Little Man is getting "So Big" !

Although I'm a little behind on the posting..the thought has not escaped my mind.  Not even for a minute.  My little guy is 3 years old !  How can I forget that ?  THREE !!!  And he is very happy to show you on his fingers !  He had a wonderful birthday party - actually a pretty awesome birthday week !  After a few very stressful weeks of being Mama's partner in taking care of my Yiayia (grandmother) who was in the hospital (another post)...we all deserved a nice break in the action.  My inlaws came in for their Fall visit.  A friend of ours let us stay at his beach house for a few days and it was beautiful.  The adults were very relaxed and the kids had a blast in the sand.  It was a bit too cool and windy to go in the water this time (which is fine by Sophia), so there were a lot of sand buildings around our area !

While we were in the area, we received some great tickets from a friend to go to the aquarium.  We got to see Winter the dolphin. Winter is the dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale.  We haven't seen the movie yet, but now I think we just might have to put it on our list.  The kids loved seeing her and all the other dolphins and sea life !

"Winter" swimming without her prosthetic tail

We held a fun double birthday party - because my son was born on my sister's birthday !!  FUN TIMES !  Even though we kept it simple, I did manage to create the illusion of two separate themes/parties for each of them...cakes and all!

Birthday BOY 

Birthday GIRL

Demetri got some great presents from everyone of course!  Toys, clothes..a new bike !  A baseball glove (of course)!  

But one of the favorites of his was his "vestments' for when he "plays altar".  Yiayia made them for him and he loves them.  He used to use my headscarves, but has been getting too big for them and was getting very annoyed if they didn't lay right or tie all the way around his waist, etc.  

Trying it on for the first time !

Demetrios was born on the eve of his Name day, so we had another celebration in honor of his special day !  Sophia took the day off of school to attend the Divine Liturgy with us and we had a wonderful day afterwards together.  

Many years, little one !

September 11, 2006

I can still remember how afraid I was that day at the hospital hearing the nurse utter the words "You'll be having this baby today".  My sweet husband smiled ear to ear in joyful anticipation...but all I could think was it was too early.  We had been in and out of the hospital, bed rest, meds....all to try to keep this precious baby in my womb just a little while longer.  She was my first...and I had no idea what was really happening.   I was so afraid...all I could do was pray that this little blessing would be strong.  They made me even more fearful as the delivery became imminent with NICU team waiting for her...waiting to take my little baby away from me.  That's how I saw it, anyway.

Glory to God for all things...our little girl was bigger than they thought, strong, healthy....and looking quite full-term to all of us.  We spent every second with each other after her vitals, they never had to even take her out of the room.  Thanks be to God.

When momentous occasions occur, like this birthday....I always seem to say the same thing to my husband.  "I can still SMELL the day she was born".  Sounds so silly...but I really can. I am transported back to that moment of inexplicable joy...and choke back the tears.  Just like now.

So, here we are....and she turned FIVE this month.   She has had quite the celebration too.  We surprised my inlaws (and our children) with an unannounced visit to their home in the Berkshires.  It is not easy to travel as a family of four...but it is MOST difficult to plan a trip like that in secret.  We video chat with them quite often and it was hard for my hubby to talk to his parents without slipping (which is exactly why it had to be a surprise for the kids too)!



Her actual birthday landed during this visit, so not only did we show up unannounced but they gave their granddaughter a little birthday party as well.  She was thrilled and loved celebrating her birthday at her Noni and Granddad's house !

Upon our return home, we had a very special tea party and invited her two closest friends.  We celebrated her Name Day and her birthday with her friends.  We had such a great time...and turns out, I actually like throwing tea parties for little girls!

The next night we had Yiayia, Popou, Nouna, Nouna, Thea and her favorite Big Cousins over for gyros and (yes, again) birthday cake.  She got a brand new bike and we've been riding it at least twice a day since she first got on it. (Thanks to Popou for the very loud horn on the handlebars)!  

