Happy 2011!!!

I don't know if it is because we have a baby or we are just lazy, but Kelly and I planned on doing absolutely nothing on New Year's Eve. I remember that night being so important and planning it out weeks in advance; making sure I had a cute outfit, a party to go to, someone to by our alcohol, etc.... Well I was asleep before midnight and Kelly was up watching a bowl game. About 20 minutes before the ball dropped, Giuliana woke up and I was feeding her. I asked Kelly to count down for us and I thought I would open up our drapes to watch the fireworks out the window. When I opened up the drapes I saw a ton of people walking out to the hill in front of our apartment. There were fireworks going off ALL over the city and right out our window. So, we decided to all watch the show outside of our window.

Happy 2011 to everyone!

It ain't easy being green

Kelly and I have been using the Christmas holiday to get caught up on a few things with Giuliana.

1. a sippy cup (supposed to start at 6 months)
She is still trying to master that one.

2. Eating finger food
She now eats crackers, yougurt puffs, mashed potatoes...and whatever is on the floor

Trying out a cracker for the first time

Yum!

3. Sleeping through the night.
After a couple of rough nights and Giuliana crying a lot, she now sleeps through the night!

*4. Watching bowl games

Orange Bowl: Stanford vs Virginia Tech

Go Stanford!

*5. Trying out Rabbit and Vegetables (made by Gerber) 

6. Just relaxing and watching it snow

Now the only thing we have left to do before we go back to school is baby proof the living room

* I would like to point out that both 4 & 5 were done while I was not at home. I did not want Giuliana to eat rabbit, that was ALL her father.

Prague

Jake and Giuliana checking the weather outside before we head to Prague.

Just after Dee, Dawn and Jake arrived we headed to Prague for 5 days. We left Sunday afternoon and made it to our hotel just in time for dinner. We went to a traditional Czech restaurant for dinner. The next day we started out together but we lost the Dusek's shopping. So Kelly, Giuliana and I kept on and found a very large Christmas market. Later that day we met up with Dee, Dawn and Jake. We decided to go back to the Christmas market the next day for sausages, hot wine, hot potato dishes......... I am getting hungry thinking of all of that food! It was like being at the state fair!

General Jake and Kelly hanging out in the hotel

Trying to feed Giuliana dinner in the hotel

Mistletoe by the truck load! Look out girls....Here comes Jake!

Powder Gate is where they stored ammunition

Kelly and Jake waiting on the shoppers

Roaming around little alleys after we lost Dee and Dawn

Iron Man Statue

Astronomical Clock

Just one of the yummy foods!

Christmas market at night

Christmas market at night

Dawn, G and I in front of the astronomical clock and Christmas market

Jake waiting on his hot dog:)

The next day we had lunch at the Christmas Market and then walked to Charles Bridge. From Charles Bridge you can see the Prague Castle. After the bridge we went out to eat at Cowboys Steakhouse. There were too many of us so we had to take 2 taxis. After we all got out of the cabs we noticed Dee was missing! Well, he lost his credit card in the taxi and tried to run after the cab but was unseccsseful.

Entrance to Charles Bridge

Kelly, Giuliana and I in front of Charles Bridge

Vltava River

Watch out Jake, that river is COLD!

What a sweet family picture!

Puppet shop by the bridge

We started the next morning out by venturing to Prague Castle. We started out in the metro and then took the tram. After 7 stops, Jake was in charge of counting our stops; we made it to the castle.

Jake, G and I in front of the castle entrance

Jake, Kelly and Dee in the cathedral

Cathedral at the castle

Nativity at the castle

Giuliana strolling around the castle

Jake thrown in jail at the castle:)

After we left the castle Dawn was on a search for a true Bohemian pub...I am not sure if we found one that met her standards, but it sure did have Huge beers!

Enjoying our big beer and hot wine!

A view of the US embassy from the Prague castle. I love seeing the US flag!

Prague was beautiful and I am so glad that we went! Getting home is a whole other story. It all began with a delay leaving Prague on the 23rd which made us miss our flight from Austria to Vilnius. When we arrived in Austria the airport was crazy. People and luggage were everywhere! Luckily I had Giuliana in my front carrier (thank you Carolina). An Austrian Airlines lady let us stand in the business class line because I had a baby. If we would have stood in the economy class line, I think we would have had to spend the night in Austria. After standing there for about an hour, the airlines rebooked our flights but we had to split up. The Dusek's had to fly through Riga (Latvia) and we had to fly through Poland. We finally made it home and in bed by 3am on the 24th! What a long and stressful day, but I think the two best travelers were Jake and Giuliana! On the flight back to Vilnius, Air Baltic ran out of food and all they had for Jake was one of those soups in a cup. We finally got all of our luggage on the 26. Not the best way to end a great trip, but it could have been much worse! My hearts go out to everyone stranded in airports around the world this holiday season.

Best Traveler ever!