Little Levi Fox

I can read!!

2011-12-11T09:30:00.001-05:00

Me and Ezra…best friends forever...

2011-12-05T21:36:00.001-05:00

Fresh Pasta!!!

2011-10-05T18:49:00.000-05:00

...with my tio Julio...

First ever Nationals game!!

2011-09-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

Got to go with my friends to the Nats game today. And I had a lot of fun!!!!! Especially because, after the Nationals won the game (4-3 against the Marlins), all the kids got to run around the bases. And so Naveh, Segev, and I got to run around all the bases at Nationals stadium!

Wow!!!!

Six Flags!!!

2011-09-18T20:31:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness!!! I had so much fun with my mommies and my Bubby at Six Flags Great America!

We started by getting wet...really wet...on some ride that was really short, and pretty much all it did was send us through a giant sheet of water. We might as well have jumped into a pool with our clothes on! But I loved it, wish we could have gone again and again. Bubby, of course, did not go on that ride with us!

In fact, Bubby only went on one ride...and she was terrified!

But I had lots and lots and lots of fun. I can't wait to go back...hey Mommy...please, can we go tomorrow????

Swimming on the 4th of July!!!

2011-07-04T19:08:00.002-05:00

I love Daleview Pool...and I especially love the diving board!! Cannonball jumps, pencil jumps, walking off the end of the board, and...
...even occasionally doing a bellyflop when I try to dive!!

I'm playing the violin!!

2011-06-26T20:24:00.003-05:00

Look at me...at the Variety Show at the end of the school year!!

Alligators!!!!!

2011-06-26T20:10:00.001-05:00

Ooooohhhh....I had fun seeing alligators (and wearing alligators!) on our trip to New Orleans back in May!!! :-))))

Jack and Annie!!

2011-04-02T20:23:00.001-05:00

I got to go and see Jack and Annie (from the Magic Treehouse books) today! It was so cool...they had a new mission--to get kids to read--and they came and did a show where lots of kids could see them and I got to go! :-)

And they even stamped my books and gave me a passport at the end. And my moms were really nice and got me a new Jack and Annie book, and a Jack and Annie puzzle book...

And it was an especially fun day, because before I saw Jack and Annie we went to Dinosaur Day at Watkins Park...where I got to see a puppet show with dinosaurs (and my mommy was kind of tired and falling asleep during it!) and an animal show where they had a cool owl and I got to pet a lizard. And it was sunny...and then it hailed...and then it was sunny again.

Soccer tomorrow is going to seem boring compared to all of this fun stuff!

Diorama--La Noche

2011-03-28T19:34:00.000-05:00

So, I had to do a diorama for homework. We all got a time of day...I had to do "Noche" or "Nightime" and I had to do a diorama that showed what I did each evening...

Here's a picture of my diorama. In case you are wondering, the things hanging from the top are the planets...I have all nine planets hanging in my room...but, they are NOT bigger than my head. Let's just call it artistic license! :-)

Wanna see me ski?????

2011-03-12T21:40:00.002-05:00

Ski lessons!

2011-03-12T21:04:00.001-05:00

So my moms decided it was time for me to learn how to ski, so we went to Whitetail resort in Pennsylvania with our friends Alex and Robin. My moms got me a cool red helmet, so I don't break my head when I am my usual crazy self! I took two lessons, then we went up on the lift a lot of times and I skied down by myself! I'm ready for next ski season -- maybe I'll even try snowboarding like Mama.

Pajama Day at school

2011-03-01T08:20:00.001-05:00

Fun with Cousin Emmy and Aunt Charlene

2011-02-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

So my cousin Emmy and my aunt Charlene came for a surprise visit -- and of course I had lots of fun. Thanks to my cousin for letting me play games on her phone! I was a little difficult during picture taking, of course!

My crazy hair...and my new haircut!

2010-12-29T23:38:00.001-05:00

i love leaves!

2010-12-04T21:31:00.000-05:00

I helped my mama rake lots and lots of leaves in our backyard. We raked them onto a big blue tarp and dragged them to the street. Then I got to jump in and play -- so fun! Mama told me when I get bigger I get to do this all myself and I can't wait...

Roller derby!!!

2010-11-14T10:14:00.000-05:00

My friend Heidi (who has a baby in her belly) had her baby shower at a roller rink! And I got to go skating round and round with Mama. Even made her fall down once...she seemed a little unhappy that she fell on my roller skate....I guess it must have hurt! But, I want to go back...going around and around is fun. :-)

Love my Tia TJ!!

2010-11-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

So glad she came to visit me....even thought the trip was TOOOOO short. But, she'll be back soon...along with my Bubby, and my Auntie Heather... :-)

Halloween!

2010-11-01T19:59:00.001-05:00

I was a dinosaur (again) this year. I went trick or treating with Mommy and Mama and got a very full bag of candy -- but I can only have 1 per day, or else my mommies say I am way too crazy. Happy Halloween!

fall soccer season

2010-10-22T19:36:00.000-05:00

i love playing soccer on my Takoma Park soccer team -- go Teal Blue! So I practice with Mama sometimes in the park near our house...so I can make lots of goals on Saturday@

Go Teal Blue Soccer Team!!!

2010-09-21T19:26:00.001-05:00

Levi's first day of soccer!!!

