1151, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

A short snipet of chatting with Irini. She sits on daddy's lap and gives him a hug. Daddy asks, "do you love me?". Irini nods affirmatively. Daddy asks, "how much?". Irini responds, "one hundred and fifty one". Daddy looks at her and smiles. "I love you 152", he says. Not fazed by the challenge, Irini looks right at him and states, "I love you one thousand, one hundred and fifty one, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty one, twenty two". Competition over. Irini wins. Love everywhere.

Classroom Visitin'

The school loves having parents come to class for visits. There's a sign in the classrooms to say so. So, of course, from time to time mommy and daddy (and once with Tia and Abuelita and Ine) go to visit. Sometimes it's just to help out. Other times it's to do the traditonal Wednesday morning cooking session. Other times still Laurence visits on a more formal note, spreading the word of recycling, gardening, reusing or composting to the littlest ones of the school. After all, we have to start educating them young, no?  Either way, seeing Irini in her academic space is a true delight. She, of course, is growing and maturing and talking and sharing so much more and more. Though time flies and we sometimes get nostalgic about it, we also can't help but look at her with pride and so much love. There are more stories to share, we know. So much more to discover. So much more to observe. So much more to learn.

Coiffure Day: Daddy's Bane, Mommy's Delight

  

It was a Saturday. The ladies of the extended family were giddy. Amalia was too though she didn't know just why just yet. Daddy, on the other hand, was troubled. He had envisioned his girls being super athletes, wanting to climb trees and go fishing (or something along those lines). Hardly the types of things that would need fixing hair and painting toenails for. But for the women of the family it was a day of fancy pampering. Dad tried to make the best of it while mommy was delighted as can be. Add some lollipops and daddy was no competition. He sat and read while the ladies became, well, ladies. Evan Amalia was happy to stay still and have her toenails painted red with a little Christmas tree adorning her bit toe. What fancy dedacence!  Daddy just shook his head and read on. Time are tough for some while the other enjoy every moment. What will become of these girls?  Won't they be practicing their under-the-legs dribbling change-of-direction? Won't they climb trees?  Won't they want to go fishing?  Hopefully, but as they do they'll be sportin' their new styligh toes!  :-)

Irini's Visit to the Dentist

Last Monday, during that six day weekend we had (below), Laurence snuck to the other side of town to visit the dentist. He took Irini with him. A few weeks ago she broke the bicuspid on the lower left side of her mouth. It hadn't hurt. She didn't even know how it happened, though we assume that it was a middle-of-the-night tooth grinding session. For weeks we flossed the broken tooth, brushed it an even used a small elongated brush (made for between-the-teeth settings) to ensure that the area was as clean as possible. For a while that was okay. Then came the pains. Not many, mind you, but enough to make Irini recognize that a dentist visit might actually be helpful. 

Perhaps at this point we should note that our earlier attempt to get Irini to sit at the dentists office didn't go all that well. 

As we did tooth cleanings on occassion we would have Irini lie down on the bed and use the bedside table lamp to pretend it was the light in the dentists office. We giggled and we pretended we were at the dentist. Irini even got to requesting the dentist service as she grew more comfortable with the idea and the sporadic pains arrived. So, by the time we got to the dentists office she was ready.

Laurence and Irini walked in and Irini wanted to go first (we all agreed), but only if she could sit on daddy's lap. The dentist agreed and moved the chair to a low enough level that Laurence could settle in before picking up Irini and placing her on his lap, both now lying down. The chair moved and they giggled as they were nearly upside down. Giggle, giggle. The doctor took a look and said that a cavity was forming and this particular tooth would probably stay in "until she is 10 or so", so we opted to see if we could do a filling right then and there. He was wonderful in explaining all the steps "we will put this little water sprayer in your mouth and I will count to ten as you feel a little cold in your tooth" and all the parts "and this one will be put in your mouth to suck up the water, like a straw. Here, feel it". Irini listened and put her fingers everywhere she was asked to to feel what it was like and, when she determined that she understood enough, sat back down on daddy's stomach/lap/chest and opened her mouth. 

Daddy spent the next few minutes holding her softly but firmly, expecting a sudden jolt or moment or fear, but Irini's limp little hands curled inside his indicated that she was very calm and relaxed. "Eight, nine, ten", said the dentist and the spray ended. The sucking continued for a while longer. Then there was the filling, also following a short explanation, again to Irini's satisfaction. She sat back, we all counted (except her) to 15 this time and the filling was all set.  The dentist, the assistants, daddy and Irini all smiles brightly. 

