Queen Eleni Reinvents Vogue-ing for the 2010s

Madonna would be proud.

80s Redux

It's not the 80s rehash that concerns me so much as the heavy-handed use of lavendar.

What all the fuss was about.

Zoe & I were brushing our teeth when we heard a wild rumpus in the other room.

It turned out that Eleni was trapped.

Traaaappppppeeeeddddd!

Happy Birthday, Baba!

It's true that Kostas wasn't completely overjoyed with the choice of chocolate cupcakes for his birthday.

Other members of the family felt differently.

Puzzle Time

Sometimes, it's a little bit scary how good Zoe is at doing puzzles.

I feel like I turn around and she's already done.

Sleeping Beauties

On the plus side, they slept in on a Saturday.

On the minus side, it was in the WRONG BED.

Arm Leech

A little slice of heaven: When Eleni wraps herself around your arm, squeezes tight, and won't let go.

Haircut

Since the day I learned I was pregnant with twin girls, I have been looking forward to playing with their long hair. It's a visceral urge that I doubt is hereditary because my mom thinks long hair is just kind of a nuisance.

So it was with a heavy heart that I recently admitted that Eleni's longer hair looked a little lackluster and "whispy" -- and that she just might look better with a "bob."

Eleni before

Eleni after

I have to admit...pretty damn cute (yes, Nana, you told me so.)

We let Zoe get her haircut too, but it didn't really change (except the mousse they put on top, which I'm not crazy about).

Did you notice I said "let" Zoe get her haircut? When I was a kid, I hated haircuts with a passion. It was all boring adult conversation and stinky hairspracy and prickly, itchy hair down your back. In other words, it built character.

How are my children ever going to build character with all this salon coddling: little Shriner cars and Dora DVDs and free toys and lollipops?

I mean, really.

Goodbye, Christmas Tree

Kostas poses for our annual Christmas-tree-disposal photograph. Nothing cures a case of throwing-out-the-Christmas-tree blues like a chance to get out the clippers and fight over who gets to clip off the branches and who has to hold the garbage bag.

As a bonus, we are the family that officially drops the least amount of pine needles in the elevator.

No-Fail Carousel

Something about the carousel...simply magic.

I firmly believe a carousel in the back yard could cure any case of the crankies.

Breaking news in fashion

And in Fashion World News, Queens Zoebird & Ellie Bean declare 2010 the year of "royal shabby chic".

Happy New Year 2010

Would you believe this was the best of about 30 outtakes of the Marousis cousins?

If you have toddlers then yes, yes you would believe it.

Eleni, Alexandra, Gia and Zoe wish one and all a Happy New Year!