Climbing together
Part deux of yesterday’s Dekalb-Peachtree airport post
Dekalb airport playground
Regular end of dinner scene
When helena asks for a special treat without fail
Eating some rice together
Etowah Indian Mounds
A.B.C.
Always Be Climbing – this is Helena’s mantra. Misha’s at this point is “always be searching.” He’s figured out how to open bottles, lids, and all sorts of other things and objects around the house are now (often frustratingly so) missing.
Helena on the other hand is always hoping to go to another playground, and so dad, Misha, and Helena did just that
Continue reading “A.B.C.”Rain day chalking
Understanding
Today a neighbor yelled at some one we couldn’t see to get them his helmet. Moments later Misha came out with mom’s helmet.
He’s definitely starting to understand more language if he still not really speaking
Hanging with my friend Sophia
(More) first words
Misha has been mouthing a few words here and there but not saying much yet. In Florida over December break he definitely was saying mama occasionally. Tonight he said “up!” To Sherlock several times
Concrete Jungle Volunteering
It’s been a long time since mom and dad could volunteer and encourage misha and Helena to get involved. Everybody had a good time on a nice, sunny winter Atl day
Dunwoody Nature Center
Sibling play/rivalry
(Little) piano man
Winter at Hawk hollow
Daycare closed
Due to pandemic …
Dad starts his tennis coaching season
First monkey bar completion
Rainy day puddles
Random Water Jugs @ Playground
Spicy Water
Misha at daycare
Misha is getting more and more used to daycare and not crying anymore when his parents drop him off! He is still not the most social there but he doesn’t run away from the other kids anymore either
Big puzzle
Winter zoo visit
With friend Lille
Misha and the Lune/Helena and her continued soul quest
New discoveries for both kids. Helena’s was prompted by the new Disney film ‘Soul’ which she both loved loved and it made her really scared.
Misha is noticing and fixating in the moon
Fairness
First root beer floats
Challenging conversations
Helena: if I fall into a hole and become a soul, can I come back to be alive?
Me: probably not
Helena: but the soul did it
Me: yes but that usually doesn’t happen
Helena: can I not die ever?
Me: most people do die at some point but you have a very long time until that happens
Helena: but you do not have a long time because you are adult?
Me: I also have a long time but not as long as you
Helena: why you have a long and a little time?
Me: it’s all relative
Helena: So I have a long and a little time too?
Me: yes I guess so
Helena: but I don’t want to die ever
Me: yes me too
Helena: ooh, I farted
Feeding Sherlock (maybe?)
Light show
On this day
Helena said her first: “I wish my brother was eaten by a dragon” for her first time (actually it was yesterday but not important). Misha frequently destroys the castles and block structures she makes. She is learning slowly how to cope with it but it’s not easy
Cold playground day
Mini golf New Years
Cream of wheat all over
Florida citrus
Learning to use utensils
With Helena demonstrating her increasing language abilities in the background
Goodbye la Floride!
Florida-ing
Strawberry Milkshakes
Big Man At the Wheel/Sand Art
Trying shoes on
Christmas in Delray 2020
Misha’s latest development: clapping !
Sugar Sand Park annual visit
En route
On route to Delray the Fayfessels stopped at Devil’s Milhopper outside of Gainesville but most of it was sadly shut down due to covid. After a not-so-quick stopover in Gainesville itself, it was a long night slog to Rainberry Bay
The big news though was Misha’s new developments which started on this trup
1. Real first words- “mama” although it should be noted that he attempted to say Papa
2. And waiving to everyone now! He loves saying hi to strangers but won’t do it on command
And not to forget Helena’s development, Helena astutely remarked that lettuces do not have head’s and has been listening to Beethoven.
Peacock springs
FLA Bound
Glamping near Live Oak, Fl, and Baby Goats!
1st parent -teacher conference
Helena was reportedly one of the most energetic students but in a good way (this was definitely validating in more ways than one for mom and dad.
Her presence was also very noticed and it was different when Helena wasn’t in school they said. Her teachers said she can work on impulse control and mm and dad can help her by telling her what’s coming next more.
Sleepy heads
Play dates
Misha had his first play date. He wasn’t feelin it to much but Helena was as was Misha’s classmate Luna
As usual, Helena and Misha both played with Kendrick Ave neighbor Nadia and her toys
Opening Chanukah gifts
Tracing my name
Petit snack
Misha has gotten into the habit of digging around in the fridge now on the bottom shelves
First Misha bike ride
He didn’t have strong feelings one way or another (seemingly) about it
GPCP
Helena’s daycare sometimes sends her parents some fun pictures of what they get up to!
Winter Hike
Chalking
Dinner Tickling
The sounds of Misha and Helena
Misha enjoys and often eats his food loudly
And Helena likes to sing in the car and often does a 1 and a 2 and a 3 intro
New park
In the highlands Misha and Helena spent some time in a different playground and even hopped on a volleyball court for a bit
A typical chaotic Monday night scene
Misha play date
Misha meets Clara and plays with mom and dad’s friends otp (or the suburbs for you non-Atlantans)
Thanksgiving Charlie Brown
Perfect screen-in patio fireplace weather, first Charlie Brown Thanksgiving- Helena was into it. Misha was more into wondering from point A to point B and picking up and transferring objects. This is a constant pastimes these days for misha. Helena is unsurprisingly more excited about screens
Professor Kessel Explains Some Very Important Concepts
Thanksgiving 2020 Pandemic Style
The often unrecorded coming and going’s
Misha is going up and down the stairs these days on his own.
