Craig meets Ella!

Craig got to meet our new niece Ella when he paid a surprise visit to his mom at her church Trinity Episcopal in Marble Falls on Easter Sunday. He was happy to get to hold Ella and also see sister Sally and her husband Bert, as well as a half a million people at Trinity. He was on a whirlwind tour of the US (to include briefs stops in Texas and Nebraska) with the Czech Army Sergeant Major, and so this was a real treat.

Jennings' 3rd Birthday!

Happy birthday! Jennings celebrated her much-anticipated 3rd birthday on 14 March with friends from her preschool Neverland. Since Martha's 6th birthday in October, Jennings has literally counted down the days to her big day. She thoroughly embraced the notion of it being her special day, and was thrilled to wake up to her bedroom decorated, a party at preschool, and then another party after school. Even her teacher Lotte came to the party and took a photo with the older sis. Jennings even took a call from Pop during the celebration!

Aunt Sally celebrates her birthday on March 14 as well, and sent Jennings some gorgeous pajamas that she loves! Happy birthday too Aunt Sally!

One down, 19 to go!

Martha loses a tooth!


After over two weeks of wiggling (much to my horror) and Craig's attempt to let him pull it, Martha finally lost her first tooth. She was so excited to first have the "wobbly" tooth, then to anticipate its falling out. Tragically Craig and I were out at dinner so her sitter was able to witness the whole thing. (She may never babysit again.) The tooth fairy visited that night and left quite a few crowns in the tooth's place. Now we only have 19 more wobbly teeth to endure, I mean lose.

Easter in Prague

Despite a beautiful Easter egg hunt at the Ambassador's residence on the 15th of March, we had snow when hunting eggs on the 23rd!

As Craig was out of town in the US on Easter Sunday, I decided to take all three children to the 1.25-hour Easter service on Sunday. It was a little dicey toward the end as it was past Grayson's naptime, but we had a good time. Afterward we had lunch courtesy of Old McDonald.

Big changes for the Normands

Big changes!

I have been inspired by a few friends here in Prague as well as Monika in Texas to create a Normand blog. It should also save you from getting a million "new postings to the Phanfare" website notifications and you can view that at your leisure.

Of course I have a bunch of stuff to do to prepare for our apparently imminent move back to Austin, getting ready for a summer in Charleston, the birth of our 4th child, but what's one more task on the list??

We are excited about our move back to Austin and the changes it will create for us, but also saddened at leaving good friends and a fabulous school experience for Martha and Jennings.