Sea World

This past weekend we drove to Sea World in Orlando. Foti had a conference so Matthaios and I went ourselves to the park. The Dolphin 'Nursery'. The babies were so cute!!

Me and my baby.

What a character. He didn't want me to take his picture.

I would love to stand on Shamu's nose!

Matty called him "Shampoo!"

LOOK AT ME, MOM!!!

The sea lions and the walrus. He loved this show.

Eating a brownie sundae out of his "Shampoo" bowl.

My little Al Bundy had a great day!!

Summer Vacation

This past week, we spent our vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We drove (well, Fotis drove and I told him how to drive- God that man must love me) all 1,000 miles in 2 days and the boy made it through pretty well. We stayed at a beach house near Cape Hatteras with my Mom and Bruce and friends Sharon and Shep.


Matt was *so* digging this pool that Grammy bought for him.

Shep and Bruce trying to catch fish on the sound side of the island. The only thing Pap Pap Bruce caught was a ticket from the fish police for fishing without a license. Tsk, tsk Pappy! Fotis had just put the fishing rod down 2 minutes before the police showed up and narrowly missed a ticket himself!!

"This vacation business is hard work!"

Awww.....

"Grammy Paul" (notice no 'A') chilling under the beach umbrella

Weeee!!

Matt and Pappy building a fort!

Three Weeks In Greece

Foti, Matthaios and I spent an incredible 3 weeks in Greece. We had such a great time! Matthaios enjoyed spending lots of time with his Yia Yia Alexandra and his Thia Katerina and Foti and I shared some great times together without the munchkin! Matt slept at his Yia Yia's every night and she and Katerina had so much fun with him. Foti and I enjoyed sleeping in and napping when we wanted to- it was great! Alexandra cooked everyday for us and we came home so much fatter. Here are a few of the highlights of our trip...

Matt and his Yia Yia

Matt with his Pappou Yiannis, Alexandra's brother

Matt and his Yia Yia Aleka, Yiannis' wife

Thia Katerina is so happy to see her nephew

Walking near the beach in Nafpaktos, Foti's hometown

This water is too cold, Daddy!!

Matthaios with the neighbors, Nikos and Agellos.

Mommy and Matty

Tasos and Foti in Patras- they have been best of friends for over 30 years

WEEEEEE!

Matt meets his Greek Godfather Tasos

The harbor in Nafpaktos

This is the village of Kalavrita where we stayed for 2 days with Tasos. It's a small little village in the mountains of central Greece.

On our way to lunch in Kalavrita, we encountered a few obstacles!

Matthaios was baptized at St. Dimitris Greek Orthodox Church. It's the same church where Foti was baptized and where his parents were married. He was a little bit stressed as you can see, but the ceremony was beautiful and rich in tradition.

After being baptized and rubbed with olive oil, Tasos wrapped him in a towel and then he was dressed in a beautiful linen suit his Godfather bought for him.

After dinner that night, we went for drinks! Foti is here with his cousins Michalis and Costa and his sister Katerina

Can you tell that the photographer had a bit to drink that night? Our friends Nikos and Akis came down from Athens with Nikos' niece Nikki and her friend Anne. We had so much fun with them!

Foti and I took a boat to the Island of Ithaki (Ithaca) for 3 days without the boy. The beaches were gorgeous and the water was the cleanest I have ever seen.

My handsome Greek!

Here's the 3 of us, a few days before we left Nafpaktos to come home. Matt got used to the cool water and did not want to get out! Yia Yia and the rest of the family were sad to see us go, but we'll be back soon!