Laura and Corey's wedding was absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Athena was convinced Laura was a princess, and during the wedding she asked me to hold her up so that she could see the prince, too. Actually meeting them at the reception was like meeting royalty for her.
The girls were all dressed up in their Sunday best and looked pretty sweet. It was wonderful to see all of Chris' family of 14 aunts and uncles, 19 cousins (with their wonderful significant others) and, so far, four third generation cousins (hmm...what do you call that?)
After a bit of a meltdown at the start of the reception. Zoe crashed hard and could not be woken. Well, it was about 10 o'clock East Coast time when this picture was taken, and that baby likes her sleep. Luckily, she was easily transferred to Aunt Teri for a bit so that Chris and I could slip away to dance.
Our party girl, Athena enjoyed cutting the rug with her Daddy, ate nothing but cake the entire night, and stayed up until 10:30 West Coast time (do the math!) She was a little fussy and demanding, but otherwise, enjoyed the party.
Mostly, she would not let her Uncle David go. She threw a crying fit when he left her to go and dance with Haley. So, poor Uncle David was forced to dance with Athena in his arms.
It was such a fun time, and although we would have like to close down the dance floor with the rest of the family, the girls needed sleep, and crashed hard when we got back to the hotel. The next morning, even Uncle David woke up before them, and Chris and I woke naturally (without someone coming into our room or calling us on the monitor) for the first time in ages.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
California Time: A Royal Wedding
California Time: Part One
It's 9:49 am and both the girls are still snoring in their beds. We got back late last night and we're still on West Coast time. So, until I hear the usual "Momma!" calling me to get them up, I'll try to get as many stories down and upload as many photos as possible.
We had a wonderful trip. The weather was fabulous. The first morning Athena woke up saying "Mommy, it's Spring!" and was thrilled to find flowers, warm weather and no snow. She did think that California was extraordinarily sunny and wished she had packed her sunglasses.
The first order of business was to take the girls for their first "In N' Out" burger with Uncle David. Uncle David was a huge hit in the three year old set of our family. Athena kept up a nonstop stream of toddler chatter at him "Uncle David, I see flowers! Uncle David, we're going over a bridge! Uncle David, look at my tongue!" and when Mommy tried to help Uncle David out with some toddler translation, she got very annoyed and said "No, Mommy, I talking to Uncle David. Be quiet!"
Zoe was totally off schedule the whole trip, but other than a few meltdowns on the plane (both ways) and at the wedding reception, she managed quite nicely.
Uh oh, I hear stirring, to be continued...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Goin' back to Cali
This was the first time that Athena's toes touched the Pacific ocean, she was only nine months old. So, it's about time we made it back out and introduce Chris' wonderful extended family to our little Zoe. Chris' cousin Laura is getting married Saturday and we can't wait to see everyone. It is going to be a blast.
We're leaving at 4 o'clock in the morning. I've been packing all day (summer clothes!) and I hope I haven't forgotten anything essential. I'll try to post pictures to the blog while we're gone but I'm not taking my computer. It'll have to be done from Chris' computer which is just not the same.
Wish us happy, easy going babies and uneventful travel.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Spinning
Spinning is a big past time at our household and a metaphor for our week. Spinning, spinning, spinning until you get so dizzy you fall down. Everything is spinning this week, and I am flat on my back with the room still turning.
Tomorrow we pack and get ready for our trip to California!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Sisters
What is a sister?
She is your mirror shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.
I feel honored to be raising sisters and thrilled that I get to watch a new sister relationship take shape and grow each day. Luckily I am half of one of the greatest sister friendships possible (love you Mimi) so I feel I can nurture their closeness through the years. Like Athena and Zoe, Mimi and I are just over a year and a half apart. As children we were best friends who fought bitterly and then made up quickly. Today, my sister is my hero, my friend and my life's story. I love her with all my heart and I expect nothing less for my girls.
Athena and Zoe are already exhibiting familiar feelings that I remember from my own childhood. They are at once deeply connected to each other (Zoe cries bitterly when Athena leaves for school), competitive (always vying for Mommy's attention and lap), mischievous (Athena loves to hide Zoe's favorite bear in the closet), caretaking (Zoe tries to distract Mommy when Athena is getting chastised) and best friends (making each other laugh is the neatest trick) who hold hands in the car.