My birthday party!!!

2010-09-03T20:09:00.000-05:00

Back to DC....and I turned 5!! Happy birthday to me!!! :-) and thanks to all my friends for coming out and celebrating...

In Salzburg with my Mommies!!!

2010-07-09T09:53:00.000-05:00

Looking at fun cars, playing in fountains, and going on Sound of Music tours! What more could I want? ...except maybe to be leaving for a one-week bicycle tour along the Danube tomorrow....

My trip to Korca and Dardhe

2010-05-29T07:40:00.001-05:00

I went with my mommies and my friend Raelva to Korca and Dardhe on Thursday and Friday. We had a great time!!! I got to play in a park...a lot... and stay in a really nice bed and breakfast, which had a great breakfast! And then we went to the village of Dardhe, near Korca, where I got to play some more.
I got a little tired, so mama had to carry me for a while...but you can see that I was in a good mood as soon as they let me eat some byrek and play with the ipod. :-)

With my friends!!

2010-05-02T00:57:00.000-05:00

I'm so happy that spring is finally here!!!!!

scootin'

2010-04-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

Adding!!!!

2010-03-22T16:37:00.000-05:00

Snowy Lake Ohrid

2010-03-21T12:17:00.002-05:00

I think my mommies are a little crazy. They drove us to Lake Ohrid, Macedonia two weeks ago through a crazy snowstorm!!!

Getting there was pretty hard, but we had a lot of fun once we were there. It snowed the whole day while we were driving, but it was nice and sunny the next day. I got to play in a lot of snow, which was great!! I think my mommies even had a little bit of fun. :-)

My dinosaur parade!!

2010-03-21T03:56:00.000-05:00

My buddy Dylan

2010-03-14T04:43:00.000-05:00

Love him!!! :-)

No comment!

2010-02-21T08:03:00.001-05:00

Chocolate croissant!!!

2010-02-18T16:44:00.002-05:00

Phones, stories, and Bubby!!

2010-02-18T16:42:00.000-05:00

My Bubby sent a fun e-mail about me to my moms....and they decided that they wanted to share it with you!!! See how cute I am?

Dear Mindy and Melissa,

Just to let you know I had such a fun conversation with Levi today! I have really noticed how much his conversational skills have been developing the last several months.

I was telling him a story about a little boy in India who wears brightly-colored garments ( I named all the colors), and how he encounters tigers in the jungle who agree not to eat him if he gives each of them a piece of his clothing for them to wear. Then the tigers all get into a big fight over which of them is the most handsome tiger in the jungle, so they take off the garments to protect them while they get in the fight. Then the little boy steals back his clothing and runs safely home. ( I was trying to improvise on an Indian folktale I read.)

So while I was telling him the story, I asked him what colors he was wearing. He began telling me, and that's why he ran to Mindy to help him take off his outer shirt so he could see what colors he had underneath. And when he came back I asked him what color his shoes were, he was on the point of going to find them because he was barefoot so he could tell me, but luckily I was able to keep him on the phone for that part. Too funny!

I also mentioned I could only tell him one story because I was going to get a haircut, so he mentioned that he doesn't get haircuts anymore. Is he turning into Sampson?

He seems insatiable about hearing stories. I have trouble keeping up with him because he doesn't want to hear a story twice. I only know so many stories, and making them up is often problematic because he wants to hear them on unusual topics, like sea urchins---naturally I don't have many sea urchin stories in my repertoire, so I make up weird stories as I go. But he remembers every detail, and if I tell any story twice or repeat something in the story, he is quick to remind me that I remembered it wrong or that I already told him that one (it might have even been months ago, but he remembers!) Once I thought I could get away with telling him a dinosaur story with a giraffe in it, but he immediately told me that giraffes didn't live at the same time as dinosaurs! You guys must have to be quick-witted many times with his sharpness!

I am sure you could regale me with many of the amusing things he says and does, so I hope you will remember some of them to tell me on the phone or put in an email.

Love, Mom (aka Bubby)

Gazeta Shqiptare, 09 Feb 2010. Dy Lesbike Americane ne Tirane.

2010-02-09T12:22:00.005-05:00

My mommies are in Gazeta Shqiptare, one of the major Albanian daily papers!! Check it out!!!

:-)

Gazeta Shqiptare
09 Feb 2010

I love birthday parties!!

2010-01-31T16:55:00.001-05:00

And speaking of sitting on exotic animals...

2010-01-30T05:07:00.001-05:00

Our taxi to the Dead Sea.... Or maybe we just got to walk around in a circle for 5 minutes near the sign for sea level. But it sounds so much more romantic that we went through the Judean Desert on a camel...

A few pics of my life...

2010-01-30T05:02:00.000-05:00

I know I have been hanging out on my blog recently, but I've been busy going to circuses, sitting on elephants, and playing with my friends. Hope all of you are having fun!! :-)

Working out...

2009-12-27T01:26:00.002-05:00

I may be a little guy, but I still need to get my exercise!!

Loving Tel Aviv!

2009-12-20T16:37:00.002-05:00

1st night of Hanukah!

2009-12-12T02:16:00.000-05:00

Happy to be home...