Misha is getting over his stranger anxiety. He had a baby sitter today and did great even though he tried to find mom (while she was in the shower).
Helena is practicing letters at school. She’s mastered “H” but can go up to HE
Helena loves the “annoncer” voice when her parents narrate everything that she’s doing.
Helena is learning what it’s really like to have a younger brother and when she wants to, she can be secretly (but not too secretly) pretty mean. She’ll pretend to pat his head as she hits him. Occasionally even in front of her parents she’ll full on shove Misha. She also likes to close doors in front of him and her parents.
Any time there is music, or a lyrical phone ringing, Misha starts to bob up and down.
Misha gets very jealous easily, especially when it comes to food, but Helena also gets jealous and wants to be held more again.
Winking
Mumbles
A good atl zoo white rhino sighting on a beautiful not-very-like day
Macalester Alumni Magazine
Misha in daycare
It’s been an adjustment but he’s getting to use it and usually happy thwre
Sunshine
Ella, Helena, & Misha go to Creekwater Alpaca Farm
Misha: I talk to strangers
Well Roman isn’t exactly a stranger but since starting daycare Misha it seems is more comfortable around people other than mom and dad and of course baba and dieda
Dance party
This is not recent (late August) but it’s too much of a gem to forgot to post it
Xylophone Man
Helena fell asleep in the car dance
Cumberland day #3
The final post from last weekend on Cumberland Island
Meanwhile back in Atl…
Nature games on the island :
Election 2020 dance
Cumberland Island Day 2
Somewhat belated but back to last weekend
Sam and Helena
Sam is one of Helena’s first friends that she made on her own almost exactly two years ago today. These pictures aren’t great but wanted to capture the reunion
At least one them can play fetch
Meanwhile…milk man Misha
While Helena and mom and dad were off galavanting on Tybee island, Misha was exploring the house on Kendrick Ave with baba and dieda
Dungenous Ruins day 1
Just a mile from the ferry lie adventure at this broken down colonial site (and later Carnegie’s)
Misha in this actual day also went to his first day of daycare. It was unsurprisingly a little rough but he is transitioning to a new system, he may need some time. No photo as of yet.
Cumberland ferry
Road trip
Misha stayed with grandma and grandpa while Helena tried her first McDonald (surprise surprise she liked it) and the family prepped for a big Cumberland Island trip
A distinguished young gentlemen
The lights at the Botanical Gardens
First hike
For Misha walking in his own shoes it should be added. .5 mile in his own shoes actually!
Friday after daycare
Unicorn
Russian gymnasts
Southbend park
Fernbank Sunday
Fall in Ormond Park
A present from grandpa and grandma in the mail
Cooking with mom/in the park with Dieda
Gymnastics with Solomon
Professional gymnast and grandfather Solomon teaches gymnastics on the weekend
Ella’s reptile themed birthday
Helena and other kids enjoyed a show with reptiles for Ella’s fourth birthday
Dress up w/Nadia and revisit to Hawk Hollow
A regular scene from the Fayfessel residence
Visit to the zoo
Scenes from Helena’s new daycare/misha’s current
Siblings swinging
Roza birthday
Belated Yom Kippur post
Babushka Roza
Banana man /trip back to Red’s Farm
Sunset on a Ferris wheel
Kayaking, nature trails, and Panama City pier
Panama City Beach
Tripped down to the Gulf for the family’s first time. Beautiful fall Florida weather and friend’s Roman and daughter Ella came too
Freedom Park Bike Sculptures
Serenbe weekend trip
Intentional eco-community 35 minutes south of atl is a very interesting, local field trip
Misha 1
It was a different sort of birthday party but everyone still had a good time in the park. Misha seemed to enjoy his cake a little bit and continued to take a few steps.
New daycare
Helena started at Grant Park Cooperative Pre-school yesterday and a great first day. She was a a little hesitant at first because it had been so long since she’s been around kids but eventually she was happy.
Gymnastics with Dieda
Botanical gardens night with Helena
A rare occurrence to get out in these Covid times but it was just what the family newded
Matzo siblings
Peachtree Golf Carting
The family spent a day golf carting around this weird town and it was a lot of fun.
Take me down to Peachtree City
About third five minutes south of Atlanta lies Peachtree City and it’s golf cart track down. It’s a strange and very green place and the Fayfessel’s were happy to visit some old Grand Park friends who recently relocated there
Playground siblings pt. 2
Misha taking a few steps
Still not doing it regularly but he seems close! He has less than 10 days if he wants to reach the milestone before he turns 1!
Playground pt. 1/Misha walking
Helena and Misha are really enjoying each other’s company on the playground most days as misha Becomes more and mobile. Today he was walking a few steps but did not get it on camera
Playing with my truck
Learning How to feed my Brother
Magnetiles
Still fun, for both children now!
Pre-bed time stroll
What’d he say?
Translation- “that’s cold”
Misha feeds himself
A walk & swim in the woods
Paradise Gardens
Coming back from Cloudland Canyon the Fayfessels visited a very strange place in Summerville GA. A very unique artist’s memorial
Cloudland canyon playground
Cloudland Canyon Trip #2
The yurts in this north GA beautiful landmark called the fayfessels back again for a second time this summer.
Misha is now enjoying his standing and bouncing abilities
Learning bad habits
Just when we (almost) got one child off the table
Return to Fernbank
Stairs
Misha is now doing the big stairs!
Helena play date
Not ready to walk full time
Arbooz
Misha, like his sister was at his age, loves watermelon