Japadog

Japadog, originally uploaded by Leah'sLoves.

Japadog

Egypt, Jordan & Israel

Wow.  See I told you December was busy!  It makes me tired just thinking about it, but its been so good to relive these memories from a few months ago.  Sometimes I think that we are doing so many amazing things that it feels like a dream and somehow my memories of these times go missing.  Buuut, that is what photos are for!  And this blog.

So the day after we got home from Paris, we were off to Egypt.  (Which stressed us out in the Paris airport when our flight was on a creeping delay and the snow was NOT letting up..  Eeek!  All was good though..)  We met our friends, Dan and Eliza Stine, in Egypt, but they had to get back to Prague when we headed to the Middle East.  So we were on our own for the rest of the time.  The entire trip was just amazing and we saw so many biblical and heritage sites.  It was definitely overwhelming at times.  We loved all the places we went to and had unbelievable experiences throughout the trip.  The only bad experience was getting into Jerusalem at 7pm without a place to stay.   (The place we were supposed to stay cancelled on us last minute.) Oh!  And seeing teenagers carrying machine guns.  Yah.  That was a bit disturbing at first...   But of course, God was looking out for us and gave us a fantastic place to stay that was probably one of the best hotels we've stayed at ever!

We really met the kindest people in Jordan and Israel though.  A man offered us a ride into Amman from the airport.  And not just into the city.  Straight up to the front desk of our hostel!  In Jerusalem, the man who ran the hotel sat us down for tea and told us everything we need to do in Israel and all about Shabbat, so that we would know when places were going to close and what the local traditions are.  He even put fresh bread and fruit in our room to celebrate Shabbat.  And then at dinner one night, I overheard a couple next to us at the restaurant mention something about Prague to the server.  Turns out they were Czech and were living in Prague!  We live in such a small world!

So here are the photos...   Loves. Leah

ps.  I know I'm not explaining our trips in great detail on this blog, but it just takes too long for me to do.  If you have any questions regarding our travels though, feel free to ask :)

21-25.12.10 Egypt

26-30.12.10 Jordan

31.12.10-04.01.11 Jerusalem

02.01.11 Bethlehem

03.01.11 the Dead Sea

Christmastime in Paris

Two of our best friends left Prague in the middle of December.  It was so hard to say goodbye and see them leave but we decided to have a last hurrah! weekend in Paris before they left.  (Aaaand they are originally from Naniamo, BC, so its definitely not goodbye forever.  Yeah!)  We love them.

17-20.12.10 Paris weekend with Jax and Michael

beginning of December roundup

Oh December.  So busy.  So exhausting.  But sooo fun!

We got a wee little Christmas tree.

and decorated it. (thanks Mom!)

Then hosted a birthday party for our dear friend, Michael Griffin.

We played that game where you have a famous person on your forehead and you ask questions.(??  You know the one...)

Then Mike and I took an evening and celebrated our Christmas, because we would not be in Prague on December 25th.  We started with gingerbread lattes..

walked up to the castle grounds..

made out overlooking the city..  (kidding!!)

then came home and opened presents and ate a very Czech dinner.  Goulash and dumplings.  Yum!

We have been part of a bible study since October with 6 other couples.  We had a great Christmas party with them, where we ate a ton of food and had a ridiculous white elephant exchange.  I love these people.  Unfortunately we were also saying goodbye to 2 of the couples that were moving away from Prague in December.  Sadness.  These photos are the group of us showing off our newly acquired gifts.

And then we were off to Paris, Egypt and the Middle East for the rest of the month..  More to come...

Loves. Leah

November roundup

November was a good and relaxing month.  I made this delicious "wifesaver" type breakfast, except with real potatoes and veg and dill...

and Mike grew a mustache.

Happy Movember!! 

You must start with a freshly shaved face, (which I had not seen since we were dating!)

then keep growing it until you look like..  well, I'll let you decide.

Also we got Al and Joyce's Christmas gifts in the mail just before the month was over!  It was so sad to see them sitting in the corner for soooo long.  The patience I displayed for that 3 weeks before opening was commendable.

Mom & Dad's second visit

My parents came out to visit for a couple weeks at the end of October.  During this time we hung out in Prague a bit..

prague with mom & dad

then during my weekdays off, the 3 of us went to Berlin..

17-18.10.10 Berlin with Mom & Dad

and our school had mid term break, so we roadtripped to Italy, via Germany and Austria.

22-23.10.10 Füssen

23-25.10.10 Florence

25-27.10.10 Cinque Terre

27-28.10.10 Venice

27.10.10 Ferrari museum

28-30.10.10 - Salzburg

Oh yah!  And then we stopped in Český Krumlov for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants.

30.10.10 - Český Krumlov

All the places we visited were just gorgeous, but I think my favourite place this trip was Venice.  Such a different and beautiful city with so much character!  But really just loved it all!  

Thanks for coming out to see us, Mom and Dad!

Loves.  Leah

October roundup

At the beginning of the month, I took my friends daughter, Beatrice, to the pumpkin farm with her nursery class.  She is so fun, sweet and full of life!  I had a great (and a bit exhausting..) day playing at the farm with her.

This video makes me giggle every time.

We also celebrated Thanksgiving by cooking a MASSIVE and delicious dinner with our friends Jaqueline and Michael Griffin.

09.10.10 Thanksgiving!

And then my parents came out to visit!!!  And we went on a massive road trip to Italy!  But I'm going to save all that for the next post..

September roundup

Time to do a photo catch up...  This was our September.

Unfortunately, they did not get to spend a lot of time here, but Matthew and Brandy came to visit!

08-12.09.10 Brandy & Matthew's visit

Then Mike and I went to Okoř for the weekend to celebrate our 3rd anniversary.

18-19.09.10 Anniversary weekend in Okoř

Yippee!