I know there is loads to catch up up…years actually, but I am going to give it a go. I’ll start where I left off. In case you’ve forgotten close your eyes and pretend you are still in Virginia the fall of 2021. Randy is in Dhaka. The kids and I with Grandma’s help are working out way through Pre-K, Second Grade, Fourth Grade and FSI Bangla.

The thing that is amazing and similar about kids and foreign service is that no matter what you do or what you want time keeps moving on for both. Kids keep growing and assignments keep changing. You either embrace it and grow with it or you get left behind. So grow we do. This year for us was growth in lots of ways. The kids had to start another new school, I had to learn Bangla and Randy had to work in Dhaka without us.

We started out the school year making books about ourselves. Well, Malcolm had to make one for school which meant Miral also wanted to make one, so she did! Hard to believe last time we were in the US Miral was 1 and Malcolm was 4.

We decided to look at growth both literally and figuratively and tried grow some plants. While this looks successful this is as tall as they got before they died.

Miral spent lots of time practicing her letters and got better and better.

I spent lots of time practicing Bangla, remotely in my bedroom while staring out this window, and got worse and worse.

But my crowning moment of growth was when I decided this was my year to grow a biker. My friend had given me a bike on the way out of Kyiv. I shipped it to the U.S. in our air shipment along with the kids bikes and went out and got myself a kid seat for Miral. To get the kid seat hooked up meant finding a kids helmet that would fit (thanks Adam for having my size head) and biking a mile to the store in the bike lane. Doesn’t sound that challenging but navigating the cars and the lights isn’t always easy. BUT I made it and I was ready to take my three kids biking.

The next sunny Saturday we got ready and went out for a short two mile bike ride. Now in retrospect perhaps two miles was a bit lofty of a dream. This was my running route and I like this little caboose on the route one mile in so on we went. I didn’t account for the fact that Malcolm had only just learned to bike in Kyiv over Covid in the Embassy and had very little practice and had forgotten how to bike. I know the saying -it’s just like riding a bike implying you never forget it…well I am here to say it’s not true. You can forget. So the mile there took us four times as long with me yelling at Malcolm the whole time to not swerve into traffic.

We finally made it to the caboose! We played for a bit and then realized we still had to bike all the way home. We started on the way with me yelling at Malcolm the whole time to not swerve onto upcoming fast bikers. Bikers in Virginia are no joke. Then things really went off the rails. Adam’s handlebars started coming loose (when you ship bikes they take off the handlebars and apparently didn’t put them back on right) so we had to keep stopping. Then about a half mile from home Malcolm’s handlebars started coming loose.

Miral started getting hungry since I hadn’t brought snacks for our one hour bike ride that turned into 4. I had just about given up and called my mom to come pick us up when a moving van pulled off to the side. A guy came out and asked if we needed help. I explained about the loose handlebars. He went back to the van and got his tools and came back and fixed all the handlebars. Took him all of five minutes. I thanked him and he got back in his van and drove off. It was hard not to cry as we all were able to bike the last few blocks home thinking about how this person took time from his day to stop and help us and the difference he made in our day. We all made it home in one piece and were able to look back and laugh at our adventure.

After a wonderfully long summer in Greece and Florida it was time to return to normal life, except we had to create our new normal. It was all new for us. Step by step, as foreign service life always requires. Step one, get from Florida to DC, step two go to hotel for few days until our temporary housing is ready, stept three move into new apartment and buy everything you need from scratch, step four get kids registered at school and get Miral into a daycare (this step requires endless paperwork, mutiple TB tests-always nerve-racking when you live in high TB rate countries, vaccine records, school records, principal and teacher letters). Easy peasy right??

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Last step, the hardest one by far, was to say goodbye to Randy. The kids and I had to stay in DC for 8 months of Bangla language training and Randy had to go ahead to Dhaka. This is not my first rodeo and not the first time we have had to spend a long time away from Randy and I learned from the last time that the hardest part is the first few days and distraction is key.

We were lucky to have our good bubble friends from Kyiv in DC with us so we planned to go to Shenandoah for the long weekend the day Randy left and it was the best thing we could have done. There were definitely tears when we drove away and a few times over the weekend, mostly from me but we were so lucky we had friends who loved us nearby to help me take care of the kids and to spend time with us.

After our weekend away we started to settle in and get used to life in DC. Every time I’m in DC I realize all the amazing things it has to offer.

