The Logans in Hungary

Elsőáldozás - 2

2009-05-18T20:58:00.000+02:00

Elsőáldozás

2009-05-18T20:55:00.000+02:00

Garden pictures

2009-04-11T23:21:00.001+02:00

Palm Sunday

2009-04-06T22:29:00.001+02:00

Getting the garden ready

2009-04-04T22:16:00.000+02:00

Bella at a Music School Concert

2009-03-30T22:22:00.004+02:00

Bella learned to iron

2009-01-31T10:23:00.000+01:00

Supermanek bukfenceznek

2009-01-11T08:21:00.000+01:00

Synchro Gala Christmas 2008

2009-01-05T21:47:00.000+01:00

The girls started out by doing the Snowflake dance from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker with little flashlights around the pool, hence the white swimmers and silver headdress. Bella and her friend Anna did a duet to a world music piece by a Hungarian band called Anselmo Crew. The song's title is "My Town". We'll try and compose a video of all the "footage" we've built up this Christmas season...

Christmas Eve 2008 No.2.

2008-12-31T21:48:00.000+01:00

Christmas Eve 2008

2008-12-31T21:33:00.000+01:00

Kevin and his Bug Charlie

2008-12-27T23:07:00.000+01:00

Boys looking Russian

2008-12-17T07:43:00.000+01:00

I reckon they have a right to look Russian, being 1/4 Russian as they are...

Bella before folk-dancing performance

2008-12-17T07:42:00.002+01:00

Bella was dancing at a charity event with her folk-dancing group

Aikido suit

2008-12-17T07:41:00.002+01:00

Dressing sharp to throw other people

Santa

2008-12-17T07:40:00.001+01:00

Our local Santa Claus from last week...

Kevin, the boxer

2008-12-09T18:20:00.001+01:00

One of the last pictures of him before he got a haircut yesterday.

Through the looking glass

2008-12-09T18:18:00.000+01:00

Actually, it's looking through the glass on front door...

This ol' house some more

2008-12-09T18:16:00.002+01:00

Well, long since done, here's another view of progress on the attic insulation. It works too, the living room is much warmer now.

Take what you get

2008-12-09T18:12:00.002+01:00

With snow and Central Europe these days, you pretty much gotta take what you get and get out and use when it's there. This was the first snow of the season back in November sometime, and we seized the opportunity to go sledding (more like offroad sledding) with Richard's son, Max.

Patrick turns 8

2008-11-07T12:28:00.001+01:00

This old house (revisited)

2008-10-18T21:59:00.003+02:00

Today I started the job of insulating the ceiling above the the living room. The tops of the arches are up there, and I hope that we will be to enjoy more heat in the house if we insulate.

Patrick in the hospital

2008-10-18T21:56:00.003+02:00

Unfortunately, Patrick is in the hospital right now, but he's a trooper so, he's handling it really well.

This Old House

2008-10-17T10:56:00.002+02:00

Yesterday while I was waiting for a truck to come and dump a bunch of firewood in front of the house, the water guys showed up, came in, inspected the water pipes at the meter and declared that they would in the near future be replacing said water pipes. In the interests of doing so, they then sliced a nice cut in the asphalt in front of the house, portending things to come.
The things to come done came today, as there is a digger out there massacaring the street, to dig a trench, to put in a new storm drain and to replace the water mains, meaning that we will be in the same shoes as most of the rest of our part of town, which is feeling more and more like a village, replete with dust, mud and DIRT roads.

MoSAM

2008-10-17T10:53:00.003+02:00

Continuing on the topic of how specifically and generally hard it is to be Sam (aside from the ongoing challenge of bi-lingualism and telecommuniCATions), here is another piece of clear evidence that it is indeed HARD TO BE Sam.
On the other hand, you get to sport quite a set of whiskers being Sam, which does make up for some of the difficulty.

Don't bother me: I am on the phone

2008-10-12T22:44:00.003+02:00

It is extremely difficult to be a cat. To be denied in the day and age of modern technology the basic conveniences that many take for granted. Fantastically difficult to have to lay on radiators all day long to keep them from flying off their mounts and into the ceiling. In a nutshell, it is HARD TO BE SAM.

Harvest time

2008-10-05T19:43:00.001+02:00

I got most of the apples picked at the lot today. 14 crates of varying sizes. And a bag of walnuts. There's plenty more too!

St. Mihaly bucsu

2008-10-05T19:40:00.002+02:00

St. Michael is the patron saint of the town and they have started having a street festival to celebrate, on the street where the St. Mihaly church is. It's right up the street from our house, so we were there last Sunday after returning from Budapest.

Frozen face

2008-10-05T19:39:00.001+02:00

Opps! Here's that picture of Patrick I was talking about

pictures from the train

2008-10-05T19:36:00.002+02:00

Some portraits on the train from last weekend's trip to Budapest, including a fantastic "if your face was frozen like this forever" picture of Patrick while angry.