Watching the girls makes me appreciate and understand this deep connection I have with my own sister. She's been mine since day one and I know no world without Mimi in it. Everyone always talks about "second child syndrome" and it's true Zoe got hand me down clothes, less professional portrait sessions and not as much undivided Mommy and Daddy time as Athena. But Athena, for the first 20 months of her life, didn't have a sister, so I think she's the one who missed out.
Sisters Mimi and Julie circa 1972Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Happy Birthday Baby!
Okay, so you're not a baby anymore (as you tell me all the time) you're a sweet, funny little girl. One who laughs out loud and runs and has to do everything by herself. Even though you are three years old today, you will always be my baby...
Happy birthday my darling Athena Michelle.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Fairy Princesses Galore
Today we celebrated Athena's birthday with a Fairy Princess party. Although Athena's actual third birthday isn't until Wednesday, we partied all day long today. She had a fantastic day that started with a huge pancake breakfast with Baba, Daddy, Zoe and Unca Stu at Baba's hotel. This was a neat trick to get everyone out of the house so that Mimi, YiaYia and Mommy could cook and decorate and do last minute preparations for the party.
After breakfast, Athena donned her Fairy Princess finery: a special princess dress, wings, princess hat (which lasted about two minutes) and a magic wand that turned people into animals ("Poof! You're a bunny!").
Around noon the Fairy Princesses and Princes started to arrive. Among the 25 royal guests, who came very festively attired in complete Fairy Princess attire, included...
Princess Julie
Princess Miranda
Prince Devin
Princess Maddie
the littlest fairy, Princess Zoe
and King Baba! Plus many more friends.
We started the party off with some crafts. Each prince and princess had a hat or crown to decorate with gems and letter stickers,
and we decorated wands
and made little pipe cleaner bracelets.
Then we actually managed some party games, including "Pin the Tail on the Unicorn" which was a huge success. Blindfolding and spinning little three year olds is quite entertaining!
The magic toadstool game, which is like musical chairs but with pillows on the floor, ended in some pushing and tears, so that was not such a good idea. Here are princesses who were "out" watching the game unfold.
Following the games, we had homemade pizza, juice boxes and cake.
Zoe was completely doted on all day from her Daddy, fed and carried around like the little princess she was.
After cake, finally, it was time for presents! All the Fairy Princesses descended on the pile of presents in a mad crush. There were more tears as everyone wanted to help open and play with everything right away.
Athena got spoiled with many wonderful gifts, but the best present of all was a new bike from Unca Stu!
After all of that, even Fairy Princesses get tired.
Everyone crashed hard after the last of the royal guests left.
The whole day was really fun, crazy and, um, just a little bit stressful. But what causes ME to make this face...
....causes Athena to make these faces...
So, it's all well worth it.
This was easily the most photos I have ever posted in a thread. Uncle Stu took all the pictures and did a great job. We had at last count over 300 for the day and edited them down to the best 100. So if you want to see even more Fairy Princesses, please click here...
Friday, February 22, 2008
Another snow day
We woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on the ground...another snow day...another day stuck indoors just me and the girls. I know these days are precious but I seriously cannot wait until Spring. With a full day in front of us and all our plans suddenly and completely changed, what to do, what to do. It's just too easy to fall into the t.v. trap, so after a couple of favorite morning shows we...
...made a paper chain of snowflakes,
...and danced in our tutus,
and played an Athena invented game of "airplane" where you buckle yourself in, surround yourself with blankets and pillows, put on your pretend earphones and watch a pretend computer.
And went outside!
It took a full hour to prepare for our 20 minute adventure. First, finding all the hats and gloves and scarves and boots was a challenge. After a search all over the house, I found one of Zoe's gloves had fallen in between the washer and the wall and had to fashion of tool out of a wire hanger to retrieve it.
After bundling both girls in stockings, pants, snow pants, shirts, sweaters and coat...
Athena just laid down in the middle of hallway unable to move her arms.
But we finally did get outside.
It was still snowing and Zoe hated it.
But once she discovered she could catch snow on her tongue she was intrigued. One moment later she fell face first in the snow and was immediately distressed again.
Athena loved every second of it.
Even though she was totally covered in snow from multiple snow angels.
I got Zoe's jogging stroller out of the garage and she was content to sit and watch Athena and Mommy play while under her protective canopy.
There was a nearly full bubble bottle in the base of Zoe's stroller and Snow Bubbles were invented. Pretty cool.
The day sped by so quickly with all these activities and we had a blast. I just pray that the airports are clear and my Chris makes it home from his business trip in time to see these girls before bed. Unfortunately, it's still coming down and that is seeming more and more unlikely.
