A weekend in Prague

One good thing about driving across Europe is the freedom to head in a different direction while going home and stopping in a former communist country - the Czech Republic. Prague is a town that wasn't touched in the war, so it maintains it's old world look.

We found this out the first night we were there - cobble stoned streets everywhere and none of the streets went in a straight line. They all led to the town square. We were within 5 minutes of walking to get there. We walked down a few quiet streets before turning into a crowd of thousands and then finally seeing the town square, which took our breath away. An enormous medieval church, which looked like it was from the dark ages and a huge Christmas tree beside it. It was truly breath taking!

After a night of hanging out at the Christmas markets and listening to locals sing traditional Czech songs, we headed back. The next morning we saw it again in the daylight. Still remarkable. We headed to the top of the town hall tower and looked at the city from a birds eye view. After, we stood and watched the 500 year old astronomical clock ring. I still have no idea what time it was or how it worked.

We spent the day walking to different sights. The Jewish quarter with it's cemetery of 12,000 stones, but estimated 100,000 people buried there. And then on to the palace and cathedral. That is when the complaining began from all three kids. Cold and tired, we stopped for hot cocoa. After we warmed up and spilled plenty of the cocoa, we continued on with the kids playing in the square. Tom and I knew there was so much more to see, but when you have kids, you see a different side of the city. So, we never made it to the museums, but we had a great Czech meal and did walk the Charles Bridge.

The highlight of the Charles Bridge is rubbing one of the statues for good luck. We each did it and as I touched it, Jeb awoke from his hour nap in a very foul mood. So much for good luck.

We had a great night with more mulled wine, crepes and trdelnik. Thus, ended our time in Prague and Eastern Europe. The ride home? Much better than the ride to Austria - we could see out the window and there was no snow. But there was when we came home! Funny, we had a rainy Austrian Christmas and England had a white Christmas. Go figure.

A European Christmas...

We are back from our 10 days away in Europe with our major stop in Austria and then a minor stop in Prague. It was an interesting start.

8 inches of snow. Doesn't seem to be that much according to our prior life in Michigan. However, when it's in England, it's a major issue. And that is what we woke up to on the morning that we were to DRIVE to Austria. Yikes. Tom was a bit over excited about the snow chains that we needed to have for Austria and put them on for our ride to the motorway. You should have seen the looks! So, five minutes later, we pulled over and spent the next 30 minutes removing them. Luckily the next hour of driving was fine. It was the last 30 minutes that turned into 180 minutes (3 hours!!). Let's just say, I took a walk for about a mile and went back to the car, which had moved about 100 feet.

Ok, back on the road after the channel crossing. Hmmm....the windshield washer fluid doesn't contain antifreeze in the UK and it's 2 degrees. Doesn't work. This is what we saw on the motorway.

So, we had to stop every 20 minutes to clean the windshield. In short, our intentions of stopping at the German Christmas Market turned into a 10 o'clock arrival at the hotel and the next day was pretty much the same. Our 12 hour journey was actually 23 hours!

Anyway, we got there and found such a beautiful chalet waiting for us! Tom's parent were also there to give us a warm greeting after a year of not seeing the boys. The kids were more than excited!

So, our week started the next day, on a cog train up to the half way mark of the mountain (imagine The Sound of Music - we were staying right in the area where it was filmed). The snow was beautiful, making the view so great despite the very cold weather! I went up to take a closer look and on the way back heard the train whistle blow. I missed the train, so I headed to the little train concession, only to find Tom and Aiden. We had a great hour spent eating donuts and drinking mulled wine. We never get one on one time with Aiden, so it was a little gift. Tom's parents had the pleasure of watching the other boys at the bottom of the mountain!

That night we had our first trip down to the Christmas markets in town. Again, it was freezing!! The highlight was walking through the nativity scene. We weren't sure what everything meant since it was all in German, but Jeb understood quite well that Jesus wasn't in the manger. He threw a fit, screaming, "Jesus, Jesus!" Sorry, you have to wait five more days!

The rest of the week just flew by. We got beautiful snow at the beginning of the week, but it all melted away on Wednesday. Our Christmas felt more English than Austrian. Lots of rain, but it let up in the afternoon so we could go for a walk to town to see Baby Jesus in the manger.

Here are the other highlights:

1. Tom and Joy having a day away to Hallstatt and taking a cable car up the snowy Dashstein where we were greeted by tons of snow, sled dogs, and beautiful views.

2. Jacob and Aiden learn to ski (kind of). Aiden stood at the top of the hill for 10 minutes vowing not to go down. He came down with Tom and all we heard was giggling!