New washer

2008-09-27T09:06:00.003+02:00

We took delivery of the new washer yesterday after. Marina's grandparents bought the old washer in 1988, from compensation vouchers given to her grandfather for the time he was imprisoned as a POW in Russia after WWII. The old washer held up and was still running strong after 20 years, but the centrifuge weakness, power consumption and the heavier work load were taking a toll. It has been retired to a more restful lifestyle at Marina's Mom's apartment in town here...

Townviews and an organ

2008-09-21T14:15:00.005+02:00

Yesterday they had something called "Heritage Day" here, which is probably really just an attempt by the National Office for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Hungary to polish its tarnished image. In any case, two of the many programs we went to were a visit to the church tower at the St. George church downtown and a showing of the organ at the same church. The organ was built in 1633 and is one of the oldest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Kevin means business

2008-09-21T14:14:00.002+02:00

Boys

2008-09-18T13:19:00.003+02:00

Boys

fa

2008-09-18T13:19:00.002+02:00

fa = wood

School opening no 2.

2008-09-02T21:28:00.000+02:00

School opening ceremony

2008-09-02T21:26:00.000+02:00

Kevin and Adam in class

2008-09-02T07:55:00.002+02:00

Kevin and his good buddy Adam hit the school bench for the first time ever on Monday morning.

First day of school 2008-2009

2008-09-02T07:53:00.002+02:00

Here's Marina and the kids on Monday morning at the school door. Kevin started 1st grade, Patrick is in 2nd and Bella in 3rd at the St. Ursula School.

School Opening Ceremony - 31 August 2008

2008-09-02T07:52:00.002+02:00

School got underway this year for all three of the kids, with the opening ceremony and Mass on Sunday afternoon.

the cutest kids of the world...

2008-08-25T21:38:00.000+02:00

Czech photos

2008-08-19T14:41:00.000+02:00

Our big new tent

2008-07-31T16:53:00.000+02:00

The Ökopark in Dunasziget

2008-07-31T16:51:00.000+02:00

Canoe and tent inside

2008-07-31T11:25:00.001+02:00

Vienna Highland Games, 2008

2008-07-13T04:10:00.001+02:00

Couple of pictures from the Vienna Highland Games on July 12.

Statue Park no 1.

2008-07-10T08:37:00.000+02:00

These were the photos missing from the first message I posted about the statues...

Statue Park No. 2.

2008-07-07T00:00:00.000+02:00

Communist Statue Park

2008-07-06T23:57:00.003+02:00

Last weekend when we went to Budapest, we went with Kimo's classmate and her partner to a museum fairly out of town. It is where a lot of familiar statues had been moved to after the changes. I remember walking by the Lenin statue and calling him "big uncle" when I was four. Or the waving figure of Ostapenko as you were leaving for the Balaton. Kimo also saw a lot of them, and now they are arranged nicely, preserved somewhat from decay, and you can almost hear the lively music that goes with the ideology. WE ARE STROOOONG.

The boys were always looking for shelter from the heat and sun, so you'll spot them sometimes underneath.

The boots belonged to a massive Stalin statue which had been pulled down in the 1956 revolution.

Gathering at the Station

2008-07-02T17:34:00.000+02:00

All the parents were nervous, the camp leaders ready for five days spent with twelve wee-ones (six boys and six girls). I braided Bella's hair, so she wouldn't have to worry about NOT brushing it, and one of the requirements was NOT TO BRING SOAP since the only washing facility they had was in a creek. Of course we forgot to pack her towel as well, just to make sure she wouldn't be tempted to wash. She and all the kids had an excellent time, from night time walks in the forest to camp-fires, cooking their own food, doing the dishes, going shopping in the village and even offering their work services to people in return for food (perfectly safe in Hungary, not to worry). They had to rake the leaves, watch the chicks hatch on a farm, or mind a baby for a while etc.

Getting ready for Camp

2008-07-02T17:25:00.000+02:00

One of the most exciting events of this summer in the Logan family in Sopron was that our nine-year-old went to a Regnum summer camp all by herself, first time away from home, camping in the forest, take your own stuff on your own back, sleeping bag and all...Phew, her backpack was heavy! Voila!

captions

2008-06-24T14:47:00.000+02:00

just click the little speech bubble in the corner to see what's what

Italy 10th Anniversary

2008-06-24T14:46:00.000+02:00

Kevin graduates

2008-05-27T08:11:00.002+02:00

Today Kevin is 'graduating' from the kindergarten, which marks a momentous step forward in his life and ours. He'll be starting 1st grade at the Orsolya in September!

