Daily Photo Ops

If you've visited the blog a few times this summer, you've probably noticed alot of photos taken in this exact spot. You see, we currently live in a second floor apartment with steps outside. I always tell the girls to wait there for me while I lock the door and then I help Zoe down the stairs. They always line up with their backs against the wall and it's so cute, so I took one or two pictures there. Now, whenever we leave the house, they shout "Take a picture, take a picture!" until I do, and only then we can go about our merry way.

Lions and Tigers and Bears

We had a wonderful day at the LA Zoo with my friend Mariana. Chris had to leave for a business trip in the early morning and I just didn't want to spend the day running errands with the girls or bumping around our small apartment. So we hit the road, went over the mountains and reached the zoo in about an hour and a half.

Even though it was over 150 degrees outside, it was great fun. For some reason I didn't take any pictures of my beautiful friend Mariana. My camera was acting up a bit (not holding a charge again) so most of these photos are from her camera.

The girls loved Mariana and she secured their opinion of her by buying them each a toy from the gift shop at the end of the day. Athena got a stuffed tiger and Zoe got a zoo animal puzzle. Athena has not let her tiger go, he sleeps with her, brushes his teeth with her, and goes to school with her. His name is "Tiger Baby" - we've really got to work on more creative names.

Slathering on the SPF50.

Zoe looking at the giraffes (her favorite animals). Hydrating in cool animal water bottles that cost like $8 each.
Cooling down in the sprinklers.
Zoe and her Momma.

Incredible Fun

Today, after dressing in our favorite accessories, I took the girls to a local, popular kids place that is even more intense than Chuck E Cheese.

Just imagine Chuck's plus indoor merry go rounds, bumper cars and go-karts. The girls, of course, loved it but were spinning in circles from over-stimulation by the time we were ready to go.

Chris was working so it was just me trying to keep up with these two who have recently started to run in different directions at the same time. Regardless, we had a blast riding the appropriate rides for little ones (no bumper cars), shooting skeet ball, playing games and eating junk. My camera battery died so I didn't get any photos.

When we were on our last few tokens, Zoe asked to play a game that looked like the big wheel from the Price is Right. She barely had the strength to push the lever that activates the wheel, but she eventually managed, and wouldn't you know it...hit the 500 ticket mark while the bonus light was flashing which doubled her take to 1000 tickets. Go Zoe.

It took forever for the machine to pump 1,000 tickets out and after Zoe ran away from me twice we finally just left the remaining 150 or so for the boys watching us with wide, amazed eyes.

Selecting the prizes had to be fair and each got a rubber ball, a sticker kit and a jump rope. The jump rope was a bad idea - as Chris says never buy any toy that would not be allowed in a prison cell. Almost immediately they were turned into weapons. With strict adherence to the rules, they were allowed to try them out on the lawn when Daddy came home.

The spastic jumping that followed was priceless. Not exactly coordinated but they were really trying.

Faces

Sometimes I put my camera in "burst" mode and see what happens.

Daddy Day

Since Chris has been gone these last two weeks with back-to-back business trips, Sunday was dubbed "Daddy Day" and Mommy got a much needed break. While I was reading trashy magazines and having my toes done, Chris was enjoying all this cuteness. He and the girls had a great time at the county fair petting sheep, learning how to milk cows, call in the cattle and clean a barn. They had a blast and came home chanting "Daddy Day...Daddy Day...Daddy Day!"

House hunted

We made an offer on a house today and it was accepted! Fingers crossed, everything will go through without a hitch. It's in a GREAT neighborhood (and great school district) with children living on both sides of us. It looks smallish from the outside, but is actually four bedrooms plus an office, with a family room, formal dining room and living room and three bathrooms! Just look past the purple paint and see the potential.

Mermaids

Coolest present ever

Look what Unca Stu gave me while we were in Greece. I cried when I opened it. It's easily the most precious and touching gift I have ever received. His endless love for us and the girls continues to amaze me.

It's a yearbook for my blog.

From first post to 1st year anniversary.

He carefully formatted each page

and made photo montages for the big events

like Christmas and birthdays.

With this gift comes a promise to make one each year.
As I don't scrapbook, this gift is priceless.
Athena loves to flip through the pages and have me read the stories to her.

And actually anyone can buy one! So if you would like a copy you should be able to just click on the link below. I think Baba already ordered his.

beanspeak

a photo journal of...

By For Julie and her ...

Book Preview

Unca Stu you are such a rock star.

Greek Daze

We've been back only 24 hours and already the days of our trip are blending together. We had a great time and I can't be more proud of how adaptable and resourceful the girls were on the trip - eating strange new foods and sleeping on the floors of airplanes - they took everything in stride.

Before the memories fade, let me share our days with you all. We spent our mornings bumping around the house, munching on Greek Cheerios (no they are not the same) and waiting for Baba to get back from town with donuts fresh from the Greek bakery.
After breakfast, someone inevitable would say "Who wants to go for a swim!" Athena was always the first to reply "I do! I do!" In the beach by our house, you can see the main city of Parokia in the distance.
Although we tried, Zoe did not find any love for the water. She will happily swim in a pool but the ocean just frightened her. She also didn't really like to touch sand.
She did however LOVE the plethora of marblized rocks from our beach. She gathered quite a collection and even managed to sneak some into her luggage and take home. Athena tried to sell Zoe's rocks to Daddy and Baba for one Euro each.
Around lunchtime, we would gather the troops and head off to a calm beach for swimming and sand castles. Many beaches in Paros have tavernas right on the beach, so it's easy to grab some tzasiki and Greek salad while still in your wet bathing suit. This was the first year I actually got sick of tzasiki.
In the afternoons everyone (parents as well as children) would take a siesta. Athena loved her "princess bed" (aka mosquito netting) it was her favorite thing about Greece.

Our evenings were typically spent walking into town for a yummy dinner, and then perhaps relaxing with Nana's wee dog while watching a Max and Ruby DVD.
With heavy hearts and lumps in our throats we left all too soon (ten days is NOT enough) with a promise to ourselves that we will be back no matter how difficult it is to travel with three children.

Goodbye Greece! Be back soon!

Images of Greece