A Bit of Travelling

I thought you might be really missing us by now, so I'm finally posting some pictures of our little sunshine (although she's been a little overcast with a cold that really gives her the grumpies!). We visited our dear friends in New Mexico the first week of February and were there for Leo and Adela's birthdays. This past week we visited family in Virginia Beach. We had a chance to go swimming and visit the Children's Museum.

A visit to the aquarium

The best oriental food at Pei Wei!

Saying goodbye to her buddies :(

A little windy and cold on the beach

This large hoop made giant bubbles with us in it. It had just popped and really surprised Addy!

Adela checked out who was in the pool everyday and wanted to go swimming all the time!

Adela singing "The Wheels on the Bus'

On the Move

Saying goodbye is never easy. The one consolation I have is that I know our goodbye to you, our friends and family in Czech, is NOT forever! We have you in our hearts and mind ALL the TIME. Here are a few pictures with our friends just before we left. And, below are some recent pictures from our new adventure!

Addy and Moni pretty in pink

Our very dear friends and our VERY "fidgety" girls!

Addy a Kubi after bathtime

Packing up Addy!

Beginning our new adventure

Many think that we Americans eat only hamburgers and pizza - well, as you can see, this isn't true! :-) One of our first meals was a delicious Southern dish of collards (kapusta, myslim), ham, white navy beans and cornbread! Of course, we DID have pizza last night for dinner! :-)

Adela in her new princess dress from cousin Emma

Still getting over jet-lag and exhausted from all the new sights and sounds!

Adela is LOVING Papa's big yard and climbing everywhere! They also have a "kocicka" so every morning she climbs up in the window to say good morning to her.

Get Well Soon, Kristynko!

We hope you feel better soon! May this video of you and Adela bring a smile to your face! We love you.

Merry Christmas to YOU!

As you celebrate this holy season of Christ's birth with friends and family, know that we are thinking of you and wishing you a very Merry CHRISTmas.

Saint Nicholas Day

Last night we went downtown to see a gospel choir perform in the square. Our music director, Milos, plays with the group. You can see that Adela thoroughly enjoyed the beat!

Today is St. Nicholas (Mikulas) day in Czech. On the eve of St. Nicholas day, children anticipate a visit from St. Nicholas, an angel and a devil. All three ask the children if they have been good and then the children usually recite a poem for them. "The St. Nicholas tradition is supposedly based on a 4th century Greek bishop named Nicholas who is said to have left a gift of money on the windowsill of three poor girls to enable them to get married." (taken from the MY Czech Republic website which is http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech_culture/czech_holidays/saint_nicholas.html)

Check it out if you'd like to learn more!

The Fourth Day of Advent

I know you are all just dying to hear how our Advent is going! :) We are having so much fun and it has been wonderful to have this short family time together. First we set out the tablecloth, candles and Bibles (English, Czech and Adela's Bible), then we light the one candle which represents hope. We read the short scripture verses, sing "Away in a Manger" and then pray together. Adela has gotten used to the short routine and seems to really enjoy helping me set up. Today our great friends Susan and Roger gave us this Nativity scene as a gift! It was wonderful to read the first poem about Gabriel and let Adela open the first box of 7 which had a figurine of Gabriel inside. All of this has given me a new sense of joy and love for Christmas that I didn't know I was even missing! I can truly say that it isn't about decorations or gifts, it's about celebrating the birth of Christ and looking forward to His return.

Season of Advent

Aunt "Teta" Eva and Adela decorating apples

Craft time

Babicka making snowmen

Our Advent Stockings

Tomorrow is the first day of Advent. I have thought a lot about family traditions and how important they are. We really want to teach Adela and show her through our example that Christ is the center in our home. This past week I bought a set of "Advent Stockings" I call them. I'm excited about putting something small (a sticker, page to color, etc) in each stocking for Adela to take our every morning. In the evenings we will pull out a short scripture reading to read together, sing a Christmas hymn or song and light the Advent candles. Czechs look forward to Christmas and have advent calendars everywhere. The most popular calendars are made of cardboard and there are 24 little windows to open with a piece of chocolate inside. Adela and I just returned from spending 3 days in Lipova with Leo's family. Here are some pictures from a craft time at the pre-school in Lipova where we made some decorations for Advent and the Christmas season.

These are some links where I got ideas for celebrating Advent:
http://www.crivoice.org/cyadvent.html

This is a great link for activites with kids.
http://www.homeschooled-kids.com/advent.html