Laurence was impressed. Irini was happy. Laurence had his cleaning too (with Irini walking around and popping her head in from time to time to see what the dentist was up to, saying "I want to see") and then, off they went for some frozen yogurt. What else? :-)

Six Day Weekend

It happened last year too. The Deepavali/Diwali holiday on a weekday during the week. The Muslim new year on a different day of the same week. Awkward school week. Adjustments. Ta daaa!  A weekend that goes from Saturday to the following Thursday (today) followed by a 'week' of two days (Friday and Saturday). As strange as it seems, somehow where we work, it works. And so it was that many of our friends ran out of town for the 'six day weekend' while others, such as us, stayed around and tried to find relaxation more locally. To us that meant four days around town followed by a couple nights at Port Dickson, around an hour and a half away. We've been there several times, largely because it is rather convenient, has both a huuuuuuge pool (with slides) and a beach on hand, is clean and the service is friendly. So, off we went!

For once this post is put up on the actual day of our return. How 'on top of things' of us!  We went with Tía, TTmouz and Avi and shared cars on the way over and on the way back. Irini went with Tía on the way down while Amalia went with Tía on the way back. It was a good mix with the girls happy as can be to share car time with the extended family.  Though only two nights long, there were a number of first on this trip too... Amalia taking a nap holding a basketball in the car (much to Laurence's excitement); Irini going on the 'big slide' all by herself; Amalia working on her freestyle stroke; Daddy and daughter's sitting enjoying a one-on-one experience with the hotel's band from the Philippines. Amalia, in particular, was very impressed with their songs and, as Irini had done so many times as a two-year-old, she stood there, about two feet away from the singers, watching every move and listening to the music.  Finally, daddy decided to take the hint and move to the table immediately in front of the duo until they ended their set and we moseyed our way to the room for the night.

The days were a combination of sunny and cloudy (with rain) but the time was good and relaxing whether enjoying the water or under cover.  The evening cuddling watching movies and the afternoon drawing time were equally as positive. Little things make a big difference. Add water and it's even better. Back to school tomorrow. :-)

Routine Shenanigans

The girls are a-growin' and the grown ups are a-tired, but the daily lives are filled with little moments that are priceless. The pictures above are just a few of the good times in the apartment and around town. From Irini's leading family yoga sessions to bike riding around Lake Titiwangsa (yes, that is the real name) to enjoying play time and dancing away in the living room, the routine of life - though sometimes on the verge of mentally and physically draining for mommy and daddy - is filled with little joys worth sharing. Irini is now just about tall enough to reach the floor when sitting on her bike, prompting Laurence to think that it "might be time" to get rid of those training wheels. Amalia, who has no bike of her own at this point, jumps on too, and look (!) she can reach the floor as well!  Okay, so it's not while she's sitting down, but as she walks forward pushing the bike along, you can't help but think she's ready for a biking career of her own! Smiles to all.

In Her Sister's Footsteps

 

It was like 'deja vu' all over again, right down to the pre-first day bump on the forehead!  Irini had worked it out to have two bumps on the very same spot so that, on her first day, she arrived with two black eyes. It was a little more tame with Amalia, but her first day also arrived with bruising.  Amalia walking down the hall with her new back pack looked just like her sister a year and a bit earlier. Lifting her little arm to push the button for the elevator. Once inside she beamed. It was a day she'd been waiting for. Unlike her sister she knew all about Buzzy Bee. She had been spoken to about it and knew what it was. She had friends who were already going. Now, since September 3rd (yes, we're behind schedule on these updates) she's been asking, practically demanding that she go to Buzzy Bee, even on the weekends. With just the slight hint that it's a Buzzy Bee day, her face brightens up and she jumps up and gets ready. Just as her sister did two years ago, now Amalia is happily taking in schooling and new-formed friendships, and spending time with her classmates. Even her being picked up in the afternoon is happy, happy, happy.

Irini is aleady projecting to a year down the road when the two of them will be on the same bus to ISKL, sitting side by side. But for the time being Amalia enjoys her own life at Buzzy Bee. Her vocabulary and her socialization is shining through daily. She too is becoming a 'big girl'. Her parents, proud but wanting to hold on, smile that bitter-sweet smile that parenthood knows so well. We love you, Amalia!

Tioman Celebrations

We had gone to Tioman a Spring Break ago. It was March then and there were just four of us. This time around it was 11 of us. The four in our nuclear family, Tia and Avi and TTmouz, as well as Emilia, Ine and, of course, Adri and Luca. Getting to Tioman required us to take over three taxis and practically half the airplane but it was seamless none-the-less. This time, unlike the last, we went a bit further south to a small hotel by the beach. It was a quiet place owned by an Irish brother-sister and was largely run by foreign staff (from the US, UK and India). 

