We were on our way to Home Depot to pick up some stuff for my project when we saw the Nextel 07 race car. By the way the boys (and daddy)are big race car fans so I had to stop and we got to see it. They got some goodies too (I bet it made their day). It was much more exciting than picking up some wood and nails at the Home Depot.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Nextel Race Car
We were on our way to Home Depot to pick up some stuff for my project when we saw the Nextel 07 race car. By the way the boys (and daddy)are big race car fans so I had to stop and we got to see it. They got some goodies too (I bet it made their day). It was much more exciting than picking up some wood and nails at the Home Depot.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
our two biologists
This is a good story to pass on.
I was working on something on the PC when Sam ran in to tell me that I need to come outside to see something. He looked very excited so I went out to check out what was going on. Nate was laying down on the driveway in front of our garage and he was looking at a leaf. When I looked closely I saw what the big fuss was about. They were watching a caterpillar eating a leaf. These are the times when I know I need to show the same level of excitement as them when they discover something new (I read somewhere). Actually it was pretty cool to watch the caterpillar eating (and was is hungry or what).
I went back to work on the PC and after a while I heard Sam crying. Then I realized that Nate was crying as well. At first I thought somebody got hurt or the boys got into a fight. Well it turned out being as Sam put it,"The caterpillar is leaving us" with a cry that the whole neighborhood could hear. Nate added more crying to let me know that the situation was very serious.
I love my boys very much. We have caterpillars everywhere this time of the year. However, neither of the boys will actually touch the caterpillars. But they will call on their good friend Abby from across the street to do the job (it takes a woman). Anyway they ended up putting it into a bucket that didn't work, more crying.
They are busy now playing with something else so I guess they forgot about the caterpillar for now.
I was working on something on the PC when Sam ran in to tell me that I need to come outside to see something. He looked very excited so I went out to check out what was going on. Nate was laying down on the driveway in front of our garage and he was looking at a leaf. When I looked closely I saw what the big fuss was about. They were watching a caterpillar eating a leaf. These are the times when I know I need to show the same level of excitement as them when they discover something new (I read somewhere). Actually it was pretty cool to watch the caterpillar eating (and was is hungry or what).
I went back to work on the PC and after a while I heard Sam crying. Then I realized that Nate was crying as well. At first I thought somebody got hurt or the boys got into a fight. Well it turned out being as Sam put it,"The caterpillar is leaving us" with a cry that the whole neighborhood could hear. Nate added more crying to let me know that the situation was very serious.
I love my boys very much. We have caterpillars everywhere this time of the year. However, neither of the boys will actually touch the caterpillars. But they will call on their good friend Abby from across the street to do the job (it takes a woman). Anyway they ended up putting it into a bucket that didn't work, more crying.
They are busy now playing with something else so I guess they forgot about the caterpillar for now.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Ethiopian Flag
I almost forgot to post this picture. After driving around Philly looking for a parking spot we spotted an Ethiopian flag instead. We all got excited and I did took a picture of it. Anyhow they have flags from around the world around the city. I am including facts about the flag that I got from Wikipedia. (It is very interesting by the way.)
The Flag of Ethiopia was adopted on February 6, 1996.
The colours of African unity - red, green, yellow - are seen here on one of the oldest African flags. These colours were used for the national flag of Ethiopia in 1897, a year after Ethiopia decisively defended itself from colonial Italy at the Battle of Adwa. The flag's tri-colour scheme has existed since the early 19th c. and was previously the official banner of the Ethiopian Empire's Solomonic dynasty. The royal flag often featured the emblem of a Lion of Judah, a crowned lion carrying a cross centred in the banner's yellow mid-section. The flag is understood to be a link between the Ethiopian church, the peoples, and the nation were united in the one flag. Whilst red is currently featured at the bottom of the horizontal tricolour this was reversed in the mid 19th century and the emblem was added in 1996. What the colours symbolize varies depending on point of view, but generally: red represents power or African blood spilled in defence of the land; yellow for peace and harmony between Ethiopia's various ethnic and religious groups; green is almost always said to symbolize the land and its fertility. Other African nations, upon their independence from their colonial rulers so often adopted these three colours that they are known as the Pan-African colours.
