Wintertime in Pristina
Considering that a warm day is 0 degrees, we have certainly returned to a cold winter. But when the sun is shining or we get the kids out to play and enjoy the city lights, fun for all.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
New Years in DC
Well I can at least say we had a bit of a holiday for our vacation when we went to the Kaisers to spend 3 nights there including New Years. Andrew and I am are quite close but it has been 2 years since we had seen one another and 4 since the families convened. So we all got to meet Sefi and them Rea for the first time. Not only is their house on the Chesapeake Bay incredibly peaceful but the boys and girls got along great allowing us adults to actually catch up over great home cooked meals and plenty of cocktails. We adventured around the fields, water and forests when it was not raining. The weather even improved to the point that Andrew and I rang in the New Year playing tennis that day. The evening celebrations included a wonderful meal, smores roasting over the fire and the adults venturing out onto the pier for some stargazing and midnight toast (ok so the girls retired slightly early and the boys braved the cold). Most of us were fighting various stages of colds but we managed to maximize our time together before we drove into DC to spend the last 2 nights visiting old friends and family.
The first night we crashed with my cousin Rand and his lovely canine companion Zeus. Nice to see his new home in Takoma Park where we also desserted with old friends the Kauffman's who came in from the suburbs as well as Rick and Sarah and their two little girls who we know from Maputo. Not to mention the obligatory shopping, storage visit and walking to the White House and taking the Metro (have to show our kids something). We also find a great kids playcenter which allowed us to catch up with dear friend Maura. A DC visit would not be complete without seeing Rand's daughters (kids cousins) which was perfect. A wonderful sushi meal and time to catch-up on Kate being an 8th grader and Sohpia's first year at college (I remember when they were my kids ages and I sat for them).
The slightly fewer flight segments should have made the return trip easier but we still had a long 7 hour layover in Frankfurt where we finally boarded our home-bound plane to Pristina. Problem was that a big snow storm had just hit and as we descended to land we had to abort and circle around for a second attempt. At this point we were told if not possible to land we would go to Tirana Albania where we would have to someone figure on how to drive 3plus hours to our home over mountain roads covered in snow and ice. Finally the travel God took pity on us and decided not to have me experience my second diverted flight in one trip and the pilots cut through the storm and stuck us on the runway (one of the only flights in for the next 2 days).
Freezing cold temperatures (high of -10C) have kept us inside for most the past days just trying to keep warm. But with the sunshine and snowsuits we have ventured out a couple times to sled and finally shop for some food. With our heat breaking almost daily it feels like it will be a long winter. But we are non-the-less happy to be back and get the kids started up with school again (as soon as we can find a new one for Rea).
Well I can at least say we had a bit of a holiday for our vacation when we went to the Kaisers to spend 3 nights there including New Years. Andrew and I am are quite close but it has been 2 years since we had seen one another and 4 since the families convened. So we all got to meet Sefi and them Rea for the first time. Not only is their house on the Chesapeake Bay incredibly peaceful but the boys and girls got along great allowing us adults to actually catch up over great home cooked meals and plenty of cocktails. We adventured around the fields, water and forests when it was not raining. The weather even improved to the point that Andrew and I rang in the New Year playing tennis that day. The evening celebrations included a wonderful meal, smores roasting over the fire and the adults venturing out onto the pier for some stargazing and midnight toast (ok so the girls retired slightly early and the boys braved the cold). Most of us were fighting various stages of colds but we managed to maximize our time together before we drove into DC to spend the last 2 nights visiting old friends and family.
The first night we crashed with my cousin Rand and his lovely canine companion Zeus. Nice to see his new home in Takoma Park where we also desserted with old friends the Kauffman's who came in from the suburbs as well as Rick and Sarah and their two little girls who we know from Maputo. Not to mention the obligatory shopping, storage visit and walking to the White House and taking the Metro (have to show our kids something). We also find a great kids playcenter which allowed us to catch up with dear friend Maura. A DC visit would not be complete without seeing Rand's daughters (kids cousins) which was perfect. A wonderful sushi meal and time to catch-up on Kate being an 8th grader and Sohpia's first year at college (I remember when they were my kids ages and I sat for them).
