I promised me...

...but it's all about her right now!

Summer Fun

She's growing so fast!

Avalina is almost 4 months old now!

Wow time flies when you are having fun! My daughter Avalina is smiling and cooing and so responsive to our voices now. She's also swiping and grabbing and biting. I think she is an early teether! There is drool galore and all the other signs too. How exciting! Anastasia will be turning three years old shortly and is becoming more and more of a high maintenance gal. She loves the playground and trying to push her brother's buttons. I think this two bedroom apartment is getting way too small for our growing family! Those children really need an outside to play in and their own rooms. Every time I get busy with baby they are fighting like cats and dogs. Marvin's hair is getting really long because he refuses to get a haircut and I choose my battles. It looks kind of cute actually and I am sure it drives certain mothers crazy . He signed up for the summer reading program and started helping his dad at work on Fridays. It's a great experience for him. My mom turned 65 and wants to retire. Pat's dad just turned 69 and moved in with Uncle Rudy.

Scrapbookers Garage Sale

Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou

25 LIVE CONCERT

I just came home from a phenomenal concert at GM place! George Michael was amazing and so was the stage! I just loved it and had a great time with my friend Dunja! Even though we were both exhausted from running our homes and raising our children today we had a great time dancing, singing, and yelling.

Still no photos of me...

I have been trying to get others to take photos of me so I will have some but I have not been too successful. Those children are just so cute so I keep taking photos of them. We celebrated my mom's 65th birthday on the weekend at Queen's Park with Root Beer Floats. That part was so easy! We just got a huge bucket of ice cream at Costco along with cups, straws and the A&W Rootbeer. We had some of her friends, neighbors, clients come by with their dogs close to the off lease area. It wasn't huge but it was really nice and my mom definitely had a good time. I didn't realize how many dogs that I knew so well but didn't really know their 'people' if that makes sense. Most of the dogs had hung out with each other at her house. We brought a tablecloth, balloons, an ice cream scoop a few signs and were so glad we kept it simple! I can't believe she's 65! I hope she really retires! That way I will get to spend more time with her.

Where's me?

Wow it's hard to find photos with me in them. Here's some photos of Marvin playing baseball, Anastasia at the playground, my niece Jessica with Avalina just before I backed into the van at church, and all the children when they met for the first time almost three months ago. I guess I need to give someone else the camera for a change. Last night I attended a class at the church given by Doreen Kennedy. She is a super neat lady, good speaker, interesting and a retired English Literature teacher. Her class was on writing fascinating personal stories. She gave us a variety of exercises and it was really fun. I am not sure I could write a fascinating story of my experience but it got me to thinking and reminded me that I may not be the only one reading my journal especially when I am dead. I have not been keeping my journal up to date recently. It is so much easier and faster to do this and I can include photos for myself and others to see along with the text. However it is not as private so I am less likely to share all my feelings and inner most thoughts. I don't want to say that my father in law is causing trouble or how my mother and I are getting on each others nerves sometimes. I am hesitant to share details of Anastasia and Marvin fighting although not as bad as Cain and Abel or Laman and Lemuel. I don't want the whole world to know I just can't keep up with my laundry. I have no problem washing it just folding and putting it away. As if the whole world really cares or pays attention to me anyway. Right now the baby is asleep in the stroller and Marvin is at baseball while Anastasia is at Lola's playing with her cousins Fayth and Yasmin. Patrick is working with Josip so I feel like I am all alone for just a few minutes. I really miss being alone and spending time with myself. Being an only child I do enjoy doing things with just me and not having anyone else around. I don't ever feel lonely just alone. Right now the only times I get are usually in the car or at the grocery store just before midnight. I guess I had my chance to be in my room reading or listen to music or napping as long as i liked with no interuptions or company. I guess I won't be doing anymore trips to Vancouver Island or even the library with just me and my own thoughts. I guess I don't really mind that if i want to be alone it has to be in the bathroom with the door locked. One day when my husband is dead I will be alone again because in my mind I am planning to outlive him even though he is healthier than me I think. I always imagine myself living longer than him, not in a morbid way but just because. I see my grandmother who is 97 now and see how she spends so much of her time content, staring out the window, listening to the radio, wishing she could do more but feeling too tired and old. I know she is pleased when she receives a phone call or a visit. I know she feels useful and isn't tired or bored much. I had better think about getting over there to keep her company, turn her world upside down with noise and children, wear her out, see how she is doing and if we can do anything for her. One day she won't be there anymore and then I will miss her even when she's cranky.

