Awards, Awards, Awards

It's been a big week here for the girls. They received awards left, right and center. I attended award ceremonies for each girl for being honor roll achievers. Then Ted and I went to the 'Reflections' award and exhibit of the students art they had all entered for this once a year program. Hera won an award for participating and Athena won the award for 'Literature Excellence' and will go on to compete at State level. AWESOME! (Isi loves this word and it comes out really fast sounding more like asum). The thing we find really funny is this was Athena's whole writing class had to participate and write a poem that would go toward their grade. Athena can't stand writing poems. I was editing Athena's poem and I kept pushing her to do better. She must have re-written this poem 20 times before I let up on her. We had tears and everything at one point, I even thought it would be days before she would talk to me again, but I couldn't let her waste her beautiful writing talent. I think for all of us here this was proof hard work definitely goes a long way. In the end, this is what she wrote for the theme ' I Can Make a Difference By...' ;

MY FANTASY STORIES

I can make a difference by

Writing my fantasy stories,

about fire-breathing dragons and funny fluffy fairies.

I can bring people to different places and times,

to where our minds burst with imagination

And we read to those mysterious sounds.

We could go under the sea

and meet a singing what!

We could meet a rhyming, rocketing bumblebee,

or play in outer space with as alien who loves to sail!

I can make a difference by

Inspiring and encouraging reading,

and to help them slip into the realm of believing.

Athena Sfikas, 6th grade

Here is adorable Hera with her award. Her little sis trailing behind. I think she expected an award also.

Isi had her very first official haircut. I can't believe her hair is neat and tidy for once in her life. Maybe it will last for more than one day? The hairdresser was asum! I have tried like crazy to cut her hair and it wasn't working so I finally got help. Isi sat in a toy airplane and watched a princess movie. She never flinched once however I did catch her checking out her reflection in the mirror now and then. It was a little hard to let go of the baby curls. At least I have a cute little card from the hairdressers with a clear pocket full of her hair and a little photo as a keepsake.

I think she looks older with the haircut. I had to put this photo up because often when she laughs she puts her hands over her mouth and I just love it. Her shocking phrase of the day was 'Anna, wha do in?' (Hera, what are you doing?). For some reason she calls both her sisters Anna.

Ted and I had date night on Friday. We saw the movie 'Cloverfield'. A very, very intense show. The whole thing was shot from a hand held camera so there was severe shaking through the whole thing. I spent almost the entire time staring at my feet because it gave me some of the worst motion sickness I have ever had. I thought for sure I was going to cause a huge scene because I vomited all over the floor. Thank goodness I didn't, but as soon as I got home I went straight to bed. You are all now warned! So much for romance.

That should about bring everyone up to speed. I hope some of you are enjoying a long weekend and that we meet back here soon!

With Love,

Charmaine, Ted, Athena, Hera and Isidora

Little Rockers and Ski Bunnies

What a great holiday we had. Isi is checking out the guitar for the game 'Guitar Hero III' for the Wii. They had way too many cool stuff to play with. Isi spent days in a Princess dress I bought for her with a crown Athena made for her and a wand. It was really cute. As much fun as it was we always miss being around everyone we care about so plan to get your rear ends down here sometime! I made the most amazing turkey ever! I always over cook everything but my Christmas diner turned out fantastic. Below is the Chocolate, cheesecake torte I made. It's got a layer of cheesecake between the chocolate layers and has a homemade buttercream frosting. It tasted as good as it looks. Now to try and burn off the extra 5lbs which I thought would be going away by now but seem to be sticking around.

This was a project Athena and I made for her teacher who loves Superman. I love how he turned out and had to share him with all of you. I can't stand buying gifts for teachers so I am always asking the kids to make something for them. I am sure teachers get enough junk and I like to do something different.
This last weekend we had a blast skiing at Big Bear Lake in California. The kids took lessons all day and ski much better than Ted already. It's crazy how they can pick things up. As for myself I was off by myself a lot enjoying some great snow. Thank goodness skiing comes back fast and I was off like I had never stopped for so many years. It snowed so much on Sunday we had to put chains on the tires before driving home. It was a very long trip back especially since there was an accident on the road down that held us up for almost 2 hours.
Going back a few days more, we spent a night in Palm Springs so we could get a full day of skiing in on Friday and here is Isi pretending to sleep in our bed. The hotel was awesome, like a palace, and we had a great time.
Isi is starting to say sentences now. She is saying things like awesome, ready daddy, good morning, I see you, I'm coming, tv, Princess, Jasmin, Aerial, and hungry. I have got to write them down more because I want to remember all of them. She also sings every chance she gets.

Post more soon!
Love the Sfikas Family