Three Little Bunnies

Easter this year was not a normal one. We knew we would be away for American Easter and Randy would be back in Pakistan for Greek Easter, so we decided not to have the usual Ali Greek Easter lamb fest. Instead we were at Boracay in a beautiful villa with a bunch of friends, so not so bad. But we still celebrated, especially since it was Miral’s first Easter!
We dyed some eggs before we left for the beach. Miral even got an egg made for her. 

We were in Boracay for Easter and everyone brought candy, eggs, chocolates and kindereggs and the Easter bunny came to our villa and brought candy and treats for everyone!

And I can’t let Easter go by without a Hoppy Easter everybunny! Especially since this was my first year with three little bunnies!

34/52

Week 34- You are all over the place these days. You are crawling and you are fast! You want to see everything and explore everywhere and no one better stand in your way. You see something out of the corner of your eye and you’re off! You’re doing a great job sleeping these days, sleeping 7-5 most days and taking a long 2 hour morning nap (people- do NOT evil eye me, i need sleep!)
You’re also clapping a bit and you started to pull yourself up. I went in the other day to get you after your nap and you were standing in the crib! I was so surprised 🙂 You are growing up so fast, I can’t believe it. 

Beach Vaca

During Randy’s trip home we decided to go away with some friends to Boracay. Our friends had rented a huge villa, which is good because between us we had 6 families with14 parents and grandparents, 16 kids ranging in age from 6 months to 8, and 6 nannies…that is ALOT of people. But the house was huge and there was a big living room that opened right up into a backyard. The best part was that the kids basically entertained themselves the entire time, mostly in the pool.
But first our trip. Trips in the Philippines always take so long you could have traveled to another continent. Considering we flew AirAsia, the one hour delay was actually not too bad. Miral loved the airport, there were people sweeping and sweeping and  sweeping (no idea why they kept sweeping) but she loved it and watched every minute of it. 
We landed and were expecting to be picked up in a car…instead our pickup helped load us into tricycles. I was worried about it but the kids loved it. 

Next up a boat ride that landed on a pier by a beach. So after dragging our luggage and children across the sand we headed out to get some pizza by the beach until our friends arrived.

Everyone was in a better mood and we headed to the villa to see our friends and check out our room. Everyone loved it and the balcony had the best view!

Even better the villa had a chef who made us dinner every night and left time for me to take selfies with this one.

After some morning swimming we headed out on a boat to go to Ariel’s point, a famous cliff diving spot. I took Adam and Malcolm and Miral stayed home to relax and enjoy some quiet time at the villa with her baby friends.

Adam and I ended up jumping off the 1 meter board, which is lower than the board at the Polo Club, but all I was comfortable with. Randy went off the 15 meters! If you’re ever going to cliff dive this it the place to do it. There are boards that stick out and deep water, lifeguards at the top and in the water. All you need to bring is your nerves of steel. 
Then it was back to the house for, you guessed it more swimming. We basically lived in the pool, even this one!

We even squeezed in some painting. 

The next morning we were up and straight back into the pool.

Then we all went to the beach. Randy and Adam went with our friends to para-sail! I hung out with these two at the beach. Needless to say, fun was had my all!

Then it was back to the house for more swimming and dinner and more pictures with this one.

The next day we of course squeezed in some time for the pool before we headed home. We all traveled home together which made the four stage journey of van-boat-plane-car fly by! We even celebrated Easter there, but more on that later.

33/52

Week 33-This was a big week for you. You went on vacation to Boracay, your first Philippine island!  Not a bad view to celebrate your 33rd week on this earth! It was also your first Easter! The Easter bunny came to our villa and everyone hunted for Easter eggs out by the pool. You love chewing on the plastic eggs. No chocolate for you yet, but you did get a yogurt for the first time out by the pool. You spent a lot of the week swimming in the pool with mommy and daddy and you loved it as much as your brothers!

Staycation

Before Randy’s first trip back, we had talked about having a big trip somewhere, but the more we thought about it the more we wanted to just spend time together at home. This literally may be a first for us, since we are always about traveling. In the end we definitely made the right decision. We had the best week and a half just hanging out at home. The first week the boys were in school so Randy and I spent a lot of time together and with Miral in the morning and then hanging out with everyone in the afternoons. The second week the boys were off so we spent time doing together, swimming, going for walks, eating out. It was so nice to be together and just be able to enjoy our time.  We did nothing and yet did much. It was a great break!
Making signs for Daddy

Waiting for daddy to arrive at the airport!
Here!
Straight to dumplings from the airport

Home!

