Mace, mace...

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!

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!!

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!

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!!!

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!

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

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!!

More Venice...

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??!!!

Happy New Year 2008! Gëzuar Vitin e Ri!

I hope everyone had a great New Year's eve! I had a good time until my mommies put me to bed at 9:00. Yep, once again, I slept through the excitement, and woke up in a brand new year. So, all my best wishes for health, happiness, and joy for you in 2008. As for me, my new year's resolutions include playing with my toys as much as possible, continuing to earn high marks in preschool (which shouldn't be too hard as long as I keep smiling, laughing, and being charming), and...shhhh, don't tell anyone...manipulating my mommies to get everything I want, especially cookies! I could put down 'trying to post more often' as one of my resolutions, but I'm sort of a 'no stress' kinda guy.

So, for all of you who didn't get to experience New Year's, Tirana-style (which includes me, since I was sleeping), I've provided a video filmed from the balcony of our house, courtesy of my mommies! By the way, don't think the fireworks have stopped just because New Year's eve is over...I'm watching some more out the window right this minute!



and...if you didn't get enough with one fireworks video, here's a second, slightly longer one...

Quick note...

For those of you who are celebrating today, Merry Christmas. As for me, I have so much to post. I know, I know, I left you all hanging in Venice! And since then, we went on to Barcelona, came home, celebrated Hanukah, and then Heidi came to visit and we went to Thessaloniki, Greece! I've just gotten home today, and while the photos from earlier in the month will have to wait, here are a few from Thessaloniki, and from our drive across snowy Albania to get there and back!