2009-12-07T03:48:00.000-05:00

Sadly, I had to leave Sicily, where I got to eat gourmet food (spaghetti with sea urchins!!!) every day...and I got chocolate and gelato all the time! But, I'm happy to be home in Albania with all of my toys and all of my friends!!

And, my mommies got me a fun new 'hat' to wear so that I can always remember all the yummy seafood in Sicily!

A trip to the fish (and more!) market in Ortigia, Sicily

2009-12-04T03:25:00.001-05:00

I can't believe how many kinds of fish that we saw at this market. Swordfish and tuna and octopus and shrimp and mussels and sea bass and eels and....

I love fish! Okay, they're not all fish, but I love everything that comes out of the sea!!! And, did I tell you that I ate spaghetti with sea urchins? Yep, I loved it!!! I told you, I love everything that comes out of the sea...I love to look at it, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE to eat it!! :-)

Fish market with a cameo by Levi and Melissa.

2009-12-04T03:14:00.000-05:00

We got lunch from this market! Yum...my mommies bought a tuna steak and made it at home...along with cheese, grapes, sun dried tomatoes, bread and olives! :-) They had wine, but I only got water. Not fair.

A few videos from Sicily

2009-11-30T12:54:00.000-05:00

Steps in Modica, Sicily

7, 8, 9 in Ragusa, Sicily

Playground in the gardens of Ragusa, Sicily

Modica, Sicily

2009-11-29T16:47:00.000-05:00

My mommies take me to the best places!! And they give me great food and chocolate. Yum! And I climbed up 100 thousand steps today. Really. I counted!

My new suit

2009-11-06T16:14:00.001-05:00

Thanks Bubby!!!

Halloween

2009-11-02T16:41:00.002-05:00

My party at Montessori, Albania. Watch out, I'm the fiercest Tyrannosaurus Rex ever!!!!

14 Kids + 1 Bowling Alley + 30 Chocolate Cupcakes = A Great 4th Birthday Party!!!

2009-09-05T16:06:00.001-05:00

I knocked down ALL the pins today!! Okay, maybe it was a little
easier because they had the gutter guards up. But, hey, I'm now an
expert at pinball bowling!! :-)

And all my friends were there (except for a few who were out of town
for the long weekend), and we had bowling tattoos, and pizza, and
juice, and balloons, and as much bowling as we wanted, and chocolate
cupcakes! And I got presents...really cool presents (thanks everyone!).

Even the end was really fun, because my 'big sisters' all took me to
go play video games.

My party was really fun, even though I cried a lot before it started
when I fell down and cut my chin. My mommies can't understand why I
keep cutting my face open. I just think it will give me some good
stories to tell about all my scars when I get bigger.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

2009-08-31T17:03:00.002-05:00

I'm four!!! Yep, you read that right...I turned four today. And,
boy, I had a great day. Mommy made me a scone for morning snack.
The, I had lunch with both of my mommies, and I got to eat a really
big, yummy fish. After lunch, Mommy took me bowling to practice for
my bowling birthday party. I scored 65 (love those gutter
bumpers...they sure make bowling fun for kids like me)! After that I
got to go home and we had squid for dinner and brownies with sparkly
candles for dessert. And presents, oh the presents....that was the
best part!

But we didn't have dinner until after I got to play with the new
scooter that I got for my birthday! Check, me out...and watch out
when you're walking down the street...you never know when I might be
scooting along on my cool green Razor scooter.

Boogie Boy...

2009-08-23T22:36:00.001-05:00

Don't think that I don't get to go out and party!! I'm a regular party boy. Check me out dancing last Friday night at the Marine House at the Embassy!

I. CAN. SWIM!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-12T17:11:00.002-05:00

Hey world....look what I can do!!!!! :-) :-) :-)

my great Croatian vacation!!!

2009-07-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

Boats (big boats, little boats, boats with cars on them, speed
boats), beautiful beaches, sand, rocks, beach toys, swimming, squid,
mussels, fish, juice, ice cream .... what more could I ask for? When
do we get to go back?!?

Sick Day at Home

2009-07-10T15:17:00.000-05:00

I've been a little tired recently, but Lady Gaga video coming
soon....I promise! Maybe not until after I get back from the
Croatian Islands, though.... Too much sand, sun, sea, and blue water
would make it hard for anyone to blog!

from Children's Day (June 1)

2009-06-29T16:41:00.002-05:00

These are from a little while ago, but I thought I'd put them up anyway. You don't mind, do you?

My preschool had a fun picnic to celebrate Children's Day at the botanical gardens. I got to play with my friends, eat lots of snacks, and run around. And then after school, my mommy's friend Sylvie gave me chocolate. Who could ask for more!?!

bubbles

2009-06-27T16:23:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note to say hi...and to show you how much fun I had blowing bubbles with Jason. Also, my mommies keep talking about the Albanian national elections. I guess they are going to do some election observation tomorrow, instead of playing with me. How boring.

These flags...a string of them were hanging over a street in Fushe Kruje. It's the Democratic Party flag...and the American flag (it's not backwards if you are driving from the other direction!) Only in Albania....

Fun with Jason!!!

2009-06-24T02:37:00.002-05:00

Jason came to visit me, and we had a great time. My mommies kept
telling me that he was their friend...but I know the truth. He came
to visit me!!! These pictures are from the really fun day that we
spent at Plazh i Generalit (General's Beach).

