Getting caught up - again!

Look at me, getting behind again!  So much fun has happened over the past couple months!  I'll try to get you caught up quickly, with mostly photos!  

In April, at the end of tax season, we took our annual trip to Disneyland with our good friends.  We stayed in a little hotel, the Park Vue Inn, which is super close & convenient to the park, and we did had so much fun over the 4 hottest days in April, ha!  

Kendall loved meeting Minnie in toon town!  

 The boys LOVED the Cars Racers ride! 

 I took the boys on Splash Mountain - isn't that a great photo?!  And one morning we had breakfast at Ariel's Grotto and Kendall got to meet (almost) all the princesses!  

 On April 27, we officially started potty training Kendall!  It's took a lot of work, patience, encouragement and time, but she's finally got the hang of it and she doesn't use a diaper anymore (except for nighttime!)!  What a big girl you are Kendall Rose!  We are so proud of you!  

On April 28 we met up with Micah's friend Cole and went strawberry picking at the fields in Carlsbad.  The kids had so much fun.  We've planted strawberries in our own garden in the backyard, but they weren't ripe until June.   

Below are some pictures of our home-grown strawberries! 

To celebrate Mother's Day, Micah's preschool invited all the mommies to have brunch with them.  I always love spending special one-on-one time with my little ones!   

Speaking of preschool, I thought I'd share this awesome dinosaur drawn by Micah.  I'm so proud of my little guy!  And isn't its face priceless?!  And below is another piece of art - he drew himself!  This Mama loves it!  

On May 7, the White family gathered together to celebrate Grandad's birthday, as well as Holton's 1st Birthday & Mother's day.  They rented these velcro-inflatables and the kids loved jumping and getting stuck to the wall!  

 If you ever ask my Dad what he wants for his birthday, his answer is always the same: "a hug & a kiss."  The only other thing he ever asks for is to buy other people gifts for his birthday.  So this year he went shopping with my Mom and they got each grandchild a gift for his birthday!  The kids were so excited - and seeing the joy on their faces and getting the thank you hugs & kisses was all he really wanted anyway!   

 May 11 was the Awards Ceremony for Awana.  Samuel finished another year in Sparks, where he worked on the extra-credit book, and Micah finished his first year in Cubbies!  Its amazing how much the boys have loved Awana and how many verses they have learned this year.  We are so proud of them.  Andrew volunteered this year as both a Sparks leader & a Cubbies leader.  

 This year cousin Laylie joined the boys in Awana, and it was so fun to have these cousins together on the same team each week!  

 Speaking of awards, Samuel was honored with the Carrillo GRIT Award for persevering and not giving up!  We are so proud of our little guy!  He is definitely amazing!  

This little girly is just so much fun!  She was my shopping partner one day and we got her some new shades & pink, sparkly jellies.  :)  Another day she got all dressed up by herself - knit beanie - fairy wings, tutu, unicorn slippers, and Ariel purse!!!  All pink, of course!  

 In May & June, Samuel took swim lessons at Waterworks.  He progressed so quickly and is now a little fish!  (A little fish who isn't that nervous of the deep end anymore!)

 Samuel & his swim instructor, Mr. Dakota.  :)  Samuel progressed all the way to level 7 in only 8 lessons!   

On Friday, June 10, the families of the first graders were invited to come and join their kids for a family picnic lunch!  What a special treat to spend some time midday with our sweet boy.  And bonus is he got to eat Jersey Mike's for lunch - his favorite!!! 

Sibling love!!

Lastly, I've been working hard for months to prepare for our 10th annual hoike!  We made our own haku leis out of these purple statice flowers.  

 For the potluck luau, I found a delicious recipe for pani popo (A Samoan Coconut Bread).  YUMMMM!  Here's the recipe I followed...  

 Samuel got to blow the conch shell this year at the start of the hoike!  He practiced for weeks and he did great!!!   

 Me & my boy!  

 Kendall stood with me for the beginning 'Oli chant.  :)  She loved being a hula dancer with mommy!  I'll see if I can find the time to add in some videos for you!  

Until then - that is it!  Another post coming soon!