And They're Off...

2nd Update: Got word from May's dad, Bill that he successfully met up with Maylia in Montreal. Whew! Will make for a much easier last leg to Halifax. Kids are doing well.

Update: Got a text msg from Maylia in Frankfurt about 2 hours ago. First flight went okay. Frankfurt to Montreal flight was a bit delayed, but she's since taken off.

I'm watching the flight at work here: http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightTracker/flightTracker.do



"It's going to be tough," Maylia said to me at airport security. Maylia and the kids left for Canada at six this morning. Already at airport security, Maylia was looking a bit worn, but maybe because we got only 3 hours sleep since Ella woke twice in the night, once just for a runny nose. We figure Ella was nervous, too. And then the alarm rang at 3:30am to start the trip.
Flying alone with kids is hard enough, but tack on two connections, Frankfurt and Montreal. And, since yesterday, both kids have coughs. In fact, listening to Mattias' cough this morning had us considering calling it all off. But we calmed ourselves with the thought their coughs always sound worst in the morning. We only hope the flights don't make the kids' health much worse. They should recover well when they get to Canada. (It's fresher air there anyway, right?)


Everyone, have positive thoughts for Maylia's sake. (And pitiful thoughts for the passengers around them)


I know she will make it (she has to), but it's going to be a long journey.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BENJAMIN SPENCER!!!!

We are so very thrilled to announce the birth of our nephew. Congratulations to Erin and Michael on this new addition to their family. And an even bigger congratulations to Ben for finding himself with such amazing people to be his parents. Born on July 10 at 3pm and weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 8oz, Ben is someone who likes to do things at his own pace. He finally entered the world 12 days past Erin's latest due date, nearly 2 days after Erin's water broke, and after nearly a full day of active labour. (Erin is one strong woman!) Seems like he's already teaching Erin and Michael the virtues of patience while parenting. Or maybe, he figures, after this commencing ordeal, any other trouble he causes will seem like peanuts!

As you can well imagine, we are chomping at the bit to meet him and smother all three of them in hugs and kisses.

Two more sleeps....

Health Check - at 3 and counting

Sherman is at his WayBack machine again. After 3 years in Prague, this all seems (almost) ordinary.

It's time for us to keep with a blog tradition - our anniversary "health check." We'll keep the same categories as in our first check:

Happy?
2006: Dizzily happy.
2009: As happy as could be anywhere

Culture shocked?
2006: Oh yes
2009: Nope, not at all.

Homesick for...?
2006: Family & friends back home
2009: Family & friends back home

Local circle of friends...?
2006: 0 (a zero makes a circle, doesn't it?)
2009: Growing, but trying to balance.

Eating...?
2006: Take-out & ready-made meals (looked ready-made on the package)
2009: Maylia plans, shops for and prepares all meals...no worries.

Czech speaking ability?
2006: "hi." (sort of)
2009: Maylia working hard with improvement. Ella's shy but able. Jeff's flatlined and content. Mattias picking up a few words in an effort to woo his beloved "Nyna" (Kristyna).

Czech understanding ability?
2006: ..........silence. total f-ing silence.......
2009: May and Ella: "Ano, rozumím." --but-- Jeff: "What'd you call me?"


Entertaining ourselves by...?
2006: Trading pictures with Jeff K's "Prague scavenger hunt"
2009: Maylia taking classes; Jeff reading more; both spending more time with kids group


Who gets our paycheck...?
2006: Landlord & IKEA
2009: Bank (mortgage) and our indebted travel budget


High on the Priority List...?
2006: An iron, basic cookware and toilet paper
2009: Maylia and kids' flight home in 3 days (Monday morning) to welcome a new nephew/niece from Maylia's sister Erin (Big question: Who will arrive first, them or the baby?!?)

Fourth of July Weekend

It works out quite well for Americans living in the Czech Republic that, although the 4th of July is not a holiday, the 5th and the 6th are. That meant this year we had a 3-day weekend. YAY! And how did we spend our time?

On the 4th, we met friends (Valerie, Dan, Vincen, and Benjamin Reeves) at Zlute Lazne, a local swimming spot. Kids and adults alike had lots of fun playing in the playground, splashing in the pools, and soaking up the sun. The best part was, that being a local spot (versus a tourist trap) and being a holiday weekend, we had the place almost to ourselves!

Ella and Vincen in the bumper boats.

Later that day we were invited to a BBQ with the Reeves and two other families. What a treat! YUUUUMMMMMM! Jeff even won a prize for best red, white and blue attire - a Snickers bar, of course!

Jeff with Mattias and Benji.

Drum roll, please....

We took it easy on the 5th, but on the 6th we visited a new park called Gutovka. This may well be the coolest playground we have ever seen! Can't wait to take some of our engineering friends there the next time they come to visit. The park hosts a very nice regular playground, restaurant, rock-climbing wall, tennis courts, skateboard park, and beach volleyball courts. But, the best part is the water playground. It consists of a big, manmade hill with a small stream running around it. Along the stream are a series of stainless steel tools (water wheels, giant screws, buckets) that allow the kids (and adults) to experiment with water movement. What a great place to take a science class! The sandpit even hosted a mechanical excavator that kids could sit on top of and operate! This place was amazing - and it was free! (Big kudos to Prague 10.)

The rock climbing wall.

Ella, Jeff & Mattias experimenting with water.

Mattias reading Daddy a bedtime story.

The fun didn't stop there. Jeff had to go back to work, but the kids and I have had two more fun and exciting days. This week, some of the mothers that I work with through Class Acts (the group that does the toddler music classes and storytellings) organized an Explorers Summer Camp Week. Leah and I lead a dramatic "forest day" in Stromovka Park yesterday. The kids were tasked with finding the Witch Doctor and helping her remember her song. (Perhaps you know it...?) It went over really well...we played music at Ching Chang Bridge, did tree rubbings of the OOO EEE Trees, cooked up a potion at the Bing Bang Kitchen, made a living sculpture at OOO AAH Stump, and learned the Walla Walla dance from the Willow Tree Fairies. The climax of the day was most definitely meeting the Witch Doctor!

Although the rest of the camp events sound wonderful, we've opted out of them to be able to do some other things to get ready for our trip away. Today we had the pleasure of visiting our dear friends Ali, Dylan, and Bailey in their new home. We had too much fun to remember to take pictures! Oops!

Only 5 more sleeps til we fly to Canada...

So very excited!

But sad to be leaving Jeff/Daddy.

Happy 4th!

We had a very busy 4th of July weekend (we had a holiday weekend here, too!).

Post and pictures to come.

p.s. We were so so so much busier than we were on Canada Day (1 July), that we didn't even get to the blog until now. :)