Maria's newest picture

Hey guys, how do you like my sweet 7 year old daughter's latest picture? Not anything I expected!!

Welcome Home Cali

Finally, 6 weeks after all her friends have moved back from the dorms, Cali is finally home. DePaul is on a trimester schedule and school doesn't let up till mid-June.

I went up last Friday with the intention of packing 3-4 boxes into the van. Actually, I couldn't understand why Cali asked me to bring the minivan. I really wanted to drive Andy's little SUV. I HATE driving in the city anyway, and the prospect of having to drive the van made me a little nervous.

Well.......when I walked into her room and saw what we had to take home, I was SHOCKED! I sure didn't remember bringing all that stuff up with us! So, Cali and I had to drag everything down the stairs (I forgot to bring a dolly)over to the parking garage and jam pack the van.

Here's a couple of photos of most everything back in Cali's room. Just to give you an idea, this is a work in progress that has already taken one week to get to this level.






Can't wait to do this all over again in the FALL....or when both girls are at school at once, that should be alot of fun too ! :)

Blooms in bloom

This year I didn't plant as much as I usually do, but here are a few pics of the colors in bloom around my house.

Thought for the day......

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
—Proverbs 16:24

Happy Father's Day

First, I give praise and thanks to the Lord our God on this beautiful day.
"Praise the Lord, O my soul all my inmost being, praise His Holy name." Psalm 103:1
Please read the entire psalm on your own, as it is so beautiful and one of my favorites.

Second, we remember our fathers and papous who are no longer with us here, Angelo Pappas, Paul Karoubas and Papou Thanasi. We have great memories of them all.

Next we wish a very Happy Father's Day to our husband/daddy....Andy!! We love you very much, you are an all-around great guy!
It's good to be Andy Pappas, isn't it :)

Lastly, to all the great uncles out there. Happy Father's Day and since there is no such thing as Uncle's Day, we celebrate you all today too!

TOTALLY AMAZING!

This is a show of God's amazing gifts to His people, not to mention Paul Potts' humble spirit. This clip touched my soul and brought me to tears. The final show airs in Britain on Sunday. check out the latest on Paul
BREAKING NEWS>>>PAUL POTTS WINS!!!

Tennis Anyone?

Maria has started tennis lessons this week through the Park District. We figured tennis is a great sport for a prissy left-handed girl :) There are only 3 kids in her class, so they have plenty of time to work on their swings. Of course, their favorite part of the class is seeing who can pick up the most balls and put them back in the bucket. It's so much fun watching them enjoy themselves.
end note:
(Notice which side of the net all the balls are on :D )

Happy Birthday Cali !!!

Who can believe my first baby is 19 already?!! Wasn't it just yesterday we were going to the "horsey park", getting "ot doegs and freh-fries" with yiayia and papou? Hey Cal, remember when you were three and you put that boy in a headlock and threw him down? That was one of my proudest moments as your mom :)

Happy Birthday Cali, may God always bless you with health, happiness and love. Na ta ekatostisis! xoxo, Mom and Dad.

Boohoo :(

'nuff said.........

Saint Kalliope

Today we celebrate the feastday of Saint Kalliope the martyr. Hronia Polla to my mil Pope, my sweet daughter Cali, our cousin Caroline Tsourmas and our niece Kayla Karnavas! xox

Read her story, just click on the link below: Saint Kalliope

The Party Continues!!

Great Uncle Tito Stavroulakis












Me and my yiayoula

I told you she had alot of energy! Yiayia called me three times on Sunday to invite me over for her "real" birthday. A few of us dropped by, exchanged photos from the other day and ate and ate. We also got to say goodbye to Theo Tito Stavroulakis as he is headed back to Crete.

After the Party zzzzzzzzzzzz

The party was great, but relaxing after the party was also enjoyable. After the reception we met up with the Karounos' Prater's and Shuber's at Georgio's for a little dip in the pool, and a little crashing on the lounge chairs (teenagers!)

Yiayia Eleni's 90th Birthday Bash

90 years young, that's how we all describe Yiayia! Not many other 90 y.o. have the energy this woman has, heck, WE don't even have the energy she has! This was not just a celebration of a birthday, but of living life enthusiastically and more importantly it was a celebration of family!! Enjoy these few pics from our family party of the year!

Eonia H Mnimi

Eternal be his memory. Thinking of dad today on the 2 year anniversary of his passing from this world to the next. He was a wonderful man, a loving father and a generous soul. We have some great memories to hold on to. We were blessed to have had such a great husband, dad and papou. God rest his soul.