A New Kind of Greek Fest Fun

Colin comes from a family that is very proud of their Greek heritage, so every year we go to Greek Fest with his parents, Nona and Grandpa! We usually just eat too much, shop for jewelry and watch some fun dancing, but this year some new elements of fun were added... bouncing and giggling :) 


Norah has yet to learn how to jump, but she is learning (video):


and she had a really great time knocking Grandpa over... and then the rest of us! (video)


Love ~ Renee

The Birthday Party!

So it took me more than a week, but better late than never right? 

We had a great party last Saturday... all of our friends and family were there and although it was sweltering outside, the kids kept cool with the pool and slip 'n slide and they kept us cool with their squirt guns :) Norah had so much fun that she's been talking about it every single day! We are lucky to have such great friends with kids that are all oh so sweet.

Thanks to my wonderful in-laws we had a gorgeous backyard to celebrate in. They decorated it to the hilt, they made games for the kids that were a hit, and they even put Martha Stewart to shame with a yummy spread of picnic food. I just spent the morning making the cake and Colin took care of whatever else there was to take care of. They made it so easy, we might just have to celebrate there every year!

Love ~ Renee

Words to Live By

What happens to you is not as important

as how you react to what happens.  

- Thaddeus Golas

I adore this quote. Because it is absolutely true. Because besides love, hope and dreams, life is made up of reactions. If only I could bottle the inspiration this short string of words brings me so I could carry it along for when I needed it... for when the stress of our hectic life come to a rise and yet one more thing has been added atop it all. I could open up my bottle, breathe in my inspiration and maybe react a little differently.

Don't get me wrong... I am loving this little life I have. I feel lucky. Lucky that out of all of the places in this universe I ended up here, with people that fill my soul with such love and happiness. Which is precisely why I'd rather not have those other things that don't really matter sprinkle haste reactions here and there. What does it really matter if Norah goes to bed late 3 nights in a row? Will anyone really notice if I am a few minutes late to work once in a while? What good does it do to worry about how tired I might be the next day, or about what might happen in the future?

As Colin would tell you, I've been a little uptight lately, and he's right. This is my latest struggle. I have a hunch that a cocktail of pregnancy hormones, a 2 year old toddler and a stressful work environment may have something to do with my frantic nerves lately. It's funny how a few words can put everything into perspective, and they couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I've only got 3 short months until bambino #2 arrives, and I've got to be relaxed by then! 

In slightly related news, Colin just accepted a new job! A job closer to home with regular hours... my dream come true :)

Next up: The Birthday Party!!!  Until then, check out THIS reaction... she came out the other end crying! Poor thing really hates water on her face!



Love ~ Renee

Happy 2nd Birthday My Love!

The last year has gone by in the blink of an eye. It truly feels like it was just yesterday that we celebrated Norah's first brithday and watched in amazement as she took her first steps. Now she is running around like a little mad woman, bossing us all around and singing every song under the sun!

 Yesterday was her birthday, and it was a a fun-filled day to say the least! Sadly, I had to work, so Dad took his favorite birthday girl on a trip to the Children's Museum and then out to lunch for some "mac cheese", chocolate milk and ice cream. Colin said after all that she conked out as soon as he buckled her into the car seat :) After driving around for an entire nap, they stopped off at the salon for a haircut, which Norah just loooves because they serve chocolate lollipops to thier littlest clients!

When I finally got home from work we went to our swimming lesson where my funny girl thought it was a riot to throw the rings in the pool and make mom dive down to get them over and over and over again! We had to do some heavy convincing to get her to come home with us to eat cake and open presents... and after only a few meltdowns we made it home. 

The previous night we setup the cutest foam playhouse in the living room, complete with a flower garden, birds, window boxes, a mailbox, a skylight and a chimney. What more could a girl ask for? We wrapped up her smaller presents, put them inside and covered the playhouse with some sheets. In the morning she came downstairs and exclaimed "Dat's a HOUSE!" and wanted to open it so badly. I even got a call at work from an upset little girl who reluctantly settled for waiting until mommy got home, so as soon as we walked in the door after swimming lessons, that is what we did! 

I've never seen her so exited about presents before. The biggest hit was new food for her kitchen! That is all she wanted to play with... she threw aside her new doggie and kitty shirts, forgot about the front-loading washing machine for her baby's clothes and ran out of the play house to her kitchen so she could make us some food! Maybe I should be calling her "Chef Norah" instead :)

While she was preparing a feast for us, I brought out a giant chocolate cupcake with a mountain of pink frosting and sprinkles and two glittery star candles. I wish I could have captured that moment in a photograph! The look on her face was just priceless, so amazed and excited and happy... it made my heart melt. She proudly blew out her candles all by herself and we all shared the enormous cupcake. 

Sometimes I wish there were two of me. One to capture all of these memories in photographs, and one to just be in the moment to soak it all in. Today I will settle for a few photos and whole lot of in the moments. 

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!     

... ok so I am having trouble uploading photos. I will have to add them later when Colin can figure out what the problem is :)