The 'Csaladi Tura'

2008-05-27T07:44:00.003+02:00

A long-standing tradition here in Sopron is the 'Family Bike Tour' which usually attracts over a thousand riders. It's a 27-km loop ending with a massive raffle for everyone who completes the distance. Kevin couldn't come this time because he was sick. But Ann-Christine (from Germany) did join us. It was fun, but tiring!

On the Road

2008-05-27T07:41:00.003+02:00

Bella and Dad make it Home

2008-05-27T07:40:00.002+02:00

Tired but happy...

Mother's Day

2008-05-22T21:43:00.000+02:00

It was Patrick's class this year who sang and recited in church on Mother's Day. He sure is a cutie. :)

More Canoeing on the Danube

2008-05-08T23:58:00.000+02:00

Wild River Experience

2008-05-08T14:13:00.000+02:00

Our long weekend slideshow

2008-05-05T19:11:00.001+02:00

Close-ups

2008-05-05T13:28:00.000+02:00

Serenade

2008-04-28T10:07:00.000+02:00

This is a lovely Hungarian tradition. The graduating classes go and sing to their teachers berfore they begin their exams. A sort of farewell. For me this was the first ever occasion that a class I taught came to sing. Somehow berore I'd never had a graduating class near (one class wanted to come to the hospital to sing when Bella was born). The songs they want to sing is entirely up to them, and shows their taste of course. We had fun.:)

Patrick and Bella

2008-04-17T19:24:00.000+02:00

Valentina and Marina

2008-04-17T19:23:00.000+02:00

Gearing up for the summer

2008-04-14T17:38:00.004+02:00

Here's some pictures from the last HOT summer!

Kevin's Schoolbag

2008-04-12T22:25:00.000+02:00

Having spent a very windy day at the outlet centre in Parndorf, Kevin's officially ready for school. Still can't believe we've got a six-, a seven- and an eight-year-old!!!

Homework on the terrace

2008-04-10T10:20:00.003+02:00

With Reka

Street Portrait

2008-04-10T10:20:00.001+02:00

A blue one, mind you

Self-portrait

2008-04-10T10:18:00.001+02:00

A bushy one, mind you

Class Pictures

2008-04-02T09:22:00.002+02:00

Here's two links to the class pictures for Bella and Patrick at the school:
http://www.szent-orsolya.sopron.hu/osztaly.php?ev=2007&oszt=1a
http://www.szent-orsolya.sopron.hu/osztaly.php?ev=2007&oszt=2a

Diákolimpia

2008-03-31T11:25:00.002+02:00

Student Olympics

2008-03-31T11:22:00.000+02:00

Yesterday the First Synchronised Swimming Student Olympics was held in Budapest. Bella took fifth place in her category, and we're very proud of her, it was a national competition. I'll try and put on the video of what she did as well...

The Presents

2008-03-31T11:15:00.000+02:00

The Cake

2008-03-31T11:13:00.000+02:00

Kevin turned six on Wednesday last week. We had a family celebration on the day and a party for friends at the weekend.

The Poster

2008-03-31T11:11:00.000+02:00

The children decided to make an animal poster together one day. Here's the result of real TEAM WORK between them.

Hungarian mountain climbing

2008-03-31T10:18:00.005+02:00

The make-shift archery range was turned into a Haylpine expedition...

On the way to church

2008-03-31T10:17:00.001+02:00

Boys on the way to church this last Sunday, being appropriately silly in glengarries.

Tree full of boys

2008-03-31T10:15:00.002+02:00

Boys will be boys and trees will be climbed.
At Kevin's birthday party on Sat, 29 March 2008.

Bella in the window...

2008-03-29T09:04:00.000+01:00

Couchsurfing at Easter in London with Bella

2008-03-25T16:13:00.002+01:00

Long Live the Revolution!

2008-03-25T10:47:00.002+01:00

Two pictures of kids from March 15
(Shake off them chains, baby, shake shake
shake off them Habsburgs!)

Aladar's Visit

2008-03-11T17:08:00.003+01:00

Loretto

2008-03-09T17:37:00.002+01:00

Mound and Tombs on Sunday Stroll

2008-03-09T17:32:00.003+01:00

Sam and Yellow Jerseys

2008-03-09T17:28:00.002+01:00

Bubble beards

2008-02-25T08:58:00.000+01:00

It's not always one gets to make himself a beard. Our boys were having so much fun, trying to make a Santa face, and all kinds of 19th century side-burns (without even knowing about them). Here's just a few examples... :)

Kevin's first tooth out!

2008-02-20T18:12:00.001+01:00

Kevin lost his first tooth this week!

the link

2008-02-18T09:55:00.001+01:00

Here's the video of the handshake...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5783558971982930171

(you'll have to copy it into the browser, I'm afraid)

Orka Cup in Székesfehérvár

2008-02-18T09:37:00.000+01:00

Bella went to her second synchronised swimming competition yesterday. It was quite a challenge, and she took fourth place in her age group. Well done! I'll try and upload the video of the handshake at least...

