Not Your Average Family BBQ

Now that we are finally settled in our new house and the weather is turning quickly to the Fall (first one we have experienced in 4 years) we decided to have all of Pranvera's immediate family and closer cousins over for a Sunday BBQ, Kosovo style.

The days event began with me heading out to a farm with my brother in law to hand-pick the 22kg lamb that was then slaughtered and cleaned in front of us. Which was then transported to a local bakery to spend the day in a proper marinade roasting in a brick oven. We then fit the enormous baking tray into the car to return to the house with all the family arriving and the many many side dished that Pranvera and our relatives prepared added to the feast.

Adi and Rea absolutely loved having so many family around at once (a rare event) and it was so nice to have so much space to play and socialize. Not to mention all our nieces to help clean up afterward and get the kids down so we could collapse into bed. Another subtle reminder of the benefits of us moving back 'home'.

Final Beach Weekend and the End of Summer

I am sure many parents are saying the same thing of where the @#^# did it go??? As excited as we are to return to a routine and have Adi begin Kindergarden and Rea continue with her full-time daycare, we will miss the time with the kids. We can't believe we only got away to Greece for one week and poof, it is over.

So with the summer quickly coming to a close we decided to head off for a 24 hour  getaway to the closest Albanian beach town from Pristina (3 hours). Even though the 'summer season' is technically over you would have never known as the good weather had the hotels and beach still packed. And as you can see, it certainly isn't like our deserted white sand, aqua blue ocean of Mozambique.  But the kids loved playing in the water and the sand we enjoyed the company of Pranvera's brother and sister in-law.

Summer Holiday to Lefkada Island, Greece with Aunt Stacey

Sorry for the delayed update from our side but all is well with the Kirkbride's in Kosovo. Summer break has kept our hands full but Rea is in a new daycare 1 minute walking from our house and Adi has also joined the full day program for several months of the summer to get better with his Albanian and let mom and dad have some time to work. We are both busy juggling several consulting assignments each but allowing us to be local for the most part since mid-June for me. We have moved into a new house about 10 minute walk from the in-laws and just outside the city in the wonderfully breezy hills surrounding Pristina. We can mountain bike and walk directly to the city park and do a 2.5 hour mountainous loop around the park followed by a nice lunch or machiatto at the park restaurant.

A highlight was Stacey's visit with us for about a month. And one week we drove 9 hours south to the wonderfully 'pimpled' (pebbled) beaches with great seafood, low key fishing villages, clear sky's and an economy that is just holding on (paid cash for everything). We found the perfect seaside condo run by a wonderfully hospitable Greek family. Otherwise we have been enjoying the local sites for day trips, visiting pools, spending time with friends and family and enjoying the warm weather.

Day out at the local 'California' pool outside Pristina.

 Work Trip to Dubai with a Twist

Well, the best work trip yet with Pranvera joining and kids left at home. For a week in 47C we melted away 6 days at the 5 Star Grand Hyatt. Certainly a playground in the dessert everything reminded me of Vegas, except the tallest building in the world and the massive race to add as many skyscrapers  by 2020. Although my days were spent training the Energy and Water Agency and partners, nights were enjoyed poolside, at very expensive restaurants both inside the hotel and out with two different sets of friends. The extreme heat certainly limited our pure outside enjoyment but with shopping malls containing 1200 stores, ski mountain, skating rinks, aquariums, who needs to go outside? Although a nice experience not the scale, temperature or modernity that would be desirable long-term.

Adi's Mother Day Performance at School

Rea turns 1

And in style with the entire Recica family in celebration. From her cute birthday dress to the lady bug cake she knew it was a special occassion and was all smiles. Hard to believe a year ago we were with my sister in Nelspruit South Africa welcoming our princess into this world. Happy Birthday big girl;-)