This and That

As soon as we returned from our European Vacation (see previous post) we moved across town to our new apartment. We found an apartment that was priced much better and was also closer to LCC. Many of you have asked to see some pics of our new place, so here they are - I'll try to walk you through the layout as you view the pictures...

 

As you enter our second floor apartment the first thing you see is a winding staircase.

 

 

The staircase leads up to a loft area. The kids have staked this out as their space. We put some blankets and pillows and they read up there and play games.

 

 

The apartment is laid out in a circle. So, if you turn right you come to a foyer area with a large closet at the end. Off to the right is a door that leads to a small balcony. Currently, we have Concord grapes growing out there!

 

 

If you turn left in this foyer area you enter the living room. The first picture of the living room shows the foyer and the door to the balcony, the second picture was taken while standing in the foyer. The glass windows in the second picture open to another small balcony that looks out to the backyard.

 

 

This is a little nook in the living area. I have some of our Lithuanian souvenirs displayed here.

 

 

Take another left off of the living room and you enter the kitchen. There are lots of cupboards, storage and counter space!

 

 

It's an eat-in kitchen with a great view of the backyard!

 

 

Off of the kitchen is a small storage room.

 

 

Turning left out of the kitchen takes you to a long hallway. On the left is the bathroom (imagine it at the center of the circle). The first door on the right is Dylan's room, the next door is Katie's room and the door straight ahead is our room. If you continue down the hall and turn left you are back to the entryway and those curved stairs leading up to the loft.

 

 

The bathroom...

 

 

Dylan's room - He's not crazy about the wallpaper, but has been gracious about it. The door opens onto a balcony that is shared by Katie.

 

 

Katie's room.

 

 

Our bedroom - the right wall is entirely closet space!

 

 

And finally, the view! This is what sold us on this apartment. The backyard is huge and goes down to the Dane River!

 

 

The mist comes in during the evening, it's almost magical to look at!

 







 

In early August we went out to breakfast at a hotel downtown, Navalis, to celebrate our 1 year anniversary of being in Lithuania!
 

 

We also started homeschool in August. The days were getting long and we decided having some structure would be a good thing. Starting early also gives us some flexibility to take some time off during fall break. This picture was taken on our first day of school.

 

 

We had a nice Sunday afternoon and took the kids to a local ropes course called, Kar Kar. Katie had been there with her classmates in May and has been itching to get back. Dylan was a little uncertain in the beginning (he doesn't love heights) but persevered and by the end he was having a great time.

 

 

 
We also took a trip to Nida, the southernmost Lithuanian town on the Curonian Spit. Dylan had the opportunity to throw an axe...

 

and Katie gave a slingshot a try...

 

 

Nida is known for it's beautiful sand dunes. Here we are approaching the dunes...

 

 

Enjoying the view from the top of the dunes... Nida has to be one of the most beautiful places I have been.

 

 

We also took a bike ride on the Curonian Spit. We road from our house, took a ferry across the lagoon and then biked on a trail. We took a break from biking and walked over to the Baltic Sea. We found a deserted beach that was gorgeous. While wading in the chilly Baltic, we spotted two jellyfish, one red and the other purple. I think we biked about 15 miles that day!

 

 

 

Last Saturday we took a road trip to see Trakai. This is a restored castle on the outskirts of Vilnius. The  castle is unique because it is situated on an island. We went on a beautiful fall day and we had perfect weather for touring the castle grounds, rowing on the lake and walking through this quaint and beautiful town.