Christmas (some random photos taken before, during and after)

Basti and his kindergarten class making mézeskalács

(honey cookies), a Christmas tradition in Hungary

The girls in action on Chrismas Eve, busily distributing gifts that the angel delivered while they were playing ping-pong in the recreation room (not part of the tradition)

On Christmas Day we celebrated at Nagymama/Nagypapa's place. In the quiet moments before the horde of guests arrived, Adri and papa played a game of chess while Ilo absorbed some new points of strategy (she only looks like she's just sucking her thumb )

Sparklers - another Xmas tradition at Nagymama's.

Notice Ilona's chic new haircut.

Majom-fészek (nest of monkies) after a sledding outing in Norma-fa (in the Buda hills, the best place to sled in all of Budapest!)

Adri's Budapest recital

Slovakia

During All Saints' Week, we took a trip to the northern part of Slovakia, where we had a wonderful reunion with Honza & Zuzka and got to meet little David and 3 month-old Marek for the first time.

The people who owned the house we rented also ran a small horse farm, so of course that was our first stop.

Adri enjoyed the part about brushing the little horse afterwards (the horse liked it too).

Ilo rode in every position imaginable, forwards and backwards, standing on her feet and then on her head (well, not quite...)

Basti fell in love with a real live meow who, despite being a kitten, patiently let him cuddle her without too many complaints.

On the second day we went for a hike. It should have taken an hour but somehow with 5 kids and a dog it took the whole day.

We spent most of the time relaxing on a lovely meadow on the slope of a hill, enjoying the views and the sun on our faces, and playing with the kids. Zuzka+David.

Special delivery for Honza and Marek!

Adrienn and Akela digging for moles. We prayed to God they wouldn't catch any.

We celebrated Papa's birthday at the cottage.

The girls provided live music.

Our last hike together.

Adrienn, always hungry, found herself a snack. Well, at least it was the right shape!

Meanwhile Ilo and Basti stopped at every puddle to make "hot chocolate."

Photo-duelling with Honza-David.

We couldn't imagine a more idyllic place for a diaper change!

Outings with the big family

Visit to the bear farm with Zsofi, Marci, Emese, Lilla, and Ben

We got to feed honey to the bears with long wooden spoons.

The Bears and the 3 B's (Ben, Basti and Balint-Papa)

At least as exciting as the bears (for Basti) was the antique children's train parked at the entrance to the farm.

Lilla munching on a Lilla-sized zsemle (roll).

(A week or so later), a walk up the hill behind Nagymama's house with Nagymama, Kata, Eszter, Emma, Ambrus, Emese, Ben and Lilla.

Little Emma helping take care of Lilla.

Papa-tunnel, Basti-tunnel.

Nagymama-Ambrus.

Nagymama is always well-prepared - this time with Leibniz animal crackers. I knew this Leibniz was a smart fellow...

Buda + Pest

Mama's favorite building (Parliament) in Budapest, as it looks on her morning commute to work.
...through the arches of the Fishermen's Bastion.
...and with Adri in the foreground.
On the other side of the river, a few weeks ago, we attended a theatre festival, where Ilo tried some new roles.
All three munchkins made themselves some new headgear.
Where is Basti?
Papa can wear it too, in his own way.
Our first Hungarian llama.

Life in Hungary

So we have finally settled into our life in Budapest. Summer seems already like a distant memory, but fortunately we have some photos to remind us of all the fun things we did.

A view of the famous Lánc Hid (Chain Bridge) from Castle Hill, not too far from where we live.
Aboard the Children's Railway...
...which is one of the more charming remnants of Socialist times.
Zsófi, the youngest of papa's 4 sisters, got married this summer. Zsófi and Marci at their wedding party, where Adrienn performed a few pieces on her violin.
A big hug for Ilona after her performance.
Onwards to the castle in Visegrad (the former royal seat of Hungary) where our kids learned to be "real" Hungarians...



And to Tata, where we explored another old fortress and enjoyed a beautiful hike around the lake. A view of the moat by the entrance to the fortress.
Basti happy that the sun has come out at last.
Ilona and the world's tiniest csiga-biga (snail)