Summer Vacation: Prague

(picture from lloydi.com)

Once we landed, our new friend, Jakub-a native of the Czech Republic who works as a consultant in the States, helped us organize things and get a decently priced ride to our hotel. (an overseas flight provides plenty of time to meet people) Jakub was so nice and even had a stuffed friend for Everett to play with while our luggage took forever to arrive. Thanks, Jakub!!

Once at Hotel Kavalir, Everett and Sheila took a nap (BTW, he basically slept all the way over on the plane) and Erik roamed the neighborhood. He found a restaurant where we could all communicate using parts of English, German, and Russian. Olga, our waitress, was terrific, and the chicken Sheila had there was so delish, though we weren't fans of their version of ketchup. Sheila was amazed at how well we were able to get around and find access to what we needed with the hodgpodge of languages that we know.

We love Prague. We were last there in 2000, and even though it has changed quite a bit with rebuilding areas and adding a bit more commerce to the downtown section, it is still charming.

Some of the nicknames that we've heard for this city are "the golden city," "the city of a hundred spires," and "the heart of Europe." As we walked through the city after taking a train from the outskirts, we saw just how many different cultures, nations, and peoples live in and visit this city. Sheila loved the fact that hordes of people walking around were taller than she is. That is something that never happens to her.

The street market that has been around since the 1300s is one of our favorites to go to, and we are always impressed with the art that is sold along the smallest little squares and streets. We were unable to get to our favorite glass store (ran out of time and energy). We will be back and hope to have money to spend on some of that great art and glass while we are there.

Next--Macedonia--We are halfway there!

Traveling Note: The lady at the ticket counter in DC was a total crankerpants. I forgot how full of nuances and extra rules and misinterpretations of rules international travel can have. I kept Everett asleep, and Erik kept his cool throughout the transaction, convincing the Cranky Lady that: yes, we paid for everything; yes, we were going to take Everett with us; and, yes, we were going to take all the luggage we had in front of us. Go Erik!

The staff at the ticket counter in Prague were gems! Unlike in the US, European countries show a bit more respect for families toting around children. We were able to skip out on the huge line that was overly slow and check-in . . . allowing just enough time to go through passport security, customs, and the diaper changing station before we left for Macedonia.

Summer Vacation: Departure

Erik and Sheila have both lived abroad. Some stays for a summer, a couple of years, one that included taking the cat, and one where we didn't know how long we would be there. This is all to say, we understand how to pack lightly and take just what we need. Our trip this summer across the ocean was a 2 week jaunt . . . a week of which we thought we'd be in our bathing suits the entire time. "This should be easy!"

Enter into the picture a baby named Everett, and we freeze. Add further the fact that getting there would take two days of travel . . . and then the risk of possibly not getting our luggage on time (and miss the toys, diapers, babyfood, and medicine--NO WAY) . . . and you have turned two light packers into heavyweight line-backers of luggage. (not to mention the must haves for beachgoing like snorkeling equipment and a tent for Everett to lounge in away from the sun)

The Stuff

4 carry-ons

stroller

car seat

4 checked pieces of luggage

We left from Dulles airport on Friday, flying through Atlanta, and arrived in Prague on Saturday afternoon. The next morning we departed for Skopje, Macedonia and arrived that afternoon. Yep, took us two days.

The next entries will outline our stay and inevitable adventures. It might be cheating to tell you at the beginning of this series that Everett is a delightful traveler, handling jetlag better than his mom. It might also be cheating to tell you that Sheila really never had interest in learning French, but now she is sure to have a few choice words learned before ever going through the airport in Paris again, which she will avoid, unless-maybe-she is actually trying to get to Paris. And, in that case, maybe she'll just get to Paris by train. And, it might also be cheating to tell you that Traveling Erik is "Cheers-incarnate-Norm Peterson"--always finding the spots to be in and who to talk to or get with in order to get what we needed.

Just a teaser

Who really sleeps when you can shop?

Exquisite bakeries in Greece.
Cats coming through the windows.
Compulsive Greek land lords.
Translucent waves.
Sitting on runways.

Beach Lounging Pose

We're getting ready to lounge lazily in the sun.

Rat-a-tat-tat

Everett is now initiating rhythm games. Usually it is a two pat series, but every once in while today, he would throw in a three pat series.

