Family Photo

Here's our family photo, Nik holding his baby (the bear) and Kat in her favorite position with her head to the side looking out at the world.
I was in bed for about 4 days due to my back just going out last Tuesday night, we went to the doctor on Monday and he sent me to a Physical Therapist. I always thought of physical therapist being the ones who make you use the treadmill and do general workout routines. But in Greece they are like Chiropractors and massage therapist all rolled up into one person. He used two pieces of equipment that just seemed to warm up my back and then he cracked it in several places and then gave me a rough Swedish massage and the nice part is that our insurance is taking care of the cost. I have gone twice and now can at least walk down to KokaRoka, I get 4 more visits this time around if I need more I have to go back to the bone doctor and then he will send me to the Physical Therapist again our insurance will pay for up to 4 times a year at 6 visits each that's 24 visits, pretty sweet. Of course if I wasn't breastfeeding I think the doctor would have just given me some heavy drugs and sent me on my way. Greek doctors love prescribing drugs and drugs are fairly cheap here, for the most part ranging from 1 to 3 euros.

My Favorite Photos

Here's Nik Playing Greek God, he loves to walk down to KokaRoka like this, too cute.
And our adorable baby girl, in an outfit sent from Aunt Jeanie. I believe she will have the same beautiful blue eyes that her brother has, how Arthur and I produced two such pretty kids is well genetics, but how and who's is really the question.

Quick Trip To The Sea

An exhausting early morning drive and swim at the beach has left both kids tuckered out. Baby Kat had her first dip into the sea, it was still windy but the water was a little calmer this time. We went to the same beach and hotel that we had stayed at previously.
The restaurant at the hotel that we stay at, the whole place is surrounded by trees and flowers. It needs this protection from both the sun and the constant wind.
Baby Kat chillin' with big brother downstairs where they had a TV that was hooked up to a Satellite that got the Cartoon Network. Nik really liked that channel and controled it for the two days that we were there, thankfully the owners have 3 children themselves and didn't mind having cartoons on all of the time.
Watching TV and sipping on a lemonade, perfect holiday relaxation, after a day of swimming.
Eating dinner, Nik has a great imagination and has picked up the habit of pretending that a toothpick is a cigarette, so here he is having a cig along with his dinner in typical Greek fashion.
The beach that Arthur really loves, on this day it was super cloudy and very rough, so only Nik and Dad went out, while baby and I stayed at the hotel.
When Nik came back he was covered from head to toe with sand, he really loves playing at the beach.
So we decided to stay only one night since this day was appearing to be stormy and the next day would be the same. While Arthur was having breakfast he saw a sign for some Apartment Villas on sale, we called the number and went to look at them. The view from the Villa is below.
A really sweet view even better in person, within a 5 minute drive and probably only 10 minutes to walk down to the beach. There are 6 units, 2 to each pool, the one we looked at was 2nd to the end of the picture below, there is the first floor and then a basement. Kitchen, living room w/fireplace, 2 bedrooms and one bath for 160,000euros. At the time it sounded great you have the view to amaze you and then you leave and it's like what where you thinking 160,000 is a whole lot of money.
So we didn't purchase our own beach getaway, but we were tempted, it's very beautiful.

A Picture For Mom

Hello Mom... Here is Mr. Independent putting his shoes on the wrong feet, but he knows best (he got huge blisters doing this). He also now loves these suspender pants that you bought him because he can put them on himself. He is also potty training all by himself and will tell me "no pana mama, no pana" (pana is diaper in Greek). He has very good bladder control and loves using the toilet so I think he will be out of a day diaper by the end of September.
He still loves to help clean and will tell people he is "working", he will do anything you do, clean windows, wash dishes, bring in wood, anything you will let him do. "Cooking" is also one of his favorite words and he likes to help out in the kitchen, whenever I will let him.
He is a nonstop action always running and with no fear, we had to take away his bike because he was taking it down the hill at very high speeds. He also walks to Grandma's house all by himself, I watch from the veranda and YiaYia stands down at the bottom of the steps.
He makes a great big brother and will get the babies pacifier when it drops, he also makes her laugh and gives her kisses. He will tell me when to pick her up or when to put her down. He has started to carry around a bear that is "his baby" and he will put it to bed and feed it and even tried to change it's pana.
It is so fun to watch him grow.