Joining the 21st Century

We finally have Wi-Fi at KokaRoka, now our guest who bring their own computer can just get a password and hook up. Unfortunately our house is just a little too far away for my computer to piggy back on to KokaRoka's Wi-Fi, but I bring my laptop down and then Arthur can use his and I can use mine at the same time.

We have also purchased a King sized bed, compared to our less than double bed that made rolling over impossible, this is very exciting news. Hopefully it will be here before the little one arrives.

There are a lot of other projects in the works, we are placing cement in the heating room to make the floor even. I am painting the backyard's cement wall and placing a trellis so I can plant some honeysuckle. We also need to refinish the wood railing's outside on the verandas. Lot's of projects this spring and I better get them done before my Dad and Rhonda arrive in July.

Nik

I thought I would write a little about Nik and how he is growing. His legs have finally caught up to his upper body and are fitting into toddler size 3 pants. He is speaking a little more and some of my favorite words are Bye, money and please.
He likes to get ready to go places by packing a bag and then he slings it over his shoulder and says "bye" and then blows me a kiss, sometimes when I ask him where he is going he will say "church" or "ΓιαΓια" (grandma), too cute.
Anyone working with a saw or power tool is "Παπου" (grandpa) and he always request "more" when he hears these noises, I guess he likes the sound.
He also loves to go to the grocery store and will pick out what he would like to buy and then he will give the "money" to the cashier. He totally understands that everything cost money and that he needs to pay for it. He also loves to take money out of the cash register machine in KokaRoka and put it in his pocket, I have found up to 50euros in there. "Money" is a wonderful way to make a friend with him, I ask him if he would like some money and he dances and jumps around saying "money, money, money".
He has also learned that a "please" can pretty much get him anything, even stuff that I have denied previously, it is just so hard to deny such a cute "pleeeasse".

Easter Weekend in Greece

Nik's Godfather (Bill) brought him his candle along with a large chocolate egg with a spider man toy inside and a police plane for the Easter weekend. Nik gave him kiss when he got the presents but after the presents were opened and as his Godfather was leaving he wouldn't give a kiss. So if you want kisses you better bring a present and ask for the kiss right away or you will miss out, hehehehe!

On Friday we went to the Lake with Arthur's friends Martin and his pregnant girlfriend Angela (she is due around the same time as me and the same age) they live in Austria. We had lunch at a tavern and then enjoyed some ice cream while walking around the small town, Nik wanted to join a farmer who had his lambs and chickens out, he loves animals. The lake is very full this year and the place that we normally go to for a coffee had water in half of their parking lot and the chairs were right on the water's edge, a whole new meaning to sitting by the lake.

On Saturday we tried to stay up for the 11:30PM church service (this is when you burn your candle) but we just couldn't make it, went to bed at 11, almost made it. On Sunday we roasted a whole lamb.

Pictures to come

Sunday drive to see friends

On Sunday we took a drive up to Naousa about 2 1/2 hours away, the peach capital of Greece. Spring time is a lovely time to go up there with all of the trees in bloom.
Arthur's old military buddy Stelios and his family, Stavros (son), Arthur, Mara, Nik, Nikki and Anastasia (our goddaughter). It is tradition for the godparent to give a candle for Easter to the godchild so we made a little goodies bag for her and brought it up, last year we couldn't go because Nik had just finished his final surgery.

Reading books on the top bunk of Anastasia's bed.

After visiting our friends we went to our favorite bakery for some yummy cookies and I ran into an American women that was from New York and moved to Greece with her Greek husband 10 years ago. It is so fun to meet people like this, completely random. We then went to the School of Aristotle's, where he taught Alexander the Great, it is about a 5 minute drive from Naousa and 30 minutes from Vergina (where the palace of Philip II and Alexander the Great lies) of course back then I'm sure it took a whole lot longer to get there.
Perhaps this big tree was around in 300 B.C.
Taking Lessons
Very beautiful setting you could see some columns lying on the ground and even a small amphitheater perhaps where Aristotle's taught.

USA Trip Part 3, Colorado

Here we are at the Seattle Airport, eating a Wendy's burger one more time before leaving Washington State, but not the last burger to be enjoyed during our trip.

Flying Southwest Airlines.

We had a difficult time at the airport picking up our rental car with Dollar it was the worst experience I have ever had, even though no one was in line it took them an hour to get us our car and then when we walked outside to get it, someone else had taken it, so then they had to find another vehicle for us. I will never rent from Dollar again. By the time we left the airport it was late and dark and we still had to drive to Greeley.
Yippee! snow greeted us on the ground in Colorado and we enjoyed beautiful sunny days while there.
Grandma Doris so kindly allowed us to stay at her house.
Eating out at one of Alan's favorite restaurant's.
Totally cool car that Alan has re-done from the inside out.
Nik, Alan, feeling nauseous Mara and Arthur.
The fun things you can put on your head.


Obviously Nik does not know how to read yet, he loves nuts.
Waiting for Dinner, Grandma enjoyed eating trahana with Nik, a very good Greek food made from milk and flour.
We had some guest from Colorado stay in KokaRoka a few weeks before our trip and we went to visit them while there, the guy is a retired Delta pilot and he is building his own plane in the basement.
Deer on our drive up to the Rocky Mountains.
Family photo.

Arthur and Alan

BBQ dinner up in Estes Park, Nik slept through most of the meal, I had a ton of leftovers and made delicious brisket and cheese sandwiches.
On our last day in Colorado we went to the Denver Zoo, very fun. We also ate Wendy's on our way out of town.

Crazy Weather

The last weeks have been sunny and everyone has been planting flowers and trimming roses. Yesterday it snowed all day and today the African sand came so now the ground is covered in red snow. I just hope that my lovely hyacinths can make it through the cold front.

Making Pita

He's our little Top Chef, here he is rolling out some pita. If you look in the fire you can see the lid (rastra) with a pita already underneath.
Can I eat a Piece. Yes says PaPou.

My Boys

Here are my boys at work, little Nik chopping the branches, Arthur loading up the van, and big Nik using the chainsaw to cut down the tree.