Swimmin in the Rain

Swim lessons have started up again and while Olive is still in the Parent-Child classes, Nikos has graduated to the group class with no parents. I was a little bit
nervous about this, since on the way over Nikos did not seem cool with the fact that we weren't going to be in the pool with him. He kept telling us "No Momma, when we get to the pool I'll jump in to you or Dadda."

The Y is in the middle of a pool remodel - yeah for longterm but pain in the butt for now. So with little or no viewing area, this is the best we got.

Baby O in the middle of the shot in the pink suit.





Nikos on the right in the green suit and blue swim shirt.


Turns out he was super excited to get into the pool and kept asking Taki when it was his turn for the teacher to bring him in.
Woohoo!

Practicing putting his face in the water.


Floating with the noodle.


10 months until we take these little swimmers to Hawaii!

- Posted using BlogPress from Heather's iPhone

Starbucks Pusher

Caught these cute shots of Olive today while she devoured her vanilla kreme from Starbucks.

Calling to Bosco.

Basking in the glow of being an only child (Nikos was napping - he fell asleep on the way back from Starbucks!)

Buzz Takes Berkeley

Nikos had his first preschool Halloween parade today. I had asked ahead of time to make sure that it was okay that I bring him in (since he doesn't go to preschool on Fridays) and everyone assured me that it would be fine. To be honest, I was more worried about what would happen at the end of the parade when he realized he didn't get to stay at school for the rest of the day - he looooves it there!

I invited my parents along to watch the parade and so they could see Niko's school since they had never been before. With the parade starting at 10 we set off from our house at 9:45 and walked over to the school. We met up with the rest of the Wood Ducks in their classroom and I tried to grab a few shots of the chaos.

Nikos with his good friend Nico. (yes, I am cringing that I gave my child a name that he would have to share with classmates. Argh. The memory of 7 Heather's in my first grade class still haunts me...)

It's funny, since there are two of them they always call Niko "Nikos" in class to differentiate, so now at home when I call him Niko sometimes he will correct me and say, "No, I am NikoS." Ha.

Mr. Lightyear poses for the paparazzi.

The crimefighters pose with one of their teachers, Miss Mitra. Buzz is very serious and refuses to smile for the camera.

On the parade "route" - the whole school walked around the block.

Back at school Nikos goes To Infinity and Beyond (courtesy of a swing.)

Work It

So we have been upping the ante a little bit around here and actually working out. I know, I know, this seems like a simple thing that people do all of the time. Turns out I took a four year break (or so) from some heavy duty cardio. I started a weight loss contest at work at the end of May and wrapped it up in September as the winner - wahoo! Apparently there is something to working out on a regular basis! :)

As you can see from this video, the exercise bug has bitten more than just me in this family...

My Little Pumpkins

We've been busy here eating, sleeping and breathing Giants. Today we took a break before Game 1 of the World Series for a little Pumpkin Carving at the Garden at Niko's school. They had pumpkins "hidden" all around the garden and the kids go to pick one to either paint or carve. I wish I had taken pics of this, it was really cute! The pumpkins (along with sweet and savory food items) were all for sale in order to earn money for the Parent Association.

Nikos opted to paint his and Olive joined him as well.

Clearly it is no shock that she is eating while she is painting. She saw the treat table and pitched a fit until I bought her a mini muffin.

I'm fairly certain that the muffin ended up with as much paint on it as her pumpkin did. I mean, I'm sure it is organic and safe since it is the preschool paint...right?

Olive stops painting to cheese for the camera.

Very intent on her masterpiece.

Nikos was much more serious than Olive and wouldn't even take a break to throw me a cheese

Love the concentration on his face!

Meanwhile, Olive was much more concerned with keeping her audience amused.

Wonder where she gets that from...

Game 3 NLCS

Fabulous that the Giants are in the playoffs - not so fabulous that we are slammed at work = no time off. Instead I went into work two hours early so I could take a two hour break midday to soak in the atmosphere.

I talked Robin into walking down to the ballpark with me - and Steve joined too.