The slightly fewer flight segments should have made the return trip easier but we still had a long 7 hour layover in Frankfurt where we finally boarded our home-bound plane to Pristina. Problem was that a big snow storm had just hit and as we descended to land we had to abort and circle around for a second attempt. At this point we were told if not possible to land we would go to Tirana Albania where we would have to someone figure on how to drive 3plus hours to our home over mountain roads covered in snow and ice. Finally the travel God took pity on us and decided not to have me experience my second diverted flight in one trip and the pilots cut through the storm and stuck us on the runway (one of the only flights in for the next 2 days).
Freezing cold temperatures (high of -10C) have kept us inside for most the past days just trying to keep warm. But with the sunshine and snowsuits we have ventured out a couple times to sled and finally shop for some food. With our heat breaking almost daily it feels like it will be a long winter. But we are non-the-less happy to be back and get the kids started up with school again (as soon as we can find a new one for Rea).
Adi Turns 7
There is no denying that he is officially a big boy. Attending a real number grade, has homework, can build lego sets himself, wants to look good if his 'girlfriends' will be present, and is quickly mastering almost every video game he forces us to download on our iPhones. The challenge with his Dec 21 date is technically we need to plan 3 birthdays. The first with all his school friends before everyone leaves for holiday. And luckily for this it was an easy repeat of last year hosting all his classmates at Maxi Kids right next to his school. The kids can run, play and destroy at hearts content with the staff in charge of monitoring and cleaning up. We just need to provide the food and kids and everything takes care of itself.
The second is that same evening once we get home to have more cake and open presents with Pranvera's family. Quite nice to have his cousins come around and a chance for us all to wish one another a happy holiday and festive New Year before I boarded the plane the next morning (6am) to fly to the States.
And finally a small acknowledgement of his actual day with cupcakes from Aunt Stacey and Grandpa and a day of play at the Magic House (see Xmas blog). As anyone with young boys knows most of his presents were Lego's which magically keep him focused for hours assembling them as quickly as possible and then playing late into the evening. The problem and blessing with our quick departure this year was we left most of these unopened but have been a blessing since our return to Kosovo as the freezing weather and heavy snow has kept us inside for days on end.
There is no denying that he is officially a big boy. Attending a real number grade, has homework, can build lego sets himself, wants to look good if his 'girlfriends' will be present, and is quickly mastering almost every video game he forces us to download on our iPhones. The challenge with his Dec 21 date is technically we need to plan 3 birthdays. The first with all his school friends before everyone leaves for holiday. And luckily for this it was an easy repeat of last year hosting all his classmates at Maxi Kids right next to his school. The kids can run, play and destroy at hearts content with the staff in charge of monitoring and cleaning up. We just need to provide the food and kids and everything takes care of itself.
The second is that same evening once we get home to have more cake and open presents with Pranvera's family. Quite nice to have his cousins come around and a chance for us all to wish one another a happy holiday and festive New Year before I boarded the plane the next morning (6am) to fly to the States.
And finally a small acknowledgement of his actual day with cupcakes from Aunt Stacey and Grandpa and a day of play at the Magic House (see Xmas blog). As anyone with young boys knows most of his presents were Lego's which magically keep him focused for hours assembling them as quickly as possible and then playing late into the evening. The problem and blessing with our quick departure this year was we left most of these unopened but have been a blessing since our return to Kosovo as the freezing weather and heavy snow has kept us inside for days on end.