Largely this was a chance to see things. Irini wore her mask and, with Avi and TTmouz and Daddy, swam around the high tide rocks looking for little fish. TTmouz would also join either Laurence or Luca to venture further to the reef, over there (about 100m away) to see the larger fish too. Or they would stay on the beach, which shrank and widened with the movement of the tide, and play games and swing on the lone swing attached to the big tree that stood in front of our rooms. 

At night the sky was cloudless. The stars shone and as the kids slept in their rooms, the adults would walk the six meters to the beach, sit down and watch the stars as they chatted back and forth: The conversations of family. Every once in a while the conversation would be stopped as there was a group "wooooowww" or "ouaaauu" as we saw shooting stars cross the painting of a sky in front of us. One particular star was slow moving and extremely bright. It made it easy for us to watch, follow and enjoy it in all its splendor. '' Ouuuaaaauuuu" said the brownies. "Wooooowww" said Luca. "Ggooouuuuaaaooouuu" said Laurence. :-)

The nighttime experience was made even better on the last night. A few tables were set up on the beach, candles lit and champagne was serves in honor of Luca and Adri's first anniversary. Love, smiles, cheers and congratulations replaced the traditional Malaysian fireworks for such events. The lack of noise allowed the kids to slowly fade into a slumber lasting till morning. The adults lost themselves in conversation and in enjoying moments with family on a tropical island paradise. Colombia. Greece. Italy. Malaysia. The world coming together in celebration. 

Brownie Mix

It began in Early August. The first of the Moreno family (the Brownies as we affectionately call them) Emilia and Ine (Natalia's mom and sister) got on a Jet Blue Airways airplane and ascended over the Colombian sky, looking back on the Savanna of Bogota as they flew northward. They made their way above the clouds to Orlando, where they stayed for a few days visiting Consuelo, a friend of Natalia. From there it was on to another plane, moving westward and away from the familiar (for Ine) Florida to Houston, on to Tokyo, then Singapore and finally Kuala Lumpur. Asia awaited. So did we!

Laurence drove to the airport to pick them up and what ensued was a frenzied tour of SE Asia for both of our visitors, sometimes with us and sometimes without. All told they saw Singapore, Malaysia (of course), Thailand (Bangkok anyway) and the awe inspiring temples at Angkor Wat (Cambodia).  To make things just that much more interesting their visit coincided with Ine's birthday. So why not just have Adriana and Luca fly in from Italy for 10 days as a surprise visit for her too?  The birthday celebration was filled with visiting candles (the two Italian cleverly disguised) dancing around the living room. When Ine actually recognized, of all things, the hair on Luca's arm, she was thrilled and happy as can be. The thrill lasted throughout the visit, even after Adri and Luca flew off to Hong Kong for a few days before returning to Milan. 

On this end the final days were filled with the requisite visits to favorite restaurants, shopping opportunities and their visiting with Connie, a now dear friend of Emilia who is happy to show everyone around town as soon as they arrive. This time was no exception and, in fact, they were all happy to visit Bangkok together on a weekend shopping spree second to none. :-)

Finally, when they boarded the plane for their return back to the US (and then Colombia) they were tired but happy as can be. The tears were shed by those newest to the experience (including Emilia Patricia, Avi and TTmouz). Best wishes shared. Promises of reunification in June. The realization of how much has been missed (through time and space) but also the appreciation for all that's been experienced. The door closed and the relative quiet returned to the apartment. Things are "back to normal". Yeah, let's call it that.   

Summertime Memories

Has it already been over a month since we've been in Greece?  Has it really been close to a month since our last post? It is probably proof positive that once we touched down in KL it was one of those moving vehicle deals. We had to just start running to match the speed of the vehicle we were trying to get off of, heart pumping, legs flailing. In the meantime we've started work, with Laurence starting his new, more administrative role, at the school. Even as we write this he is deeply missing his shorts and t-shirt professional attire days and the positive comaraderie of the PE Office he left behind. His new name plate on the door is far more professional looking, but with that come meetings and trying to figure out what, exactly, it is that he needs to do in a school that also moves at breakneck pace and where his position is one of many skills and near total independence. 

But back there, back in July somewhere, in some compartment of short-turning-to-long-term memory, there are glimpses of time spent with family and having fun in Athens. The summer was a great one and we enjoyed it all with friends and family. In many ways it is the food of the soul - that time with family - that will enable us to  keep going on this end. Family. Friends. Things that make sense. Time well spent. Thank you all for a wonderful summer 2012!

