Earrings at Last!

Eight years ago, when we took our first trip to Colombia to introduce our little Irini to the world, the extended family and friends in Bogota rushed up to see the new baby!  They were thrilled and brought her presents only to be left in limbo by a father who didn't do what they do in Colombia. While the latins pierce the girls' ears at birth this man - standing firm - was staying things along the lines of "I want my daugther to decide that for herself". Really what he was saying is "I prefer the natural look". When Amalia was likewise introduced everyone knew better so that disruption was minimal. 

But as time and space took over and maturity took its toll, so too did the statements by the girls themselves - sometimes with a smiling mother in the background - that they wanted to earrings. Finally, with little left to argue, daddy succumbed and the girls were allowed to pierce their ears. Daddy wasn't there to watch and in each case the event was preceded with a little hug and a statement to each "I love you just the way you are, with or without earrings". Then mommy would forward pictures of happy girls with new found colors on their ears!  The pictures are shared above. One more step to independence. Love continues, of course, with or without earrings. :-)

What Do you Want to be When You Grow Up?

When we decided on an experiential holday season Irini immediately declared that her choice for experience was "Kidzania!". We'd heard of it before and knew the basic concept but were unprepared for just how awesome this place was!  The concept is that children go thorough experiences that simulate adult employment. Options include being a radio DJ, fire department, recycling facility worker, surgeon, baker and the list goes on and one. To start with the kids visit the bank where they are given Kidzania dollars. They can then either spend them (on things like getting a manicure) or make more by doing things for the good of the community (such as being a paramedic, for example). Each "station" takes roughly half hour and the kids roam through the city doing chores that they've been given by their station. For example, as was perhaps expected, our girls first decided to go to the recycling center. After being given a briefing about how it worked they were given a checklist to find their way to three different businesses in the city and pick up their recycling and return to the recycling center. Other kids were seen delivering packages, surveying customers, etc.

It didn't take long for mommy and daddy to realize just how cool this place was. With every building they passed they were impressed. Crime scenes over here, water treatment centers over there, a flight simulator upstairs. Cool stuff! The girls split up and did what they wanted. Mom and dad split up too, following them around and taking pictures as they proudly went through training and then simulations of work. By the end of our time there (which we all agreed was too short) both girls had received a number of gifts (for example they made their own rolls in the bakery and took them home to snack on later) as well as a good number of extra kidzania money. The girls were proud as can be that they had worked so much to double their initial amount! We happily drove home knowing that a return visit is essential to get all those things we missed this time around!  Awesome!

Biker Gang!

No, it wasn't the type of biker gang you might have imagined when you saw the title. It was very much a biker gang - all female none-the-less - in traning. The stalwart roughians tore across Lake Titiwangsa to circumnavigate the entire park and, with a short stop to play at the playground, they did in flying colors!  Our girls were joined by their friends Kira and Bethany who live in the building with us. It was a wonderful morning, with clear skies (as you can tell) and a not-too-warm sunshine. The girls roamed the premises of an otherwise largely empty park (it was Friday and most schools where already in session, so it was time to ourselves with the entire park!). The girls loved it and the fathers did their best to keep the girls well hydrated and, in the case of Ian (Kira and Bethany's dad) fed as well. Thankfully he had enough for everyone, making daddy seem like a distant second in the race for Daddy of the Year award!  Still, it was a great great morning! 

Irini's Eigth!

As time ticks and children grow, it's sometimes hard to keep up. When did all the time go? Irini turned eight on Jan. 6th and we are thankful it happened over the holiday break! It's great to focus exclusively on her and continue creating family traditions~ beautiful memories that we will always remember! She is as wonderful now (and more so) as she's ever been. She wanted the theme of her party to be "peace" (to go hand in hand with her name). 

As is now customary, daddy takes care of drawing and cutting out numbers on colored paper to make a trail from Irini's bed to the living room, where she finds her presents in the morning of her birthday. She excitedly woke all of us up, we went straight to opening her presents and then had our pancake breakfast. This too includes a bit of a tradition, where the birthday girl is treated to a special pancake formed in the number of her age. Eight was a tricky one! We later finished preparing for the arrival of her friends who stayed the whole afternoon with us. They swam, had pizza for lunch, and then we moved up to our apartment where they did some beading, played, opened a piñata, had some ice cream cake and watched a movie.  

When the day ended our girls were tired by happy. Mommy and daddy were tired and happy. Though time is flying and our girl is growing she carries with her years of love and support. Happy eight, Irinoula!!  We love you like crazy, of course!

Sillies on a Random Afternoon.

Let's say you're in a restaurant and waiting for your order. Perhaps it's taking a bit longer than you'd hope for. Perhaps you have nothing better to do. What to do, what to do?  Well, antics are always fun!  This type of things happens somewhat regularly but this particular day, in a small Thai restaurant we like to visit - waiting on Green curry chicken and pineapple fried rice - we were playful enough to snap some shots.  And what of that top one?  Well, that's out little one refusing to have a "normal" picture taken and choosing, instead, to use a hands-free approach. Either way, life is full of those little playful moments. Why not? We're waitin' for stuff. :-)