A long time coming

I have been wanting to start a blog for awhile now.  I think it will be a great way to keep family and friends from out of town updated on our lives and also a great keepsake for Petey's baby book.

I am crazy for deciding to start this tonight.  We are leaving for our Greece trip tomorrow and I still have alot of packing to do.  For those of you that know me, getting ready for a trip makes me a bit crazy!  Paulie calls me "airport stacy" because I am frazzled until we are actually on the plane and taking off.
I am assuming that my next entry will be when we get back from Greece.  I have so many emotions about this trip.  I am excited beyond belief.  I can't wait to experience Greece with Paulie, who has never been to Europe.  I am excited to be in Greece with my mom.  We haven't been there together since 1984.  But most of all, I am excited to see my Petey Boy when he sees the water, the sites and experiences everything Greece has to offer.  Some of my earliest memories are of my trips to Greece, and I hope this trip becomes one of Petey's earliest memories. 

Even though I am beyond excited, I can't help but feel a bit sad that a certain person will not be with us on this trip.  For those of you that know me, you know that the loss of my father is something that I struggle with on a daily basis.  I can remember my dad lifting me up and putting me on a donkey in Greece in 1984.  I know that he will be with us as we go back to his homeland.  Last summer my family from Greece visited us in Chicago.  The Stathakis family are like no other, and we can't wait to spend time with them over the next few weeks. 

Okay, it is time to get back to packing for our trip.  If you are at O'Hare tomorrow, we will be the family with the 6 suitcases, 3 back packs, diaper bag, stroller, carseat, pack and play and laptop!