I thought it was going to rain, because there was lots of thunder and
lightning while we were eating lunch. But by the time I finished my
fish (have I told you how much I LOVE fish), the day was beautiful!!
But the early morning weather scared everyone else off, and we had
the whole beautiful beach all to ourselves!!! Wow!

Still Silly!

2009-04-20T06:15:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned how much I love eggs? Real eggs, plastic eggs, chocolate eggs, books about eggs... I love all of them!

Silly!

2009-04-05T14:49:00.003-05:00

Purim

2009-03-14T03:43:00.002-05:00

Thanks to our Israeli friends, we got to have Purim in Albania on Tuesday!! And I wore my pirate costume and ate falafel and played a lot. Thanks for inviting us Hely!

a few of my favorite things...

2009-03-13T15:35:00.005-05:00

My mommies think that Xheni is their friend. But I know that she is really my friend! Anyone who brings me a remote control car and lollipops and a little tiny flashlight can come over to my house any time she wants!

p.s. Xheni is pronounced 'Jenny' in case those of you who don't speak Albanian were wondering

still dancing!

2009-03-08T16:17:00.002-05:00

Thought you'd like to see what I look like dancing to the same song today, nearly 2.5 years later! Still cute, don't you think?

Blast from the past...

2009-03-01T14:22:00.004-05:00

My mommies were looking at old photos...they were trying to find photos of Albania but, of course, it's way more interesting to look at ME!! So, even though I'm a big boy now, here's one of my baby videos from October 22, 2006 (I was almost 14 months old).

faces in the park...

2009-02-23T15:27:00.004-05:00

We went to the park last weekend. I made a lot of faces...

....and I made a new friend...

Life is good when you're three, it's sunny outside, and your mommies take you to the park.

Hanging out with Obama

2009-02-09T16:33:00.003-05:00

We had a great time with Robin and Obama at the inauguration! Okay, we kind of froze to death, but we still had an amazing time with all of the happy, happy, happy people. And Mommy cried during his speech. She said that the tears froze to her cheeks, but she didn't even mind.

What a day... Somehow, even though I'm small, I'm still excited about Obama. Or maybe I'm just excited that I have a toy airplane that is 'Obama's plane!'

Dinner with Uncle Bryan

2009-01-09T00:53:00.003-05:00

Uncle Bryan and Uncle Steve drove up on Sunday evening to visit me. It was great to see them...and great fun to give Uncle Bryan a Tirana, Albania, Marine Security Guard Detachment shirt. I had lots of fun playing with both of them. Tia TJ and Mimi Marina cooked us a great dinner...at least I think they did. It was past my bedtime, so Mommy and Mama fed me something early and made me go to bed! How unfair is that?!? I want to see Uncle Bryan and Steve again soon! Do you think they'll come to visit me in Albania?

Hanukah

2009-01-07T00:50:00.008-05:00

Hanukah with my Bubby and my Grandpa Ron. I had lots and lots of fun with them!

And if you want, you can also see photos of me sledding with my Mimi and my Tia TJ at the Hanukah party at my uncle's house in Wrightwood. By the way, snow is COLD...I had no idea, so I wanted to make sure that you knew. Just looking out for you.... :-)

Aquarium!

2009-01-06T01:30:00.004-05:00

I hear it's cold, cold, cold in Tirana. So I'm enjoying nice sunny days in Las Vegas and Long Beach. My vacation has been all about visiting with my Bubby and Grandpa Ron, Zadie and Grammy Suzanne, Heather and Becky, and lots of other fun friends. I've had a blast hiking, going to science museums, movies, beach playgrounds and sledding at my uncle's house in the mountains (maybe if I take a break from all of my adventures I'll post pictures for you). And today I got to go to a really cool museum and on a harbor cruise with my Mimi Marina and my Tia TJ. Oh yeah, my mommies came too, but they're not half as fun as my Mimi and TJ!

Writing my name

2008-12-16T02:43:00.005-05:00

What I've been up to...

2008-12-14T13:00:00.002-05:00

I know it's been a month...and, what a month it's been! We headed to Spain over Thankgiving. It was great...we froze to death but had a great time in Madrid, and then a train ride brought us to Barcelona for another five days of fun. Yep, we loved it so much last time we were there that we decided to go back! And you would think that I would have posted some photos from that trip by now...and maybe I would have if it hadn't been for that sudden emergency trip to Vienna just a couple days after we were back in Tirana!!

What's that? An emergency trip? Well, let's just start by saying that there's nothing like a dramatic exit from a party.... and, boy, was my exit dramatic!

It all started with fun and games...one of my friends had his birthday party at Blur, a big local indoor playground.

We played in the ball pit, bounced around in the bouncy houses, and generally had a wild time. That is, until I followed some of the bigger kids (meaning 4 and 5 year olds) who were jumping over the side of the bouncy house into the ball pit. As I told my mommies, I "forgot my foot" (meaning, I didn't make it all the way over the side) and slammed my face directly into the side of the ball pit.

A couple screams and a lot of blood later, my mommies were at my side, along with the nurse who was on-duty from the embassy, who fortunately for us, was also at the party with her kids. Long (LONG) story short, I had a pretty deep gash just on the side of my eye. Although my eye was fine (for which my mommies cannot express their gratitude frequently enough), the cut was too near the eye to do stitches without anaesthesia.