Amazing museums!

The best runs ever! Most mornings I saw deer and rabbits and could have run for hours.

Let’s not forget target runs, OMG do we all love Target runs!

Amazing walks in nature enjoyed by all.

And amidst all of that…Bangla….

and more Bangla…

But there were always these three to remind me to relax and to enjoy Virginia life.

Adam became a bus monitor!

We visited ALOT of farms, because when in US!

More target runs!

More nature walks.

Post school Carvel runs!

Celebrating Birthdays with friends!

But the best part by far of being in the US- was being close to family. Me and the kids were so lucky to have Grandma Gertch near us to help every day and Aunt Das, Uncle Nooj, Beckham, Laurel and Grandme Yuyu so close. They kept us sane all 8 months!

When I was growing up I was pretty lucky to have a sister. When we were little I didn’t fully appreciate her and would make her do things like fetch me water, be the students with her friends in my bossy school room, hang out with me in my room when I needed someone to talk to. But once she got older I like to think I redeemed myself. I sent her fun things in college that I couldn’t have afforded when I was in college, met her in Europe and made her stay in hostels, took her to bars and convinced her to have an amaretto sours. As we got older I appreciate her more and more. She’s always there for me, she loves my kids a whole lot, is always funny and smart and has moved from amaretto sours to sharing good wine with me.

I never in a million years would have imagined we would be lucky enough to be pregnant at the same time and have little girls three weeks apart. Miral may not have a sister, but she is extremely lucky to have Laurel. They don’t see each other that often but as soon as they get together they are so close. It makes my heart so happy to see. I can imagine then in high school sneaking out, meeting up in colleges, going on fun trips together. I am a little worried for me and Daf, but I think we can handle it. Nothing a few amaretto sours can’t fix.

We also have Laurel to thank for this entire super cute outfit!

One of the highlights of the week we all spent together was our trip to the alligator farm that Grantie Vange took us to. The kids loved every minute of it.

After the alligator farm we headed to a fun lunch in St Augustine.

How cute are these two!

We had a great week, full of beach and pool and family time.

Oh and ice-cream! Did I mention lots of ice-cream.

We love you family and Florida. You were just what our souls needed!

While we were in Florida, Miral turned 4! We all know I love a list and in honor of her birthday I am going to list ten of the many many things I love about Miral.

1. She is 100% my child! She loves to pack, organize, try on clothes and shop.
2. She remembers all the words to songs after hearing it just one time, this she definitely gets from her dad. She loves to sing and is always singing, sometimes songs she’s heard, sometimes songs she makes up. I love walking up to her and hearing her singing to herself about anything and everything.
3. She loves her brothers and just wants to be with them doing what they are doing. The boys had a sleepoever at Naomi’s and Eli’s and Miral asked when they were coming back every 15 minutes. We had a fun girls night and watched a bunch of princess movies, but she still really missed them and was so excited when they came home.
4. She LOVES art. She can sit and draw or paint for hours and she is really good! She will find any art project anywhere in the house and insist on completing them immediately. She pays attention to details and her teacher, Mr John, told me he has to convince her to leave the art station.
5. She looooooves school and her teacher Mr. John. She also knows the name of every single person in her school, the secretary, the lady who brings lunch, every child and every teacher. It’s really very impressive, especially since I retain no names, none at all. So when we meet again don’t be upset when I have no clue what your name is. Just tell Miral your name and we’ll be good.
6. Miral at four is one of the strongest and most opinionated individuals I have ever met. She has strong opinions and is not afraid to stand by them. In a perfect world, this trait will never leave because I think she is destined to run a small country.
7. She loves all things girly and pink. She gets exited when she gets new dresses and loves all things princessy. I love boys clothes but after so many years of t-shirts and shorts it is pretty amazing to have someone in the house who loves dressing up and wearing pretty things!
8. Because she has two older brothers she has learned to watch all sorts of things. Lately we are watching Final Table, a cooking challenge across countries and Miral is into it. Left on her own she would watch My Little Pony all day long, so it makes it even more special that she sits and watches with us. Not many four year olds can watch all the nature and cooking shows!
9. You are the first child of mine who eats like me. You will sit with me and eah a bowl of tomatoes and olives. You also try lots of food, calamari is your current favorite. Finally, someone finally realized how delicious tomatoes and olives are!
10. You are funny! You have such a quick wit and can quickly corner me with it and then make me laugh out loud about it. You laugh easily and have eyes that sparkle just like you dad.
    

