Stronner spent his first birthday in Kauai, setting an impossibly high bar for all future birthdays. After his many hours spent in the car this winter, the plane trip was pretty easy in comparison – 6 hours each way, and lots of people and other kids to interact with. We took him on a tour of many of our favorite sites, including Hanalei, Ke’e beach, Kope’e park, Spouting Horn, and Poipu. He seemed to enjoy eating out even more than being at the beach, especially at our favorite sushi restaurant, Kintaro in Kapa’a. He also enjoyed some leisurely water time in the salt water pool at the Hanalei Bay Resort, which was more inviting that the ocean this time of year due to massive surf (though he did get in the ocean a bit on the calmer south shore beach at Poipu).

Now we’re back in Seattle, where there are a few glimmers of impending spring, but it’s still mostly cold and gray. But Stronner was happy to reunite with Tashi and Norbu, and to unwrap all the wonderful birthday gifts he received from family and friends!