Pics from last week

Bren playing with the boys after coming over for dinner a week or two ago.

He created a fun jumping pad for the boys.

Ha ha.  Had to include this picture, especially since Kai is in mid-fall. 

Monkey boys at the bagel shop for Father's Day (this picture is from my camera, not iPhone). 

Gabriel with Kai's new birthday present.

It's a little for Kai, but he can do it. 

Cyrus is a fishing champ.

Happy to have a big healthy two-year old.

 Beatrice, our foster kitten, is fitting in well and especially loves Earl.  I think I might've found her a home.  I'll let you know.

My boys are loving their new birthday scooters...and books, as always.  I love when I hear them get all quiet and find them sitting in a big pile of books reading.

 I found them like that this morning listening to Pap pap's recorded voice reading the story.  They just LOVE it. (Especially when he says "Meow, meow.")

Cyrus has been in a really great phase this last month.  He's been helpful, mostly dutiful and obedient, and nice to his brother and us.  BUT, this morning, he needed to be in time out for trying to kick Kai after he ruined his train track.

 This afternoon, Melissa came over to do science projects with the kids.

The coolest one was making "slime."

It was gooey and stretchy and pink.  The boys, surprisingly, didn't want to touch it.  Meanwhile, Melissa and I had a lot of fun playing with it.

Talking to Cyrus about the brain.

A visit with my cousins and parents this weekend

My dad comes from a family of eight children, four boys and four girls.  Sadly, two of my uncles aren't alive anymore, but the rest of my aunts and remaining uncle are, thankfully.  One of my late uncles, Bouzorg, who was a few years older than my dad, had two children, a boy and a girl.  They were raised in Iran, but Tannaz now lives in Atlanta with her husband, Masih, and her brother Salar lives in London with his wife, Anna.  

Both of my dear cousins have recently had children, a boy and a girl each.  I try to make an effort to go see them in Atlanta, especially when Salar is visiting.  It's so fun to see the whole bunch, and they are so great.  My parents met us down there this past Saturday after I worked til noon.  We had food, caught up with each other, and played with the kids.  It was great.  We all missed Anahita, since she used to live in Atlanta and got very close with Tannaz.  Move home, girlie!

-Shirin

Salar, Gabriel, and Kai. (And a bunch of fruit!)

Cyrus, Atousa, and Saam playing with playdoh.

 Saam is Salar's son and is 11 months older than Kai; he's about to turn three next month.

He's half-British and half-Persian and speaks both English and Farsi.  He's a lot like Cyrus in demeanor and personality.

This beautiful little 17-month old is Atousa, Tanny's little girl.  Her twin brother, Khashayar was asleep for the first part of our visit.

He eventually woke up and joined the party.

Elyse (aka Settareh) is Salar's six month old daughter.  She thought my mom's face was so cool.

Sitting around, chatting.  (Sorry for the bad lighting).

From left: Masih, Saeed, Ingrid, Farideh (Salar and Tannaz's mom), Salar, and Gabriel.

Salar's beautiful family (his wife Anna is a wonderful mom and a doctor!)

 Our brave attempt at a baby cousins picture.  We were all doing crazy things to keep their attention.

The beautiful grandmas.

 The proud Baba/Great-uncle.

Playing with all the toys!

Elyse figuring out what the walker is all about.

Salar and my dad talking about Bouzorg and other things.

We headed downstairs where Masih has fixed up the baby pool on the deck.

The kids loved it.

I loved Saam.  He was really smart and self-sufficient, until something upset him and he was the most dramatic crier I've ever seen.  Such a cutie.

The five cousins played well together.

Elyse preferred to stay with her mommy away from the cold water (in her "lady bird" outfit, as the Brits say).

Relaxing on the deck with family.  What more could you ask for?

We headed home after dinner to stay at my place and keep my cats company.  Beatrice is getting along great with my cats, by the way.  Here she is playing with Earl. 

My dad is on a very healthy eating plan right now.  He brought all of his own food.  So, I took some of it for Cyrus' lunch today.  It's probably the weirdest lunch I've ever made him, but he ate it.  From 11 'o clock, a hard boiled egg, carrots and hummus, tofu/collards mixure, beets, and corn on the cob.  

Lunch with Nama and Baba.

Kai, checking out his birthday loot.

Opening presents.

He got a piggy bank, markers, paper, books, and that blue scooter in the background (Cyrus got an honorary scooter too).

They also got a really cool book from Pap pap in the mail last week.  It's a recorded reading of this book with his voice on it.  The kids think it's awesome.

Today, after my parents left, I decided to have a little outside fun with shaving cream and the hose.

Kai filling up our bins with water.

Kai giving Cyrus a rinse-down.

 Cooling off in our make-shift pool.

Tonight was one of my nights to go running with Melissa, so I came back sweaty and tired.  Nonetheless, the boys talked me into snuggling up to read some books.