Since pediatric anaesthesia is risky in Albania, within two hours of the accident we were on a plane to Vienna via Ljubljana. (My mommies are also endlessly expressing their gratitude for making the last plane out of Tirana that could get us to Vienna...they actually had to hold the plane for us for 10 minutes...medical emergency of a child and all that....). By 8:30 that night we were in the hospital emergency room in Vienna and I was getting stitches. And, let's just be clear here...the medical equipment in Albania may be lacking, but at least the Albanians are nice to kids. The bedside manner of the Viennese doctors was, shall we say, lacking... And I let them know just how much I didn't like them by making sure to scream at them really, REALLY, loudly.

We spent a night in the hospital to make sure there were no ill-effects from the anaesthesia, and then had another day and night in Vienna before heading home. Unfortunately for mommy Mindy, absolutely NO shops were open in Vienna on Sunday, meaning that she had to wear blood-stained clothes for two days until we returned to Tirana. (Fortunately her shirt was brown, so the dried blood didn't show too much...) And fortunately for me, the English language movie theater was open and showing Madagascar 2! I had no idea that Alex the lion and Marti the zebra could speak English!!! I thought they only spoke Albanian....!

Obviously the injury didn't stop me from wanting to bounce off the ceilings the next morning!

And, thank goodness for the Vienna Christmas markets, or we would have been really hungry!!!

And, yes, in case you were worried, I'm fine, and the stitches came out yesterday morning. (Don't ask my mommies how that experience went...apparently they didn't enjoy the hour-and-a-half screaming wrestling match while they tried to keep me still...)

Life with a 3-year-old

2008-11-14T15:37:00.002-05:00

Yep...I've got my mommies wrapped around my finger. Mouse ears (that I made but refused to wear for our class assembly at school) on my mama, Mickey mouse plate for dinner, carrot to snack on, dinosaur shirt....AND...full control of my mommy's computer!!!

Paris, oh Paris!

2008-11-09T13:34:00.007-05:00

My mommy's birthday was on Monday... and if you ask her about it, she'll tell you that she got the two best presents in the world...

1) she got to go to Paris with ME!! (oh, yeah, Mama was there too, but you know that it is really all about me!)
and
2) Barack Obama won the election the next day!!

Okay, never mind that she might also tell you that she traveled with me by herself from Albania, and that when we landed in Paris I peed on her in the shuttle bus to the terminal, and then proceeded to scream hysterically for 45 minutes, throughout the terminal, on the bus to the hotel, in the hotel, and up until we got to our room. Mama was spared all the dramatics, as she was still at her conference in Lyon.

So, I put up lots of pictures for you to see of our trip...you can look at them on Kodak Gallery or on Facebook. (And no, you don't have to sign in to see the photos, and yes, it is the same album in both places.)

And for those of you who are too impatient to look there, here's a couple of my favorites!

Yom Kippur on Mt. Dajti

2008-10-20T03:52:00.005-05:00

With no temple, and not much of a Jewish community, Yom Kippur looks a little different in Albania. We didn't work...and to atone for our sins (Sins, what sins?!? I don't sin!!), we went to the top of Mt. Dajti.

And, in case you were wondering, I LOVE the teleferik! (and I love that my video upload function is working again so that you can see more videos of how cute I am!)

I'm Baaaackkk....

2008-10-19T02:18:00.003-05:00

I know, I know, I've been gone for a long time. But, you can't possibly be mad at me, can you? Back soon with all of the fun I've been having over the last month!

what i did this morning...

2008-08-31T10:04:00.003-05:00

When I woke up this morning, I had a surprise waiting for me. A bicycle that is just my size was in the hallway! My mommies gave it to me for my birthday, and so this morning (before we went to the pool) I got to ride around my neighborhood. How fun is that?!!? And it's red, my favorite color! Watch out spanish guy (otherwise known as Samuel Sánchez)...in four years, maybe I'll be winning the olympic gold in the men's road race!

lazy summer days

2008-08-31T09:28:00.005-05:00

Maybe you've been wondering what I've been doing most summer days....well, most of the time I play at the pool with my friends. I've just been so busy playing that I haven't had time to post any photos. So, let me fix that right now!! Here's me with my buddies Zev and Oscar...we had a great time at the pool today.

First day of school

2008-08-29T16:17:00.005-05:00

Guess what? Yesterday was my first day at my new school, Tirana International. I'm in the 3-year-old class, and Miss Violeta is my teacher. She's lots of fun...in fact, my mommies told me that they sent me there because they like Miss Violeta so much.

Here's some photos... I especially like the ones with the strange, artsy colors because my mommy pressed the wrong button on the camera!

Mama, Miss Violeta, and ME!!

My box at school

1st day assembly

My classroom...and me!

Miss Violeta...she's the coolest because she helps me play baseketball!!

Oh, and watch this space... Coming up soon are pictures from my birthday party (it was on Wednesday morning)...

And.... ******News Flash from the mommies*****
Shhhh...don't tell Levi, but this is what he'll be getting on Sunday morning for his actual birthday!

yeah, i'm still cute...

