Czechs & Ondricek's

A few weeks ago I invited our pool lifeguard over for dinner so we could be friendly and learn more about his country, the Czech Republic. He, his girlfriend, and several other college students are here for the summer to work as lifeguards and learn English.

Their country is of interest to us because the Ondricek family hails from Prague about 4 generations back. So he and his girlfriend came for dinner last night and prepared a wonderful lesson on the Czech Republic. They brought printouts of their flag, first democratic president, political maps of CR and all of Europe. We learned about their political history, language, and even got a geography lesson. Jared and I tried to fill in all the European nations from memory and did OK until we got to all the countries between Hungary and Greece. I'm sorry Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Albania, etc... You're still important.

They were great company and even brought us gifts!!

They really wanted to bring us something Czech, but the only thing they could find was beer. We don't drink alcohol but they said we could keep it anyway.

Funny enough, our neighbor, Ivana, is Czech so after the lifeguards left, we offered the beer to her and her husband, Anthony. They accepted and we had a FABULOUS TIME with them learning even more about Czech culture. We were there late (while Stu peacefully slept) hearing the best stories we're heard in a long time!

Like did you know that Czechs have a special way to celebrate Easter? Anthony learned all about it when he spent Easter there for the first time. In Czech they drink lots of alcohol, so Anthony spent most of his time there either hung over or drunk, he said. After drinking late into the night the evening before, his in-laws got him up at 7:00 Easter morning to celebrate Czech style. All the men and young boys go from house to house, like we go trick-or-treating, to playfully whip the women and girls with their lucky homemade switch sticks.

Anthony even had one to show us! The sticks are believed to give the ladies youth and in return the boys receive candy and eggs, and the men get a shot of alcohol, often brandy. They do this all throughout town from 7 til noon! The ladies often run off to make the men earn their reward and so all morning you find inebriated men chasing stranger women in the streets. Happy Easter!

So, imagine poor Anthony, this African American who doesn't speak a lick of Czech. He is hung over. All the women in town are strangers. And he is whipping their behinds just so he can get more drunk! He didn't make it past 9.

You should have heard him tell the story. It was hilarious. All the while Ivana is going on about how every women who got a whip from him had the best Easter ever because they were whipped by "Vin Diesel." Maybe you had to be there, but I am still laughing thinking about it. It was an entertaining and educational evening!

Note to self: avoid being in the Czech Republic on Easter. :)

Graduate School Squared

The next phase of higher education is about to begin. Jared starts his graduate program this fall and I am currently applying. I might be crazy, but I want to go back to school for my Masters of Social Work.

These are my reasons:

• I am only going to get busier with more kids
• My BSW allows me to apply for advanced standing MSW programs but only for a limited time
• I want to have the option to be employed outside the home
• MSW allows me to earn more money while working part-time
• I want to contribute both to our finances and to the larger community through employment
• Working in my kids' schools in the future will allow me to keep in touch with the challenges they might face
• I love to learn and I like school

Depending on where I get in, I could do one of two programs:

1) online, part-time MSW for 2 years, or

2) on campus, full-time MSW for 1 year

What do you think?

Any moms who are currently in school with babies at home?

Anyone who succeeded in it?

What advice, warnings, or encouragement do you have?

PS. Thank you, Leah, for your comment. You make an excellent point I'd like to address. I am aware of the many contributions stay-at-home mothers give to the community but I failed to acknowledge them. Many mothers in my life, including my own, have contributed countless services to the world; certainly not limited to the contribution of their beautiful families. Women serve in the PTA, at church, as civil servants, teachers, entrepreneurs, friends, mentors, gardeners, keepers of the peace, artists, creators, and many more. As I expressed to my mom yesterday, I plan to contribute in lots of ways, I just want to get payed for some of the service I'm most passionate about. Many women I know contribute to the family finances by saving coupons, making and selling crafts, reselling used items like clothes, or taking on a part-time job. All are fulfilling and productive. Social work is the best way for me right now.

Crawling

Just for you Gma Bev. Here is Stuart's progress with crawling.

I have been SO excited to post this because he's made lots of progress very quickly. At his 10 month check up, the pediatrician expressed concern that he was too little for his age and should be gaining more weight. He seems perfectly healthy to me. He is a little man, but he's growing, not losing weight, and DOING all the activities he should. We took him back to the MD at 11 months so she could see his growth and he gained 12 oz in just 4 weeks. And in those four weeks he mastered crawling and is pulling himself up on his knees and feet. We are so happy!!

Two weeks ago:

This afternoon:

Stu kisses

Geocaching

My husband loves to geocache. He enjoys the outdoors, the hunt, and of course the company. :) We enjoyed this treasure hunt with Uncle Matt. Or, as Stuart calls him, "Att". It was a beautiful day.

