We’ve been back in Cupertino for just over a month now and are slowly settling into a new routine. The first few days were filled with stocking the fridge and cupboards, pulling out our clothes, towels and linens and unpacking our bags. We also had to make a trip to the car dealership to get another car. I had forgotten how long those trips take!
The cats flew back on March 5th and we were shocked at just how plump they had gotten during their time at Grandma’s house. While they resumed some of their same habits immediately, I would say it took a good 3 weeks for them to fully settle back in.
We’re glad to have the cats back!
The girls had a successful ‘pardate’ (party + play date) our first Sunday back, though I forgot to take pictures. They have had many play dates with their friends since then.
Hannah and Amy at the Big Bunny Fun Run. It was their third one. I’m glad we didn’t miss this tradition.
Amy is back into gymnastics and the girls have started ballet, although they already want to quit! We’ve had our check-ups with various doctors and dentists and everyone is in good health, though I’m taking a ‘Dance for Fun’ class as we didn’t get as much exercise on the trip as I had hoped. I think one of the girls’ favorite parts about being back is having their usual lunches again, as well as Nutella crepes on the weekends.
I think Hannah may have gotten the idea to take ballet from an ‘Ivy + Bean’ book.
As for our house, the renters took very good care of it while we were gone, so well that it was like we had never left! We used to have a calendar with family pictures in the kitchen and I realized ‘turning the calendar’ had become a family ritual when my daughter said ‘We can’t be in April, we haven’t turned the calendar!’ Putting up a 2016 calendar is now on my list of things to do.
Anthony is settling back into work and his work-outs, though it took some time to get used to being in meetings again. The girls and I are still massaging our homeschool routine, though for the most part, it’s going ok. It’s hard to convince them to act as they would at school in the home setting, and to treat their homeschool teacher (aka Mom) as they would a paid school teacher. Although we have a lot of teachers on both sides of the family, I am definitely not one of them, so it’s a challenge for me too!
One benefit of taking the trip, and of having more time at home, is that the girls are rediscovering and playing with their toys. It’s been great to see, though getting them to put things away after remains a struggle, as it was before the trip.
Rediscovering their costumes. Looks good paired with their shoes from Thailand.
Overall, it’s been a pretty smooth transition. I think the real test will come when the girls return to school in August. Until then, we’re enjoying the flexibility our current set-up provides.
Hannah and Amy enjoying the California sun and Cupertino’s Wilson Park