2008-08-16T12:55:00.003-05:00

So, I've been trying to post some videos for you. But apparently YouTube doesn't really how important it is that you see me being cute at the beach. So, you'll have to settle for more photos. The first ones are of me dressed up for my friend Dhurata's daughter's wedding cocktail. The last one is having dinner with my friends Sedjro and Elsie. They just arrived in Albania about two months ago...I think my mommies have a good time hanging out with their mommy, Lisa, and their daddy, Juste. And I have a great time playing with the two of them. Especially with Sedjro...he's just as wild and crazy as I am!

Beach hash in Patok!!!

2008-07-29T01:06:00.007-05:00

My mommies think that it's too hot to go hashing, so we've mostly been heading to the pool. But then I heard them talking about some beach hash on an island in a lagoon. And then, before I knew it, we were off on an adventure last Saturday! This wasn't much like any other hash I've been on...I mean, we still drove forever on really terrible roads. But then, instead of going for a hike, we went for a boat ride through a lagoon! And at the end of the boat ride, we landed on a beach that was just right for Sedjro and I to play on, because the water was only about 1.5 feet deep!

On the ride home, the guy who operated our little boat gave Sedjro and I fish to hold. He owned a restaurant and had been fishing for our dinner. He gave us the fish that were too small to cook!!

This is the view from the restaurant. I told my mommies I wanted them to take a picture of the "beautiful mountains!"

I also have some videos to show you, but my mommies are having technical difficulties getting them to upload. So, hopefully you'll get to see them soon in another post...

Being "2" going on "3"

2008-07-21T15:26:00.006-05:00

The best part about being two is getting to go to birthday parties. Especially birthday parties where they tell me to dress up as a prince...but since I don't have any prince costumes, I dressed up as a pirate! The party was for two little twin girls who are turning three (they, of course, were princesses). They're just a month older than me...which means that I'm going to turn three soon also!!! And I'll get to have a birthday party and I'll get to blow out candles. How cool is that?

Why do people always want to make us all stand together and take pictures? Don't they know that we just want to run around and play or eat cake or cry?

It's okay though, I got to eat lots of cake and candy later!

And would you believe that I won a race? Yep, me. I was the fastest of the two year old crew. 'Course, I'm also the oldest of the two year old crew. Good thing I don't have to race the three year olds.... yet.....

Mirupafshim Preschool....

2008-07-15T16:21:00.004-05:00

So, have I mentioned that my preschool is closed? I mean, not just closed 'cuz it's summer, but really closed. My mommy told me it was closed, but I didn't really understand until my mommy and I went to visit miss Elham, and she took us downstairs to show us the preschool rooms. All the toys were gone! And all the shelves, and posters, and chalkboards, and the tent and table and everything were all gone. She's turning it into a tea house, and there won't be any more preschool there, and all my friends will go to school somewhere else.

And my mommy has to find me a new preschool for next year. She's trying to decide between a new Montessori school that just opened near our house and the International School. I think that as long as they have toys and friends for me, I will be happy.

But since I loved my preschool, I wanted to say mirupafshim (goodbye) on my blog. And, of course, my mommy couldn't let preschool close without taking pictures and videos of me!! Bye bye preschool...thank you for lots of fun since I first came to Albania.

On the last day (June 20), we got to be blindfolded and play a game where we tried to find the candies. And my mommy even let me eat the candies!!!

And my mommy made me put up this video, too. It's one of her favorite songs that we sang at preschool....

Squid!!

2008-07-13T16:01:00.007-05:00

My mommies grilled squid for me tonight. Yum!! I LOVE squid!

More please... :-)

Budapest

2008-07-09T13:03:00.006-05:00

So, my mommies and I went to Budapest at the end of last month. We had a great time...and we had even more fun because our friend Bruna also stayed with us. Bruna, of course, loves me. In fact, Bruna says that "Loving Levi doesn't make you special...everyone loves Levi!"

Budapest was great because I got to go on an airplane to get there, and then I got to take trains, buses, boats, taxis, and even a funicular while we were there. How fun is that?!?!

And, oh yeah, it was really hot, so I also got to eat ice cream. :-)

My mama was a little sad because her wallet got stolen from a locker at the spa while she was getting a massage. But she seemed happier after the airline gave us money to make up for getting bumped from our flight on the way the way home. And my mommies even used some of the money to buy me toys in the Munich airport. (Note from the mommmies: we weren't so happy about getting home 10 hours later and having to detour through Germany...but 750 Euros cash in our pocket sure made us feel better about the whole thing!)

Dinosaur puzzle!!

2008-06-28T01:51:00.003-05:00

umbrella la la

2008-06-16T01:32:00.002-05:00

It's been raining...a lot. S'ka problem--I love my umbrella! And now it's supposed to be clear and hot for days! Time to go swimming! :-)

Dhermi, Oh Dhermi....

2008-06-06T21:41:00.004-05:00

I know that you've been doing nothing but waiting for me to put up my next post. So, finally , here it is! I know that posts for Tio Julio's visit, and for my trip to Rome and Florence are still missing... Sorry 'bout that. And, yep, I'm still thinking about those gelatos in Rome, so don't worry, I'll put up pictures sooner or later.