Christmas in St Louis
As anyone living overseas knows, coming 'home' for the holidays is always wonderful but exhausting. This year was now exception but amplified by a couple unique circumstances. First I left Kosovo with the kids 'alone' since Pranvera had to remain behind and work an extra work. Under the best of circumstances this was going to be a challenge. Surprisingly, the kids were amazing and Adi is old enough now to even help out when things start to get rough. And they did... A good trip would involve about 31 hours of travel and a 6 hour time difference. But the night we flew from DC to StL an ice storm had hit and they diverted our plane to land in Indianapolis. So we touched down to wait in an empty airport that had already closed all its food stands and even turned the heat off in our terminal. 4 hours later they canceled the flight for the night and we had to wait a collective 3 hours more to get hotel vouchers, wait to pick up 1 bag and file a lost luggage for the other and wait for the hotel shuttle to take us 30 minutes away to a 2 star hotel with no food. Wait, it gets better. We only had 4 hours to sleep before returning to the airport to wait another half day since the pilots had to rest, our flight was not supposed to be at that airport so did not appear on schedule and they eventually did not have enough staff to even open the door to get to the plane. BUT eventually, 41 hours later we arrived. And it took another 4 days to adjust to the time change before mom arrived to help out;-)
We Airbnbed an apartment right next to my dad centrally located in St Louis near all the shopping. St Louis hospitality included a tree in the apartment, chocolate cake in the fridge and presents for the kids under the tree. It was a great home away from home and my sister stayed with us till Pranvera arrived so was nice to have family close by.
Well the holiday schedule was anything but relaxing. But it was certainly fun. Blues hockey game, The Magic House, Monkey Joe's, swimming, the library, ice skating, transportation museum, riding the Polar Express train to the North Pole, play dates with my friends kids, Christmas service and opening presents. Not to mention great visits with old life long friends (Alex, Adam, Mark, Sidney, Hank). These trips are always hard as it reminds me on what great friends I have that I can only see once every couple years. The kids loved being around grandpa and their Aunt Stacey each day. The two weeks there was not enough but at that pace seemed long enough. Luckily our next flight was a short one just to DC to enjoy the New Years with our dear friend the Kaisers out at their house on the shore...
As anyone living overseas knows, coming 'home' for the holidays is always wonderful but exhausting. This year was now exception but amplified by a couple unique circumstances. First I left Kosovo with the kids 'alone' since Pranvera had to remain behind and work an extra work. Under the best of circumstances this was going to be a challenge. Surprisingly, the kids were amazing and Adi is old enough now to even help out when things start to get rough. And they did... A good trip would involve about 31 hours of travel and a 6 hour time difference. But the night we flew from DC to StL an ice storm had hit and they diverted our plane to land in Indianapolis. So we touched down to wait in an empty airport that had already closed all its food stands and even turned the heat off in our terminal. 4 hours later they canceled the flight for the night and we had to wait a collective 3 hours more to get hotel vouchers, wait to pick up 1 bag and file a lost luggage for the other and wait for the hotel shuttle to take us 30 minutes away to a 2 star hotel with no food. Wait, it gets better. We only had 4 hours to sleep before returning to the airport to wait another half day since the pilots had to rest, our flight was not supposed to be at that airport so did not appear on schedule and they eventually did not have enough staff to even open the door to get to the plane. BUT eventually, 41 hours later we arrived. And it took another 4 days to adjust to the time change before mom arrived to help out;-)
We Airbnbed an apartment right next to my dad centrally located in St Louis near all the shopping. St Louis hospitality included a tree in the apartment, chocolate cake in the fridge and presents for the kids under the tree. It was a great home away from home and my sister stayed with us till Pranvera arrived so was nice to have family close by.
Well the holiday schedule was anything but relaxing. But it was certainly fun. Blues hockey game, The Magic House, Monkey Joe's, swimming, the library, ice skating, transportation museum, riding the Polar Express train to the North Pole, play dates with my friends kids, Christmas service and opening presents. Not to mention great visits with old life long friends (Alex, Adam, Mark, Sidney, Hank). These trips are always hard as it reminds me on what great friends I have that I can only see once every couple years. The kids loved being around grandpa and their Aunt Stacey each day. The two weeks there was not enough but at that pace seemed long enough. Luckily our next flight was a short one just to DC to enjoy the New Years with our dear friend the Kaisers out at their house on the shore...
Sleeping in the Indi Airport
Transport Museum
Monkey Joe's
Polar Express
Christmas (finally)
Alex and Nicole
Christmas Cheer
Magic House
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