For your birthday we decided to celebrate and all go to Sea World. This was our first park since Hong Kong Disney Land for Malcolm’s third birthday. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to go back to a big theme park, but Sea World has changed me! It was such a great day. I was worried (when am I not worried when trying new things with kids) mostly because it was a very hot day, but the kids loved every moment of it.

We started the day with a dolphin show and a present for our birthday girl. A heart necklace with an M on it. This moment must have been really special for Miral because she always brings up the moment she opened her blue box after the dolphin show.

Soaking wet after a water ride!

I tried to dry off here and paid 5 dollars for a hot air blower in 100 degree heat. So i decided to stay wet. These three loved it!

We got to feed sting rays shrimp! Well, I didn’t touch any raw shrimp, but these guys did.

We headed home and Miral opened up her presents and we had a cake made by grandma. Such a fun and special day!

A few days later when all our family was in town we had a Frozen birthday party for Miral. It was probably the first time ever so much of our family was there for a kid’s bithday party, pretty special! Both grandmas, both aunts, all the cousins, granties, great uncles!

We all got to wear crowns.

People- find yourself someone who looks at Miral the way Laurel does. I have never seen anything cuter than these two. Maybe I have a super soft spot watching these two together remembering all the things Daphne and I have done together over the years and I can see it in their future- girl trips, college drinks, wedding dress shopping, and I can’t wait to see them through the years grow together. Ok i have to stop bow before I cry.

Same with these three. They were so cute hanging out all weekend. They journaled and played and talked and loved being with each other. It is pretty amazing we had all these kids together and no one fought!

I love me a special cake for birthdays. This one was a success I would say!

After cake we opened presents, which was a dream for this extroverted little princess.

Happy birthday our sweet, strong, funny, beautiful, little girl! We love you!

After a loooong trip socially distanced masked trip….

…we landed in Florida. It was our first time in two years in the US and we were all excited to be home and spend time with all our family that we had missed.

We headed straight to Grandma Gertch’s house where we spent a few days relaxing, making cookies with Grandma, bird watching, shopping, getting used to the hot sweaty runs, coloring and getting over jet lag. It was our first time at Grandma Gertch’s Florida house and it was great! It was comfy and nice with a great yard, it even came with neighbors with a dog that Malcolm was obsessed with. Whenever we couldn’t find him we knew where to look, he was always with We settled in, got over our jetlag and Randy, Grandma Gertch and I cooked some yummy dinners amd then watched cooking shows. Randy and I even got to run together while Grandma hung out with the kids. Pretty nice deal!

Before we knew it it was time for Grandma Yuyu, Aunt Sandra, Roman, Isla, Grant and Tamer to come visit. They were staying at a nearby house that had a fun pool and pretty beach so we hung out there loads! It had been two years since we had seen everyone and it was so amazing to see all the kids playing together. They were all older and the perfect age to play and enjoy each other.

We even snuck in a fishing afternoon on the pier. We didn’t catch anything but everyone loved it!

These three were the cutest, Grant and Tamer were so great with Miral, sharing and playing with her. I know twins are so close and it was so sweet to see how they took Miral into their fold and hung out together all week.

Aunt Fo was a hit too 😉 mostly cause of the treats.

We also got to spend time with Grantie Vange and Grantie Lori, Grandma Gertch’s sister and wife who live so close to Grandma Gertch. It is so nice to all be so close. When I was growing up Aunt Vangie lived a few hours away and I would count the days until she (and her kids) came to visit up. Vangie would always bring her guitar and stay up way too late singing with her beautiful voice. I love that she is so close to my mom and they can take care of each other.

After so long away from family it was so special to have this time together! It makes me wish we were closer so we could have more of these moments but it also makes me appreciate them so much more. All the more reason to enjoy every second of it! And what better way to commerate it than by trying to take pictures of all 7 kids and 6 adults all smiling.

From Sifnos we headed back to Athens and drove that same day right to Peloponnese. This was our first time spending time on the mainland and we were excited to see the Peloponnese. The ferry and drive took us all day and we arrived around sunset to the house we had rented. This house ended up being the most beautiful old villa, decorated like a French country home on the top end of a small fishing boat port. We had hit the VRBO lottery. This house was comfy and nice and walkable to town. We settled right in and woke up early to explore.