But, in the meantime, my mommies took me to Dhermi. Boy, the car ride was long...but, hey, as long as they let me watch "Cars" on my little DVD player, it's not so bad. Oh, and I like watching those videos with the singing letters, too! "'A' says 'Ah', every letter makes a sound, 'A' says 'Ah'" Ooops, got a little off-track there....I was going to tell you about the beach!

And, what's not to love about the beach?! Rocks...lots and lots of them. And nobody yells at me if I throw them in the water! Sand. My buddy Ollie and his family to play with. Water that I get to swim in. And lots and lots of room to run around! Yep, I had fun at the beach.

Champagne corks are popping!!

2008-05-15T15:10:00.003-05:00

Boy, my mommies were excited tonight. They got the word from Tia TJ...an SMS that just read, "WE WON!!!" We won what, you ask? Well, even in Albania we get the news! My mommies can get married now in California!!! Wouldn't I be a cute ring bearer or flower boy? Well, I don't know if they would trust me with their rings, and I already play with flowers lots in Albania. Besides, they say they already are married...they just need to get the papers. So, maybe I can help them get the papers. Paper boy?

So, just 'cuz I'm good like that, here's a picture of mommies from when they already got married.

Oh, I'm so behind...

2008-05-14T04:19:00.002-05:00

Okay, so this may not be a really good post, but I'm a busy boy and don't want you to think that I'm not thinking of you. So, I'm putting up a link to my most recent shuttefly album. You'll notice that I've been doing all sorts of things that I haven't had time to tell you. Like, having my Tio Julio come visit me (I miss you Tio Julio!) and going to Rome and Florence. I'll try to do a proper post soon, but in the meantime, have fun with the photos!!

Shutterfly album of ME!!

Eggs...

2008-04-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

Contrary to what my blog might lead you to think, I'm NOT still in Sarajevo!

In the spirit of Passover, I'm posting pictures of me and my Easter Eggs. I may not celebrate Easter, but I love eggs. I love painting them, I love hunting for them, and I lovelovelove eating chocolate eggs! So, I had a lot of fun participating in my friends' Easter celebrations...

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Spring, Happy whatever you celebrate!

Sarajevo

2008-03-22T15:19:00.006-05:00

At the beginning of March, my mommies and I went to Sarajevo, Bosnia for a couple of days. Mama Melissa went for work to help facilitate a training. Mommy Mindy and I wandered around the Turkish quarter and the Old City, exploring the little alleyways, coffee places, and shops. Every time I saw a bench, I told Mommy Mindy, "I need a little rest." Sometimes she even let me sit for a few moments before we continued walking around!

We went to a beautiful old synagogue, now a museum. Here I am taking a 'little rest' in the courtyard. During the siege it was used to store all of the city museum artifacts, since it was one of the safest places in the city.

The last day we were there it began to snow. I had fun playing in the snow and letting it fall on me. And then we had to drive out of Sarajevo in a bit of a snowstorm.

By the time we arrived in Mostar, Bosnia, it had stopped snowing and was only raining. I heard my mommies saying that they gray, rainy day was somehow fitting for a place that had such a deep feeling of sadness as a result of the war.

My mommies also said that this bridge was very famous--it was destroyed during the war, but was rebuilt as a symbol of hope. (But they just told me that they are wrong...a friend in Bosnia tells us that this is NOT the famous bridge...guess when you drive through Bosnia in a snowstorm, you don't always wind up where you think you are!)

Counting and jumping

2008-03-09T17:37:00.001-05:00

Yep, it's another video starring...

...ME!!

I mean, who'd ya think it was starring? It is my blog, after all! Hope you're not getting sick of them yet...I certainly could watch videos of me all day long! :-)

p.s. The part you don't understand...? That's "1-10" in Albanian...

Both...together...

2008-03-04T10:19:00.002-05:00

Mommy (and Egla) gave me a choice between milk and lemonade...

Mace, mace...

2008-02-22T15:25:00.005-05:00

No, not mace...mace (pronounced sort of like matzia). Which means "cat" in Albanian. And is the first line of a little Albanian children's rhyme that I memorized a while back and my mommies FINALLY captured on video. And there's a guest appearance by my favorite fox stuffed animal (thanks Jai!).

Enjoy!

oh...and an update from the mommies....all is still well in Albania. Regional disturbances and embassy protests are only happening in areas where there are significant Serb populations. Nothing nearby, and no sense that anything would happen here. Everyone here is happy about Kosovo.

Gëzuar Pavarësinë Kosovë! Happy Independence Kosovo!

2008-02-21T14:41:00.004-05:00

So, as I'm sure you've all heard, as of Sunday, Kosovo is a brand new country! As a little sort-of Albanian boy, I'm pretty happy for our next door neighbor. I hear my mommies talking about it all, and it sounds like Kosovo, Serbia, and the Balkans in general are pretty complicated. And, of course, it's really complicated right now. As far as I can tell from everything they're saying (they don't think I understand, but I do!), they don't seem worried about the situation in Albania. No one is protesting here (only celebrating!) and there is really no Serbian population here--but I'm pretty sure my mommies and everyone else at the embassy are keeping a close eye on everything that has been going on nearby.

But as for me, I wore my Albania pants on Sunday when we went out in the freezing cold to see the scene around town. Lots and lots of Albanian and American flags everywhere. And a giant sign put up by the Albanian government in front of the American embassy. ('Kosova e lire' means 'Free Kosovo').

