Ciao!!

I just wanted to say hello! Check back soon for an update on my B-day! I am a big girl now!!!

Lili

Egypt- Relaxing in Sharm

The final installment of our Egypt trip was the real vacation part. We went to Sharm el Sheik, a resort town on the Red Sea and met up with Grandpa and Nana for some fun in the sun. Ok, it was more like fun wherever we could find shade wearing 10,000 layers of sun screen for our paler than pale skins, but that did not detract from the fun. The weather was beautiful ( in the 80's) and we stayed in an all inclusive resort, which a few years ago I would have never done, but things change. Convenience now outweighs adventure, and I am not ashamed to admit that we never even left the grounds the 3 days we were there. We could snorkel right off the beach which was great. Miki loved all the different pools and all the attention from the grandparents, Lili loved all the food ( especially the melons at breakfast) and it was just nice and relaxing after hectic Cairo and a much needed respite from life in general.

The Queen that I am

Everybody knows that I am cute and opinionated. At daycare, I am now called regina (queen). At home I do not get treated like a queen even though I demand it. But finally in Egypt, I got the attention I deserve. Everybody loved me. Everybody wanted to hold me, touch me, kiss me. I acted cool, like any celebrity would- sometimes I gave a little smile just to make people happy. But secretly I enjoyed every minute of it. My parents are usually good natured about these kinds of things, but I think this was a bit much for them- they just don't understand- I am the queen (of what, I don't know yet) and getting attention, wanted or unwanted, is just a part of life. At one point a policeman had to interfere to disperse a crowd of girls- I was cool as a cucumber, smiling for their cell phone cameras and all, while my parents were slightly overwhelmed and helpless. What can they do, they were not meant for this life... but I still love them.
Regina Lili

Egypt-Cairo

On our second day we went to the Egyptian Museum. Of course with the kids and the crowds this was like a mad dash to try to see the most important things such as the Tutankhamun (aka King Tut) Galleries. He is really mostly famous for the fact that his tomb was found almost completely intact in 1922. There is a photograph of one of the rooms in the tomb which really struck me- it is a room filled with furniture, beds, and all other things he may need in the afterlife- it almost looks like someone's attick (except for the fact that everything is gold covered or bejeweled). We actually walked to the museum from our hotel ( highly recommend the Marriott Hotel on Zamalek Island- formerly the Gezira palace) which was an experience- at one point a police officer almost got hit buy a bus as he tried to hold up traffic for us to cross the street.
The third day was sort of our religious pilgrimage- in one day we went to the Hanging Church ( so called because it is built on top of a Roman fortress) and the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Coptic Cairo and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali in the Citadel. Miki really enjoyed the shoeless aspect of the mosque- there was an internal courtyard where he just ran and ran and ran. Lili liked the rugs inside of the mosque and the mosque visitors liked her ( more on this later).
The third night was the wedding, which was a Coptic Christian ceremony- very beautiful. Unfortunately we are too old to party with the Egyptians- we left the reception about 1:30 ( to get back to the hotel at 3 am, and have the kids get up at 6:30) just as dinner was getting served and the party was getting started :-(.
Then we spent a day recovering and meeting up with some friends and left for Sharm el Sheik the following day.

Egypt-The Great Pyramids

So in our first true family vacation as a family of four, we went to Egypt. If you have not been there that probably sounds really exciting. If you have been there, you might think we are a bit crazy. We went for the wedding of a good friend and had a great time. So as good tourist, the first day of course went to Giza and saw the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Miki was very excited because as a three year-old, he really has a good understanding of the historical significance of these astonishing monuments. Right. Ok, so maybe it is because there is a Little Einsteins episode about the Pyramids and also seeing the Great Sphinx. At any rate, we were all excited. Like millions of tourists before and after us we took many pictures and felt really small (physically and existentially).

Things Lili likes

Pulling people's hair, food, hugs, having her stomach tickled, food, pulling people's hair, headbutting, waking up at 3 am, watching her brother goof around, trying to climb out of her bathtub and this

Chores

So while Dada was away (in Kyiv or if you don't stick to the strict Ukranian translation- Kiev) this past weekend, I thought I would relax. Wake up early and rest a bit on the couch, watch a little TV, play with legos, do some artwork, take a nice nap, maybe go on a little stroll to the park, the usual. As it turns out, Dada does a fair amount of work around the house, and with him not here, and a long week of work behind everyone, I felt like my Mama was a little overwhelmed. So I decided to help out. As it turns out I am very handy, and probably already outdo Dada (because I am super enthusiastic and he is not really into doing the laundry). I helped to make bread pudding (yummy!), loaded and unloaded many loads of laundry (ok, most of it was my stuff but still), and then did some sweeping (although I was pretending to play doctor at the time- seemed like something a doctor would or should do, no?). Anyways, it was a good weekend and I still spent some serious time with the legos.
Miki

What were my parents thinking?

I think I might be too small for that basin. I still love it, but really, who are we kidding, I am a big girl now. Not to mention that I can probably open the faucet ( see my hand right there?), which might not be such a good idea ( especially since we are in the land of uncontrolled hot water temperatures). But I do have to say, I am pretty cute, even in my new slimmer state.

Lili

Editor's comment- disclaimer- Lili is no longer bathed in the sink like that. These pictures were taken when, due to unforeseen circumstances, she required an immediate bath at a time when the bathtub was already occupied. But I do agree, she looks cute.

Back when...

Back when it was warm, back when Noja was here, back when Lili only had two teeth, or in other words, forever ago, we went on a daytrip to Castel Gandolfo. This is the Pope's summer residence, located up the hill from a beautiful volcanic crater lake called Lake Albano. We walked around a bit, had a nice lunch with a superb view of the lake and then went swimming. The water was beautiful and clear. We had bread for Lili to snack on, a boat for Miki to play with and rented a bed for Mikael to nap on. What a perfect day!

Cool Cousin Kristof

We had another visitor this weekend and of course automatically this meant a new playmate for me.

Look at how cool we are, hanging out at my favorite place- Piazza del Popolo. ( for those of you not in the know- this is where I work parking cars... differents kinds of cars, to be precise)

Miki