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

Final Deep Sea Fishing Trip

Although the idea of spending 12 hours on a small boat in the middle of the sea doesn’t really appeal to me, I figured it was the last chance I would be able to do this in quite a long while plus if luck would have it we could eat some fresh, much needed fish. Thanks to the Dramamine and hungry fish, we were successful. Hanging with 5 other guys and the crew we brought in 18 fish of all kinds. If it weren’t for some bizarre fishing rule that half goes to the captain we would have been eating fish every meal. But as it was we only had enough for 6 spectacular dishes of tuna (sushi), makrel and the prodigal son.  Frozen fish just won’t have the same appeal anymore.

Ponta Torres Weekend with the Grae's

Ironically a mere 1.5 hours by speedboat from Maputo you can arrive at paradise. It does require at least one other family to split (the ridiculously expensive) transport and lodging costs and you have to bring all your own supplies but it is there for the taking. And as one of our final weekend getaways we loved it. Maja and Asgar and their two boys are close friends of ours and Adi had a blast with 2 older kids to follow around. We kept our activities to a minimal with just beach soccer, sand castle building and playing in the pools and Dhow beach bar. We ate quite well and finished off the nice wine we brought out with us while soaking up some sun and sundowners. We had quite a bit of wind one day and the intense sun requires you to take mid-day shelter (ie a nap) before returning to the picture perfect sunset and plethora of activities if you brought your own equipment (snorkel, kit surfing, wind surfing, fishing, skiing) etc. It was Rea's first time in the pool and ocean and she loved it so we look forward to many more weekends poolside as the summer is arriving here and we have 5 weeks left to kill;-)