacher!!!

smiles.  she has been the BEST. TEACHER.  

the teacher's aide...  also, the best!

moving his tassel!

such a serious face!

brother wanted to come sit on his carpet!  

secretly, i think this kid wants to go to school!!!

climbing on the dino!

got him tamed!

sitting with his friend on the playground!

i get it- pre-k graduation.  at the end of the day, he's 5.  but, it was really fun to watch him today!  he was a doll...  and so grown up.  i am so proud of him and how he's grown this year.  

my heart breaks a little... seeing this boy grow up.  seeing all three boys grow up so fast.  and don't get me started on the girl growing up!  she's a HUGE help!!  and b started smiling a TON this week!  it's been so fun.  c was so excited, because b smiled at him!!  

we are starting our lasts.  for real.  it's so sad...  

lots of children...

jamey's pre-k class at the discovery center.

nora and her friends at the spelling bee.  i loved how chill she was!

(ps... mommy brag moment.  she was in the top 10 in her class, and the 10 competed against the top 10 in the other class.  she was top 8 out of the two classes.  she missed the word "circle".  but walked off that stage with such poise!  - no joke, some kids were sobbing!  it was brutal.  they just said "no, that's not correct" and the kids  had to walk off the stage.  i know, good life lesson, but hard to watch as a mom.  so anyway, nora walked off with such poise.  and cried gracefully when i went over to hug her!  i was so proud!!!)

this kid... how did he get so old???  almost 12 weeks...  not fair!  he's started smiling a TON this week.  it started when we watched a daddy show, and continued as we skyped with daddy!  it was so fun...

snuggling my two boys!  well, two of my three!!!

nora wrote  a song....  i might cry!

big boys at the pool...  i love when they get along!

i always have so much hope for cleaning and getting ready for the movers once the kids go to bed.  and it just doesn't happen.  i am drained by the end of the day...  i want it to happen!  but the good news is, one way or another, it will all get moved!

but for now...

this face made me laugh FOREVER!  i mean, tears in my eyes.  and he just stared at me.  like this.  like, why are you laughing, mom?  he just wanted to be a big kid!

we brought babies to this island...  and are leaving with big kids (and new babies).  we spent saturday at the beach with the b fam... their daddy was gone, too!  it was a glorious day of kids playing and good friends and sun!  enjoying our beach days while we can!

looking at his new friend.  he's getting quite excited about his new friends.  this guy and his killer whale.  it's so fun to watch him interact!

wacky hair day at school.  they both have red stripes in their hair (which, despite washing, is still there!)

saying goodbye to d's car.  

it's spirit week at school!  the kids are having fun.  today was pajama day.  they tried to talk me in to wearing the pajamas they wore all day to bed.  i told them no...  they didn't get it!

and i am cleaning and organizing.  it feels good.  i also never quite realized JUST. HOW. MUCH. WORK. it is to maintain a normal level of cleanliness.  i mean, it could never end!!!  i am trying to find that balance!!!

fun times...

playing outside...  i am going to miss this in six months when i can't send the kids outside to get some energy out!!!

mmm... celery. and a cute face!

another cute face.  and the most precious boy!

hiding during prayers.  (mostly so he doesn't giggle with his sister and get in trouble!)

snuggles.  

fell asleep playing!

from the other night, when we were snuggling on the couch!!!

tonight was a great night.  we had dinner with friends at the park.  sort of to say "good-bye" to some friends.  the adults sat and chatted while the kids ran and played at the park.  i keep saying this, but i am going to miss this.  and i know that, even if we come back to hawaii, it won't be the same.  this time, these people, this place.  i am trying to enjoy it all up.