Celebrating Magda with Czech grandparents

Magdalena with her amazing cake. Milan's sister made and decorated it especially for our girl! Maggie absolutely LOVED the animals and flowers. :-) She couldn't decide which one to eat first.

Babi and Deda gave her a book, a game, and some money for new shoes. Babi read her stories from the book over the weekend while they visited. Deda taught Magdalena how to play the game and they played several times in the 2 days they had together.


Singing "Happy Birthday" in Czech. I'm pretty sure only Petr and Kveta's voices are audible, but we all sang - sorta. Vojta still can't talk or sing. ;-)

Magdalena's 5th Birthday Celebration

The men-folk (Petr, Vojta, Mirek, and Samuel) relaxing and eating (although, Samuel did draw too) as the kids played a drawing game - take-a-turn-picture.
Some of the Mommas at the party - Darina, Martina, and the birthday girl's Momma, too, of course! :-)
Magdalena showing us the picture she was working on.
Presents! Magdalena received candy, ponies, a knitting kit, and a jewelry set (bracelet and necklace from Vojta). She was excited about the gifts but even more so about playing with all of her friends. :-)
Star cookies and strawberry "champagne"! Each star had the numeral 5 on it since the Big Girl was turning 5 years old.


Playing "How Low Can You Go" which is one of Magdalena's favorite games to play at school. At the very end, the kids all were hissing like snakes as they wiggled their way under on their bellies!

The boys sliding in the snow

Snow play!

Today was perfect weather for being outside. We still have enough snow on the ground for playing around, but the temperature was a bit warmer (4 or 5C - around 40F) so the snow was wet for making a snowman! And, we didn't all freeze our butts off! :-)
Vojta trying to walk down the hill on his own. He toppled a lot because the snow was slushy and his snow suit is quit bulky.I prepared hot drinks for us all when we got home - coffee for me and Petr, hot chocolate for Magdalena. Vojta wanted juice so no warm drink for him. ;-)

Early morning beauty

Our kitchen window view during breakfast Monday morning. Too beautiful to not capture. Magdalena was concerned why the moon was visible. She asked if it was actually night time and she had to go to bed soon!

Bundled up for school

Magda's card-art

As an early birthday present, we bought Magdalena a Princess card-making set. She began immediately making a card for Sophie, perhaps her favorite friend.

Classic fit - Vojta style

Petr says I'm mean to record Vojta's fit instead of picking him up. I say, I'm teaching him to work through his emotions. Plus, he's too funny when he throws a fit - fusses, throws something, then "throws" himself down.

Thanksgiving at the Sramkovi House

This Thanksgiving was a special day for our family. We were blessed to celebrate with a good friend, Daniel, who was preparing to move to Slovakia.
And, it was the first Thanksgiving when I was solely responsible for planning and executing the menu. Ever since Petr and I have been together, we have celebrated my favorite holiday in the home of friends or family (or at Project Antioch). I must admit that I relished each moment of cooking this meal! I also enjoyed seeing Magdalena so eager to help and watching her bustle around the kitchen 2 steps behind me. :-)
One weekend in October we visited a pumpkin patch and bought these gourds to decorate the kitchen table. Magdalena and I gathered the leaves and other fall plants to fill the bowl.
After dinner, Magdalena got her wish of playing cars with Daniel. When we taught together at Skolicka Life Center, he would fabricate such elaborate road structures for the children to drive on...complete with police officers who checked for driver's license and made law-breakers pay a fine! Magdalena, as soon as she learned that Daniel was joining us for dinner, requested to play cars because "he's the best at cars!"
To fulfill the beauty of Thanksgiving and welcome the beginning of "Christmas season" (in the Bowen family at least), snow began falling on Thanksgiving night. We awoke to a white wonderland.
Magdalena was in awe over the snow and couldn't get enough of seeing it...Vojta was just thrilled to be standing in the window sill! :-D

Failed attempt

The night that the City of Prague lit the Christmas tree on Old Town Square, we decided to go see the lights and let the kids enjoy such a Christmasy event.
We were hoping for some jolly seasonal festivities, but instead what we got was shoulder to shoulder crowds of people. On our SECOND attempt to enter the Square, this is how close we got to the tree. On our first attempt, we couldn't even see the tree.
Yep, craziness. Magdalena got to see this bird's-eye view from her Daddy's shoulders. I only got to see the tip of the top. Vojta slept, so he didn't see anything at all! :-)

Lion around

Just your typical day with African wildlife and a small boy. ;-)

A New "Friend"

Petr's new boss gave the kids an old Marionette puppet around Thanksgiving time. Petr untangled his strings (with the help of our friend Daniel) and has put on several "shows" for the kids since. Here is the initial meeting between "Honza the puppet" and the kids. The bare tree in the background was waiting to be decorated for Christmas. Yes, a 2 month old video, but figured better late than never!

"Ride, ride, ride, Hitchin' a Ride"

Magdalena loves driving cars - especially this red one with a wagon on back. She frequently takes Brother for a drive in the wagon and he plays with toys while relaxing in back.

We have foam!

I finally bought us a little hand-held foamer at Ikea so that we can have latte style coffee at home. Petr and I have both been enjoying the delights of froth! Vojta and Magdalena have been enjoying the treat of eating some of our foam from a spoon, too. :-)

He can WALK!

Not such a great example of him walking, but he does take 2 steps before crawling off. :-) Vojta does enjoy the open spaces at school where he can practice his walking abilities.

This morning's fun

Vojta is quite proud of his climbing skills and newly acquired "getting down" skills, too. So, one of his favorite activities is to climb onto the big armchair and play with his boat and stacking/sorting blocks. Magdalena is usually within a couple of steps of Brother to make sure he doesn't fall or to provide him with other toys. They're so sweet together!
Warning: This is a longer video - about 1 full minute. :-)

At Školička

A post that I just found that I'd never completed! It's short cuz I don't remember what stories I'd intended on telling. :-)
As you can see, Vojta is holding his own among the other kids at preschool! Magdalena claims him as hers, though, when the big boys get too close. "He's my brother" she told Adam!