I finally popped all the balloons and yanked all the streamers down today !  

Christ is Risen !

A sleepy little girl, during Divine Liturgy

Christ is Risen !  What a glorious journey it has been for us !  Having my children with me really made it so special.   They were able to attend every single service through Holy Week (except the Hours on Holy Friday morning) and really enjoyed it.  We talked at length about the meaning of the week and of the Feast.  In their own simple understanding, they really were able to understand the meaning of Pascha (Easter) and were joyous and filled with anticipation as we arrived at the Resurrection service.

Of course, it was exhausting - but I think it takes every Orthodox family a few days to fully recover from Holy Week.  We are at Church services every single day and/or night, sometimes more than once a day.  Some of those services are very long and end very late - which can definitely be a challenge for families with children.  But to teach a child that our spiritual journey is NOT always easy, is a good lesson for them to start learning in their early years.

Of course, after a few hours of sleep...someone has to get up and start cooking for the dinner on Sunday. That "someone" is ME.   In our family, I have always taken this holiday in our home as it is so very special and I am honored to prepare the Feast !

My little man holding his own Paschal candle after receiving the Holy Light

The Kiddie Table

I can clearly remember when I was a kid how we would have the "kiddie" table at most family events.  I can also clearly remember that awkward time when I felt like I was too old to be there, but too young to sit with the adults.  What a dilemma for the oldest child to face !  

Well, my poor niece will be 15 in a few days and she has VERY little choice in the matter.  My son and daughter would NOT be happy if their two big cousins didn't sit with them at the little table during any family get-together.  It wasn't until I looked at this picture later on that night, that I realized how completely ridiculous she looks.  Oh, how I love her !  

First Big Girl Sleepover !

All packed up and ready to go.....our little girl had her first SUCCESSFUL sleepover at Nouna's house !  You know, the kind where you are up checking your phone every half hour and you are half dressed in bed because you are completely prepared to have to go pick her up at 2 a.m. !  But this time, she made it !  Of course, she is already asking for another one !

Great Lent with my Little Ones

Sunday of Orthodoxy

As most Orthodox Christians, I eagerly await this spiritual journey through Great Lent.  What an awesome gift !  But as my children start to become a little older, I begin to wonder how can I make it mean something to them...in their own little way.  I thought about a calendar, like the ones sold HERE.  It looks wonderful and I think it's a great idea.  But in our house, that presents a few challenges.  Sophia is REALLY into all things letters and numbers.  Prices, sizes, bar codes, grocery flyers, microwave clocks, etc.  I have had to put our Melissa and Doug calendar away for a little while because she was "missing the point" of the daily flow of things and only interested in manipulating the numbers, moving them around, etc.  Along with that, we have a more pertinent issue....which is Demetrios !  There is NO WAY those cute little magnets would stay on the refrigerator in ANY sort of order !  I think next year, when they are 5 and 3 years old, it might be a better idea !
So, I sat down with the kids on Clean Monday (the first Monday of Lent) and explained (mostly for Sophia's benefit of course) the fact that we were starting this period of Lent.  I kept the conversation fun and simple.  I reminded her of Pascha last  year - and then began to add this period of preparation to her explanation.  I explained that we'd be changing the rhythm of things in the home a bit.  Any new plan seems to excite them, so this is good !

We have added some additional prayers and prostrations to our morning prayer time.  We've also added times throughout the day for the Jesus Prayer.   The kids seem to be enjoying this even more than I had anticipated - Glory be to God.   I try to find a time during the day for them to at least SIT somewhere near me while I read aloud my assigned Kathismata from the Psalter for the Psalter reading group.  Of course, there are the extra Church services which they notice right away! They are trying (and being reminded...CONSTANTLY) to act with LOVE toward one another, not to yell or hit, to share more, donate some of their things, etc. etc.    I think seeing their little efforts in this area is my favorite.  We enjoy listening to the Hymns of this time in both Greek and English.  I think our favorite is Gates of Repentance.  If you have have not listened to it, I cannot recommend it enough !  Sophia has also been trying to teach her little brother to chant the Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen)...so she is taking over some of the teaching around here too.

