Spring Break, Painting and Knitting

Between Isi teething, my severe allergies, spring break, and a successful party for the guys Ted works with, I seem to have fallen way behind on my blog. We have some catching up to do. This last week we went to the Zoo and visited their new, temporary, exhibit, 'Stingray Bay'. The girls were able to put their hands in the water and the stingrays would come right up to you to be pet. Isi loved it and screamed like crazy the whole time out of excitement. We also played mini golf and attended a Coyotes vs. Dallas Stars hockey game. The Coyotes were winning but the Stars caught up and won in a sudden death shoot out. Too exciting!

I am posting pictures of one old project and one new project. The first is of the guest room that received a paint job and a new bed. Neat color, huh?

The second is my custom, hand knit, one of a kind, knitting design I am working on. I have decided to start coming up with my own patterns and this will be the very first one of a dress for Isi from a pattern I sewed with fabric for her. So far I have learned that decreases only on the sides somehow make the sides way longer than the rest of the dress. Having already, almost completed this project once, I faced my denial and ripped the whole thing apart to start over (5days of knitting to be precise). This time things seem to be working a lot better and I should have a picture up the next time I update my site.

Keep in touch,
Love Charmaine, girls and one Ted.

How about them Canucks, eh?

The big highlight of the week was taking the whole family to a Canucks vs. Coyotes hockey game. Can you believe we all got in for $40? Turns out we committed a huge sin by wearing Coyotes hats even though we couldn't help cheer for Canucks. A few people thought we were crazy and my family was too rowdy that some people actually went and found new seats. It was such a fun game we couldn't help ourselves!
Yesterday it hit 31 degrees Celsius here and is supposed to keep getting hotter through the week! We went to a Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox spring training game with Athena's classmates and their families. We took part in our first tailgate party ever! It was soooo hot we only held out for half the game before coming home to go for a swim. The pool is still a little cool for me but the girls dove right in.

I am back tracking in time to show you all some pictures I took a few weeks ago while Teds mom and sister were here. One of our trips was south to some ruins which seem to have been built according to the stars. We also couldn't help but stop at this Prison Outlet store were inmates from Arizona's largest prison sell crafts they make. We even caught one prisoner helping out at the store! Can you believe we stopped here with Teds mom?


Hugs and Kisses!
Charmaine

Milestone Birthday!

Holy Crap! I'm 30! How the heck did that happen? Above is a picture of myself with Teds little sis Katherine the weekend before my birthday. Ten years ago I would never believe you if you had told me I would have three girls and live in Arizona. What a ride life has been up to this point. I may be 30 and how I feel now inside, outside and about life, I would never trade just to be 20 again. I had a nice quiet birthday and was just happy to have Ted home, who never should have been in town except for some last minute changes that allowed him to come home. I went shopping for myself, by myself (which I haven't done for years), I picked out a gorgeous Australian opal necklace (my gift from Ted), the girls made me gifts, my Dad sent gorgeous flowers (he almost always forgets my birthday, good thing he was on the ball, or else....), and my mom sent me a beautiful silk robe and beaded purse.

Isi is pictured with my purse she had claimed for the day and wearing the new dress I made her. She has learned to say mine, along with an insanely high pitched scream that she thinks makes her cute and funny and can run the DVD player all of her own.
As for Athena and Hera, their new thing this week is Taekwando! Finally I signed them up at a great place right around the corner from my house. I might have to try it out one of these days.

Till next week,
Hugs and kisses,
Charmaine

Chess Champ

WhooHooo! I have a first place Chess Champ in the house. Athena just took part in her first tournament for beginners this morning. She played three games, winning two with the third ending in stale mate. All the kids participating were from grades 1 through 6 and all first timers so what age you play against didn't matter. The awards are given out according to your grade group, so Athena placed first out of all the other 4th through 6th graders.
I am finally putting up another project picture. I was very frustrated with the price of pants for babies and how bad they can fit that I made some myself for little Isi. Not bad huh? I plan on making a few more and have already finished a pair of long shorts.


Ted, Athena, Hera, Kash and Yiayia are all off to the Challenger Space Center to participate in a simulated space mission. I can't wait to go one of these times and look forward to hearing about all of it. Anyone out there with kids in third grade or older who want to go? No one said I need to go with a kid, other interested adults work too, all you have to do is get your butt down here!

Hugs and kisses from all of us,
Charmaine

Grand Canyon

I can't believe all the things that have happened since I last wrote. I'll update you about the guest room and other projects next week but this week I had to share some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I had such a hard time deciding what pictures to post from our trip to the Grand Canyon with Yiayia and Theia Kash. I took 153 pictures and wish I had taken even more.

Ted had his back surgery last Wednesday and everything went great. Ted was released that night at 9:30pm! The next day he actually went to work on Thursday which he realized was not such a smart move and did take it a little easier for the rest of the week. The other funny thing, he never filled out all his pain prescriptions.

Love the Sfikas Family

Turtles and Geckos

Hello to all of you who are checking in on us. I keep adding more and more pictures to this site and wish I could show even more at a time but I am fighting to keep things short.
The kids had no school today so we all decided to go hiking at the Thunderbird Conservation park which is only a five minute drive from my house. The girls were very ambitious and dragged me to the very top. I had Isi in a backpack and after an hour and a half of hiking I don't think I will be able walk properly for days.
Earlier this week I saw one of the best things I have ever see in my life. As I was picking Hera up from Cheer, I was waiting outside watching the girls play a game, when it happened. My shy, conservative Hera had completely let loose and was dancing like no one could see her. I LOVED IT!

I am showing off the girls recent projects. Athena made a Gecko stepping stone, and Hera made a sleevy (as the kids call them) out of an old T-shirt and stitched the turtle on all be herself. Athena made one with a snake on it but we can't find it at the moment.

Little Isi was trying to jump today. Lot's of little wipe outs and just plain way too cute! She also grew two new teeth with one more about to pop through. No, I haven't been sleeping well, however all the extra cuddles to make her feel better make everything bearable.

Till next week,
Sending Hugs and Kisses,
Charmaine and Girls

Animal Pals

We had a great time with my friend Rachel and her boys even though they ended up sick. One of our adventures was to the Wild Life World Zoo. Check out Athena feeding a baby giraffe who was just tall enough to snag some tasty treats. This zoo is part of a breeding program so everywhere you went their were baby animals, including white baby tigers. The kids got to feed all kinds of birds, baby deer, a baby llama and some goats. It was a ton of fun.
I also couldn't help sharing with you little Isi and Java hanging out together.
We have been working on many projects around here. Hera has the friendship bracelet bug, Athena made a cool stepping stone, I am working on a sweater and am almost finished painting my second living room wall. Too many pictures for one little page!
Some of you may know that the girls and I have been working on learning to speak Greek. It's going to be a long time till we are able to actually hold a conversation but the girls are doing awesome and know almost 500 words. One of the tools we have been using is 'Linkword', a computer program. The first one was awesome but the second one is loaded with mistakes. I think I may write them a letter.
One thing you may not know about me, I am addicted to 'Yoshi's Island', a Nintendo DS game. You read right, I am now out of the closet with my addiction.

Till next week,
Yasas