Shootin' Around

For the longest time daddy has been trying - by stealth or by obvious means - to inspire his girls to be pall players. Though Irini likes some things (especially choir these days) and Amalia others, neither has, so far, shown a massive affinity to ball sports. That doesn't mean, of course, that it's "out" either. On occassion they'll all go out and enjoy a dribble, a shoot around, etc. Sometimes it's in the gym when watching a tournament (like a few weeks ago when daddy and the girls went to watch some varsity volleyball and, of course, ended up playing some on the side during warm ups). Sometimes its in the house (where sometimes they play keep-away or a make shift soccer game in the living room/hallway). Sometimes it's a bit more organized than that and sometimes spontaneous. The pictures above were of a regular outing, but this time to school where the baskets beckoned and daddy didn't need too much convincing to at least try to get the girls shooting around. And so it was, a dribble or two here and a shot or two there, that the first semblance of a shoot around took place. It was also turned into a soccer pass-around, a hoola hoop session, a game of tag and a climb on the monkey bars. Not bad for a morning out. :-)

Daddy's Day

If you ask mommy what she wants for her birthday she'll tell you she wants it to be remembered, to have a little special something, and to include some adult time somewhere. That doesn't, of course, mean she doesn't want whole family time, but she also wants adult time. If you ask daddy what he wants he'll basically say it doesn't matter if no one remembers (though they never forget), he wants no presents and only a small event if anything at all, and he wants to spend the entire day with his children (and wife, of course!). 

So it was this time around as well. The day was spent partly with friends - Kim and Drew and their children Shawn and Allie - and partly at home with the family. It was low key (as requested), nothing extravagant (as requested) and included two cakes (one more than requested and two more than necessary)!!  All in all a great day, surrounded by great friends and spent with a family that never ceases to prioritize the right things: Love and togetherness.

Mommy's Day(s)!

...and in there somewhere, as time kept on ticking, a special day for mommy came and went. Actually it was celebrated over two days. Day one was at home to begin with, with family and with little clues taking mommy around the house to find her gifts. Each gift was cleverly hidden in each girl's room, and mommy found the clues (one in the morning when she woke up and one when she returned from work in the afternoon) on the kitchen table. With each present she followed the hints, flanked by her two girls, and, when necessary, they gave her hints to help her along. Okay, really in Amalia's case she just marched over to where the gift was hidden and just opened the drawer, but Irini was able to guide her mother just perfectly. Either way, they both did great!

Mommy's gifts were partly from her own children/husband, and partly from her father who, as we said out goodbyes at Bogota El Dorado airport a month or so ago, had given daddy some cash along with the directive to get "something nice" for his daughter. And so it was. One massage spa treatment and one spa manicure and pedicure. Mommy was happy as can be.

Following the second set of hints, and the discovery of the second present, it was only natural to celebrate as a family. So off we went to one of our favorite restaurants where, following dinner, we thoroughly enjoyed one piece of chocolate cake and one piece of fruit merangue cake. Both were devoured in a matter of seconds, it seemed. 

Then, the very next day (the actual day), mommy wanted at 'adult only' outing at her favorite Vietnamese restaurant downtown. Who were we to say "no"?  So off we went with the exgtended family and with some choice friends to spend the evening in laughter and very pleasant conversation. It was a low key affair, just like mommy had requested. Perfect. 

We love you mommy! 

... And 'Go' Time Again!

Daddy compared it to jumping on a treadmill that is already going strong. Those first few seconds of one's legs trying to keep up is about what it was like. Of course there was the joy of the return (made more obvious by the sheer energy by which the girls always arrive home as the airplane is descending), and the seeing old friends, but it doesn't take too long to start that treadmill going around here. Withing hours it was meetings and planning and visiting and organizing. The girls had a few extra days to spend getting over jet lag but for mommy and daddy it was run, run, run pretty quickly off the place (okay, we had one full day).

Then, with the preparation week over it was the girls' turn to get going too. Irini had been asking for school to start for quite a while, though Amalia was rather quiet. But when they did finally make it to school it was actually Amalia that was showing more optimism. Irini was worried because she didn't know many of the kids in her class and only one was a "good friend". Amalia's approach: "It's okay that I don't know anyone. That way I get to make new friends!". Within three days Amalia was asking that the long days at school - which started this year - come immediately (they have short days in the first week to adjust). 

Now three weeks in, the girls are happily adjusting to their new circumstances. Irini has nearly daily homework, sometimes fun and sometimes a bit of a chore. Amalia still has none and prefers to come home with lots of stories about what they do each day. Irini is more selective with her stories. Both are doing great. Here we gooooooo!

Amalia's Little Things We'll Miss

Sometimes you get so caught up in the daily grind that you miss the small little incremental changes that happen as little beings grow up. But sometimes it hits you, perhaps a bit late but not late enough to forget for good. 

Amalia has, for a long long time, insistend that she is allergic to tickles. She doesn't mind ticking others, of course, but she has insisted over the years, as mommy or daddy have leaned over to give her a tickle on the neck, or on her sides, that this was not good for her. The normal routine would go something like this. Playing one thing or another turns to laughter and then ticking. Daddy picks her up and pulls her tight, hands around her waste. His tickles come naturally enough and Amalia bursts into a thrust of laughter before, almost pleading, she says "daaaaaaady". Daddy turns to look at her while stopping the action. She looks him in the eye and, with that beautiful sheepish smile of hers, says (sometimes in a whisper) "I'm allergic, remember?". 

Over the summer that particular little ritual reached its end. Amalia, on a warm and beautiful day, announced that she was no longer ticklish and so, just like that and in a blink of an eye, maturity shown and childish playfulness moved onto another form. 

At night, as babies often do, Amalia talks to herself. She is squirmish sometimes and playful, asking many, many questions. Irini has sinced passed this phase and, while Amalia did it regularly, it made little impression. But not going to sleep is different. Self-talk is rare (though still happening) and the tossing and turning that characterised her early days has been replaced with a somewhat rythmic back-and-forthing of her feet on the bed and across her other foot. Her daddy used to do it at that age too. Now the sleep is more direct, the talking rare and the singing, questioning and general energy is not quite the same. 

There are things that you look forward to sometimes, but there are also things you know you'll miss. In this case it's the allergic reactions to tickling and the self talk in bed. She is still as adorable as ever, and conversations are much more delightful and sophisticated, though, so onward to growing up. Laughter, thankfully, is ever present and she continues to have an awesome sense of adventure and a sense of humor that is infectious. Amalia, we love you so, so much!