Mather's Cousins Lunch

Today was the potluck picnic at Eda's house on 'the mountain' Sumas to be exact. Unfortunately the weather wasn't ideal so it wasn't as large as usual and it seemed weird to be in the house. Anastasia fell asleep in the car just before we arrived so she slept for most of it. Marvin was in his glory exercising his corpus callosum and running outside with his cousins, climbing on gravel piles and chopped up trees, picking up chains, jumping on the trampoline, digging up leeks, and eating way too many cookies and then freezies. Marvin just loves hanging out with Eda's sons and their sons. Avalina was passed around and introduced. Too bad my mom couldn't make it this year, there wasn't anyone for me to ask people's names if I couldn't remember and my memory isn't too good. It was such a delight to see so many relatives I had not seen for so long, most of them I had not seen since last June. The food was plentiful, varied and great as usual. We brought the Sex in the Pan and it was gobbled down pretty quickly. By the time we arrived everyone was ready for desert! I really missed being outside and wandering and exploring her yard but I got to do a lot more visiting with people being inside this time. Usually it's very sunny and hot. We hung around until dinner time because we wanted to see Steven and he was on his way home from Scotland arriving with coffee in hand and jet lagged around dinnertime. Eda told us how she used to milk the cows two times a day. They had 18 of them and it was her job to milk 7 with her father doing the remaining 11. She said cows are smelly especially when you have your face right next to them and after a while your arms get sore. They didn't have a refrigerator in those days either. They grew a lot of their own food and nobody had any money at that time. After we noticed that mostly everyone had left or was leaving, we got back in the car for the long drive home, filled up the gas tank at the super deal of $1.29 per litre, and got those children of ours into the bath, pajamas and bed as soon as we could. It was like a mini family reunion and so much fun. Those Mathers are a pretty nice bunch!

hit from behind again

Oh no! My husband was rear ended again for the second time in just over a year on his return commute. Fortunately his car wasn't damaged much but his body is another story. He'll be back to the doctors, massages, physiotherapy, chiropractor and we are getting out the ice pack and heating pad more than before. He has no choice but to work through and with the pain.

if it isn't one thing it's another isn't it?

Well we are having a rough time of it lately. I somehow hurt my back and can barely move! The pain is excrutiating. I visited Dr. Deni Cortese, my Italian Chiropractor this morning and that helped some. He advised me to ice it 5 times a day. Wish me luck with that. Anastasia and Avalina and myself have ubersore throats and fevers developing into a cough and congestion AGAIN!
She's only 8 weeks old for goodness sakes. Marvin is on a strict improved handwashing program inflicted upon him by his father. Here's a photograph of my beautiful sister in law Yhong who came here from the Phillipines in December. Her hair is blowing in the wind at the baseball field. Also dad came home yesterday and he is looking well. He didn't go home but he's planning to roam the streets of New Westminster with his Ipod and broccoli until the weather turns cool again when he will again cross the Pacific.

it's all about avalina

family and more

These are for Daddy's Dad's side of the family to see and save.

What I am reading right now...

recommended by my husband's father's sister's third son
more to follow...