We headed right to the beach, because when in Greece! The beaches were amazing as always. And the restaurants were delicious!

But the real star of Pylos was the plateia, the Greek word for square. In the mainland of Greece all towns, villages even neighborhoods of Greece have a plateia. A square that is open and surrounded by restaurants, sweet shops and little stalls selling candy and toyws. A kids dream. Also a parents dream because all the kids could run around and play with other kids while you sat on the outskirts enjoying some wine and chatting with other parents. Like I said, a parent’s dream. Adam made a friend their, Thesius that he has kept in contact with after this trip.

Also amazing about Pylis is that there was actually a place that was flat for running. After two weeks of high hills and steep inclines this was pretty amazing. I also saw these snails on the way. Reminded me of my aunt who, when I was little, would collect snails off the road, clean them and then pickle them for eating. It was my dad’s favorite food. I never tried them and she has since passed away. I wonder sometimes if I would like her snails now or still be too scared to eat them.

There was a cute pier town right near our villa that we walked to for dinner most nights. There was a great restaurant right on the water with the best sunset view.

We sent some postcards to remind everyone how much we love them!

Randy had training all week in the afternoon so it as me and the kids on the beach most days. Thankfully they were old enough to be pretty easy. A few tantrums here or there but overall it ended up being fun, but we did miss Randy of course!

This picture may look idyllic, but it was actually taken after one of those before mentioned tantrums that occured after Miral chose an icecream and ate it and then was upset she couldn’t have a second ice-cream….because I was solo parenting on the beach for a week I decided to compromise and get an ice-cream that I ‘shared’ (in case you don’t know me I don’t actually eat sweets and ice-cream so it wasn’t really shared). But you know what, when in Greece, on vacation, on a beach, in an ice-cream shop, solo parenting- you do you! That’s what I told myself and I got this super cute pic after, so it was worth it.

We did manage to all go on a boatride in the morning before Randy’s training started and it was great! The captain even let all the kids drive the boat. There were some beautiful caves and cliffs and we all jumped off from the boat and swam in the ocean, even Miral!

In case you’re wondering, don’t worry, I still managed to squeeze in a Greek salad every day!

and Malcolm managed to squeeze in french fries and plain pasta every day.

Our week in Pylos also happened to be the hottest week of the year. It was 100 degrees every day, so we had to spend all day on the beach having ice-creams and iced drinks. Our new friends from the plateia told us where to go and we met them there and it was great to have friends on the beach, parents and kids. Then at night we would meet them in the main square after dinner and have some drinks while the kids all played. SUCH a night life. I need to move to a small Greek village where I can walk to the plateia every night and hang out with friends.

This was also the week we started having drawing competitions. Can you guess who drew what?

For our last night we headed back to the restaurant with the great view of the sunsnet and got a few last pictures in.

After a three hour drive we were back in Athens. We stayed at this awesome hotel, The Foundry with a great view of the Acropolis.

For our last day in Athens we headed to the Margi for a pool day. This was the hotel we stayed at with our friends and family for our wedding weekend so it was pretty special to be back and with three kids in tow! Who would have ever imagined ten years later we would be flying to Greeece from Kyiv where we both work at the Embassy with our three kids. Goes to show you, you never really know where you’ll end up. For us, we ended up back at the Margi again but in a completely different life.

Until next year Greece! ❤️

Next up on our Greek odyssey was Sifnos. Randy and I had gone to Sifnos 7 years before when Adam was two and a half and Malcolm was six months. We were staying in nearby Serifos, the more rural, less popular, sister island, and came to Sifnos for a day trip. Because I love a throwback here are a few pictures from our first trip to Sifnos in 2015.

For this trip, because there were no direct ferries from Tinos to Sifnos, we had a few hours layover in Mykonos and all in all the trip took all day, but we made the best of it. All that was open for our layover (and reachable on foot with all our children and luggage) was a coffee shop at the ferry terminal so we decided to order one of everything. This moment was the moment where I knew Randy had changed during his years as a father. In years past he would have wanted to try to find a better restaurant and dragged the kids, me, and the luggage to wherever it took to find a great restaurant. I was secretly worried this would be what Randy wanted to do, but he looked at me, looked at the luggage and looked at the children and agreed with me that the cafe would do just fine and we ended up enjoying every minute of a relaxed ferry layover full or crappy food and wine.

