Dan Saves the Day

So, I realize I left you hanging. . . Dan did actually get back from D.C. - a long time ago. He was only 2 days later than expected (instead of the week that we had thought.) And his timing couldn't have been better.
The day Dan got home was . . . one of those that makes you count down the minutes until bedtime. We went in the back yard - concrete slab where cars can park - to ride bikes. After a little while Vince was doing a dance. "Vince, do you have to go to the bathroom?" "No, . . . Mom it's too late." So we changed and went back outside since we still had a half an hour until art class. Dance. . . Changed . . . Dance . . . Changed and by this time we were running late for art class. After cleaning up the third time I haphazardly grabbed everything we would need for art class and shut the door.
It seemed like slow motion. The door closing and me realizing I left my keys inside - TOO LATE! So we headed to art class. I figured I could think things through and since we were out anyway.
My thoughts went something like this:
Assuming I couldn't get into our apartment what could we do?
Do I have any money? - No.
I have my phone. Whose house could I crash at for a week without clothes, diapers, bottles, anything?
Hmm . . . I think I might have left the back door open in my hurrying when I put Vince's bike on the balcony. I sure hope so!
We're only on the first floor. Who has a ladder?
Okay we'll try for that and then what?

So I got home . . . buzzing a neighbor to get in and headed up to their apartment. From the elevator I thought I saw Dan in the hallway. Not possible. Benji starts yelling "Daddy! Daddy!" It sure looked like Dan.
And there he was . . . with the door open! And at that moment I am happy to say that I was more excited to see Dan than the open door.

Videos of the kids in case Dan gets homesick

Benji loves to help us read Moo Baa La la la. For some reason blogger wouldn't upload this video so it's from youtube. I am not responsible for any adverting ;)
Vince couldn't stand not being the center of attention so we captured his talents as well.

In other news Dan left a week ago to D.C. for the AAG (Association of American Geographers) Conference. We figured he should make some good U.S. connections so he can get a job in the U.S. when he graduates. Unfortunately Iceland blew up and . . . Dan's flight was canceled. So, he's stuck in D.C. for the moment.
On the bright side:
-He's at the Crain's house. They lived in Prague for 3 months just down the street from us and we've stayed in touch through blogs. We wish they still lived down the street from us! Thank goodness we aren't having to pay for a hotel!
-Randall (Dan's brother) will be in D.C. this week so they get to see each other.
-And volcano permitting he will only be there another week and get back in time for our anniversary. (Note the sarcasm.)

The kids have been really good so I'm not going crazy as bad as I might have imagined. We've stayed busy playing with friends and going to parks. But I can say I'm grateful for how much easier life is when he is around. Love you Dan!

Easter both ways!

We celebrated Easter the Czech and American ways this year! We have a tradition that Magda comes over and does Czech style eggs with us every year. I love it! I guess this isn't completely Czech because our boys participate in creating the eggs. If you see an egg and say, "Wow, that's amazing!" Magda probably made it, but I'm much better than two years ago!Later we had some of our friends over to dye eggs. Color with crayon, drop in dye, put stickers on it. Can't get more American than that! In Czech tradition, while the girls are making eggs the boys are making pomlasky (Easter whips). Dan learned how to make them this year! The finished products. This is our Easter tree. They are very common in front yards with eggs and ribbons tied to the tree. Since we don't have a yard this is what we did.

The boys got Easter buckets (since we had no sandbox buckets) this year and were very excited about their candy! Benji calls anything sweet cookie now. So all morning he was running around saying, "Cookie, cookie!" Sidenote: Cookie is not to be confused with Kuk (Czech for peek a boo) Unless one is prepared with actual cookies while playing the game tears may result. Lesson learned.

Easter Monday is when the boys go and whip the girls to get eggs. We always go to the čubovi's house because 1. They have 4 girls (one boy) 2. We love them and it's a good excuse to go to their house. 3. Romana (mother) is the first Czech woman I could understand. She has a knack of using simple words and enunciates really well. So she was someone I was comfortable visiting our first year here.

The pictures for this and Easter Sunday are on our camera which Dan has in America. I'll have him add them later.

Our Handsome Four Year Old. . . I mean Vince

We were at a church activity and I was helping make tortillas for a Mexican feast. Vince was also helping by rolling out the dough. While I was cooking I overheard the following conversation:

Sister Anderson: Vince you're such a good helper.
Vinson: My first name is handsome.
Sister Anderson: You are handsome.
Vinson: Yeah, My names are Handsome Vinson Reeves.
On another note Vince turned four at the end of last month and had a really fun birthday party with his friends. We played pin the smokepipe on Thomas, the Fishing game, and had a prize walk (like cake walk but with prizes instead.) Eleven of his good friends come and we had a great time!
We (Mom, Dad and Benji) were saving an extra special present for his actual birthday (the day after his party)... we gave him a cool little bike. He has been asking for a bike that has pedals that go like this - imagine him kicking his feet in circles - for over a year. He's already doing awesome - with training wheels - and leaving Benji, on his motorcycle, in the dust. Good thing we're only a few blocks away from a park!

Big Bag

Benji thought this big bag was a blast! He would put it on his head and would run blindly around the house. I cut the hole in the front for safety. The best toys are things lying around the house!