So, these are some of the things we are trying to do a little differently around here to make this period stand out a bit for our children, at their own level of understanding, without overwhelming them.

If you have young children (or maybe they are older now)..what kind of things did you do during this time to make it meaningful and help them to understand ?

Depends on the day....

It's either his "kalimafki" or his "Bishop hat"....he comes up with this stuff by himself which really only adds to my chuckles !

Baby, it's (too) warm outside....

While I think it got a little too warm today (for January), the kids did get to enjoy some fun outdoors !  First thing they did was ride their bikes up and down the driveway.

Sophia had been asking me for "the hairy things" that she saw on the bikes in Target (streamers) - so I found a pair for her Christmas stocking.  She loved how they were blowing in the breeze today.  Demetri doesn't quite go fast enough yet on his bike, but he does have a little airplane on his handlebars (and one day that propeller WILL spin)!

(Usually, whenever we are out riding the bikes there is at least one person who stops to ask us WHAT kind of bikes the kids are riding !  Sophia has a Kinderbike and Demetri has a Strider bike.  They are balance bikes (aka running bikes).  They are widely used in other countries and just really gaining some popularity here, although obviously not very mainstream.  The concept is that the child learns balance and confidence on a two week bike and goes from this to a regular pedal bike (no need for tricycles or training wheels)!  I think they are great and the kids seem to really like them and feel comfortable on them !  Needless to say, most of my family think I'm a little bizarre and "bikes with no pedals" really gave them something to laugh at).  

Orthodox Ornament exchange for the kids

Sophia signed up for the Orthodox Ornament exchange over at Sylvia's site again this year.  She had so much fun doing it last year (both making AND receiving the ornaments) and was really excited about doing it again !  Unfortunately, the kids have both been very sick and we were not able to do a whole lot of preparation and had to leave everything to the last minute (when she was feeling well enough to ENJOY making her gifts).

As an added surprise, her Baba was home from work that day.  He had taken that day off because we were supposed to be taking a long weekend away with the kids, but had to cancel because they were so ill.  He, very willingly, sat at the table with her for several hours while she made her crosses to send to the children!  I didn't think to take a final picture of the finished product after they were wrapped up.  But she was happy with them, she had tons of fun making them, and got to spend some unexpected quality time with her father - and that is wonderful !

She has already started receiving some of the ornaments this week and is SO happy to see what everybody sent.  What a difference a year in age can make....she is actually noticing and appreciating the ornaments as they come.   She is identifying the Icons that some used and asking "how" each was made as well.  She asks me over and over to check the cards and tell her the names of the kids that made them too.  What a great idea - hope we get to do it every year !

Happy St. Nicholas Day !

St. Nicholas

Today we celebrate the Feastday of St. Nicholas.  Last night I cuddled up with my two little ones on the couch and we read the Life of St. Nicholas together.  Before they went to bed, they eagerly put their shoes by the door for St. Nicholas.  Sophia fell asleep singing and humming "Holy Father Nicholas" !  This morning, even though they were up WAY too early because they are not feeling well, Sophia led them running to check their shoes.  In this house (just like last year), St. Nicholas likes to leave some gold chocolate coins and a few Orthodox books !  

May you all have a Blessed Feast Day.  Holy St. Nicholas, intercede to God for us !  

