Fun with blankets and pillows

Looking back at a lot of the photos I've taken recently but not had time to post, I was interested to see how many of them involve blankets and pillows. I usually take pictures of the boys playing, sleeping, or reading, so I guess those activities just lend themselves to using soft objects (?). I don't know why, but there seems nothing more fun to these boys than running under a blanket that is being flung into the air or jumping on a huge pile of pillows. I can handle those kind of games, since I think they are fun too and they are completely free.

-Shirin

What are these two little bubsies up to?

Just hanging out on the couch together?

About to take a nap?

Aha! I caught them with a book. I can't wait until Cyrus can read to Kai, but they already look at books together sometimes, which I love.

A gaggle of Modaresi-Beals in bed together, looking pretty pitiful too, I must say.

Why so pathetic?

I'm pretty sure this was when we all had fevers from hand, foot, and mouth disease. Sure glad that's over!

Reading Panda Bear, Panda Bear, what do you see? It's one of Kai's favorite books.

Gabriel and I both love to snuggle with the boys while reading books.

It's such an easy way to tickle them when the book is over too.

C'mon, Kai. Smile for the camera!

Oh well, that's the best we got.

Whee. Diving under a blanket time!

You can almost feel the exhilaration.

Tackle the quilt!

What's gonna happen next?

I tried to make a nice picture out of this but....

...just gave up. Oh well.

I walked into the boys' room to find that Cyrus had piled every pillow and blanket in the house onto his bed. I covered them with the comforter and they got to sit on top of a "cloud."

I've always wanted to sit on top of a cloud.

Craziness ensued.

Then came the ghosts stuck under the bed sheet still on the bed. One ghost...

...two ghosts.

Peek-a-boo, Little Bubsy and Micro Bubsy.

My two very-different-looking-yet-both-cute little bubsies. They have so much fun together.

This is an action shot. I asked Kai where Cyrus was (he was hiding on top of the bed UNDER the sheet), and this is where Kai took me to show me, quite correctly, where his brother was hiding.

New foster kitty, a trip to the park, and Yoforia!

We have had a weekend at home with me working this Saturday. It's usually a time for us to do laundry, clean the house, and spend time with the kids. Sometimes I lament that on my days off from work, I just work all day at home. But, then I remind myself that such is life and most people in the world have it much worse than I do and stop feeling bad for myself.

This weekend, I brought home a little kitty friend for the boys to play with. His name is Smootz and he's a total doll. He isn't freaked out by the noise and commotion of the boys and is a real snuggler. He was surrendered to us by his previous owner due to her having cancer and I think my boss is going to adopt him. But, he's been at our clinic for a few weeks, so I wanted to let him stretch his legs. Gabriel is in love and wants to keep him, but I don't think Dr Amy will want to give him up.

Today, instead of doing more laundry, we headed to the intramural fields on UGA's campus and hiked through the woods to a little clearing where we played soccer as a family. Then, since attention spans are so short, we ended up playing lots of imagination games involving dragons and fairies and running through the woods stealing golden eggs. What fun! It got too hot in a jiffy, so we headed over to Yoforia, a delicious frozen yogurt place with tons of flavors and toppings. We head back to work in the morning after having a nice family weekend. I'll be taking Smootz back with me. He will be missed (Cyrus insists that Smootz is HIS kitty).

-Shirin

Smootz calmly letting Kai pet him in bed after we all woke up from a nap yesterday.

Smootz has a corneal ulcer in his left eye, which we've been treating with eye drops for several weeks.

"Cat, cat, cat, cat."

Smootz and Cyrus playing in their little village.

About to start hiking.

Carrying a warm, heavy little bundle on my back.

About to enjoy an amazing yogurty experience at Yoforia. What a wonderful treat after getting so hot, tired, and sticky.

Cyrus is very careful not to eat too much frozen yogurt, since last time he gave himself a wicked cold headache.

I loved how fresh and healthy many of the ingredients were. I got a Taro frozen yogurt with almonds, granola, coconut, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries on it. Yum!

The forgotten baby

Gabriel reminded me what Cyrus was doing at the age Kai is now (approx 14 months) by sending me this video today.

Both of us admitted to one another that we don't really remember Cyrus like this at all. We just don't even know who this baby is. Is that how it will be the rest of my life: only remembering the most recent past and completely forgetting how my children used to be? Or, will things come flooding back to me as they get older and less involved in my life? Either way, I am glad I have so many videos and photos to help me re-experience the early years with these guys. I was pretty much astonished when I happened upon this link he sent me and realized that this little guy what who Cyrus used to be. Just astonished...and completely engrossed.

I think it's also very possible that Gabriel and I were still so sleep-deprived at that point with Cyrus that we don't remember much because our brains were so fuzzy. I was still a vet student and Cyrus probably was still waking us up at night now and then. Several nights a week of interrupted sleep can really wear a person down, believe me. I think I'm just starting to recover from Kai's wakeful nights and he's been a much easier baby and better sleeper than Cyrus ever was and still is.

One thing that is painfully obvious in this comparison is that Cyrus was talking a lot more at this age than Kai is now. Kai definitely says a few simple words here and there, but he mostly just says "that" (or "dat") and points at everything he wants. Effective but not eloquent. I read somewhere that second children speak later than first children because their older siblings talk for them, but I have no idea if there's a lick of truth to that.

I plan to watch this adorable video of Baby Cyrus again. I just can't believe how far he's come.

-Shirin

From Athens to Rock Hill (and back)

This past weekend, Gabriel went to New York for a bitcoin conference. It worked out that he was gone the same weekend that my sister was flying into Charlotte for a visit, so I loaded up the boys and drove home. I was lucky enough to get Monday off from work, so I got to have a nice long 3 day weekend with my immediate family. We never do that much going out or anything, but we cook, play, eat, and talk. It's such a happy place for me and my sister. But, of course, it also always feels good to get back from a trip and relax under one's own roof. So, last night, I was happy to be back safely in Athens with my husband back safely from New York. Life is good.

-Shirin

In Athens last week, making a quilt tent.

This huge jungle puzzle was one of the toys that Cyrus bought with his "fun money" from his Pappap and Grandma. It's 4 ft tall, thus taller than Cyrus (for just a little while longer).

Enjoying my boys on my day off last week.

We got into Rock Hill late Friday night. When we were all up Saturday morning, Baba wasted no time in doing his favorite thing with Cyrus: teaching him things, in this case--geography.

Anahita and I drove up to Charlotte Saturday afternoon to buy some Persian food and she got a little treat for herself called "doogh." I try to like it; I really do.

My parents prepared a feast for us (and our guest Ricardo): khashk-e-bademjun (eggplant dip), fesanjun (walnut/soy chicken stew), tadeeg (crunchy rice), saffron rice, and salad. It was delicious.

Of course, we played Catan. (I won by a landslide victory).

Of course, Nama and Cyrus read lots of good books too.

Sunday afternoon was hot as hades and muggy as all get out...so, we cleaned up the kiddie pool, lit the citronella candles, and made some idyllic childhood memories with the kids.

Fill 'er up!

Fun Auntie Tita playing with Cyrus.

The scene where all the fun happened.

They were soon naked.

Poor little Kai is a trainwreck, so poor Nama had to follow him around saving him a ton.

Brothers kissing.

The scene I came home to tonight.

Love these boys.

Cyrus made a LOT of bubbles in his tub tonight.

Little man winter.