The game goes like this: He pats the ground twice. I mimic him and then he laughs hysterically. He pats the ground twice again, I mimic, he laughs. (This age totally loves repetition.) Though, as I mentioned before, he may throw in a three tap sequence. It is so amazing to see him develop his sense of humor and play preferences.

Enjoying a Luau Party

This weekend we went to a birthday party and had a spectacular time.

Hanging with Hannah the Birthday Girl

Being Spoiled by Auntie Rosie . . . He just loved looking into her eyes.

What a flirt.

I am sure I can get this to work . . .

Well, I really only wanted to make motorboat noises, anyway.

Mom, we need one of these at home . . .

Michelle and Everett

Michelle made this blanket for Everett and we use it all the time.

Wweeeee!!!

We went by the fabric store today to buy a couple of things. Everett came along for the ride in the stroller. The aisles in this fabric store are rather close together, and there are mounds of bolts of fabric smashed into each isle. So, there is a bit of material that hangs out flowingly just tempting you to touch.

Everett LOVED strolling through the aisles passing his hands along the textures and colorful swags of woven fiber.

He would hold his hands straight out from his sides and pass his fingers over the fabric as he was pushed quickly down the aisles. His giggling, high pitched squeal, and the wild abandonment of enjoying the ride and trying to embrace every single bolt of fabric was charming to watch. He screamed with glee at the adventure, and Dad was kind enough to oblige him with *several* rides through the colors while we were waiting for our fabric to be cut.

We were able to catch a bit of it on video with our camera phone. But until we get it out of the phone, you'll just have to imagine it.

A Note From Sheila: This particular occasion caused me to pause and recognize a commonality between Everett and Erik. When Erik goes to buy . . . let's say a loaf of bread, he has to touch about 10 loaves of bread before he gets the "right one." The one with the perfect humidity to crumb ratio. The one that bounces back with just enough speed--but not too much (wouldn't want to buy the eager loaves of bread.) This is his way to ensure that he gets *soft* bread.

Just as Erik must touch and experience everything, Everett is following suit. Only time will tell if this is a developmental phase or a way of life as Erik likes to call his propensity to touch everything around him. Ahhh, my boys.

Needs

This evening I sat Everett down with a play cube to give him something to distract him while I went down the hall to get his bottle.

When I came back, I discovered that he didn't want to play with the cube. Rather, he grabbed all his friends that were lined up along the brown pillow behind him and proceeded to give each one of them a hug.

This is what I saw:

"Mom, they all *needed* a hug!"

Everett at 8 Months

STATS

All we know is he is wearing 12-18 month clothes.

Everett is into everything these days!

He delights in grabbing all things in his world from door jams, to flowing curtains, to window sills, people passing by, items on the shelf and in the pantry, and the cat. Marvelously, he is exploring the space of feeding himself, and he especially enjoys the "touch and feel" books.

He is happiest when he is sitting up ready to catch all of the action. In fact, when he is lying on his back, he is constantly doing crunches . . . but really is just trying to sit up on his own. By the way, Everett loves brushing his teeth.

Things that fascinate Everett: other babies, the ceiling fan, and watching himself in the mirror.

Did I mention that he loves to brush his teeth!

Things that make him laugh hysterically: playing peek-a-boo, other laughing kids, watching Mom dance very poor contemporary dance moves while listening to country music, bouncing on the bed while Mom and Dad make crazy sounds, being tickled by Dad high in the air, and sometimes the most random things make him laugh . . . we love that.

Everett getting ready to do a set of crunches!

(He was about the size of the bear when he was born.)

During quiet time, Everett enjoys listening to Mom and Dad sing, watching screen savers, staring at the painting in the living room, reading books, and, well, munching on them, too.

Caught!

Here is Everett doing what we love the most, HUGGING!!

Father's Day 2007

Erik is sporting is first Father's Day tie.

Happy Father's Day, Erik!