A gift for Demetri

My little boy loves to go to Church.  He used to be quite a challenge...but over the last year or so has really settled down and is a pleasure to take to services.  He LOVES to participate.  At home he initiates prayer throughout the day (meals, morning, etc), loves to chant the hymns he knows, venerates his icons, etc.  When we are in Church, he is no different.  He chants along with the chanters, sometimes even visiting them up at their chanting stands.  He says his prayers, the ones he knows...and mumbles along the ones he doesn't know.  He makes the sign of the Cross (well, almost) and does his metanoia (prostrations)...and he censes.  He ALWAYS censes.  He is always aware of where Father is, what he is doing, where he is moving.  If he can't see him, he asks to move around so he can catch a glimpse of him or we pick him up.  

He would use some of his favorite items as his "censor".  Seen here, he is using his favorite bear.  He uses our prayer ropes, necklaces, keychains, etc.  

But last week, he got the best little gift ever...

smiling and staring at his "censor" saying "just like Father's" !

during Vespers for the Entrance of the Theotokos

leavng the Chapel after Vespers

Look who's TWO !

So my little man turned 2 this week - and as most parents say ... I can't believe it is going so fast.  We had a great celebration and he had lots of fun.  I cannot lie...we did not put as MUCH preparation and attention into the preparations of this party as we did for Sophia's.  Well, he is only 2....and only cares about eating the cake.  Plus we are still enjoying the wonderful company of my inlaws and prioritize "family time" over going crazy with party planning !  (At least that's our motto now, while he is still too young to argue)!  

Sophia picked out his "sports" theme and helped Mama decorate.  I made him a very lame baseball cake with the help of my mother.  We really had a great time and I am very thankful for my wonderful kids !  

Happy Birthday little man !  

The "big girls" having some fun with Sophia's animal masks !

Wow, this Birthday Boy stuff is VERY tiring ! 

sitting on his new "truck" bean bag seat !

FIRST BIKE ! from Yiayia & Popou

School Bells Are Ringing

How is it that I can remember so vividly the day my firstborn came into this world...and yet it is already time to start thinking about her education???  How does that happen?  YIKES !

Well, the good news (for me) is that because of her "late" birthday...Sophia doesn't actually become of age to enter in Kindergarten for 2 more years.  The bad news (for me, again) is that the time is sure to pass by quickly.

We are keeping our options open for what will come at that time - private school? public school?  homeschool?  However, we have decided to start her off with a little bit of early education at home.  It seems the perfect match for us right now.

Most of her "friends", or kids she knows from other activities, have entered into preschool/daycare this year.  While we have decided not to enroll her at this particular time, I do feel there is great benefit to that path.

I am home with my children and willing to attempt this endeavor.  There are SO many other women before me that are so wonderful in sharing their resources, plans, ideas, etc. that I feel that I am not alone. (Mental note:  add some of the links to these resoures on my sidebar).   It's PRESCHOOL...so I can't really mess it up (right?).  It will at least give us a little experience with the unknown, so that next year we will know a little bit more about our options.  We both attended public schools.  I know how to research schools, interview schools, visit schools.  But I have never tried to teach my own child at home, so how could I possible draw from any experience in that area?  I think that this will be the perfect time to get our feet wet.  Will this work for our family?  Is her younger brother going to be too much of a distraction?  Can I organize our days well enough that this will be enjoyable?  Will my home fall apart?  Will it be fun?  Is our home conducive to learning?  All of these simple things are really unknown at this point. 

I had done lots of research (and continue to do so for possible future needs) and decided that for our first attempt at educating her at home, I was going to completely use the Letters of Grace curriculum.  Unfortunately, for a gazillion reasons that I need not go into here, the curriculum was taken off the web for a brief period of time and is only recently being pieced back together for the public to view and use.  I am so thankful for their efforts.  My little girl has just turned 4...following an EXACT agenda is not the most important part of this whole thing. (Right)?

We decided this would be our first week.  It's not exactly the beginning of the Liturgical year, but it worked for us (vacation and birthday parties included).  I loaded up the printer with ink, printed out our plans and it has been going well so far.  Aa is for Andrew (St. Andrew) is the theme of the week.
The Cross on the Hill is the spiritual book  and we've read it a few times already.  After reading it the first time in it's entirety, I found that it was a little easier for her to understand if I stopped along the way and paraphrased what was happening, asked her questions and answered hers as well.  Today she seemed to understand it much better. The book is geared for children a little older than she is, but easily adaptable. 

Sophia has been working on her writing of the letter, recognizing it everywhere (street signs, cereal boxes, etc), forming it out of her macaroni and cheerios, too !

Aa is also for Apple. So we have made some "apple" crafts.  Some of them I came up with myself (read: ultra simple) and others I copied from other bright and crafty moms. I saw THIS great apple craft on THIS blog and just had to do it.  EVEN I (uncrafty) made a few.  Sophia loves them and wants to make them for everyone.  I guess we can, since I will not have any other use for that entire roll of yarn (it's not called a "roll" is it?)  Oh well.

We had jotted down a bunch of books from the "recommended reading" list of the LOG site and found many of them at the library...she has really been enjoying reading time.  Luckily, my son still takes a pretty long afternoon nap - so we have been taking advantage of that. 

This week we also celebrated the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross - attended Vespers and Divine Liturgy.  We will also be celebrating the little lady's Nameday on Friday.  It has been a busy week !

Many Years to my little girl

Today we celebrate the Feast day for our daughter's patron Saint.  May she have many years. Xronia Polla!

We enjoyed a lovely day together today and tonight our family came over for some sweets after dinner to celebrate her special day.  We bought her a few new spiritual books that she had pointed out in a catalog and enjoyed reading them tonight before she fell asleep !  I think it's important to start family traditions when they are young -and learning the importance of your nameday and observing it in some special way  is an important thing for a child.

Many years to all those celebrating today !   

The Birthday Girl

Well, the little lady's birthday has come and gone....and was a lot of fun.  Nothing could make me happier than to see her smiling all day and talking all about it the next day!

It has also been very common to hear me say "Well,  you are 4 now sweetie...you have to (fill in the blank)"!  I figure I will try to use that one for as long as I can !

All finished setting up her ladybug picnic blanket

Sack Races - her favorite activity of the day 

Helping her brother play "pin the dot on the ladybug" !

So far, So good.....birthday preparations

I have to admit that I am fairly exhausted, but not very stressed - which is good (and very different from last year)!  Last year, Sophia asked for a "monkey" birthday cake and of course I took on the challenge.  The end result wasn't too awful, but the process was just TERRIBLE.  I started AFTER dinner the night before the party -and had my family over that night for a separate gathering.  I had NO idea what I was getting myself into or how much work (or mess) it would be.  I think my sweet husband cleaned the kitchen for two hours that night...shaking his head the whole time.

This year, I planned ahead and decided I would make it the day before - and I stuck to my plan.  Early this morning we made our ladybug cookies:

Then I baked the cake.  (I had made and tinted the frosting the day before - a great decision because it was so much easier).  

I was SO nervous about decorating it, but I think it came out pretty good!  Most importantly, Sophia LOVES it and can't wait for her little party.

We prepared our favor bags, made some ladybug "birthday hats" and covered all of the tables in red/white gingham.  We are having a "Ladybug" picnic theme party, per her request !  We got some adorable material to use as a picnic blanket so that her and her little friends can have a real picnic on the floor !

We decorated our own paper goods (stay away from party stores at all costs)!  

She is fast asleep now after such an exciting day...so I set up a little surprise for her when she wakes up.  A new tea set ! I put out two settings so that she can serve her little brother some tea in the morning !  Some felt birthday cake and cookies to set the mood for the day, too !

More updates after the party !  

Swimming lessons

Our little lady finished her first session of swimming lessons today...and she was so excited.  The session lasted 4 weeks and it was really only in this final week that she began to enjoy herself and have some fun ! She was having a difficult time in the beginning with the whole concept, but we are so proud of her for sticking it out - even when she was afraid !

