This week was a big week at Ethan's school as the kids got ready for Thanksgiving break. Ethan starred in his 2nd grade class play "A Native American Welcome" by Sandra Widener. Ethan played the starring role of Squanto the Native American that helps the Pilgrims learn how to plant crops and survive the harsh winters. Ethan had the most speaking lines, and he practiced after school for several weeks to memorize all of his lines. The kids made their hats and vests.


In this scene the Native Americans are bringing the deer meat for the Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims.

After the play ... With his teacher Ms. Thomason -

With Grandma -

Peeking from behind the tree.

With his friend Felix who played the Pilgrim Edward Winslow.

With other friends from his class -

Ethan's school also had the annual Thanksgiving lunch. We joined Ethan and his class for lunch.

Halloween 2008 - Here is the front tree decorated with spider webs and ghosts.

The patio - Ethan wanted to make it look spooky this year.

The weekend before Halloween we carved pumpkins with Aunt Claire and Rene.

Grandma and Ethan

Ethan designed these pumpkins.

This year Ethan designed his own costume. He drew the picture and called it "red skull" and "evil wizard." Ethan and grandma went to the fabric store together to pick out the fabric and pattern for the costume. Here is a picture without the cape.

Here he is with his cape looking spooky.

Grandma made dad a cape too!!



Ethan looks serious.

Hiding under the cape...

With his friend Zane the ninja just before trick or treating.

Grandma Sharon captures Evil Wizard Dad.

Here is the gang out in the neighborhood for trick or treating.

Ethan and his buddy Felix.

The week before Halloween, Ethan had crazy clothes day at school. Ethan picked this outfit out himself. You will notice most of the clothing is backwards and inside out.

Athens, Greece. We spent three nights in Athens, Greece. We loved Athens. Contrary to what people usually say about Athens, we found it to be clean, easy to navigate, and friendly. Our hotel, Airotel Parthenon, was minutes walk from the Parthenon and on the Plaka (the old town, tourist district). I would definitely recommend anyone visiting Athens to stay at a hotel in the Plaka. Here is a scene from the Plaka.

Here is a dog eating off of a ceramic dish in the middle of the Plaka.

Ethan pets a dog on the Plaka.

Here are me and Ethan in front of the Parthenon.

Here is a close up view of the Parthenon.

Here are William and Ethan in the back of the Parthenon.

Here is a view of the Acropolis.

This is the Odeon theater on the Acropolis.

Here is the Erechtheion on the Acropolis.

Here are the Caryatids (the female statues) supporting the Erechtheion.

Arch of Hadrian

Temple of ZeusTemple of Apollo

In front of the Temple of Zeus

William the photographer

Greece Part III: We did so much in Greece that I needed to start a third post. We visited the Palimidi which is on a high hill above Napflion and was first fortified by the Venetians during the second Venetian occupation of the area (1686-1715). The most important monuments of the site are the Castle a Venetian defensive structure dated to the beginning of the 18th century. The Church of St. Andrew, built in one of the bastions of the fortress. It is a barrel-vaulted church with the eastern half built under one of the arches supporting the walls. The prison of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero of the Greek Revolution.

See the beautiful blue water in the background!

NAPFLION

We visited the town of Napflion which has a beautiful beach. The town is really cute and is a popular cruise ship destination. Ethan is ready for the beach!