Robin and I at the entrance if the park.


That's Will the Thrill in the hat, next to FP.


We made our way back to the ramp at Momo's where we were deliriously jealous of all the individuals (pretty much everyone else) that got to actually go to the game.


Robin did attempt to waiver my resolve by mentioning that maybe she didn't haaave to go back to work. Sadly for her, a non-return was NOT an option for me.

After witnessing the flyover we made one more lap of the park.

Back entrance.


Loved the banner on this boat in McCovey Cove.


More boats in the harbor.


Kayakers.


And back to work...what a day!

- Posted using BlogPress from Heather's iPhone

19 Months

Olive celebrates 19 months. She is still happy and feisty, relishing her roll of little princess. We are trying to eliminate her sense of entitlement by not giving into our every whim - but at times it appears Nikos is working against us. Of course, don't get me wrong, he also isn't afraid to knock her in the head with a caboose.

Game 1

In honor of Game 1 of the NLCS we drove out to the Grochol's on Saturday. I finally understood all the jokes about kids asking "are we there yet?" No lie, Nikos probably asked if we were in "San Ateo" 150 times on the way there. It got to the point were Taki would just tell him every time we passed a new city in order to get him to stop asking if we were in San Ateo. Needless to say that didn't work and he kept asking. Can't wait for the loooong trip to Palm Springs next month!

Olive was very excited to sit on the horse in the backyard (so different from Nikos at this age who was PETRIFIED of the same horse.)

Of course, all bets are off when she has to share the spotlight..we are really trying to nip this in the bud now!

Nikos was equally un-thrilled since it meant he had to stop batting practice for the photo.

Ryan and Niko enjoyed the fact that they were both wearing Posey shirts. All night they kept asking where the other Posey was (in fact, when I was putting Nikos to bed that night he asked if Ryan Posey had gone to bed yet.)

Olive relaxes on the chair, still with her book (love that!).

By the way, Nikos kept calling the little books "train schedules."

Jeff and Sarah proved to be the only parents that actually followed Steve's instructions to "dress your child like one of the ballplayers...". Marco showed up as Brian Wilson, mohawk and all - and I have to say, he can pull it off!

The kids - left to right: Marco, Nikos, Olive, Brookie (pink tutu), Reese and Ryan - test the 100lb weight limit on the trampoline. My money is over it since my two are contributing 50lbs (30+20.)

Reesie teaches Ollie how to use a telescope (or binoculars.)

One win down, three to go. Go Giants!

She Walks!!

Olive has been working up the courage to take her first (unaided) steps for a few weeks. Last week we got this video of her standing on her own.

And yesterday she walked for the first time!

You Can't Rain On Our Parade

Since today was a rainy day we had to get creative in order to entertain the kids. We had to bring the chaisse mattress inside anyway (didn't plan ahead of time to stick it in the garage before the rain started) so we decided to let the kids treat it as a trampoline of sorts. Here is Olive on the bootleg trampoline.

Hopefully she will not find out that Nikos and I took off to meet up with the cousins and an actual trampoline!

And finally, here's Nikos jumping into the foam.

Bring It

The kids prove that they aren't intimidated by taking some Philly kryptonite (of the Snyder's variety) and cheers-ing with it.






- Posted using BlogPress from Heather's iPhone

Go Giants - Game 2!

Warning, turn down your speakers.

My favorite part is when Robin says "What do you say if you want a cupcake?" and the kids yell "Please!" and Robin says "No! Go Giants!"

- Posted using BlogPress from Heather's iPhone

Go Giants!

Uh oh. Looks like someone's rootin for the underdogs.



- Posted using BlogPress from Heather's iPhone

The Intimidation Has Begun

Those Philly fans are not for the faint of heart. I received not one, but TWO forms of intimidation today.

One via email...


(Can't say I am not jealous of the pretzel itself!) and one via snail mail...


At the Game1 party today I fully expect someone to show up and puke on my children.

- Posted using BlogPress from Heather's iPhone