My little man in Church

I hesitated on whether or not to post any words along with these pictures, but it has been such a long road for our little guy that I thought it deserved a small post.  Learning how to behave during Church services (loooong and frequent services) can be difficult for little ones!  Learning how to get through it can be difficult for parents as well !  

We've had both of our children in Church since their 40 day blessing.   Glory to God for all things.  Sophia made it seem easy.  She made me feel like a very competent Christian mother.  Everything went just as I had envisioned it when I would try to plan how I would "teach" my children about our worship.  When she was younger, she spent a lot of time in my sling or other carriers.  She would stay in there most of the service, come out to receive Holy Communion and then sit quietly for the end of the service.  I was so calm and thankful.  My prayer was not interrupted.  My active participation in our Holy services was just as it was before she was born !  I only remember having to leave the Church to go to back when she needed to be nursed or changed.  As she got older and spent less time in a carrier...I didn't know what to expect.  But I knew what was expected of me, as her mother.   She was quiet, never tried to run away, always listened, never brought many "things" to play with and still doesn't know that the Church has a playroom/nursery upstairs.  I am very thankful.  

When Demetri came along, I have to admit that I felt pretty confident that I would be able to instill in him the same proper behavior that his sister had made look easy !  THIS was not the case.  I did things the same.  Talked to him the same way about services, treated him the same way when we were there and so on.  As all mothers know, each of our children can be very different.  He spent quite a bit of time in my sling as well, but as he got bigger he was less and less content there.  He just LOVES to go, move, talk, etc.  He is not content sitting in a pew for a few hours at a time.  It is so hard for him, which I completely understand.    So often I hear the comment "Oh, he is nothing like his sister" or "you have your hands full with him huh" or "boys will be boys"!  

 I admit that I have spent countless hours in the Narthex of our Church.  We sit up front and I can't tell you how many times I am walking from the front of the Church, to the back - over and over and over - poor Sophia, tagging along !   I often wonder if all the people standing in the pews along the way are thinking "WHY doesn't she just STAY back there"?  I'm sure at some point they have all said that at one point or another.  But, with Christ all things are possible !  Through prayer and His Grace, he is slowly learning to be still.  Through HIS struggle, I am struggling and learning too.  I am so thankful for this opportunity.  He is learning to love our Faith and our Church.  He can't WAIT to see Father come out of the Royal Doors.  He can often be seen pretending to "cense", using a komboskini (prayer rope, pictured above) as his censor.  He recognizes certain prayers and hymns that he hears often.  He can "chant" Ayios O Theos...well, some of it !  He has come a long way.  He still tries to run - but now instead of trying to run away from me, he is trying to run up to the altar.  He is either trying to approach the lower level icons on the Iconastasi, or he sees our Priest or his Baba.  In my mind, I am happy that his attention is THERE and not somewhere else...so I don't mind running up and getting him a few times.  

We still have such a LONG way to go.  He does.  I do.  We all do really.  I thought that in the event that any struggling mother visits my space here, I would post my own experience and struggle - hoping that it would serve as hope.   I tried to keep it short, particularly since I honestly had no intentions of writing anything when I put these photos on the page.  But then I looked at them and thought that he looked like a well-behaved little boy, participating in his own little way during a Church service.  I thought that they looked like a mother's brag book, showing off to her family and friends how "good" her son is during the Liturgy.  That couldn't be further from the truth and ANYONE from my parish can tell you that these were just lucky snapshots of rare, quiet moments.  I really don't have a free or steady hand to reach into my bag and grab the camera as I am chasing him around the church trying to get him to focus on the altar, or shoving a pacifier in his mouth to stop the shout of "NOOOO" mid-scream !  Now THOSE would be some funny and realistic pictures !    Sometimes it is hard to balance what we share here in public view, but sometimes sharing does bring us together.   This truly is a part of my own journey.