Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Mom the Builder

We only lived in Kaysville a few weeks when the big wind storm came and blew down trees and shingles . . . and this play set.  It originated in our neighbors yard across the street. I remember their 10 year old telling me how he was “helping his mom by taking it apart.”  It was on it’s side and pretty much in pieces in our neighbors yard and she said that they were going to get rid of it.  “Well, if you don’t want it, we could take it and fix it up.”  She said she’d talk to her husband.

He came over and asked if we were serious about wanting it because they were going to take the pieces to the dump.  He wanted to make sure Dan was on board since he assumed that Dan would do most of the work.  Dan wasn’t excited, and it showed but he agreed that we could have it.  I spent the next couple of weeks in their backyard with a wrench so we could carry it across the street and then more weeks putting it back together.  (I wish I had a before picture – to show how it looked.)  I am impatient and Charlotte is at the stage where she wants me to hold her all the time, so Charlotte was in one arm, and the drill in the other.  She is no longer afraid of the sound of a drill. Winking smileThe boys love it and play on it ALL THE TIME! 

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From the beginning of February I’ve been working on this beautiful desk that was pretty even in turquoise.  I decided it wouldn’t be too hard to sand it – well I had no idea how hard it is to sand painted furniture and this one was painted twice – but I’m really happy with how it turned out.  It’s SO pretty!

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Easter

Easter was so much fun this year! We had a really fun week. It was spring break so we started off by having an egg hunt in our backyard. I love our back yard!!! Definitely the best part of our place. We invited some friends over. They got so excited whenever they found an egg. So fun!

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Then we went to my mom's house and went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. So fun!

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Last minute we went to the Aquarium in Sandy a few days later. I love spoiling my kids.
Every year we have celebrated Easter by going whipping at the Čubovi and Čankovi homes. We weren't able to go to their house but we still got to go whipping because one of our friends from Prague moved to the U.S. a month before we we did. So we were able to go to Miša's house and go whipping. It was so fun to see her and speak some Czech.

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P1030945Then on Sunday the boys hunted for their baskets. I think I went overboard with their baskets. Every time I was at the store I would see something and it would be SO CHEAP so I had to get it, then we have a tradition that they get new books every year and finally they all got a hat and tail. (Sidenote: For Vinson’s birthday I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said a car that he could drive in and a monkey costume. So I had my friend make a monkey hat for him then he got too much for his birthday so I saved it for Easter – so he got too much for Easter too. Smile) The boys were so cute in their costumes they wore them all day and it’s still one of the favorite toys.

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Mess in 1.

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Maybe we need a bib.

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We are living with Dan’s grandmother who we absolutely love. Here she is joining in the festivities.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Apples and Oranges

We're finally "settled" and getting into a routine in Utah. People keep saying, "I bet you're so glad to be back!" Yes, we love being in Utah . . . and we loved Prague. Hard to say what's better - apples or oranges. So here's my list:

Things I love about being in Utah
1. Seeing family almost every day
2. Blue skies and sun - even in winter.
3. Amazing sunsets every night through my front window.
4. Vinson's kindergarten. His teacher is amazing and he has lots of friends.
5. I'm not afraid to return things to the store (they won't yell at me) and I can have fairly complicated conversations over the phone - complain about my phone bill etc.
6. The fact that there are baggers at the store who not only put my food in the bag, but put my food on the conveyer belt and walk me to my car. I could just stand there if I wanted to - not that I do.
7. The English selection in the Library.
8. Alta ski free at three.
9. Having a yard.
10. Mexican food - YUM!

Things I miss about Prague
1. The closeness of the expat community - how quickly tightly knit relationships are made.
2. The Babicka's (grandmothers) who would do anything for you and going to the LDS church every Sunday. I get "homesick" for Prague every Sunday.
2. Walking. It's so easy and beautiful to walk in Prague.
3. The amazing parks with playgrounds that are so fun they would be outlawed here. Way funner (and more dangerous) things than the merry go rounds that are now being taken out of parks in the US.
4. The fact that when I went running I could either run to Prague Castle, or Troja Palace and the whole route was beautiful!
5. Public transportation.
6. Czech - hearing it and being amazed how much I underst00d/or didn't understand and having an accent.
7. The beautiful architecture, history and culture.
8. Being in a "big" city where the concerts, events, activities are centered.
9. Having 14 missionaries at church that my boys looked up to and being asked questions about my religion because it's unique.
10. Chocolate!

Culture shock: Probably the funniest stories are due to the fact that strangers are really friendly in the US. The mail man said hello to me and the kids walking home from school and I was so shocked I couldn't respond and by the time I realized he really was talking to me he was already at the door and I was left feeling rude.

So, yes we love being back and Dan loves his job. We miss the Czech Republic. And really as long as I'm with Dan, I could be happy living anywhere. :)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Letter 2011

Dear family and friends,

21011 has been a big year for us!

Dan passed his final geography exam for Charles University and just has to finish writing and defending his dissertation to finish his PhD. This made the prospect of moving back to the US more realistic and he found a job advertisement that was pretty much describing him: a degree in geography, experience using GIS, knowledge of Eastern Europe, and the ability to read Cyrillic alphabets and experience living abroad. Of course, he applied and after several Skype interviews was offered a job with FamilySearch, a across the pond. Dan is now working in Salt Lake and we are living with his grandmother in Kaysville.

Our second miracle this year was the birth of our daughter Charlotte Lucie Reeves in July. She was two weeks late, but born early enough to see Grandma and Grandpa Reeves who traveled to Prague to help our transition to a family of five. Charlotte is the easiest going baby who gets lots of love from her two brothers. She loves to growl, squeal and slobber on anyone lucky enough to hold her.

Benjamin turned three and is finally potty trained! He is quite the talker and loves to play imagination games with Vinson, some of which he leads. He enjoys going to parks and watching Backyardigans.

Vinson has had a big year starting school. He started the school year in a Czech školka (kindergarten), before we had any idea that we would be moving. It was difficult for him in the beginning but he made friends and was learning all kinds of Czech. His transition to kindergarten in the US (no changing clothes/shoes, walking to public parks, etc.) has gone more smoothly than we had anticipated and he has made several friends. The other day he told me he loves America because everyone understands him. J

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Dan, Val, Vinson, Benji, and Charlotte

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Who looks like who?

We are a happy family. (In front of the LDS Church after Charlotte's baby blessing.)
When I look at Charlotte I can't believe how much she looks like Vinson to me. What do you think? Here are the kid's passport photos. Charlotte is a few weeks older since it took a little longer for her to get a passport (her first birth certificate said her name was Charlotte Lucie Reevesova). But it's still fun to compare and have the pictures back to back.
Charlotte's passport photo:
Benjamin's passport photo:

Vinson's passport photo:
As for other news, Charlotte's blessing was absolutely beautiful and an amazing experience. Here is Benji "giving" Charlotte a blessing.Charlotte in her blessing dress looking like she's at attention:
Benjamin before he was blessed at church:Vinson before he was blessed at church:Update on školka: Vince is picking up Czech so quickly. He even says some words in Czech at home because it's what comes to his head first.
Funny story: A few days ago Vince pointed to his but and said, "Mam velky zadek." (I have a big but) Now I know he didn't learn that from home - what are they teaching him at school ;-). BUT was too pleased that he was speaking Czech to give a more appropriate response and said, "Wow Vince! You're speaking Czech so well!"