Happy with our decision.

When we arrived, like every place I have ever been to in Greece, it was well worth the trip. We were staying right outside of Castro and had breakfast on our patio every day looking at Castro.

Of course we headed right to the beach. Sifnos is much trendier and more crowded than Tinos so we had to plan ahead for our lunches and to get beach chairs, no problem for expert beach loungers.

That night we headed to Apollonia, a cute town up behind our house and went to Drakakis cafe, one of the island’s oldest coffee shops.

The food was delicious! Only in Greece could I convince Randy to get three different vegetable dishes! Living my best life. We walked around town after dinner and got ice-creams and dessert for the kids. Towns in Greece come to life so late, they are usually jsut waking up when we are leaving dinner, but I would much prefer to put the kids to bed and hang out on our patio for a bit after bed. Best of both worlds, no crowds at dinner, walk in town when things are getting busy and then home for some time to hang out on the balcony.

The next morning I went for another hilly run. I love running in new places, it lets me really get to know the area. I will say Greece hills were almost the death of me, but I survived!

And I had this view each time on my return.

We tried a new beach the next morning called Vathy beach. It was a small beach set inside mountains on each side. a little wavy, but beautiful and not crowded.

The best part by far of this beach was this amazing little restaurant that was right at the other end of the beach called Tsikali. You walk up and the tables and chairs are right on the sand. We sat thinking the meal would be pretty good, but the meal was amazing! Turns out this little hole in the wall on the beach makes all their own cheese and raise their own live stock. This happens a lot in Greece, you sit down at an unassuming little place and only after do you appreciate how perfect it is. Every bit of food is paid so much attention and is delicious. On top of that they are right on the beach so the kids could swim and play while we enjoyed a yummy long lunch. A little slice of heaven that is so Greek! They think of the entire experience and really know how to create a meal that is meant to linger and be enjoyed.

Heaven for these two who had bites of yummy dessert in between dips in the ocean.

The only downside to our house in Sifnos is there was only air conditioning in the landing, where Adam’s bed was. These little ones and Randy and I had to sleep like I used to in Greece 30 years ago and hope for cool nights! I remember those hot nights where even a sheet was not needed and it makes me nostalgic, then I remember how much better things are with air conditioning!

The next morning we headed back to the same Vathy beach and yes back to the same restaruant and we didn’t want to leave the beach so stayed late until sunset and then we went straight to dinner in town and some ice-creams on a rooftop. Pretty fantastic day!

We then decided to try a new beach called Platis Gialos. It was a busier than Vathy beach but also beautiful, calm and full of great restaurants. We got chairs from Yalos restaurant with the agreement that we eat lunch there. We agreed because we know the value of a good beach chair and in the end were suprised at how delicious the lunch was. The food was so sophisticated for a little beach restaurant!

The next day we headed back to Platis gialos because we had a reservation at Omega 3, an awesome restaurant that some say is the best fish restaurant in Greece and for Greeks that is no small thing! This place was great and different. They had creative different takes on Greek food and great wine and the kids amused themselves in the little store next door that is so Greek. Right on the beach, full of candy, snacks, drinks and every plastic toy a child could ever want.

Born to be fine diners, except Malcolm was a little upset there wasn’t any plain pasta on the menu. Come on Omega 3! Know your audience.

We made it home to shower before sunset and got dressed up for dinner. We headed to an Italian restaurant in the main town called Mamma Mia. The kids were so happy to have some pizza and pasta! We ended the night going back for some ice-cream on the rooftop.

Because we are creatures of habit, wanted a beach chair, loved the beach and the restaurant we headed back to Vathy beach. The meal was just as yummy and we stayed for even longer relaxing and watching the kids play in the beach.

After that we went to Castro, the small pedestrian town at the other end of the island. We headed to Cantina, a new popular restaurant by the same chef as Omega 3. After a sweaty walk into town we realized it was actually under the Castro in a little cove that involved some stairs. Randy promised me he would carry Miral if she fell asleep and it was definitely worth the walk. It was in this little cove with only a few other houses built right into the cliff. The food was amazing, the kids spent hours playing on the beach and the view was spectacular. I vaguely remember some child (Miral…) throwing a tantrum or too but I mostly remember how delicious the fish we ate was, the great wine we had and the kids playing cards and building rock towers on the beach.