3. Tubing down the ski hill and using the "magic carpet" to get back up! Jeb loved going down!

4. Salzburg. Not quite as beautiful as we imagined, but we did make it to the VonTropp mansion!

5. Christmas dinner. Couldn't find a turkey, so we had goose. It was good and we'll probably never forget it!

6. Christmas shooting. 24 Austrians shooting off guns that sound like cannons. Still haven't figured out why they do it, but it was so cool!

7. Christmas Eve mass. Didn't understand a word, but the music was pretty and the girls sitting next to me couldn't believe they were sitting next to an American!

The best highlight of all was living like an Austrian and learning a new culture. It all makes so much more sense at Christmas. A nativity in every town. I don't think we ever saw a Santa Claus. Songs about the birth of Jesus being sung. Christmas trees go up on Christmas Eve and the big celebration is the week after Christmas - Jesus is finally born and put in that nativity scene. After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about??

Jeb the Shepherd

Jeb also had his program last week. Very laid back, thank goodness. Jeb sat with me until it the point in the nativity when the shepherds entered. It all went well - the minute that he was up. BTW, the tea towel is meant to be the shepherds hat. Oh, and most shepherds aren't seen with Lightning McQueen - consider yourself lucky. This is a once in a lifetime sighting...until next year.

Adding a little video of Jeb. Ignore the craziness within the video - there is a lot of it, but the main point is Jeb's name for Jacob...

Sparkle Christmas Production!

Last week was the big Christmas production at school. With Jacob and Aiden both in it, you'd think I would have had a clue as to what it would be. Nope, they never sang a song at home and barely practiced lines/dances. I was worried. The morning of the first production, I set some ground rules for Aiden. 1. If you smile and do your dance, I'll pay you £1 at the end. 2. Don't pick your nose. You can itch it, but please don't shove your finger up there! You'll see that both boys were smilely (money works every time!). The nose thing, well that obviously didn't hit home for Aiden. Luckily his gal pal, Ruby, finally held his arm down to stop him. Thank goodness for that.

Jacob performed great. I didn't include his other line, but let's just say that many people commented to me that Jacob has totally lost his American accent. Amazing what peer pressure will do - he sounds so American to me, but when his friends are around, it's British all the way!

So, here is a glimpse of Sparkle. A story about a star who just wouldn't sparkle. The moral of the story is that God gave a gift to everyone - the sun, the moon (with it's moonbeams - Aiden), and to stars. Sparkle became the Star of Bethlehem.

Beaconsfield Festival of Lights

The official start of Christmas here in Beaconsfield. The boys have been talking about it ever since they put the lights up two weeks ago. So, of course, we had to go! We headed out with our friends the Rowlands. Two mums and six boys. It was great and at the end of the night we purchased cheap light sabers (which weren't so cheap). And, yes, one broke on the way home and one the next morning. They stick work quite well when hitting your brother...

Official Beaver

Jacob went through the Scout ceremony last week and became an official "Beaver." He is so incredibly proud, as you can see. And check out the sewing craftsmanship on those badges! Well done Mum!! (I'll admit it - I had to do one badge 2 times and it's still crooked!)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This is our third Thanksgiving here in England and even though the Brits don't celebrate, we insisted that they do! Tom was traveling to Germany so we celebrated a day early, starting with the children's "tea." We had our best friends over: Fraser, Rory, Heath and baby Gregor, along with their mummy Sarah. All the boys are the same age as our boys, except baby Gregor, so it was bound to be fun.

Sarah brought the boys here after school and the turkey crafts started soon after. The boys glued on feathers and wrote what they were thankful for. Then we sat for dinner. The toughest part - making them sit while I explained what Thanksgiving was (I left out the part of the Pilgrims leaving England b/c of the tyrant King!). Then we went around the room to say what we are thankful for. The Clark boys - God and Jesus (they aren't Christians, so I was a bit blown away!). Jacob: his feathers were filled, but some of the best were: Mummy, Daddy, friends, Jeb, Aiden, beds, snow, and popcorn. Aiden: homework, brothers, school. Jeb: Cars. It was all very sweet.

Pumpkin pie - not eaten in England. So, the day before, I took all the boys to swim and there was a big discussion on eating pumpkin pie. Even my boys weren't too keen on eating it, so I gave them a back-up plan of apple pie. But when the pie was brought out, they ate it up - in fact I had to tell them to hold back so Tom could have some!

It was such a nice evening and even better when Tom and I sat down to have our dinner together. We do have so much to be thankful for.

Below is the English version of Thanksgiving - the Harvest Festival. We celebrated about a month ago. The kids bring in food to school and have a little play. This year Jacob was the star - Oliver. Very proud of him! Oh, Aiden was there too, but chose to not participate. Just depends on the day for Aiden...oh well, maybe the Christmas production!