The Shih's Are In Hawaii!!!

The past week has been a complete blur but the good news is that we made it to Hilo in one piece!  Our house got all packed and shipped last week while the kids were in school.  It all fit into a 40 foot long Matson container with room to spare.  We shipped my car awhile ago so that it arrived when we did and then held onto Allen's car until the last day.  Esme had no problems adjusting to having a rental car and actually enjoyed riding in it to school.  Randomly on our first moving day we were called from Faye to pick Esme up because she had a fever of 101.3 degrees.  Allen and I were shocked since we've never been called to pick her up in the 3 years that she's been there and it was on the busiest day ever.  Oh well, that's life with kids.  And luckily it didn't turn out to be anything and she was fine for the rest of the week at school.  It was hard to say goodbye to Faye, the kids classmates and the other teachers.  Faye's daycare had been their home away from home since birth and an amazing place at that!

The kids were in school till the day before we left so that Allen and I could tie up all our loose ends.  And we're very thankful that our trip was only a one way because it was a very long day on the airplanes.  The kids took turns napping on the little bed we made for them on the floor of the plane.  However Chan was very squirmy and just wanted to get down and walk around.  At least Esme we could distract with puzzles, games, books, etc.

We made it to Hilo just in time for family dinner night at Nana's house.  After a long day of flying, this made it all worth it.  We were so happy to be around family again.  Chan was beat though and fell asleep immediately so we knew he'd be up early in the morning due to the 3 hour time difference.  It's taken both kids at least 3 days to adjust and we still think they're not quite on HST.  The heat has also been a challenge as they adjust to it.

Esme excited to ride in the rental car

Our entire house fit into this container

EVERY single thing in our house was wrapped in paper before getting packed in the container

Esme wanted to bring a lot of stuff on the plane

We had an impressive 4 carseats, 3 suitcases, 2 boxes, 2 strollers, and 1 duffel to get through the airport. 

Chan was the first one to nap on the plane

Esme was next

Playing at the courtyard inside the Honolulu Airport

Family dinner night at Nana's house

As soon as we landed in Hawaii Esme said "we found the palm trees!!!"  She's been obsessed with finding palm trees every day and wanted to go to the beach the day after we got here.  She was excited to fill her bucket with sand.  Chan was a little more hesitant in the water and sand.  Luckily he didn't eat any of the sand.  

We also celebrated Chan's first birthday just 2 days after we arrived.  It's hard to believe that a year has gone by already!  The best part was being able to celebrate in Hawaii with most of our family.  We had a nice picnic at Liliuokalani Park for the birthday twins - Aunty Amy and Chan.  The only one missing was Uncle Josh who also shares their birthday.  Chan wasn't all that impressed with the banana cake that I made him.  He's enjoyed apple bananas and papaya more than anything since we got here.  He's also transitioned well to whole milk.  And I was very relieved to see that he doesn't have an allergy to eggs and peanut butter which we've recently tried.  

Esme enjoying filling her bucket with sand.  

Chan's still not sure what he thinks of the water

Our little birthday boy

The birthday celebration with aunties, uncles, and cousins

The day after Chan's birthday was Mother's Day and we had a nice and leisurely day at home.  Nana wanted to wash the dog and clean out the fish pond so that's what we did.  Esme and Chan enjoyed seeing the fish up close and getting their hands dirty with the dog cleaning.  It was more time spent with family too.  When we asked Esme if she wants to go back to Washington she said no, she's having too much fun here :)

Esme loves making fresh squeezed juice every morning with papa

Both kids have opted for no clothing as they adjust to the heat

Esme also likes hanging laundry with Nana and making "houses" in the bedding

Family pond cleaning

Washing Maile

Four Day Left

We're definitely on the home stretch now.  The movers come to our house tomorrow to pack us up and then they load the shipping container on Tuesday.  We're keeping the kids in school the entire time so that Allen and I can get last minute stuff done.  We've been talking Esme through all the changes because she's so used to her routine and this move has really thrown her off.  She's waking up at night and still wetting the bed at naptime at school only.  Chan is doing okay but he's teething so he's not sleeping either and he's been real fussy lately.  If it's not one thing it's another!  So we just need to get through the next 4 days and then we'll be in Hawaii!!!  Luckily I brought the papasan chair home from my office because it's everyone's favorite place to sleep.  When the kids won't sleep at night it works like a charm if we put them in there.  Sometimes we even have to take turns.

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