Farsang

2008-02-01T17:20:00.000+01:00

Here they are at the school...

Patrick at the Class Farsang

2008-02-01T10:38:00.000+01:00

As a Scotsman (apparently the other kids in the class had no idea what a 'skot' was...)

Preparing for Carnival / Puzzle

2008-01-30T10:41:00.000+01:00

It is the season again for balls and festivities. Children make masks and wear costumes, have parties at school... Kevin went to a workshop at the school where he'll be going to from September. Yesterday we also went to an open house, watched the teachers in action, he got involved in story-telling, colouring and counting. He is surely ready for school!
And here's a 1000 piece puzzle we worked with the children, the Golden-Gate Bridge. Patrick has especially got a lot of patience for working on puzzles. Bella wants to do things quickly and gets frustrated easily, and Kevin, well he only tries and gives up, if it doesn't fit. But we did it! :)

Couch Surfing

2008-01-22T08:31:00.001+01:00

Hello! We've joined the Couch Surfing Project! You should look at the website instead of me trying to explain what it is....

http://www.couchsurfing.com/

Bella and I are going to be surfing in London in March:)

More Ball Photos

2008-01-22T08:24:00.000+01:00

School Ball

2008-01-22T08:22:00.000+01:00

We went to the First Parents' Ball that we organised for the school.It was about three months' work, but it was worth it. Here's a few pictures, there's more at:
http://picasaweb.google.hu/logan.marina/SchoolParentsBall

House blessing and new jackets

2008-01-22T08:07:00.000+01:00

Traditionally around Epiphany, homes are blessed. Some people ask the priest to come every year, some only do it once. For us, this was the first time since we moved in. Maybe it is appropriate to ask God's blessing on our home in the year when we plan on doing construction. The Father is the same whos mass we go to every Sunday. The school's pastor. We are happy to belong to this community. M

Skating on the Lake Fertő

2007-12-28T19:34:00.000+01:00

Neusiedler See or in Hungarian the Fertő-tó is frozen. It's been below zero for over two weeks now, so you can skate on the thick ice, and people say, the ice hasn't been this smooth for years. If it is windy when it freezes, or if there's snow on top, the ice gets bumpy, but now it's like glass.

Christmas Eve

2007-12-24T22:12:00.000+01:00

We are still up because we're going to midnight mass in a while all together as a family for the first time. In Hungary it is Christmas Eve that has most of the celebrations. We decorate the tree, open the presents and eat fish traditionally today. Luckily we were ale to get salmon, and to my surprise Kevin had three helpins of it. :)
The biggest hit with the boys is the pirate ship game they got from Kerry and Jenn, thank you guys so much. Bella is happy with her hairdresser's head doll, she's learning to braid hair now. But the nicest thing about today is that we are all together and have nowhere to rush, and just enjoy each other's company. Merry Christmas to all who read this blog!

The Logans in Hungary

Elsőáldozás - 2

Elsőáldozás

Garden pictures

Palm Sunday

Getting the garden ready

Bella at a Music School Concert

Bella learned to iron

Supermanek bukfenceznek

Synchro Gala Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve 2008 No.2.

Christmas Eve 2008

Kevin and his Bug Charlie

Boys looking Russian

Bella before folk-dancing performance

Aikido suit

Santa

Kevin, the boxer

Through the looking glass

This ol' house some more

Take what you get

More problems with being Sam

Patrick turns 8

This old house (revisited)

Patrick in the hospital

This Old House

MoSAM

Don't bother me: I am on the phone

Harvest time

St. Mihaly bucsu

Frozen face

pictures from the train

New washer

Townviews and an organ

Kevin means business

Boys

fa

School opening no 2.

School opening ceremony

Kevin and Adam in class

First day of school 2008-2009

School Opening Ceremony - 31 August 2008

the cutest kids of the world...

Czech photos

Our big new tent

The Ökopark in Dunasziget

Canoe and tent inside

Vienna Highland Games, 2008

Statue Park no 1.

Statue Park No. 2.

Communist Statue Park

Gathering at the Station

Getting ready for Camp

captions

Italy 10th Anniversary

Kevin graduates

The 'Csaladi Tura'

On the Road

Bella and Dad make it Home

Mother's Day

More Canoeing on the Danube

Wild River Experience

Our long weekend slideshow

Close-ups

Serenade

Patrick and Bella

Valentina and Marina

Gearing up for the summer

Kevin's Schoolbag

Homework on the terrace

Street Portrait

Self-portrait

Class Pictures

Diákolimpia

Student Olympics

The Presents

The Cake

The Poster

Hungarian mountain climbing

On the way to church