Meet the Ekkels, Shepperton, UK

BIBS (AKA DAD)

Bibs' claim to fame is being one of the top balalaika musicians in the world. Half Polish, half English, completely hilarious, Bibs throws out one-liners when you least expect them and when he does you will likely need to change your underpants or wipe up the Zywiec that has sprayed through your nose. He knows a little about many things and when he doesn't, he will have 8 pages of Wikipedia up at 3am to find the answers.

LORA (AKA MUM)

Lora is my cool and crazy cousin - a transplant from Canada to the burbs of London. I remember vividly her bachelorette pad in Vancouver - the lava lamp, the eclectic subjects filling her bookshelves, Lora skimpily clad in a towel, freshly washed, lighting a cigarette. Well now she lights fags, cooks magnificently and keeps an amazing garden. She is also on a serious genealogical dig, putting together the family tree.

ALYOSHA

I remember Alyosha when he was 6-months old. He was quiet, perceptive and so cuddly! Boy he fooled us. In no time he was mooning grandmothers and landing his sister in the hospital with chopsticks up her nose. But now that this is all out of his system, he is a diligent musician (bass guitarist in We Push Buttons,) party animal, and student. Here are the things I love about Alyosha: he will eat Silotka (salted herring) with me in the middle of the night, he smiles all the time and despite being a student musician (double whammy) he makes veggie stir-fries in his kitchen dorm.

MILA

Enter Mila. This sixteen year old angelic vixen can sing, sew, play piano (keep it up Mila,) and is going to school next year for Drama. She has big blue eyes and mile-long lashes that peek out from underneath a radical, nearly-platinum mullet. Watch out, these eyes can convince you of anything. She was a cat in her previous life (the eyes told me this in all seriousness,) so she can often be seen lounging on the couch purring things like "I wouldn't say no to some tea." She parrots me even more frequently than Lucas does. Apparently I sound like a valley surfer girl!

Slav and innocent by-stander girlfriend Patrycja

Slav is Mila and Alyosha's older brother and he happened to be crashing at the Ekkel house during our visit. He runs an underground train and currently starts work at around 3-4am! In Alyosha's absence, Slav taught Lucas several Arnold Schwarzeneggerisms like "Stop it!" "Who are you?!" The Ekkel boys do not go 5 minutes without an Arnold impression. I am terrible at it, but it is hilarious to listen to.

So now you know who will be starring in the next few blog entries.

Farewell England, Hello Atlanta

I'm sipping on coffee and eating toast with jam. No one else is awake so I have a few moments to myself before our adventurous day begins. At 11am we leave for the airport. At 5:50pm we will be in Atlanta!

Not sure how I will put into words our 10 days in England. Sour cherry vodka will surely get a mention. We had a wonderful time being spoiled by our family - Lora, Bibs, Mila and Alyosha. It's hard to leave. And the 9 hour plane trip ahead does not make it any easier!

But I am prepared - new cars, a double-decker bus, activity books, story books, colored pencils. And I think Lucas is ready to be home. Although he has decided that he does "not yike airplanes." Last night, I quoted some books of his that we had left behind and he went into a zone. He kept asking me to physically produce one of the books I quoted, practically able to smell it in front of him.

OK, enough procrastinating. See you all soon! xoxo

This is it!

Prague does not let go, of you or of me. This little mother has claws. There is nothing for it but to give in.
- Franz Kafka

It's been a week of lasts...

pastries on the curb,

tram rides,

evening walks,

dinners at Clear Head Vegetarianska Restaurant,

lollipops from Martin (although he gave us a whole sack for the road,)

big hoorahs in the old town flat.

In the final hours, everything has started to magnify itself, to push itself forward onto us. The patronly spires are more pronounced above the swells of mint patinaed domes. Flags of red white and blue gleam against the dynamic grays of dusk.

Even the weather pulsates with all of Prague's personalities. We walk in cold raindrops, then are warmed by a heavy sun. It spills like liquid gold from the Charles Bridge, into every crevice of the city, leaving no shadows. Then it recedes again. Cold currents slide through the summery air, swirling around us, awakening, enlivening.

Tomorrow the plane pulls us out of here. What a gift this has been!

What we can see will last only a short time. What we can not see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Karlstejn Castle

Sunday, Chris took a 30 minute train ride to see the Karlstejn Castle and its surroundings. Beautiful! Lucas was thrilled to see a picture of Daddy holding an owl. His owl impression rivals his peacock. And I much prefer a soft whooooo to a loud SquiZAAAAK!

Daddy-Lukey Time

Saturday morning was "Daddy-Lukey time," so it's been coined. Winnie tagged along, which I guess is allowed. But Mommy is always asked nicely, yet directly to leave.

First they went to the metro station Luka, his Russian name!

Then the duo explored a new part of Prague filled with fields and views, Hlubocepy.




In true Daddy-Lukey style, the boys woke up from their afternoon naps ravenous after miles of hiking on a 100 calorie "lunch."

So when I came back from "Mommy time," I went right to work on some Caprese Salad sandwiches and crackers with Brie. They were greatly appreciated...

"Uh oh, Spaghettios..."

Lucasisms

"Ummmm...take a tram...take a yeft."
Reading the tram station map in Amsterdam around midnight after our Italian feast, desperate to help his parents find their way back to the hotel. (shown above)

"My ears are tired."
On the tram, finally on our way home.


"Those are cool socks (you) have there Daddy. Can I touch them?"

"Yummy, Indeed!"
Commenting on day-old oatmeal I was feeding him in the tub.

"I want a cookie."
Today, in a flash, this morphed into a blood-curdling, gut wrenching, "I NEED another cookEEEEEEEE!!!!" (They were organic, whole-wheat crackers.)

"I want a lollipop."
He now says this every time we see Martin. And we see him often. It's kind of embarrassing. Today was the first time one has not emerged from his bag. I plan to make him zucchini bread before we leave.

"Ummmm (intense contemplation)....Nope!"

"Actualleeeeeee..............Nope!"
This is how he politely declines anything that is requested of him.

"I not sure."
He's a bit uncertain about this one. But he likes it and offers it as a considerate alternative to "no."