Winter Wonderland

Ironically after renting a house on the mountain slopes of Brezovice (Kosovo) for 4 days to ski and board,  the meter of snow we had dumped on us while we were there prevented us from making it up to the mountain top to do so. But it was Adi's first real immersion into snow and he loved it, as the photos show. At one point he was trying to swim in it as we went were 'walking' around the neighborhood enjoying the fresh air, mountain silence and falling snow.

Despite not being able to ski, we had our snow shoes so we headed out onto the trails while leaving the kids with Pranvera's mom. As we headed up the mountain we came across a trail that ended up at a house with their own tow rope and hill for kids to ski on. As we chatted with the owner who turned out to know Pranvera's mom, we were invited back the next day so Adi could practice skiing despite not making it up to the resort. And after I carried him up the hill the next day he enjoyed hours of skiing with their girls as we had tea and lakuma with the family. True Kosovar hospitality.

We loved being back in the mountains, wood burning stove, fresh mountain trout dinner and just family time.

Moving Forward with my Birthday and Reunion with Family

After 2 of the hardest weeks of my life back in St Louis to bury my mother and grieve with so many dear friends and family, I have returned to my wife and kids in Kosovo only to be surprised by a long bday weekend trip to Mavravo, Macedonia for a snow mountain weekend. As you can see Adi had his first ski lesson, first sledding, I spent half day boarding and we all hiked down a 1000m mountain top on new snow shoes we bought 5 years ago and have never been able to use. This was Adi's first real snow experience (age 5) and he loved every minute of it.

As hard and as unreal as the passing of my mom has been we are trying to pick up the pieces and to spend my bday exactly as she would have wanted to.

It is with a heavy heart that I tell my friends that Sandra Peterson Kirkbride passed away today, January 28, 2015. She was an amazing mother/mother-in-law, grandmother, friend, wife and an amazing person/historian/supporter. Her death was sudden and unexpected. It continues to be a shock for all of us.

Her memorial service will be held on Thursday Feb 5, 5pm at Lupton Chapel in University City.

Christmas in St Louis Missouri USA

Well after 48 hours of transit from Maputo, we arrived at my birthplace in the midwest United States. It had been almost 6 years since Pranvera was there and maybe 4 for Adi. As I had finished my job in Mozambique, this was perfect timing to get some (relative) R&R in the US to transition from our eternal summers and African lifestyle to head to our new home in the Balkans in Pranvera's town of Pristina.

As Adi does not recall snow, we were blessed with a light dusting the morning after we arrived. Luckily Grammy had a ski jacket waiting for Adi since he has never worn jackets, hat and gloves as a boy. Of course our first stop after he wiped the car off was his jacket sleeve was REI to get him winter boots and some better waterproof gear.

My sister flew in early from CA and set-up an Xmas tree in our Corporate Apt that we had for the 3 week visit. Can't thank her enough for helping make it feel like a real Christmas. And everything house and street seemed to be decorated with lights which made every evening drive a blast for the entire family.

As my dad had only 2 weeks earlier fell and broke his hip, we had to juggle much of our family time visiting dad at a rehab center, mom at her condo, Stacey (my sister) at a combination of them both as well as the ever present baby sitter and all my old StL friends. Thankfully our rented minivan handle to constant drive and I loved pressing all the automatic door buttons to open each sliding door for the kids and rear hatch for our never ending gear and shopping.

But among all the family visits we did get out and 'play' in the city as you can see below. Pranvera and I treated ourselves with 72 hours in Chicago over New Years to leave the kids with Stacey and Grammy. It was the coldest day of the year in Chicago as we walked the shops on Michigan Ave. but I was able to indulge in Chicago deep dish pizza, a Starbucks on every corner, the best sushi of our lives on NYE and ringing in the New Year at one of the oldest jazz clubs in Chicago. We also got to catch up with my dear friend Adam Keyser as an added bonus (not to mention sleeping in with out kids).

We also had a short 3 day stopover in DC to switch storage lockers (and see items we haven't even remembered we own since we have been overseas). And visit  both close friends as well as with our cousins Sophia and Kate who are beautiful young women now (3 years since Adi had seen them).

Although a non-stop holiday, wonderful to reset in the US over the holiday time before beginning our new adventures back in Kosovo.

 First snow

 At Grammy's for an Xmas Open House.

 Holiday celebration with the Bartlett family (and all the kids).

 Fire Station US style

 Playing at the City Museum

 Playday at Monkey Joe's

 OMG. This is what a call a Lego set!!

 Adi and mommy skating outside during unusually warm day

  Xmas day visit with Grandpa

 Day playing at Magic House

 Xmas Eve Service

Adi and Rea meet Santa

 Christmas Day

 Adi's Bday celebration at Grammy's

 Learning to skate

 New Years Eve in Chicago

 Playing in the apartment

Cousins Sophia and Kate with the Kirkbrides visiting DC