Prior to 1996, and to some extent even today, the 'plain' flag was commonly seen across the nation and the world. Previously, especially during the Derg regime, a number of different emblems were experimented with, however, the basic colour schematic has remained constant. Even the oppressive Derg did not dare to tamper with the colours' layout, but simply removed and changed the imperial emblem after Haile Selassie's overthrow. An alternative coat of arms featuring a five pointed star and rays over a cogwheel surrounded by a wreath of leaves is now the featured emblem.
The star, which is a pentagram, is yellow on a blue disc, which overlaps the green and red stripes. The star testifies to Ethiopia's bright future and possibly echoes the connection with the House of King Solomon, while the yellow rays which it emits are equidistant and are said to represent the equality of all Ethiopians regardless of race, creed, or gender.
The colours of African unity - red, green, yellow - are seen here on one of the oldest African flags. These colours were used for the national flag of Ethiopia in 1897, a year after Ethiopia decisively defended itself from colonial Italy at the Battle of Adwa. The flag's tri-colour scheme has existed since the early 19th c. and was previously the official banner of the Ethiopian Empire's Solomonic dynasty. The royal flag often featured the emblem of a Lion of Judah, a crowned lion carrying a cross centred in the banner's yellow mid-section. The flag is understood to be a link between the Ethiopian church, the peoples, and the nation were united in the one flag. Whilst red is currently featured at the bottom of the horizontal tricolour this was reversed in the mid 19th century and the emblem was added in 1996. What the colours symbolize varies depending on point of view, but generally: red represents power or African blood spilled in defence of the land; yellow for peace and harmony between Ethiopia's various ethnic and religious groups; green is almost always said to symbolize the land and its fertility. Other African nations, upon their independence from their colonial rulers so often adopted these three colours that they are known as the Pan-African colours.
Prior to 1996, and to some extent even today, the 'plain' flag was commonly seen across the nation and the world. Previously, especially during the Derg regime, a number of different emblems were experimented with, however, the basic colour schematic has remained constant. Even the oppressive Derg did not dare to tamper with the colours' layout, but simply removed and changed the imperial emblem after Haile Selassie's overthrow. An alternative coat of arms featuring a five pointed star and rays over a cogwheel surrounded by a wreath of leaves is now the featured emblem.
The star, which is a pentagram, is yellow on a blue disc, which overlaps the green and red stripes. The star testifies to Ethiopia's bright future and possibly echoes the connection with the House of King Solomon, while the yellow rays which it emits are equidistant and are said to represent the equality of all Ethiopians regardless of race, creed, or gender.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
What is a mountain made of?
Last week Sam asked Fil this question in the car (We were all present by the way including Fil's brother who got a big kick out of this one).
Sam: Daddy, what is a mountain made of?
Fil: Well sweetie, mountains are formed by Plate tectonics
Quiet for a while.
Mom (me): Honey, a mountain is a big pile of dirt.
Sam (and Nate): Oh.
Why didn't he say so?
We all got a big laugh out of it. Hope you will too.
Sam: Daddy, what is a mountain made of?
Fil: Well sweetie, mountains are formed by Plate tectonics
Quiet for a while.
Mom (me): Honey, a mountain is a big pile of dirt.
Sam (and Nate): Oh.
Why didn't he say so?
We all got a big laugh out of it. Hope you will too.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Jump
One day we headed out to the small airport in Mass to see uncle Vit jump. We got to see him jump already last year but it was still an enjoying day.
Uncle Vit with Emma before take off.
This goes with Fil's brother very well. (He is the one who ended up with six surgeries few years back after his jump snowbording.)
Nate ready to jump.
Sam ready to jum.
Vit showing the boys how to pack a parachute.
Yes he landed safely on the ground.