Skopelos!

It was supposed to be a three day getaway. After we arrived in Athens - and with jet lag still taking its toll - the idea was to escape the city for a few days and enjoy time by the water.  Good think Pappou and Moca persuaded us to stay a few extra days, five in total. We took the car to Agios Kostandinos and, from there, the ferry to Skopelos (with a stop in Skiathos). By early afternoon we arrived and drove straight to the beach, our beach. Limnonari is a small bay with just two tavernas and one hotel (more like rented rooms, really). It was perfectly small and accessible. Our rooms were behind the taverna, just 25 meters of so from the sea. 

Moca realized early that the free loungers and umbrellas were a hot commodity and so morning often started with her making her way to the beach and setting up for the rest of the morning. The rest of us would wake up later on and enjoy a breakfast of yogurt and honey and bread and fruit out under the trees. Then it was off to the beach where Irini gradually got more and more adventurous, starting from merely swimming between adults with outstretched arms, and finishing with snorkel and mask (courtesy of Moca) swimming happily above the rocks.  Amalia too was happy there. The slope of the beach allowed her to decide how deep to go and with the added confidence afforded her by her inflatable arm bands she too happily played in the water. 

It was five days of sloooooooow. Taverna, beach, nap, taverna, beach, dinner... and so it went. The time allowed us to roam a bit too. Skopelos is a green island and there are parts to it that might remind one of a national park. Then there are beaches with crystal clear water. The people too are friendly as can be. The added bonus is that, unlike some other islands, Skopelites (as they refer to themselves) are extremely proud of the products they produce there: Honey, yogurt, fruits (especially plums), bread. 

In all that we found wonderful moments. Family filled. Laughter. Giggling. Sunshine. And the nights were perhaps even better. With the coming of night we would venture across the dirt road and over to the beach. We would take over five lounge chairs waiting for the next morning and lie down, the children on our stomachs, and look for shooting stars. The sounds of calm waves lapping away echoed and the night sky was moon-less, making for perfect star gazing. One one particular night, as we also had the accompaniment of a trio of musicians playing Greek music in the background, we saw lots of them. The record, set by Natalia, stood at eight shooting stars in about a half hour. 

What a wonderful statement of Greece. In the distance the worries continued, for the Greeks and their economy. But here they were making the best of it. Somewhere between their hospitality of visitors and their caring for each other and this island environment, Skopelos was home. 

Rural Colombia with the Cousins

While on vacation in Colombia we would normally head out to Villa de Leyva. This year we decided it was "a bit too much" given that we were graciously invited to the finca (out-of-town home) of Ivan's family. You might remember that Ivan is married to Caro who, in addition to being the sister of Andres and Adri, is also the cousin of Natalia.  As it turned out Ivan and Caro led the expedition, with Natalia and the girls in tow, while Laurence jumped into the car with Andrés, his wife Marianelly and their two lovely daughters Camila and Mariana. The idea was to spend 'down time' in Los Llanos, southeast of Bogotá just over the Andes mountains. Three and a bit hours away, just beyond Villavicencio we found the finca waiting for us, along with Tommy and Simba, the dogs. 

We spent three wonderful days there, far away from everything and practically living in the pool. Irini and Mariana had the following routine:  Wake up, go to the pool, have breakfast, go to the pool, have lunch, take a nap, wake up, go to the pool, have dinner, play, sleep. For three days they were happily engaged in each other and the rest of the gang. Ivan and Caro served up some wonderful grilled meet and potatos and pretty much everything one could think of as we all gobbled it up as fast as we could. There was some bantering about Caro being a bad aunt because she wanted to feed our daughters chips and cookies too much. There was a trip down the highway to visit the local ice cream shop. There was a good deal of chatting and laughter. All in all it was a fantastic weekend. Largely quiet with lots of 'down time' it was a great change from the city bustle. More importantly, it was a great way for Irini and Amalia to be exposed to Spanish, to their extended family and to farm life. Daily visits to the horses, the chickens and rooster, watching the birds (of which there was quite a colorful variety), checking out the toads and chatting with the parakeets (one of which said "quiere cacao?" all the time). 

What a great way to end our Colombia visit!  To make things even better, our return to Bogotá coincided with an offer to Javi for a new job in Barranquilla in a prestigious school there. He and Carolina are hoping this is only the first step to a new international career for them as well. We are crossing fingers for them and wishing them the best. :-)