Music and Sunshine

A glimpse into our Thursday morning routine...

My friend, Shanna, introduced me to this great music class. It's led by a Czech woman and attended my moms and their kids from around the world. Lydia loves it and actually lets me help her perform the actions... a real rarity. The class is an hour long and ends with a simple craft. All for $7. Gotta love Czech prices. Couldn't scrounge up a bargain like that in Baltimore for your life!

So where does the sunshine come in? Well, let me introduce you to Sunshine "Sunny" Evans. If I could sum her up in a word, it would be just that: Sunshine. She is a missionary here in Prague, a longstanding member of our church fellowship and a blessing to our family, especially since the arrival of Marcus. She's willing to drop everything and trek out to our house on a moment's notice so I can do things like take Nellie to the groomer, make doctor appointments or just maintain my sanity on nights when Brandon is away. This week, she volunteered to come to music class with us just to help hold Marcus so that I can focus on Lydia and really enjoy the class with her without being distracted. I didn't even have to ask her to do this... she just saw the need and asked if she could help in this way. The world needs more Sunshine! ;-)


Everybody loves Sunny!


Crashin' Music Class: Shanna, Clark, Sunny, Marcus and Lydia


Ok, so maybe Mommy gets into the Hokey Pokey a tad more than Lydia. But Lydia is having a LOT more fun than this picture portrays...

Mrs. Grumpy Pants

I was seriously yelled at by a Czech granny today. No, not because I was feeding my baby formula instead of breastfeeding. No, not because my children were not appropriately bundled in 3 layers of winter wear plus long underwear. Then why? Because the back wheels of my car were in the crosswalk. Yep, as I was waiting in my car for the sitter to come down from her flat with Lydia, a grandmotherly woman approached my car, knocked on the window and angrily pointed out my offense (while my window was still up!). I nodded. She repeats, growing more agitated. So, I roll down my window and nod and smile, saying "Ano" (Yes). Now she is REALLY upset and the hand gestures are increasing. Finally, attempting to quell the situation I apologetically say, "Mluvim Anglicky. Promiente." (I speak English. I'm sorry.) Nope, didn't work. She persists, spewing forth Czech at an alarming rate. So I try "Miminko tady". (Baby here). Ok, Lydia's a child, not a baby, and maybe I said it with more vehemence than that, but it didn't have any effect anyway. Marcus was screaming hysterically in the backseat and I had decided I had had enough. So, I tell her "Moment" trying to buy some time and attempt to roll up the window. That did it. Now she threatened to call the police! And would you believe it? Just then a police car rolls by!!! No joke! She starts pointing and trying to get them to stop. Thankfully they just ride by so I put my car in gear and she finally leaves the side of my car. I pulled ahead into a spot reserved for bank customers for the duration of the wait. All this in a span of 3 minutes...an eternity!

Thanksgiving in Prague

Yes, we managed to have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. In fact, it was SO fun we're doing it again on Saturday!

Our friends, Phil and Shanna Davis (see link at right) are missionaries in Prague who also happen to have the gift of hospitality. They frequently open their home to 30+ guests for birthdays, holidays, or any other number of reasons to celebrate. In preparation, I hit the "secret" potraviny (small market) I discovered that consistently carries sweet potatoes and proceeded to buy them out. Fourteen sweet potatoes later, I was one smug little foreigner. I walked out of there feeling the need to hide my find under my coat lest the competition be alerted and my sweet potato source dries up. (Just kidding -- If you ask nicely I'll give you directions to the shop... for a price ;-)

We also agreed to cook one of the 4 turkeys for the dinner. (I use the term "we" loosely as I have nothing to do with Turkey-prep. That's Brandon's gig.) All I have to say about that is: Turkeys that come with some feathers and a VERY long neck still attached are NASTY. This year for Thanksgiving I am thankful for my brave husband and his very sharp knife. Blech.

We had a wonderful time and dinner was great--including peach, apple and pumpkin pie. Thanks Phil & Shanna! Lydia was most excited because Lucy (the Davis' daughter) has a Snow White dress that she could wear all night long.

Saturday evening we will celebrate Thanksgiving #2 with our church fellowship. The Europeans will likely outnumber the Americans. Let's see how the Europeans handle our holiday of mass food consumption!

Redefining "Base Model"

Brandon's car is at the mechanic so he has a loaner car for 2 days. Imagine his surprise when he got into the car and noticed there is not only no CD player or tape deck, but no RADIO! His response (echoed by me 30 minutes later): "You can DO that? They really MAKE a car without a radio?!?!" Needless to say, Brandon was alone with his deep thoughts for the duration of his one-hour drive home.

When he left for work this morning he was sure to take his I-pod AND headphones.


A side note: The reason his car is in repair is because the emissions light is on. Funny thing is the loaner car has the SAME light on. Gives a person great confidence in the mechanic's ability to fix the problem, now doesn't it.....

We get around...

The streets of Prague have not been the same since Lydia gave up her seat for Marcus and began traversing the city via her boogie board.

So, I've got this friend... who has a friend...

...who was coming to Prague on his honeymoon and he packed 3 cans of infant formula for Marcus! Stop and think about that for a moment... this guy who doesn't even know me, packed THREE cans of formula in his honeymoon suitcase!

Wow. That's all, just WOW. I, for one, am sure glad he got married...

Mommy's Little Helper

Week 5 and she's turning into quite a good big sister!

The Princess' New Clothes

When Lydia pretends she's a princess she puts on all of her necklaces, bracelets go on her upper arms, her paper crown is in place and she carries her 3 stick balloons. Not sure why this qualifies as princess garb, but Lydia tends to redefine "princess" anyway. Today the princess was a streaker and more than happy to say "cheese" for Mommy's camera. Oh dear.

Think this pic might show up again someday at Princess Lydia's wedding?!?

When you care enough to send the very best...

Look what arrived today. It's Virtual Grandma-in-a-box! Or in the case of this particular Grandma, it's Grandma-in-a-perfectly-sized-ziploc-baggie-labeled-with-the flavor-and-complete-with-appropriate-rations-of-Knox-gelatin. Now if she could just find a way to telepathically make it... I'm not nearly as finger jello production motivated as Grandma.

Upon seeing the box Lydia exclaimed "I want jew-woa, pleeeeease Mommy." Who could deny that plea? Thanks Grandma Brugge!!! Friday is going to be a very exciting jell-o day around here...