NYC
We did make to NYC again. This time it was much warmer and sunnier. We tried to do some different things with the kids this time. Both me and Fil grew up in big cities so we did not fear NY at all. It kind of feels like home in a way. We all took the train in. Emma and me took the subway to 86th street and off to the Czech Consulate on 83rd and Madison. I walked from there back to the Fao Schwarz to meet the boys. They got to go up to the Empire State building and Nate hasn't stopped talking about it since. After they got down his words were:"That was amazing" I as very happy that they had fun and were not stuck with me at the consulate and I got a very nice walk back with Emma who fell asleep in the stroller. Anyway I did get the new passport and everything is in order.
Sam and Nate on top of the Empire state building.
The kids at M&M's World in Time square. Emma did not like it.
Nate and Sam up front of M&M's race car. For those who do not know the boys are big NASCAR fans. (By the way none of them likes the M&M's car)
Sam and Nate on top of the Empire state building.
The kids at M&M's World in Time square. Emma did not like it.
Nate and Sam up front of M&M's race car. For those who do not know the boys are big NASCAR fans. (By the way none of them likes the M&M's car)Toys R Us
I did not see it last time but there is Toys R Us store right in Times Square. It has its own Ferris wheel inside. The boys did not want to go on (Sam &Nate) So Fil and his brother took only Emma. And she loved it.
Emma at the Apple store.
The boys in FAO Schwarz on the famous piano.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Philadelphia PA
Well, here we are on a road again. This time we went to Philadelphia PA. This is part of my new passport. For those who don't know I had to go get a new one in NYC at the Czech Consulate. The first trip was a few months earlier (and it was a little bit colder) and this time the passport was ready and I had to go pick it up personally. We got two trips out of this whole process and we were happy to have an excuse to go. This time Fil's brother came with us and we spent few days in Philly. First of all let me tell you we loved Philadelphia. What a beautiful city. The weather couldn't be better and the kids did great. Fil's brother flew into Manchester NH on Saturday night and on Sunday morning we were on our way. 
Our family up front of a fountain next to the Ben Franklin institute (Science museum) You can see Town Hall behind us (Which is by the way the largest working Town Hall in US, 700 rooms to be exact).
This was a big hit for our kids, exspecially for Nate. You get to go through the heart and Nate got to go many times. He always kept coming back to it.
Uncle Vit and Emma in an airplane.
Me and Emma at the Science museum.
Again the boys by the fountain. They sure did have a lots of fountains around Philly.
Our family up front of a fountain next to the Ben Franklin institute (Science museum) You can see Town Hall behind us (Which is by the way the largest working Town Hall in US, 700 rooms to be exact).
This was a big hit for our kids, exspecially for Nate. You get to go through the heart and Nate got to go many times. He always kept coming back to it.
Uncle Vit and Emma in an airplane.
Me and Emma at the Science museum.
Again the boys by the fountain. They sure did have a lots of fountains around Philly.
The boys with Rocky (I am sorry I did not grow up in US so I do get a big kick out of these things. I have never seen the movie so Fil had to fill me in on the US history on this one). The boys also got to run up the stairs and do there own Rocky version and they were not the only ones.
Love.
This is one of the
Love.This is one of the
landmarks in Philly.
Liberty Bell
Yes we got to see the Liberty Bell and yes it has a crack. This was one of the highlights for the boys. We ended up doing so much in Philly, much more that we planed to do (I was not so sure how much the boys will be able to handle, Emma was in a stroller most of the time but they did great).
King TUTThis is one of the main reasons we went to Philly. To see the King Tut exhibit at the Ben Franklin museum. Fil saw this exhibit when he was a little boy in LA. It has not been outside Cairo since. This is the first time in 30 years and we wanted to take the opportunity to see it. Last week we got every book on Mummies and Egypt from the library and the boys know everything there is about them (They got to mummify Emma's little doll and little piglet, we all got a big kick out of that one).
On the way back from the Art museum we met a Segway tour group on the road. You bet next time I want to travel that way.
Sam and Nate up front of the sand sculptures
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