Pretty box present for Miral

Archery set for Adam

Pretty Pakisani goods for the ladies

Hanging out in Miral’s playpen

Painting

Cabana day 

Bloody Mary

 Cuddles for daddy

 Chewing on her rabbit

  Swimming
Nachos

Giggles

Peek-a-boo

Donuts

More donuts

Shopping

Miral kisses

Coloring at brunch

32/52

Week 32-This was a big week! Daddy came home for a visit. You were so excited to have daddy here as we all were. Daddy was so excited to see you crawling and moving around and laughing so much! He gave you and Adam and Malcolm so many hugs and cuddles. He brought you special hand made paper mache box from Pakistan that he picked out especially for you to put all your little trinkets you’ll gather in. I decided to have us all go out and take some pictures the first weekend daddy was back. It was pretty hot though and right before your nap. Good thing you’re always cute, just like your brothers, even when it’s past your bedtime.

365 Countdown

These next 30 days were great, mostly because Randy was home for a chunk of them. It was amazing having him back. We loved every minute of it! We’ve been waiting with what seems like baited breathe for his first visit and we all collectively exhaled when we saw him at the airport. Ok maybe that was just me. Having Randy back was like having the world go from black and white to technicolor. I forgot how fun it could be! We had the best time with Randy. We spent time alone the first week when the boys were still in school and time with just Miral. We spent time with all the kids at the pool, going for walks, going out to eat. We spent four really fun days in Boracay with 9 adults and 17 kids.

When it came time for Randy to leave I was worried it would be hard, but spending all that great time with Randy made me less sad this time when he left. While it stinks to not get to spend time with him all the time, at least the trip back was a a big success. I worry about so many things with him away, but one of those things are how we will all adjust when he’s home. Seeing how easy this trip was made me realize we won’t need to adjust. The kids were happy, I was happy, Randy was happy and before we know it he’ll be back for good and we’ll all be happy for good!

More on the visit coming soon! I was so behind after home leave I’m just getting close to caught up…

Field trips and more

I try my hardest to join every field trip and special day the boys have. I know I won’t always be able to do that but for now I have an understanding boss and the option of taking off so I am going to take it! I love being there on these days. I miss so much of what the boys do while they are in school I love seeing them on these days. I love seeing how they interact with their friends, I love seeing them get excited about new stuff, I love hanging out with them somewhere new. 
Adam’s field trip this year was at the Children’s museum. We have never been to this museum and its actually located right next door to the Embassy! I was able to just walk right over and meet him! I don’t know why we haven’t been to this museum before, it was great! Super interactive and fun!

Next up- UN day at Adam’s school. Adam represented the U.S.  It turns out no one represented Greece so next year Greece it it! But I had just gone back to work and an amazon Olympic T-shirt was perfect for this year and Adam loved it! And I was able to go and spend it with him most importantly.

Next up, a field trip with Malcolm to the Fire Station.  This one was a big hit! The kids got to ride a fire truck and spray a fire hose! Adam and his friend Brisbane held hands most of the day. It was the cutest thing!

Last semester we were able to all go together on Malcolm’s field trip. Adam was off and I wasn’t back at work yet. We’ve been to this zoo before…it’s no San Diego zoo. But the kids love it.

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Filipiniana Day at ISM up next and Malcolm came too! Adam always gets so excited when Malcolm comes to his school. Its pretty cute. He wants to hold his hand and show him everything and introduce him to everyone.

31/52 – 7 Months

Week 31- Guess what, you have two teeth! They both came through at once and you weren’t even that fussy about it 🙂 You are so cute when you smile and those two little teeth on the bottom show. 

You’re still dragging your little body around with the cutest army crawl trying to reach everything! You also still only want to feed yourself. You do not want any purees, but if you can hold it and eat it you want it!

You also started crying when I leave the room, or when I come into the room and don’t come pick you right up. It is the cutest thing actually. When I come and get you you give me a little hug and get SO excited, squealing and cooing. It is really the sweetest thing ever. 

You are 7 months and growing and changing so fast. I miss my little infant Miral but I also love seeing your personality come out and I love seeing you laugh. You laugh so freely and smile at everyone, even photographs of your brothers. No one makes you laugh like Adam and Malcolm. They bring out the belly laughs from you so quickly. You love going for walks in the stroller and looking at everything. You love looking at trees swaying in the wind and much like your brothers when they were your age you love a good ceiling fan.

30/52

Week 30- This was your first trip to Baguio. You were great in the car the whole time there and back! You played with any cardboard or plastic bottle I could find for you and took some naps.

You loved being outside in the grass and hanging out with all the kids. You slept with mommy in my room in your travel cot and I loved having you back in my room for a few nights. You got to play with your friend Scotty who’s just a few weeks younger than you. You even got to ride a horse for the first time! You weren’t scared at all. It was so nice to be away with you for the weekend and letting you hang out in the grass.