The restaurant is the little white building on the right bottom in the cove. We walked from this sign and made it!

Maybe I should have seen from this picture that Miral was not in the mood for a long slow meal….

The next day we were back on Platis Gialos and Yalos restaurant for another great beach day and a yummy lunch! This lunch even ended in a trip to the before mentioned store where ice-cream and various overpriced plastic things were purchased. When I used to go to Greece as a child I vividly remember those moments when I was allowed to buy something from the store and how exciting it was, so I am all in. Even if that 11 dollar mermaid was lost before we left Greece, it provided lots of joy during it’s short life.

For our last night in Sifnos we headed to a crab restaurant in Appolonia, which was as great as all our food in Sifnos and we of course ended our last night with an ice-cream trip in Appolonia. Sifnos was such a beautiful island but the best part for us was the food, such amazing food on all levels and all types. I am still dreaming of sitting on that beach having lunch at Tsikali with my awesome dinner dates.

We decided before we left Urkaine to take a trip to Greece. The flight is super short and we luckily were able to take three weeks and it was everything we needed after two years of Covid. Greece is always just what my soul needs every time. Everything in Greece hits me right, the sun, the sky, the air, the sounds, the wine, the food. It’s hard to capture the mood and the feeling I have in photos, but when I look back at these photos I remember exaclty what I was feeilng and how the light was hitting and how the air felt. It makes me smile to remember that moment and also miss being in Greece.

We first landed and went to Athens. I always love starting and ending in Athens. It is one of my favorite cities. Growing up I spent summers in Athens and coming back is always a flood of memories combined. I love being there and walking around and seeing places I used to come to 30 years ago. Being there with my children is always amazing to me. I could never have imagined all those years ago hanging out in central Greece with my cousins and friends that I would be back here with my family.

My favorite part of staying in Athens is seeing Eliana. I have been lucky enough to see Eliana in Greece every time I have visited for the last 35 years and this time was no different. We met for dinner at a restaurant she picked, she always picks the best places and this was no different. This place was called ‘To Steki tou Hlia’- The Hand of the Sun and had the best paidakia -grilled baby lambchops that always taste best in Greece. We stayed there way too late talking and catchign up.

We had one full day in Athens before we headed to the islands and we really made the most of it. We were staying super central so after a yummy breakfast we headed out to the main area in Athens.

I even broke away for a few hours to do a little shopping. I love nothing more that summer sales in Greece! This dress didn’t make the cut and I live in regret. I may look like a couch, but I still wish I had gotten it.

This one was the only one who made out from the Zara summer sales.

The rest of the clan had some treats in the shade until I was done.

We walked all around Monasteraki and Plaka, two touristy areas under the Acropolis that I love to be in, touristy scene and all.

We even passed by Kuzina which is where our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding took place. Some of us could care less.

After that we headed to the Acropolis museum where we had a tour planned with Ari, the best tour guide ever. He was great with the kids, had drawings, games and tons of interesting facts to keep everyone interested.

I love this museum. It is big and spacious and bright and right at the foot of the Acropolis. The top floor has a mini layout of the Acropolis and lays out all the parts, even the parts that are missing and being held in different museums like the British Museum. The missing pieces that are in different museums are in a different color so it becomes very apparent how much of the figures of the original frieze are in other countries’ museums.

All in all a very successful museum trip!

Afterwards we had some drinks outside before we met Eliana for another yummy dinner.

All in all a perfect full day in Athens.

The next day we were up early and headed to our first stop- Tinos. Despite the ferry being long we kept spirits high with snacks and screens. I love taking ferries in Greece, they are comfy and have yummy food and at the end I know we arrive at a beautiful island.

We got to beautiful windy Tinos and headed right to lunch. Miral’s windy hair is my favorite!

Greek food will always be my favorite.

We headed to the house we had rented for the week and jumped right in the pool! There aren’t always places with pools in Greece so we were pretty happy to find one.

Then we went to this awesome dinner at Thassalaki. The restaurant was in this little cove with just a few other buidlings and the food was amazing! As you eat the waves come up right to your feet. The kids loved it and spent most of the meal looking down into the water to see fish.

The next morning we woke up and headed to breakfast in Pyrgos. We usually have breakfast in the house but we hadn’t made it to the grocery store yet. And we were all so grateful that we got to check out the center of town. It’s a little square set around a huge tree with a handful of super cute, yummy restaurants. We chose this little cafe with homemade yogurt, local honey and chocolate pancakse. Everyone was very happy.

