Surpris(e)(s) = surprised.

Soyons, soient = are (first and third person plural, present subjunctive, of the irregular verb être).

Seulement = only

Avant = before (in time, not place). Notice that avant all by itself is used with nouns (for instance, "avant la fin," "before the end") but is used with de before infinitives ("avant de finir," "before finishing").

Oublier = to forget.