Helena Isabela & Misha Dov

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And one year ago at this same place sans Misha but with grandma

Water is cold but Helena and Misha still want to swim!

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One year and pandemic later Helena arrives back in Vermont. This time with brother in tow

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Gathering “fire wood” with new friends

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The Fayfessels have chickens (incidentally so do many neighbors) and Helena and Misha are very excited

Misha got to see the Braves so Helena got her own sports night with mom and dad

Helena had a pretty fun surprise this past Sunday at Candytopia, an interactive immersive candy themed exhibition in Atlanta

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New responsibilities for Misha and especially Helena but they are excited

Last weekend the Fayfessels traveled to Lagrange GA to visit the Great Wolf water park with the DeGeorge’s. Misha enjoyed the lights and buttons at the arcade while Helena loved the small water slides

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Misha is loving his new nanny share. He is making new friends and enjoys the engaging environment

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Helena just finished her first week as a camper at Art Haus summer camp less than one block from her house. She enjoyed it quite a bit and is proud of her chefs d’œuvres and different mediums.

Helena tried her first “roller coaster” (or roller coaster like) in Helen GA this past weekend. Both Misha and Helena tried their hand for their first time at gem mining. And misha completed his first real set of stairs without using the rails

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Misha and Helena both took “Marci” swim class and did an intensive 7 day trial by fire baptism into swimming. Helena can now swim underwater short distances and Misha can survive and pull himself out at the edge of the pool. They can both float a little on their back and “jump” in the pool and then get back out. Helena is much less scared now and sometimes asks to go. Misha is a little more ambivalent

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Georgia that is

The campsite also had a playground which both misha and Helena enjoyed. Misha was into the hike and Helena tolerated it. The views at preacher’s rock on the AT were outstanding

In Cleveland Georgia- misha’s first time sleeping in a tent, or rather wagon in a tent. It went swimmingly

Fogetaboutit!

Helena came out for the teacher band show at rock and roll review at Decatur high Friday night. She had a great time and made friends with other teacher’s kids

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One of Helena’s best friends now is Willa who was at her former daycare and also switched to her current one

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Need to post more photos and videos from this fantastic celebration when we have a moment

Continue reading “4” →

After watching the first part of the Sound of Music for her first time, Helena fell almost fell asleep on the steps, just like in the movie.

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From a book…

Part deux of yesterday’s Dekalb-Peachtree airport post

When helena asks for a special treat without fail

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.” →

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

Continue reading “Hanging with my friend Sophia” →

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

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

Due to pandemic …

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

With friend Lille

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

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

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

With Helena demonstrating her increasing language abilities in the background

Misha’s latest development: clapping !

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.

Glamping near Live Oak, Fl, and Baby Goats!

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.