Then we headed right to the beach, because when in Greece. I was a little worried about this week. Randy had management training all week from 2-5 in the afternoon so while he could come with us to the beach until lunch I was alone for the afternoon with the kids. Well, turns out the kids are at the perfect age to spend all day on the beach. Between swimming, sand castles, icecreams and snacks and exploring everyone loved being on the beach all day. We missed poor Randy who was on calls , but at least he was preparing for his new job in Bangladesh.

After the beach we headed home to take showers and pick up Randy and headed out to dinner. Tinos was full of these beautiful views and sunsets and delicious food!After dinner we walked around this beautiful town with amazing views of the sunset, called Kardiani.

I was up early the next day for a run. While Tinos was definitely the hilliest place I ever ran it was worth it for some amazing views. At the end I would run through Pyrgos which was the cutest town.

There was even a street named after me- Odos Fotini, only in Greece.

Then it was back to the beach for us.

There is nothing better than laying on a beach chair with a frappe on a Greek beach and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.

There is also nothing better than a beach nap.

Especially for this person right here who can drink said frappe in peace and relax.

After beach, you guessed it we showered, got dressed in our finest, my favorite during vacation and walked around Pyrgos until dinner time. I even got some shopping in! We bought some yummy honey and I got some dresses, a small miracle when traveling with three kids.

The next day it was more of the same. Beach and then a walk in Pyrgos for ice-cream.



Over the week we explored different parts of Tinos, Panormos was one was of our favorites. It was a little port town with yummy restuarants and a pier for jumping off. The first time we went we didn’t realize there was a pier for jumping and weren’t bathing suit ready so we watched for a bit and got a fish meal at a fish place called To Limanaki. Such yummy fish! I still think about this delisious fish!

Next day it was back to the beach

This Minnie ring was earned for agreeing to lay down and take a rest on the beach. If there was no nap, there was a risk that things might take an ugly turn, scary stuff for a solo mom on the beach with three kids, so this ring was worth every penny!

Worth every penny! (don’t ask me how much the Minnie surpise ball was, just know it was worth every bit of that 5 euros.)

The next day we went back to Panormos and brought our bathings suits this time! Adam jumped right in, it took Malcolm a bit longer but once he did it the first time he was addicted! The rest of us watched.

Last day on Tinos was just as fun as the other 6! Beach all day!

Followed by a quick trip to jump off the pier before we returned to Thassalaki for another yummy meal with the waves lapping at our feet. Perfect ending to a great week!

We were assigned to two years and when we went there we had all sorts of plans to travel around Europe and to explore every bit of the city, the bars, the restaurant. Four months into our tour Covid hit. We spent six months home from school, worked mostly from home for most of our time in Ukraine and only made it to Greece out of our long European list of countries to visit. But, despite all that the two years we lived in Ukraine were two of my favorite for so many reason.

 Amazing runs on some amazing trails.

Awesome weekends away

A winter full of sledding and beautiful views.

The most amazing view from our window

Learning to enjoy coffee in bed.

My view at work

An amazing walk to school

A super fun comfy house to spend lots of time together

Discovering how fun it can be to hang out in a field

And the hardest thing to leave- an amazing group of friends.

So many amazing memories from this beautiful city.

We have always had a lot of visitors wherever we are living and were expecting tons of visitors in Ukraine. We had visitors lined up to come every month for the first six months, then Covid happened. No one came to visit us for a very long time. Then vaccines finally happened and Grandma Yuyu finally came to visit us after almost two years.

We were pretty excited to see Grandma and to show her some of our favorite sites in Ukraine. With Covid on the rise in Ukraine and vaccines not available for the general population yet they shut down everything so we did all our favorite outside activities. We went to the Motherland monument, which is part of the World War 2 museum, we took lots of walks and ate lots of yummy meals at home.

With grandma there to help I was able to go away with the girls from the bubble and it was exactly what my soul needed. We went nearby to this amazing pool club that had built dachas. It was too cold to swim, but we hung out inside by the fire and talked and talked and talked. I went for a great run in the woods, meditated by the lake, read my book and we celebrated Nora’s birthday. And it was over way too soon.

Also vaccinations meant we had our first meal inside in over a year. This places is located right outside of Kyiv and a hotel so it was still open.