Fun in Athens

Some basic truths about our experience in Athens:

(1) It was, perhaps appropriately, Hot as Hades
(2) Being a pedestrian is not the safest of activities - trying to cross those busy streets was like a real-life Frogger game
(3) The food....oh, the food. Me like.
(4) Did I mention the heat?
(5) Glad we went!



Rooftop pool, baby. Although, it must be said, that high up, yeah, hello blazing sun. Thank goodness for the yummy-yet-exorbitantly-priced smoothies.

As we were heading to our first tour, guess what Jack found? Yup, God bless McDonald's, it really is everywhere.

Watching the change of the guards and the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Then it was off to Zeus's temple. We learned all about the difference between Roman and Greek columns. I'm hoping those fun facts will eventually come up in a Trivial Pursuit game or cocktail party chat. Then, I'll be all set.

Zeus's Arch. They really do like the triumphant arches all over Europe. I think I'll have Jared build one in the entryway to our house, so I can make a triumphant return home each evening.

Then it was time for the long, hot hike up to the Acropolis.

At least we took breaks along the way.

At the Parthenon.

After all that hot and sweaty walking, we definitely needed to chill at the hotel's rooftop restaurant - more smoothies, please!

And some more swim time

Yummy loukemades - doughnuts - Ellie may have had 2 or 10

Hello, Loukemades Man

And you, too

Walking through the meat and fish market

And a yummy market with fresh fruit, veggies, and nuts

Then it was time for some sit-down yumminess at a charming taverna - we had chickpeas, tzatziki, and zucchini balls

OK, so looking at the photo, that doesn't look so yummy - but it was - I can't remember the name, but it was a cured meat

We also stopped at a shop with herbs, spices, and teas

There is graffiti EVERYWHERE in Athens

We got to taste two phyllo-based pies - one savory spinach and feta one

and one sweet one with cinnamon and cream

At a little market where we tasted olive oils, feta cheese, yogurt, and yummy sweet and savory spreads - oh, and some 45% alcohol that tasted like what I imagine jet fuel must taste like

Throughout the food tour, Ellie kept whispering, "when will we get to have gyros?" "When will we get to have gyros?" Here you go, sister

Hanging and shopping at Monastiri Square

Muddy Good Fun

Jack and Ellie had a great time at this year's Fun Mudder. Meaning, they got really, really muddy. I mean, mud EVERYWHERE. As Jack pointed out, "Mom, I've got mud in some very, very private places." Which is kinda the point, so hey, success. But...lesson learned? Just throw away the clothes afterwards. Because, after sending them through the washer three times, that's exactly what I ended up having to do. In addition to scrubbing the bathtub twice after the kids washed off.

So yeah, mud. Mud everywhere. Like, EVERYWHERE.



Ellie - clean Ellie - with her friends before the mud began

The race designers really knew how to combine dirt and water for maximum dirt coverage

Ta-da! Muddy Ellie!

Not surprisingly, Ellie wasn't super comfortable drenched in mud, but the popsicle helped

Jack was not able to slip and/or slide on the slip-and-slide, so he just got up and walked it.

Jack was in the older group (which went last), so by the time they got to the 'water' portions, it wasn't really recognizable as water anymore

And, ta-da, Dirty Jack!

Muddy Good Fun!

Just Because

Just because they're cutie patooties

It's a Wrap!

Put a fork in it, this school year is done! Jack successfully completed 6th grade at SHAPE American Middle School, and Ellie successfully completed 4th grade at SHAPE Elementary School. Congratulations, kids!


Yes, there were some happy-looking kids coming out of school on the last day

Smartypants Ellie made the honor roll again this quarter. Jack did, too, apparently the middle schoolers are too cool for a ceremony.

Jack displaying some of his artwork. I'm sure it doesn't surprise you that it's Harry Potter-themed.

Probably Option #2

This is how Oliver "buried" his bone:

Option #1: He's a modern, tech-savvy canine, he is
Option #2: Yeah, he's just not that bright

Potatoes

It didn't surprise me that Ellie did a great job at her Poetry Corner yesterday. What did surprise me was that a great deal of her poetry dealt with .... potatoes.

I mean, yeah, many of you might be concerned about the environment, or terrorism, or divisive politics, but really, have you given enough thought to potatoes?

Ellie thinks not.

Boy in Bag

I present to you my latest performance-art piece. I give to you ... Boy in Bag.

I achieved this masterpiece by talking about the birds and the bees in the Ikea cafeteria. I'm sure Jack would approve of this piece if, well, his head wasn't in a bag at the time and he wasn't busy moaning and gagging.

(Public Service Announcement - kids, don't try this at home. Do NOT put your head in a bag. Jack is a professional, and has years of experience with him mom embarrassing him in public.)

Make a Wish

Every year, SHAPE hosts a 24-hour run for Make-a-Wish. It's a great charity, and a fun event, so each year we've at least stopped by for a bit. Jared ran some of his unit's laps, and bribed the kids with event food if they ran laps, too. Fortunately, for me, I had my purse with me, so I was able to get my food without that whole pesky RUNNING thing.

Besides, someone had to take pictures, and play the role of Family Cheerleader. I know, it's a tough job, but someone had to do it. And really, let's be honest, those crepes weren't going to eat themselves. Taking one for the team - that's what I'm all about.

Well, At Least No One Died

Jack had his end-of-year guitar recital the other day. Admittedly, he kind of went into it with one strike already, because he REALLY didn't like the song that the teacher had chosen for him. Which had made him reluctant to practice - and anyone who has performed knows that you have to be SUPER prepared for a recital, because you'll already be battling stage fright.

And yeah, before he even got up there, I could tell we would be dealing with some major stage fright. At that point, though, there was no turning back. So I just assured him that, hey, even if he messed up, no one was going to die, there wasn't going to be anything catastrophic except for some minor embarrassment.

And, well.

No one died.

And it's over.

And next year he'll kick butt.

Utah Float

So, as much as I dread the endless school projects we have to help the kids with (really, when do they END, people, when do they END?), I have to admit, this one was pretty easy.

Ellie's class is studying the U.S. states, and they each got assigned a state and had to make a miniature "float," you know, like in a parade.

Randomly, Ellie got assigned .... Utah. Where Jared is from. Where I went to school. Where Jared's family lives.

So really, if we can't help her come up with ideas for a Utah float, we should be ashamed.

I give you ... Ellie's Utah float