First week back

We flew from Christchurch to Auckland to Honolulu on the 26th - arriving a day earlier on the 25th - and spent a couple of days relaxing on Oahu before flying back in to LAX on the 28th. Auntie Sally met up with us in Hawaii - she was en route to NZ - and showed us some of her favorite spots.

Our first week back was a whirlwind of baseball (practice Tuesday, game Thursday) and school for Caden, re-adjusting to the UCI Infant Toddler Center for Finn, and teaching for Mama and Dada. One of the most touching aspects of being back was watching Caden and Finn re-learn how to sleep alone after sharing a room for the previous six weeks. It was clear that both of them missed having someone else in the room with them.

And this past weekend brought not only Easter, but Caden's 9th birthday. His party with friends won't be until Tuesday, but Caden had a fun family birthday on Saturday, including an Easter egg hunt, an In-N-Out Burger picnic at a playground, a self-selected dinner of mac and cheese, a Scooby Doo movie, cake, and presents. Mama and Dada unveiled the surprise they had been planning and prepping for a while, Caden's secret reading nook under the stairs.

Sunday morning began with a jelly bean hunt and Easter baskets. Then we headed over to Costa Mesa to go to church. We got to the parking lot a few minutes before the service started, but when Mama stepped out of the car, she realized that she'd walked out of the house wearing her blue fluffy slippers. So, she headed back out in search of more appropriate footwear, while Dada, Caden, and Finn staked out spots in the church.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Hotel room view.

Beach boys

Swimming with Mama

Shave ice at Island Snow

Yes, Finn crawled into the tiny space under his stroller. He is looking at himself in the mirrored closet door in the hotel room.

Caden with invitations to his Harry Potter birthday. Delivered by owl post, of course.

Easter egg hunt

Finn's first In-N-Out burger

The birthday boy

Easter morning