The Eckbauer-Bahn

Last Friday the boys and I joined our friends for our first Alpine hike.  We went up the mountain in these tiny, two-person, open-air cable cars (brrrr) and then hiked back through Wamberg, a cute little city only accessible to non-residents via hiking.  The sunshine made it pleasant, and the snow and scenery were gorgeous.  All the bundling, planning, and packing were definitely worth it.

***All the photos were taken by my friend Megan, a very talented photographer.  We love being here with friends that feel like family. 

  

Life with a Boy

I was cleaning up a bit last night and saw this.  It made me smile.  Trucks and other boy stuff tucked all around the house.

Our First Snow, Wednesday, October 20th

Last Wednesday we had our first snow.  It didn't stick here in the valley, but it was beautiful.  Seth loved playing in it and eating it.  (Since then we have had real snow.  Posts to follow.)

Seth and friends eating the snow that remained by mid-morning.

Snow on the mountain

Thursday's snow... a bit heavier

A little guy enjoying his hot chocolate

Our Sweet Vic

Vic is a sweetie pie.  Here is a recent brotherly moment between Seth and Vic.  When you say "Give me a kiss", Vic will tilt his head over for a kiss on the forehead.  If you can't hear Seth, he says, "Give me a kiss."

Home Again

The travels home from Kyiv went smoothly, definitely not leisurely, but smoothly.  That is an accomplishment with small children, security, bags, parking, etc.  Our dear friends came over to play once we were back.  Seth and Vic love to play with them.

Monday - Kyiv

Monday morning the boys and I stayed in and played while Dad was at class.  Monday evening we traveled by subway to the edge of the city to eat dinner with the host family (a mother and daughter) that Craig has been living with during his four weeks in Kyiv.

Vic playing on the floor.  After spending most of the travels in the backpack, I wanted to include a picture of him roaming free. 

We made our own fun in the apartment -- bowling with empty water bottles and socks.

This is the host family Craig has been living with in Kyiv -- Tatiana and her daughter Marianna.  Tatiana is an excellent cook, so Craig has been living well.  (An interesting note about Tatiana... she is a holistic doctor and the leaches she uses in her practice are in jars in the kitchen.  I wanted to take a picture, but somehow that seemed rude).  Both the food and the evening were great.

Kyiv - Sunday

Sunday we walked around the city just a bit.  Mostly we rested and enjoyed being together.

Overlooking Kyiv and the Dnieper River

This a restaurant chain.  I think they are just making light of their own culture.

Craig and Seth at the Friendship Arch.  There are some interesting things to be noted here.  First, the girl on the left is cold.  They all wear short skirts and tall boots and freeze.  Second, people park everywhere.  They do not feel contrained by parking lots or laws.

Kyiv - Saturday

Saturday we spent the morning at the outdoor, kinda touristy market.  It was fun for me, but not so much fun for Seth.  I came back in the afternoon by myself, used my bits of Russian, and had fun shopping without the boys.  

St. Andrevsky Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral



Delicious $5 breakfast

St. Andrevsky from a different point of view 

Dad and Seth

We passed by all the cars gathered at the monuments where wedding photos are taken.  Everybody stands around waiting for their turn to take a photo in front of the main statues.  Check out the flowers and wedding rings on the car.

One of the wedding parties waiting for a turn at the statue

Kyiv

The boys and I flew to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday afternoon to spend the weekend with Craig.  We made it, but, wow, it is some serious work to get everybody packed, dressed, parked, ticketed, through security, through passport control, to the gate, to the plane, through the flight without upsetting other passengers, off the plane, to the luggage carousel, and, finally, though passport control.  It is worth it for a weekend with Craig and a new adventure.  There are no photos from Thursday because two hands weren't enough for the essential tasks, much less taking pictures. 

Here are some sights from Friday...

Craig and Seth in front of St. Michaels Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Monestary

While we were walking to the church this great babushka came to talk with us.  She doted on the kids and told us that Seth would grow up to be a doctor (vrach) and Vic a pilot (lodchik). 

When traveling with kiddos, we always find the parks.

On the Khreshchatyk, the main street through Kyiv.

Fruit stand inside Bessarabsky Market, one of the oldest markets in Kyiv.

The only remaining Lennin statue in Kyiv... and a recruiting spot for the Communist party.

The Neighborhood

Monday the boys and I went out for a stroll in and around post.  Here are some of our sights.




These friendly horses are in a nearby backyard.





The sign as you enter the walking trail through the fields.  Google translate did not provide a very good translation, but I think it says keep your dog on a leash and don't leave your trash.






This is not a great picture, but I am trying to show the fields of cows.  There are NO fences.  I've grown up around lots of cows, but they have all been in fenced pastures.  Each cow has a cow bell around her neck and is free to roam as she wishes (I guess).  This day they were farther away from the walking path, but many times they are close enough to touch.  I suppose this is completely safe, but it feels weird.  Here are huge animals with huge horns that just watch you as you walk by.  I would love some inight from farmers here as to how each gorup of cows stays safely and contendly in its plot of land. 





These are the horses a bit down the path.  They have a fence to keep them in, one flimsy string.   



Seth is always asking what animals live in the holes he finds. 

Our home.  There are six apartments in the building.  We are the middle apartment on the second floor -- the middle, middle.   



We love packages.  Here is a good day at the post office piled in the stroller. 



The boys playing together.  Maybe Vic's just getting old enough or Dad's absence has forced creativity, but the boys are finally beginning to enjoy each other. 

At Last

We thought that perhaps Somali pirates had intercepted our household goods (they have a thing for unfinished craft projects and antiques), but, at last, our goods arrived last week.  They were due no later than August 22nd.  Hmmm....  Well, unless somehow they get left at a port "untrackable" for a month.  I have been staying up way too late after the boys are down trying to unpack and bring order to our chaos.  The boys have been sick - Vic a little, Seth a lot (currently on our second antibiotic) - which has made the last week sleepless and crazy.  Here are our fun, hardworking group of movers.

Mustafa (no pork), Swinn (no English) , and Thomas (large and in-charge)