Flatulence Sounds with your Armpits

Oh my, oh my, Girls can so make these noises too. My now Seven year old has been trying and trying to get his armpits to make disgusting noises like other boys in his class can {see previous post and pick out the most innocent looking boys and THEY are the ones who can do it the best} Of course our Two year old girly girl has to do EVERYTHING he does. Tonight she learned how to do it properly while she sat naked on the potty. I didn't think girls could do it but apparently they can and sometimes better than their brothers. She was quite pleased with herself as she usually just hops around flapping her arm and giggling insanely. I was so surprised! She imitates her brother constantly and follows him around incessantly even though he finds her quite irritating. I am having so much trouble keeping our home peaceful with those two now that I am busy with baby they are left to their own devices quite a bit more. I have even tried belting out Love at Home and Families are Forever at the top of my lungs but that just scares or wakes up the baby and the selective listening kicks in on the children's part and they just ignore me and continue fighting. My son is so good at waiting until I am out of earshot or not looking.Suddenly I then hear a blood curdling scream/yell of his name from the self proclaimed big girl followed by more yelling or the big brother crying out in pain. He's constantly provoking her and teasing her whenever possible. At first I told them to work it out themselves or I would make them sit together and hold hands but unless I get out the rope and duct tape that just won't happen and I am afraid it would lead to more fights from the close proximity. It isn't enough that Anastasia has a terrible two year old temperment anyway. We used to call her 'Mad Baby' when she was so small because when she cried she sounded so annoyed and angry. Yes we had multiple tantrums today again, in the car, outside the car, half in and half out of the car, in the apartment, in the hallway, at the park, in the elevator, at Amma's, in the parking lot, in the courtyard, the list goes on. But now I also have a Seven year old that loves loves loves his new sister, to carry her around and oogle her, cuddle her and kiss her but has forgotten he liked the first sister and thought she was cute too. I remember we had to keep telling him to stop crushing his sister when she was a newborn. Maybe the age gap {4 years 3 months} is too wide for them to be sharing a room but for now we are stuck in this two bedroom apartment. I don't have ANY brothers or sisters so I just don't get the laughing one minute and crying the next and then friends again two minutes later. Why do they bicker? Why do they provoke each other? What is the deal? My husbands best friends are his siblings. Why can't I get my children to be kind to each other? Helpful, is that too much to ask of them? It's been pretty brutal lately plus we're all feeling the squeeze of being in such close quarters and kind of getting in each other's way. I am really glad I have more than one child but I wasn't prepared for the dynamics which isn't really as bad as I am making it out to be but I am feeling frustrated and still adjusting. 'Stop, breathe and think.' Anastasia always says when she hears the word frustrated. Maybe I will try that next time I hear the blood curdling scream or the 'Mom she's hitting/pinching/kicking/throwing blank at me.' I don't want to encourage them to physically let the other have it but have been tempted. My grade six teacher loved to tell his students to take it out in the hallway, that he'd clean up the blood later. We do have a hallway but i don't think that would be a good solution. I just found a bug on my arm biting me and have no idea what kind it was but am totally grossed out because i crushed it and i don't like to touch bugs of have them touch me ever. I am really curious where it came from and what it was though. I guess I reacted too quickly. Maybe it came from the pile of strawberry leaves left by the laptop on top of the strawberry juice stain now on the desk. Finding that really tries my patience. I know exactly who did it too! Well I better quit brewing and stewing about this sibling rivalry thing and get some sleep. Oh is that what it is? Now I have a name for it and can do some research. I am so happy. As previously stated I better get some Zees before Avalina wakes. She's been hungry every hour today seems like, must be a growth spurt. I actually felt human today because I got four straight hours last night {pumped milk, compassionate daddy}! G'nite

Mother's Day and Class Photo

Marvin's writing skills are really improving. They studied Jackson Pollock earlier this year and each did paintings in their class. Miss Crew is such a great teacher! She has so much patience with her grade one class. We teased Marvin saying he must be holding her hand in the class picture. I am glad most of the students were looking at the camera and smiling. The class looks quite small in the photo but there are twenty
four children.