Holiday/Weekend Hodge-Podge of Picture Poses

Being at Stromovka Park means feeding the ducks or learning to climb trees.

Old Town Square, where May & Ella pose for pictures on a decorated walkway. Ella also got help with her first pomlazka (Easter tradition whipping stick)

Ella poses by her favorite carousel at Andel shopping mall. Though she rode it twice, we didn't manage any decent pics. We thought these 2 were cute, though.




























Ella's friend, Sasha, returned from a US visit last week. Happy friends together again.





















Same shopping mall, at the detsky koutek (kids' playground area), Dad and kids have fun (or a nap).





















Proof we take pictures of the 2nd child, too. :)

Jeff's Mom, Snowfall and a 3 Day Weekend!!

We got Jeff's mom in town. We've seen snow. And we got a 3-day weekend coming up.

Nice.

We got Jeff's mom

She arrived safe and sound last night, picked up by Mattias & Maylia at the airport. Jeff and Ella waited patiently at home, watching out the window for their taxi. Ella has been besides herself showing off everything and anything to Grammy.

Though Grammy may be feeling the jetlag, Ella woke her promptly at 7am this morning. No matter- it's safe to say, Grammy is happy.

We got some snow

Well, no, not really. We've gotten some snowfall.

For the past 2 days, it has been snowing off and on. Sounds crazy, but still no accumulation. at least nowhere downtown. For coworkers living outside Prague, they say they've have 3-5 cm (2 inches), but that hardly compares to what folks in the US & Canada are getting this winter.

It would be great to show Ella how to make a snowman or throw a snowball, but the past two winters have been too tame. :( Maybe in 2009.

We got a 3-day weekend

No work on Monday for the easter holiday. We have no plans made just yet, but we're considering it. Talk to you later and until then, enjoy all which the holiday may bring you.

And we'll add a picture of our first captured smile...

-Mom Comes Today-

Flying from Chicago to Zurich to Prague, Jeff's mom is en route, arriving around 7pm local time tonight.

Whoo-hoo!

You Just Can't Please Some People...

...like Martina Navratilova, the 9-time Wimbledon champion.

In 1975, when she was 18, Martina defected from Communist Czechoslovakia to the USA.
Today, as an American citizen since 1981, Martina is speaking out against the George Bush regime! In fact, since 8 January 2008, Martina is enjoying her renewed Czech citizenship, reinstated 33 years after her defection.

Focusing on this flip-flopper, the UK newspaper, The Guardian offers this:
Side-by-side comparison of 1975's Czechoslovakia and today's USA.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/13/usa.georgebush

Of course, I write this all with tongue placed firmly in cheek. Besides being in a tennis league all her own, Martina is an incredible activist fighting for "animal rights, underprivileged children and gay/lesbian equality." (Wikipedia)

Well, we hope she'll be content someday...
-Jeff

Health and Taxes
Kids' health is good. Or at least, better than before.

It's Sunday night, a bit before 9:00 pm, both Ella and Mattias are finally asleep.
Seems like this weekend just flew past us.

Our weekend time best spent was on Skype, getting to see Owen. What a cute li'l guy the Flynns have. Of course, seeing Dave & Catharine was nice, too. But seeing a bigger Owen is a big reminder of how much we look forward to our summer visit.

Our weekend time worst spent was attempting taxes. Simply amazing; amazingly complex. A dozen different forms and schedules -and that's "just" the US taxes. Jeff isn't even attempting our Czech taxes himself.

Last but not least- both kids' health. Neither are 100%, but they are on the mend.
Ella is still the sniffly, sneezy, coughy, stuffy, achy head manic maniac. A x-ray last Friday confirmed no bronchitis for her.
Mattias' cold is about the same, but he's found his appetite again, two-fold. :)

We're looking forward to Jeff's mom visiting - in just 2 more wake-ups!!

Till then, love to all.