10 Days And Counting

The countdown is on - only 10 days left in Washington!  And in just a week from today the movers will be here to pack up our house and load the shipping container.  We're continuing to try and unload stuff on friends and also make trips to Goodwill.  Esme must be getting used to all the changes because today was the first day that she didn't cry when I left her at school.  It felt soooooooooo nice to drive away and not feel so bad.  I think that went on for almost 3 weeks.  It didn't help that both kids were sick again about 2 weeks ago.  They both ended up with ear infections and so that ruined Chan's ability to sleep through the night.  Now we're back to waking up at least once.  Ugh!  I'm hoping the warm weather in Hawaii will curb some of these illnesses so we can all be healthy for awhile.

Chan's went from taking tentative steps here and there to walking all over the place by himself now.  He just transitioned this past weekend and he's loving the freedom.  His favorite words these days are da-do, do-do, and do-da.  He used to like to say bee-da but that's not as often anymore.  He strings any combination of those words together and loves to talk to us.  He'll even pop off while he's nursing just to talk to me and then get right back on. 

We took a little break from all the chaos of moving and took a trip to Victoria, BC this past weekend.  Nana was here for a week to help us with the move and she joined us too.  We had great weather while we were there exploring Butchart Gardens and walking through the streets and along the waterfront.  We had a great hotel with a pool and this was a highlight for Esme.  She's really looking forward to spending time in the water in Hawaii.  The trip was quick but we enjoyed ourselves.  It was much different than the first time Allen and I went when we got engaged.  How much things can change in 5 years!

Chan loved the ride on the Victoria Clipper ferry

 

We made it to Canada!

 

First stop - Butchart Gardens

Esme watching the water fountains

 

Someone's happy!

Chan hanging out in the stroller

Esme loved all the little statues

More water fountains...

...and tulips...

...and lots and lots of flowers!

Hi mom and Nana!

 

The sturgeon fountain - where daddy proposed!

Tulips, tulips, tulips!

 

Riding the carousel at the gardens

 

Our awesome hotel

 Pool time with Esme and Nana

 

 

Travelling with Nana is the best!

View from our hotel balcony

Victoria city lights

Esme enjoying room service

Esme loved the whales on the street

 

Happy Easter

Chan got to celebrate his first Easter even though his sister collected all the eggs for him.  Ha ha!  It was actually a busy weekend with a goodbye party with friends one day (mom was too busy saying goodbye to take pictures :( and then an egg hunt the next day.  We also had a visit from Allen's parents so there was no shortage of interactions this weekend!

We're continuing to downsize and get rid of stuff in the house and Esme keeps wondering where things are going.  She's been having a hard time saying goodbye at school in the morning and we think it's mostly from all the changes.  We also shipped my car this past week so we're down to one for the time being.  Hopefully it'll be in Hilo by the time we arrive there next month.

Thanks Aunty B for the glasses!

He actually left the glasses on his face

More fun in the papasan chair

Esme and Addy about to go on an easter egg hunt

Collecting their loot

They actually didn't miss a single one by the end

Busy Weekends

All of our free time these days is filled with getting ready to move, saying goodbye to friends and family, and tying up last minute things/appointments/projects.  Allen and I are working till the end so that doesn't make it any easier.  Ha ha!  Last Saturday we ventured down to Portland to say goodbye to some of my family.  We were greeted with nice sunny weather so that we could picnic at the park on the water.  We also took Esme to the Children's Museum for one last adventure and Chan Chan was even able to enjoy it this time.  Since Allen was busy with Esme and I was busy with Chan we didn't take a whole lot of pics on this trip.  Oops!  As much as we'll miss all of our family down there I sure won't miss that 3 hour drive!  

On Sunday we had more nice weather in Seattle too.  Esme woke up and said, "Mom!  It's like summer outside!"  She was so excited to bust out her tank tops and play in the cul-de-sac!  She got to ride on her bike and then also enjoyed being pushed and pulled around in her old wagon with Chan.  

Unfortunately Esme must have picked something up over the weekend because she ended up staying home from school today with croup.  So far Chan seems okay even though he slept an entire 13 hours last night!  I hate to jinx us but he's been sleeping through the night for almost 2 weeks now.  Strangely though I've been just as tired if not more since this happened but I think that's from all the stress of moving.  If it's not one thing it's another!  I just keep telling myself, "in less than a month we'll be in Hawaii, we can do this!"

Chan trying to bust out of the Children's Museum

Esme riding the train at Oaks Park

The kids are loving my papasan couch I brought home from my office

A family outing around the beighborhood

Our street - we're gonna miss this place!

Just love this little face!

Staying hydrated in the warm weather

   

One Month To Go

In one month from today we'll be flying off for Hawaii!  It's amazing how fast everything is moving.  After only 2 1/2 days on the market our house was sold.  Allen and I were super excited!  And so were the kids cause that means the toys can move back in the house now that we don't have to worry about showing it anymore :)  Now our bigger task is cleaning out all our stuff before the movers come to pack us up next month.  Every weekend is filled with activities so we can maximize all of our time left here in the mainland.

Faye and her staff are also enjoying their last month with Esme and Chan.  Faye said that she's had a lot of interruptions from Esme during circle time lately.  Apparently when Faye's going over the daily lesson (in English first) Esme likes to interrupt her and tell her how to say it all in Mandarin.  I'm in the process of trying to find her a tutor in Hilo so she can keep that up.  Chan's also understanding a lot of what they're saying at school also.  And both kids have very hearty appetites - yesterday they both ate multiple servings of potstickers at school!    

Big Changes In The Shih Household

We've got big news everyone - we're moving back to the Big Island!  Allen recently got offered a job at Hilo Medical Center and starts on May 15th.  It's been a whirlwind trying to coordinate everything - packing and shipping the house, shipping our cars, selling the house, etc.  Esme asked me, "If we move to Hawaii then we don't have to wear jackets anymore?"  Ha ha!  It's already been sort of a transition for Esme since our house has been stripped of all the kids toys and stuff while we've had it on the market.  She seems to be handling it okay and we just keep talking about all the fun things we'll get to do once we move to Hawaii.  At school they were studying the letter V and they talked about volcanoes "like where Esme's gonna live."  Chan has no clue what's going on but we're excited that we'll get to celebrate his 1st birthday in Hawaii since we leave just 2 days before it!  He's taking more and more steps by himself and enjoying all the free space in our house right now.  He's also been grinding his teeth lately and it's driving us nuts.  More updates to come later...

We had to hang out at the park a lot after work this past week while our house was being shown.

Esme and Chan enjoying the nice weather on our deck.

Esme's been getting in lots of last minute playdates with her friends. 

She had her first tea party with Natalie.  

And of course, hanging out with cousin Tabby is always fun! 

These girls are gonna miss each other.