Erik's Father's Day Celebration started with breakfast in bed. Later, while I was cleaning the kitchen, Erik and Everett hung out. I found this when I finished:

Yeah, Erik found some net thing to put on his head to keep Everett entertained. BTW, I also found this:

Erik was on baby duty this afternoon because I taught in Relief Society at church. Erik spent the afternoon tending to Everett after Sacrament and, of his own volition, doing other things like cleaning the kitchen and prepping for his own Father's Day dinner. When I came home from our afternoon church, the kitchen was clean, Everett was just getting up from his nap, and all I had to do was make a salad, cook the fish, and prepare the dessert. Erik grilled up the steaks and corn on the grill, and we were set. Later tonight, I believe that Erik is going to count all the tools in his new humongous tool set that he got from Everett.

Bonus Play Pics:

Sheila's Birthday

Sheila celebrated her birthday this week while traveling through South Dakota on a monitoring trip for the US Department of Education.

Her birthday day started in Wagner, South Dakota. The population there was just over 1,500 people, and the claim to fame is that it is on the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Her stay in Wagner included spending the night at a, shall we say, "used" motel complete with bugs, large-tattooed drunk men without shirts, and minuscule bathing facilities. No worries, she made sure that she barricaded the door with the table and chair as someone wanted to visit her during the night and knocked several times over the course of two hours before giving up. The bonus, though, was that the motel served Tang for breakfast.

Later, after visiting a school in a local community that was even smaller, she ended her day by driving to the capital of South Dakota, Pierre, and included a stop at Al's Oasis, where the West begins. Evidently, Ft. Worth, Texas is not the only city that claims this distinguished title.

Sheila's traveling companions, coworkers from the Department, were sweet to take her to dinner and gift very South Dakota gifts such as a chocolate Baby Buffalo Chip--"Better In Your Mouth Than On Your Shoe" and popcorn ready to pop right of the cob.

The day ended with dinner at the Cattlemen's Club, in Pierre, where sawdust covered the floor. This place had the friendliest brown dog--dubbed "Brownie" by our group, the most beautiful views of the river, and some of the best food that we had the entire trip.

Later, after dinner, my coworkers surprised me with a cake and candles for a Happy Birthday song. I have no idea where they were able to acquire the goods along our route as I was with them every step of the way and can't imagine where they were able to buy the candles. It was very sweet of them. (BTW, Erik is responsible for letting her coworkers know it was her birthday.)

Cattlemen's Club for the Birthday Dinner

I received several emails and phone calls wishing me happy birthday. It was very nice as I was very far from home and my family, and that made the distance seem less so. Here is one that I received from Michelle-(so cute!)

Happy Birthday
from Everett and his Baby Buddy Nicholas

A Note:
Not to minimize the traveling highlights through the state, we did take some time to visit the World's Only Corn Palace whose sign and accompanying pictures are made entirely of corn. Yes, the husks and the different colored cobs are the tools for artists to adorn the palace, inside and out, with pictorial renditions of life, past and present, in South Dakota. The highlight of the trip, hands down, was a visit to a Butterfly House in Sioux Falls. It was amazing to see all the butterflies, and several landed on my head to rest a spell (pictures forthcoming at a later date for proof).

Tornado Hits Reston, Virginia

Hail Destroys Gardens and Flora

On June 13, 2007 at approximately sometime in the afternoon, there was a tornado that touched down in Reston, Virginia. The accompanying hail, accumulating up to three inches deep in some areas, and rain wreaked havoc on plants across the community with winds twisting branches and leaves off the trees.

This is our prized herb garden totally thrashed (And we thought the squirrels were bad). We hope it grows back.

The debris in our backyard.

CRANKERPANTS Day

Today was unofficially CRANKERPANTS Day in the Sjolseth house.

Mom was cranky in the morning, and Evy was cranky in the afternoon.

It is now 6:00 in the evening, and Everett is finally asleep . . . for his *nap* . . . a result of our drive home from a field trip to Michael's, the destination for cranky people who want to kill a little time. The shelves always hold enough stuff to distract both old and young.

Erik, the only one who escaped today's Cranky germ, is working late.

Mom is just going to sit quietly for awhile.

Didn't want to chance waking him up by taking off his shoes.

Do you blame me?

Erik's Turn

Today was a crappy day.

Erik is back at the sleep clinic going through another sleep study tonight.

Nothing we have sounds appetizing to eat.

I am totally supposed to be doing the laundry right now.

But, this was fun! And Everett is peacefully sleeping.

(BTW, Erik hasn't seen these yet and won't until he comes home from the clinic in the morning . . . . that calls for another HE!--see below)



Here is Erik's Take II: