Next Stop U.S.A.

This ends our blog of "Luce In Prague" since we are no longer in Prague! Stay tuned for the new address of our blog when I start blogging about our adventures in America.

See you later Prague

I have learned in this process of leaving Prague that it really isn't "good-bye" but rather "see you later".  We have loved all of our time in Prague and enjoyed living in such a beautiful city.  Who knows where life will bring us but I'm sure we will travel back to Prague again some day.  We have said good-bye to people we are friendly with and see you later to our good friends becuase our true friends will never be gone from our lives.  We have not lost our friends but rather we now have the opportunity to make new ones......and as our friends move on to their next expat assignment or back to their home country it just gives us a good excuse to travel around the world.

Last, Last, Last.....

So many "last" things to do....  After leaving Beckiland we headed home and I did some more packing and we waited for Iva to arrive.  The kids were excited to see Iva just as they are every Friday night.  They were extra excited because Petra was also coming to say good-bye to the kids and Watson.  They arrived and not only to Iva and Petra come but also Iva's son, Michal came as well to say good-bye to Watson.  They have watched Watson over the last 4 1/2 years and have really taken to him as a family pet and with Petra moving out of Iva's house Michal didn't get to see him as often so he wanted one last time to say good-bye as well.  It is nice to know that Watson has been so loved while we were traveling.  Petra did break down and started crying but as Iva was having none of it Petra was able to pull it together.  Jason and I said goodbye to Petra and Michal and headed out for a last dinner at our Italian restaurant.  We had debated if we would go there on our last Friday or if we would stay closer to home but since the owners invited us back for out last dinner on the house we couldn't pass it up.  We had a fantastic dinner as usual and I held it together until the end...leaving our Italian home away from home put me over the edge and I finally let a few tears fall.  Funny the things that tip the balance.  If I'm ever back in Prague you can be sure I will be having dinner at Cicala!  We came home and said our final good-bye to Iva which was also difficult since she has really been like a grandmother to the kids and a mother to us while we have been in Prague.  I finished up my last hours packing all the last minute things and finally got in bed about 1am and up at 5:15am to catch our early morning flight out of Prague. 

Last Day of School

Friday was the girls last day of school (15 April) and they had a half day. At the end of the morning the school had a end of term assembly in which they also said good-bye to all the students that were leaving.  I was surprised that there were quite a few kids leaving at the end of term.  It was sweet to see how they said bye to each child.  Sofia had been fine with leaving, at least on the surface, but I saw a moment where she waivered and fought with her emotions after she had been called up and given her good-bye.  She sat back down and kept her head down looking at her leaving book.  I thought she was going to lose it and break out in tears but she managed to pull it together and her friend Matilda was perfect with a jovial grab of the arm and a quick comment and Sofia was back to being happy.  I am definitely grateful that Sofia has some good friends.

Rather than go home and spend time sad that we were leaving Prague we decided to head to Beckiland for one last time with a bunch of friends.  It was great for the kids to run around and have fun and it was nice for me to have another time to chat with my friends. 

Kids Good-Bye parties

On Wednesday and Thursday before the end of the school term we had parties for the kids in each of their classes as a farewell party.  Sofia had hers on Wednesday and shared it with her friend Bella who also left school at the end of term.  We brought in cake, chips, juice etc. and let the kids have fun eating together.  The kids also performed their part of the upcoming school play that they have been practicing so Beanie and I were able to see the part that our kids would have played if we had stayed at school for the last term.  It was nice to see what they had been working on.  Sofia's teacher put a book together for both Sofia and Bella in whch every child in the class made a page for the book.  It was very cute and Sofia loved it.

On Thursday afternoon I headed into Ali's class for her farewell party.  I was, of course, loaded down with all the goodies...cake, treats, chips, popcorn...as well as the plates, napkins and drinks.  Ali was happy to have a party in her honor and her teacher also had the kids in her class make a page each for a book just for Ali.  They also gave her a stuffed animal school bear which she loved.  Also her best friend Cianna's mom also gave her two photographs.  One of the photos is of Ali and Cianna's first sleepover together.  Ali loves the picture and it has traveled with us so she can always see it.

I have pics and video of the parties but I'm not sure if I have them with me or if they are on our computer traveling the ocean.  Therefore, I will have to wait to post them.