More visits and gatherings!!

On Sunday (June 29) we went to church as usual, and then we hurried home to change clothes and catch a bus to Liptovský Hrádok, where Marian picked us up for the drive to Liptovská Kokava for Sunday lunch with their family.

After a scrumptious lunch, we headed out on a hike with Janka, Livka and Marian.

After walking for a while all together as a group, Janka and Marian ended up a little ahead of us.  At one point, Livka looked up, noticed her parents walking hand-in-hand, and then she went over close to Tim and gently reached up to grab his hand.  It was an absolutely precious moment!!  

Livka using a huge rhubarb-like leaf as an umbrella!!  What a cutie!! 

Marian took us to see this view of Kriváň - a little cloudy, but impressive!

Tim could wear this T-shirt every day, considering how amazing our lives are here!!  

Having some fun along the walk!

This is the River Belá, which is a lovely little stream now, but when the mountain snows are melting, it is the prime location in Slovakia for whitewater rafting.  

Whenever we reached a fork in the road, we'd ask Livka which way we should go.  She would put her hands out and consider this way and that way, and finally she'd decide.  Livka has quite the animated personality!!  

Forget-me-nots in the woods.  They are really tiny little flowers, delicate and pretty!

Livka would often run ahead on the path, and one of us would chase after her until we caught up to her.  Then she'd crouch and wait for the rest of the slow-pokes to catch up!  It was such a fun day being with the family on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.  

Monday, June 30 was our last official contract day at school.  We had a morning meeting, and then just worked in our offices the rest of the day.  Tim was pretty much finished up at that point, but I still had to do a lot of organizing and preparing for the new American lectors coming to replace us!  

After school, we got to go visit the maternity ward at the local hospital!!  Our colleague Lucia had a baby girl over the weekend, so we stopped in to see the new bundle, delivered by the storks, presumably!!  

Lucia and Sofia --  such a little sweetie for her Mama!!  

That same Monday evening, we went out for supper with the Mraz's and Kozak's in honor of my students and dear friends, Eva and Tana, passing their English lesson Maturita!!  

Juraj had English lessons with Tim, and he gave him this hockey jersey!  Someday when Juraj is playing in the NHL, Tim is planning on wearing it to one of his pro hockey games!  

My girls!!  We have such fun together!!  Slovak-American BFF's!!  

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we were at school at least part of each day, (I was there longer than Tim was, since he's so efficient!), and finally I felt like things were prepared for our replacement American lectors next year!  It's always tough on me emotionally to finally walk out of an office when I leave a teaching job.  That empty desk is a little sad to see.  

But after finishing up on Thursday, some of our bilingual department colleagues took us out for lunch.  On any continent, a nice lunch in a restaurant at the end of the school year is a very festive occasion with relaxed and smiling teachers!!    :-)

Then on Thursday evening, we met Marian and Susan for supper at one of our favorite places.  We presented Susan with a trophy that says "ROCK STAR", and at the bottom, "Slovenský Raj - June 2014", in honor of her courageous ascent of the Suchá Belá gorge!  It was a fun surprise, and they both really got a kick out of it.  :-)   I can't believe I didn't get a photo of all four of us together though!!  I guess we were just having too much fun.   

And that takes us up to the eve of our trip to Italy.  Stay tuned for the next installment….. visiting cousins in Ferrara!!