Curious Kid

A couple weeks ago we visited the in-laws in Jersey. We completely forgot to take our port-a-crib for Stu, so we improvised by creating a soft corner in Aunt Mary's room. For his afternoon nap, he laid on a futon with lots of stacked pillows on 2 sides and the walls and a dresser on the other. He was quiet and assumed sleeping. When I checked on him 40 minutes later he was in the center of the room, on his belly under the legs of a music stand, playing with pens and paper. Silly kid.

Plan B. We put the futon in the guest bedroom corner where the bed, bookshelves, and a bench on it's side were supposed to keep him safe. They did, but he still explored his new territory. I later checked to see if he was sleeping. I found this delightful sight:

"But mom, I just wanted to crochet like you and daddy."

Pool Time

We love having a pool and we are there every week. I love this float and Stu enjoys just hanging out. It makes him giggle when I go under the water and reappear on his other side. We especially love it when his cousins come swimming with us! Thanks for joining us lately!

Just Because

Just because we have one of the happiest babies on earth

For Ian

Every time Stu wears this shirt I think of you, Ian L. So here's to you: Ralph Lauren even in your colors. I hope we can get a picture of you in your RL and him in his. Together. With a head full of man curls.

DIY chair

When we got married, Jared brought with him a couple pieces of old, discarded men's dorm furniture. Not exactly the cream of the crop, but this chair has served well as our desk chair. It just needed a new look. Here it is!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Happy Birthday!!

To my sweet husband. Thank heaven and earth that you were born and that you are mine.

I love you!

His birthday celebrations included (mostly by requested):

streamers

1 balloon

an autograph from a famous person

gift in a large box

brownies topped with ice cream, caramel, whipped cream & chocolate sauce

gift cards from mom and dad O - THANKS!!

dinner at Red Robin

X-Men: First class for free!

free babysitting - the Hanson's are our favorite

live performance from Mary and Me

family time with all his family except one

Thanks you to everyone who made it special. We love you, Jared.

brushing teeth

Stuart's learning to brush his teeth with mom and dad. It's going well and he likes his brush a lot. Thanks Gma Bev for providing it.

Lake Time

At our friend Sophia's birthday party, Stuart enjoyed his first time at the beach. He loved it! He eat the sand, licked the rocks, and splashed the water.

p.s. anyone notice my farmer's tan from my PA hike?

Schuylkill River Hike

We did it! Stuart and I are machines!! I walked and he rode ALL day yesterday as we accompanied the Latter-day Saint youth on a 22 mile hike!! It was amazing. We hiked from Valley Forge to Philadelphia. We met together at 6:30 am, started walking at 8:30 and hiked all day, stopping every 7 miles for food, rest, and water. We got home around 10 pm.

Our destination in Philly was the appointed site where the next LDS temple will be built. The walk was in honor of Brother John Moyle, a Mormon pioneer and stone cutter on the Salt Lake City temple, who walked 22 miles twice a week for over 20 years to fulfill his calling. After an accident that caused him to lose part of his leg, he still walked the 22 miles on a wooden leg he crafted for himself! After yesterday I appreciate more intensely my Mormon heritage, which is full of strong, sacrificing heroes like John Moyle.

My one-time 22 mile hike was a sobering experience:

• I can do anything I put my mind to, even when my body is done.
• I am getting old.
• Stuart is honestly a heavenly being because he was happy the whole way. The youth and leaders are in love with him!
• Goals motivate me to perform past my abilities.
• I have nothing to complain about compared to people like John Moyle.

The last 2 miles felt like torture. Every step hurt my entire leg, from my toes to my hips. Especially my right side after an injury I suffered 3 years ago. My mind took over, my legs went numb and I was on autopilot. I was tired and sore, but I didn't have to suffer what my ancestors did. They walked across the continent day after day. They didn't have my comfortable running shoes. They didn't have the full belly I enjoyed. They couldn't guzzle clean water any moment they desired. They didn't have an awesome jogging stroller. They walked in much worse weather, both hot and frozen. They walked on after burying children, parents, and spouses. I just had to chat with pleasant people the whole time, knowing I would enjoy a full meal in an air conditioned building and a ride home. Like I said: a sobering experience.

In the beginning

a scary bridge

my monkey child, sipping water using his hands and feet

wonderful people including Stu's uncle Matt

I love people

In the distance are some of the teens in my group

turtles

ducks

Philadelphia Museum of Art. Most of the group ran up and down the steps after 21 miles. Some said they weren't even sore but all were tired. Just rub it in already.

Beautiful cemetery that stretched a couple blocks

There were a lot of crew teams practicing

Almost everyone that made it. There were only a few that didn't finish. Some were sun burnt, others very hurt, but all happy and satisfied at the end. We had a beautiful discussion at the final destination, lead by the stake president (a regional church leader), about the experience and the significance of our personal journey to the temple. The building over looked the grounds where the temple will be constructed. I look forward to the time when I come to the site again and go into the temple.