Monday, April 8, 2013

Hmmm...Should I Even Try to Make Another Promise?

Wow! It has been almost 2 years since I promised to make regular posts. I really miss writing. It just seems that life is keeping me busy. Maybe I'll try to make more of an effort. This time I won't make any promises about posting. Maybe this blog will take on a  different feel. Until this point it has been used almost like a diary. Maybe I'll be more likely to write if I write about a variety of things. We shall see...

Until the next time...which hopefully won't be two years from now. :)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Another Promise to do Better

Okay, so I promised to write in my blog more often and then I don't. I'm hoping to get into it more. I actually kind of miss it.

Today is a tough day. A year ago today we lost little Elena. A day doesn't go by that I don't think of her. Today, Abigail, Jeromy, Mom, Alex, and I are heading to the zoo to see the Elena's hippos. I have a lot of fond memories of Elena at the zoo and she loved the hippos. I think this is a great way to remember her!

Pictures from previous trips to the zoo:





Sunday, January 30, 2011

A New Year!!! Welcome 2011

I know it is almost February, but I have decided to get on the ball and start writing in my blog again. It was a rough 6 months rounding out 2010 and I am happy to see it go. We are still struggling with the loss of beautiful Elena and life seems strange without her. It always will and we will always miss her. Life for any of us will never be the same.

Abigail is growing quickly. She talks and moves a mile a minute. "Always on the go" is a saying that definitely applys to her. This new year has brought a couple of changes to her life. First of all, she is now in a big girl bed or as she calls it her "good girl bed." We also just took away her pacifier this week. That transition is not going as smoothly. All in all I'm enjoying the ride of being called "Mommy."

She's awake now, so I won't be able to write all I wanted to. Hopefully I won't be such a stranger on here.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Elena Nicole

I have been thinking for a while about a new post. I've had so many things to write about, but never took the time to do so. Then, this Wednesday happened. Our little niece Elena Nicole was hit by a car in a horrible accident and we lost her that evening. I don't think that I can express what a wonderful child she was! She was loving and kind. It breaks my heart that she is gone! I really wish I could tell more about her, but I really don't think I can at this time. I am already sobbing as I write this. So, instead, I am attaching some pictures that I quickly found while skimming through my pictures on the computer. I'm sorry they are not in order. I'm having difficulties figuring out the new blogger. :(

I miss our little girl - Elena Nicole Yakumithis - January 25, 2004 - June 9, 2010

Elena at the pool at the Y. I believe this was taken last Fall.

Elena at Laura's wedding reception (April 2008)

Elena at the balloon festival in Findlay (I think that was in the Fall)

I think this picture was also taken around Laura's wedding

Alex and Elena at the 2008 Greek Festival

Elena with her big sister Lia at the 2009 Greek Festival

Elena with Lia, Michael, and Alex - 2009 Greek Festival
Elena, Alex, and Abigail at the Fleitz Pumpkin Farm this past fall

Fleitz Pumpkin Farm - Fall 2009

Halloween - Fall 2009

Elena with Uncle Jeromy and Abigail at the Y pool - Spring 2010

Elena being silly with Aunt Julie at the Michigan/Ohio State Party in 2009

Decorating Christmas cookies - 2009

Playing with her Christmas presents - 2009

At the zoo with Abigail - Spring 2010

Friday, May 14, 2010

Two More Days in the Outer Banks!!!

Today is our last day. So sad. At least it's a beautiful day to end on. It's in the 80s and the sun is shining. So different from yesterday...which is where my story begins...

Yesterday we knew the weather was not going to be as nice so we decided to go to the aquarium. It was rainy and in the 60s and definitely not pleasant. So, we drove the hour up to the aquarium and enjoyed a morning with the fish.



Check out the teeth on that one!


Of course Abs is leading the way.


Telling everyone all about the turtles.


Abs wasn't so sure about the touch tank. She would dip her fingers into the water and that was about it. There was another tank with rays in it. She wouldn't stick her fingers in deep enough to touch those. :)


This morning we awoke to a beautiful day. Of course, we decided to spend some time on the beach. We weren't able to stay long (only about a hour or so). Abs was throwing a little fit. She didn't sleep well last night (as a result Mommy didn't as well) so she was tired. We went back, gave her a quick bath and put her to bed. She missed out on everyone coming over for some hamburgers for lunch.

Running away from the scary waves


Probably amazed at the big waves. She thinks they are really cool.


Her little lip is trembling...that water is COLD!!!


Daddy showing her how to build a sand castle.


Landon trying to figure out why everyone is so excited about cold water and scratchy sand.


A little funny story about the beach. Chris (have I mentioned that Andy's brother Chris and his wife Mary are on the trip with us?) had Landon standing in the water (yes, he finally got in) and Jeromy was holding on to Abs (she doesn't like to be held on to, but we're afraid of the waves and currents). Both guys had their backs to the ocean and were bent over holding the kids. A small wave came in and they were all laughing (including babies) and then a huge wave followed close behind it and smacked both babies in the face. Now, we had a couple of crying babies...but it didn't take long before they wanted in again. :)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A Day at the Beach

...well, at least a morning. Today was a beautiful day!!! By the time I went out on the deck this morning it felt like it was already in the 70s! Perfect weather for the beach! We got ready to head out around 10 a.m. (honestly, we spent most of the morning relaxing on the deck of the house)

We met up with the Ebright clan on the beach and began trying to coax Landon and Abigail off the blankets we had laid down. They were kind of freaked out by the sand. It was like they were trapped on a little island.



After a little while they started creeping toward the edge of the blanket. Then Abigail took a step off and fled to sit on Mommy's lap. I handed her off to Jeromy and got down on the sand to play with her shovels and buckets to hopefully try to interest her enough to get down.



Eventually, it worked. She came down and destroyed everything I had made. Then, she became intrigued with the crashing waves. So, Abigail and I walked down closer to the water. She LOVED it! At times she was hesitant, but then she would run laughing back into the water.







She had a grand time playing with Mommy and Daddy in the water. She kept trying to convince Landon, but he was as sure. (At least, that is what we assumed she was telling him)



After the fun in the water, we headed back to our houses for lunch and naps for the babies. Then, we went to "swim" in the pool. We stayed in the wading pool and just visited while the kids walked around and ate goldfish. It was nice to have a good time outside. Of course, after all that sun today I am exhausted!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Hatteras Lighthouse

Today, we decided to head out early to the Hatteras Lighthouse. It is probably one of the most famous lighthouses in the United States! We all wanted to climb to the top of the lighthouse but small children are not allowed to be carried up (actually a child needs to be 42 inches even to climb it with a parent). So we decided to take turns. Jeromy and I climbed it first and then Laura and Andy climbed it. Chris and Mary went with us when we went up. It was a long climb and very tiring (there are 257 steps and is equivelant to 12 stories)! But, it was worth it when we reached the top! It was beautiful!!!





The view looking out over the ocean


Looking down on Laura, Andy and the kiddos (this must be zoomed in)






This is the spot where the lighthouse originally stood before it was moved in 1999 to its present location.


These granite stones used to make up the foundation of the original lighthouse. It is now engraved with the names of the lighthouse keepers.