Helicopter ride with Oscar and his sister Lucy!!

2008-02-14T05:13:00.002-05:00

I promise that I didn't want to wait SOOOO long to post these photos...but my mommies kept telling me that the internet was broken. How does the internet break, do you think?

Oscar

Me and Lucy

Boats and Chickens and Horses, Oh My!

2008-02-09T04:36:00.000-05:00

I really like the days when my mommies take me for special things that you can only do in Tirana. And last weekend they took me down a random road on the edge of Tirana that ended at the top of a dirt road. Some people drove down the very steep dirt road, but my mommies seemed worried and made us walk. And when we got to the bottom we were at the edge of a lake!

A couple of tires marked the edge of the water and after we stood there for a few minutes I saw a boat coming from across the lake. Imagine...they saw me all the way from across the lake and came to pick me up! And after we got in the boat, it took us across the lake to a restaurant that you can't easily get to any other way. They have tables with a fireplace inside, but we ate at the outside tables where you can eat and run around and play with rocks and run after chickens and dogs. My mommies didn't run around...I think they were just enjoying the view. Boring! All around are dogs and cats and chickens and turkeys and other birds that you can chase and that will come to hang out with you while you eat... I didn't mind them when I was chasing them, but when they came up to me at the table I was a little worried that the chickens might eat me. My mommies promised that they wouldn't, but I wasn't convinced.

The day my mommies took me there were also horses (owned by a couple of guys who were eating at the restaurant) that you could ride for the equivalent of about $1.00 US. So, I also got to go for my first horse ride!

Only in Albania!!

Happy belated Hanukah!!!

2008-01-16T13:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, it may have taken me over a month to post the Hanukah photos...but that doesn't mean that I didn't love Hanukah! I mean, how much cooler can you get than a holiday where you get to light candles, sing songs, spin dreidels, have chocolate gelt, eat latkes....and, oh yeah, GET PRESENTS!! What were my favorite presents, you ask? Well, it's hard to decide between the Hanukah toys from my bubby, the soccer ball from my Mimi and Tia, and the really cool saxoflute from my mommies!

My mommy cooking latkes for our Hanukah party
in her Hanukah apron that Mama made her wear.

Mama having fun at the Hanukah party with Alba and Bruna.

Me trying hard not to blow out the candles. I don't really understand why you would light candles and not blow them out, but Mommy and Mama really didn't want me to.

...and, a nice LONG video of me lighting the candles and singing the blessings.

Barcelona...finally!

2008-01-14T04:43:00.000-05:00

I think it would be difficult to explain what a good time we had in Barcelona! Let me review...street performers there just to entertain me! "Blue guy," "ups and downs guy," clowns, "silver man" and more. Every time I walked out of the house, there they were, just waiting for me! How cool is that?

And then the food! All these little plates just kept coming out...so many choices. Little fish, little octopus and squid (yes, I know I'm two, I liked them anyway), vegetables, meats, olives, cheese, so many yummy things! Wow!

And the city and the architecture. My mommies seemed to like looking at it...I liked running around playing and climbing on it. But, hey, to each their own, right?

But the best part? My auntie Robin came to see me and play with me and read and sing to me!! Make sure to check out the video of Robin and I singing the song she taught me. Robin, if you're reading this...I miss you!!

Did you know that this animal is called a Dromedary? I do, because it is the animal for the letter "D" in one of my alphabet books! Yep, a camel with one hump is a dromedary.

On our boat ride. Robin is soooo silly! Make sure to check out her sunglasses...

La Familia Sagrada

On top of the Gaudi apartment building...with La Familia Sagrada in the background. It was SOOOO much fun to play up here!

I learned how to take pictures. And then that couple you see in the background asked if they could take a picture of me! I guess they thought I was cute....

Sometimes a guy gets a little tired...

Breakfast at the market...with Pinnochio!

My new friend...she was just sitting there by herself, so I decided to be a nice guy and sit down with her. My mommies were laughing, but I think she kind of liked it when I asked her, "You are drinking your coffee?"

More tapas, please!

Did you know Robin could be this silly?

Tirana Hash

2008-01-13T16:29:00.000-05:00

So, on Saturdays when it is nice out...meaning, Saturdays when it is not raining...my mommies and I go on an adventure. We meet up with anywhere from 10 to 40 people--expats and Albanians--and go for a hike somewhere in the Albanian countryside. (The hikes are called a 'hash', and take place all over the world--in many places it is more of a running club, but in Albania most of us hike...or get carried!). My mommies work hard carrying me...well, mostly mama Melissa, although every now and then mommy Mindy also has to help out. And me, well, I work hard entertaining everyone around me with my constant chatter and singing. I mean, it's a tough job to think of something to say for every minute of the 2.5 hour or so hike! Good thing mommy Mindy brings along enough food to keep my strength up for so much talking... So, here we are with a couple of friends during and after our most recent adventure.

What it looks like to travel with me and my stuff!!

2008-01-03T15:29:00.000-05:00

More Venice...

2008-01-03T04:14:00.000-05:00

Finally, a few more photos from Venice. Next stop...Barcelona with Robin!

Have I mentioned that I loved the sound of bells in Venice more than anything??!!!