Last days of July rolled into 1 post

We had a busy few days since Alex has about 5-6 days off in a row.

We celebrated Alex's Bday this past weekend with a party at our place. We had a great time! Such a good time, in fact, that I didn't have a chance to take more than just a few shots:

Setting up.

Gabi making decorations for the party.....

Little helper

Then on Monday we took a train ride into the city and hung out in Bryant Park:

Quick shot with my phone of our 2 1/2 hr. bike ride today. We all enjoyed it but I am LOVING my new bike.

Dancing

For their Birthday, the kids received a great musical DVD from their cousins in California: the Laurie Berkner band. Julia and Athena also listened to it as children. Gabi and Alexi LOOOOVE it! We've had it for a week and watch it about 3 times/day on average. In the videos, you can see them dancing and singing (bits) along to 'The Goldfish' song tonight. I hope you can hear the lyrics to the song so you understand their interpretation.

Highlights from our week

 Nenje Ildi was in town for a couple of days. Of course, the kids were ecstatic.

And I finally started -slowly- potty training them.We have been having discussions about it for months and months but I have been putting it off.... The last few nights, they put their little underwear on and I put the potties in the den. Gabi's track record was 5 for 5.. Not a single accident. Alexi however (typical of a boy :-) had as many accidents as he made it in the potty.
Now, I know why I have been putting it off... it is a lot of work training them at the same time.

Another fun afternoon

We were invited to a BBQ in LI (Port Washington) this evening, just 10 mins from our house. The host was Alex's old co-worker from Stonybrook and his wife. As you can see, their yard was a total kid's fun-topia. Good thing as there were lots of kids. One family had 5 kids, another 3... It was a nice little reunion of sorts for Alex as some of his other ex co-workers were also there. All around great company and a fun time.
In the video we captured a great moment: Gabi and Alexi agreed to play some b-ball together. Gabi was the pitcher; Alexi the batter :-).

G & A were in a wedding!

A second cousin of Alex's got married today. Our children were asked to be in the wedding party along with a couple of other kids. For weeks now I had been pretty nervous about how the kids were going to deal with being in a wedding party. I am relieved to say: THEY WERE AMAZING!
I started off the day by showing them pictures and videos online of how flower girls and ring bearers walk down the aisle so they had an idea. Gabi was particularly brave (as usual) and friendly and very pro-active. Alexi started off shy and then warmed up to it all and did so great! They loved taking the 'party bus' to the church. (It was really cool :-). And once we were at the church we practiced walking a little and then when the time came they just did it 'live'. After walking down, somehow Alexi ended up standing next to the groomsmen at the altar and he started screaming for Daddy. I think he was a little too close for comfort (residual Baptism anxiety :-). Gabi kept wanting to run up to the front to see what was happening. At the end she kept repeating: "I love it a Church". We hope she just means she loved being a flower girl at the Church!
Here are some pictures:

Party bus!

Practicing...

The kids partied hard at the Reception... till 11 PM. We all had a great time!

New flower girl friends

Not a great picture but the only one of me. We didn't get any of Alex.

CASH!

Coney Island.. 2nd visit.

When Alex has days off we try to jam pack them with fun stuff to do. So, we visited Coney Island again but this time it was a weekend day (last time was a weekday) and BOY what a difference. It was incredibly packed everywhere. We still had a good time but will make sure to only go on a weekday next time.

The kids LOVE the rides!!

Ferris wheel.

Really high up!

Makinajian Farm, Huntington LI