Back to the Homeland...

Back to the homelands for a little fun in the sun.  A week on the island of Kos in Greece.  But not without a visit to Athens...

You may not know this about me, but I'm a quarter Greek.  Yes, true.  So, many a year ago, my lovely husband, boyfriend back then, took me to Athens so I could connect with my "roots."  Well, I loved Athens, more precisely the Old Town and it's many ancient buildings or pieces of and the fabulous food in the Plaka.

So, like last year we met with two other families and had some fun in the sun together.  I like this new ritual!

Hello Athens...

No vacation is complete without a selfie!!

And off to the island of Kos...

The Imperial Hotel.

So, as it was, you had to wear pants to dinner.  As we were on an island vacation, we didn't pack any for J.  So, he got some snazzy new ones at the resort's shop. Looks like he feels real good in them!

                         
And as it happened last year, T's birthday was during the holiday.  Once again the resort did us well.  Happy 8th B-Day my super cool young man!!

                         

Some pool fun...

Woohoo, water sports!

He looks like a right ole California boy!

Back at the pool, J led the way as first class Aqua Gym helper.

Even the kiddies got involved.

And were rewarded well with an ice cream break.

After a couple of Pina Coladas on our afternoon Pina break. Ahhh,
vacations are great! :)

And we put our under-water camera to work.  I sure do love underwater pics!!

Some evening entertainment...of course James got in on the fun.  Can't miss those white pants anywhere!

 A little Greek dance lesson...

Art at the Kid's Club...

And the ringing of the dinner bell.  Yummmmmm!

Such a super group of kids.  It's cool to think how they live all over the world,
but are making such a close bond.  We've got Monaco, Moscow, and India locations accounted
for here with English, American, Serbian, and Greek nationalities!

They look like sisters!  And because of this little pistol, I was asked by

my kids if we could have another baby!

Emmy made lots of new friends...

Yep E, I think it's a thumbs up for Greece!! 

See you again next year!!

Where Civilization Began...

Holy smokes, the last post I did was in MAY!!!  There actually has been a lot going on around here that I have tons of pictures for, just need to find the time.  I'll make sure to get a few posts together and fill you in on all the activities we've been up to.  Don't want you all to go through withdrawals.

But to start....here's an inside look at our trip to Greece.

J and some of his friends from College decided to gather the families for a holiday and we decided on Greece.  Our family spent a couple days in Athens to show the kids where civilization began and some of Mommy's roots (I'm one quarter Greek), and to see some buildings that are older than they can possibly fathom at this age.  It's even hard for me!

Backstory...When J and I just started dating he decided that (at three months in) he needed to wow me with something big to keep me enamoured with him (not necessary but who am I to complain) and he planned a trip to Athens.  He said I should see where both my Greek roots and civilization originated.

Now eight years later it was great returning to the scene with our little family in tow.

Hangin' out in the Plaka District...

Yummmm, a little Starbucks break!

Just some odd ruins found under a building.

Heading up to the Acropolis...

The ancient Theater of Dionysus... 

Us in 2004...

Entering Acropolis...

And finally, the Parthenon. :)

 

The Erechtheion.

Close up of the Caryatides on the Erechtheion.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Theater Dionysus.

 Back in Athens, just outside Plaka...

Changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.  If you get in the way of these guys,
they won't stop.  They'll actually walk over you without a look back!

The "Changing of the Guard dance".   

Personally I think a long weekend in Athens is enough.  Get your hotel in the Plaka Distict (their old town), hang out there, eat some amazing food, see the monuments that surround it, and you're good.  But upon saying that, it's so perfect you'll want to do it again, and maybe even again.

After our weekend in Athens we headed to Olympia in the Peloponnese and landed at the Olympia Golden Beach Resort and Spa.  Lovely.  We had a three apartment villa with it's own pool.  Perfect for the three families to spend time together and bond.  In addition to lounging in the sun, having massages, and swimming whenever we felt the desire (yes, a tough vacation), T turned seven and E kicked off the arm bands and swam for the first time on her very own.

E's first try at swimming.  She said the heck with arm bands, I'm gonna
swim!  Good job E!

The Prince and his Princesses.  T was one of seven kids, and the only boy!  Looks
 like a lucky one at that!!

This guy showed up on my lounger one morning and wouldn't leave.  I decided to rest with
him and then found he'd ventured onto my hand.  Finally I put him back in the bushes.
He wasn't at all bothered by my invasive photography!

Ahhh, this is the life!

Looks like some body's happy to be seven. 

Our one day at the beach.  T and E preferred the pool.   Hmmm, spoiled from
living so close to the sea???

T and his harem at the main pool. 

Needless to say the kids were very unhappy to leave paradise and return home, to paradise.  Do they know how good they have it??  When I was a kid we went to the Ozarks for a holiday!  Can't wait to go back, to Greece that is. :)