I will always remember arriving home around midnight, my mom having waited up for us, Aaron meeting Grandma and playing with her in the playroom while we made something to eat for him and unloaded our luggage. Aaron was THRILLED to peek at his new "big" brother, Donovan, while Donovan slept, and then Aaron easily fell asleep on a twin size mattress on our floor. I love this photo of Donovan getting his first glimpse of his new brother early the next morning.
That day had beautiful weather and we spent a lot of time outside, the boys digging in their sandpile (this was just before Rupert built a sandbox for the boys) and riding bikes. The jetlag those first 7-10 cays was not pleasant, and Aaron adjusted much faster than I did - soon happily moving into the "big boys' bedroom" with Donovan.
And today, we have come full circle, as we prepare to celebrate the only holiday Aaron has not yet celebrated in our family. After tomorrow's Easter holiday, Aaron will have celebrated a full year in our family, learning new traditions. Through it all, I have been amazed at the enthusiasm and openness Aaron has embraced all aspects of his new life - dressing up as a monkey and saying "trick or treat" to receive candy, learning about the Chinese Moon Festival, eating a big turkey dinner, cutting a tree and putting it in our living room, visiting Santa, learning about Baby Jesus, enjoying Chinese New Year and receiving lai see (lucky money), exchanging valentines, and now preparing for Easter. After tomorrow, we begin the second year with Aaron, and he will be able to reflect on his previous experience with the holidays and traditions he has already experienced first-hand, rather than constantly learning and being told about them!
Below are 4 photos taken yesterday after the boys dyed eggs.
This afternoon the boys attended an Easter egg hunt, hosted by the family of one of the boys in Donovan's preschool class. (This sweet boy is a good friend of Donovan's, one he has recently begun having playdates with.) Donovan and Aaron have been looking forward to the egg hunt, and were worried when we woke up to heavy rain this morning. Luckiily, the rain cleared. Who would have ever thought that with Easter at the end of April, the temperature would be 40 degrees, and my boys would be wearing fleece coats and winter hats for an EASTER egg hunt!!! The boys had so much fun at the Easter egg hunt - Aaron's first. His smile in the first two photos below certainly show what Aaron thought of the egg hunt!
Once home, the boys had so much fun counting their Easter Eggs. Donovan counted his 27 eggs, and Aaron counted his 18 eggs. We also discovered that while Donovan had more eggs than Aaron, Aaron had more larger eggs than Donovan. Most of the smaller eggs contained candy and most of the larger eggs contained toys. The boys have been having tons of fun with two toys that have parachutes attached to toy rabbits!
Aaron counting his Easter Eggs.
Aaron thrilled with his eggs!
Donovan and his eggs.
Donovan quite happy with his eggs!!
And so, we prepare to celebrate the Easter holiday tomorrow. The Easter baskets are out, carrots have been left out for the Easter Bunny, and the boys are finishing watching an Easter video before bath and bed this evening. Tomorrow will be such a special day for them...in so many ways...tune in tomorrow for the boys' reaction to the big news they find out tomorrow!
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