Tedd's Residence

October & November 2009

Kelley — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:17:28 +0000

In a continual and slowly progressing attempt to catch-up on the last year, when neither Tündi nor I wrote on the ‘ol Family Blog, this post will cover (what I remember) of October and November of 2009.

Olivia Turns One!

First and foremost, our youngest, Olivia turned 1 at the end of October! It was a nice Family Day!

Kelley and Tündi Become Opera Fans

An interesting thing happened to Tündi and I about this time that had relatively little to do with the kids (that is rare!!) and that is that we became fans of the Opera – much to my surprise! It all started relatively innocently.

One day we were at the Malom, which is the Shopping Mall in Kecskemét and I saw at the movie theater that they were advertising (but it was in very small print), that they would be showing something called ‘Live at the Met in HD‘,which are live performances from the New York Metropolitan Opera House shown in the movie theater live. They didn’t have any tickets available for the first performance, because it was already sold out, but we bought tickets for a few shows. The second performance, which was our first, we saw in November was AIDA . It was spectacular. Now, the next time we would have gone, would have been late December, but something interesting happened.

It turns out that during the intermissions on these live transmissions, they show what is going on behind the scenes and famous opera singers conduct interviews with performers in the current show, cast members, crew etc. Powerfully interesting! Now, while we were watching AIDA, I enjoyed listening to the interviews, but there was no Hungarian translation. During one of the intermissions, we found the organizers and offered my services to provide synchronized translation of these live interviews. They took us up on it and last night I got to do it for the first time. We saw the performance of Puccini’s Turandot . It was spectacular. We really enjoyed it!

The Talented Tedd Kids!

I’ll finish up this post with some videos from this part of 2009 of our kids showing off – or us having the kids show off.

The Tedd Children Drumming to a Different Beat: November 9, 2010

Olivia Showing Off Her Talents: November 10, 2010

Memories, Nothing More Than Memories

Kelley — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:53:40 +0000

Being together as a Family is great! We just have so much fun with the kids and there are so many, many things to do all around us. Often, on Sundays, I’ll take the kids for a drive to “look for animals”. In this part of Hungary there is no lack of animals – cows (specifically the Long-horn Hungarian Grey Cattle), horses, chickens, goose, turkeys, pigs,and much more). On Sundays like that, we’ll leave Tündi at home to get a well-deserved rest.

Over the last year, we’ve had some great family outings. Last summer, Emma got to go with me for a few days while I traveled to Eastern Hungary. While there, she and I had the idea that we’d take a family vacation there, so instead of a summer vacation, September 2009 the Tedds went on a Fall Vacation to Debrecen
a great city in Eastern Hungary on the Romanian boarder. From there we visited the Hortobagy, the Hungarian plains. Then we finished off in Hungary’s capital, Budapest. Even though we go to Budapest a lot for work, for Church, for Family (Tündi’s parents live there), this time was different because we took them on public transportation and they just had a blast! For a peek at what we did that week:

It is a good thing that we vacationed when we did, because Hungary got hit by a big winter. But before winter got too bad, Benson and I took a Saturday together in late October and just spent the day together. We need to have more days when either Tündi or I go and spend a day with just one of the kids. We’ve been wanting to, but we haven’t figured out how to manage it.

This particular Saturday was again, animal centered. We went to the local Zoo.

We all get busy. We all have so much going on. We all have priorities, people demanding things of us, but we all (myself included) need to constantly look for increasingly number of times to spend together as a families. The kids won’t remember if the time we spent was elaborate, intricately planned, spontaneous, organized, complicated, or simple. What they will remember is that Mommy and Daddy made special time for them individually and collectively. That is what I am working on to create happy, family memories! Because, really, what else can I give my children?!

Going Back to School?

Kelley — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:14:13 +0000

Going Back to School – What?!

At the writing of this post, we are in the middle of summer it is hot and everyone is thinking vacation and swimming. No one in their right mind is thinking about School. Well, I am only thinking about it in the past-tense and not the present or future tense.

Tündi is doing a great job on the Hungarian version of our Blog to write about our kids right now, who they are and what they are like. I, on the other hand am going to go back to the past and talk about some of the more memorable things that have happened in the last year. Luckily, I have the help of videos that I’ve posted to help me tell the story and for that matter, remember the story. Today I am going to write about Emma and Benson going back to Pre-School.

In Hungary, the School year typically begins on September 1st. Also, most kids go to Pre-School when they are 3, 4, and 5 years old and then they start what we call in the States, Elementry School when they are 6. The first two years of Pre-School, as I understand it, are not mandatory, but the last year is a preparation for school and kids should go, like Kindergarten in the States. Even though Tündi is home with the kids, they’ve been going to Pre-School because both Emma and Benson needed the interaction with other kids their age and it has been great for our family.

During the 2008-2009 School year, Emma was so stoked to go to School. Benson, on the other hand was too small to go (he wasn’t even two yet). We still lived in Kecskemét at the time and Emma couldn’t get into a Pre-School there because they were all filled, because there weren’t enough schools for the number of kids there were. So, we started Emma at a Private Pre-School in a suburb of Kecskemét. It was a 15 minute drive, but it was worth it. It was GREAT for her and they really helped her develop her talents.

When Benson turned two in November of 2008, since it was Private school, they let Benson go too, which was great for Tündi because having Benson and a new born at home was not easy and Benson just loved it and loved being there with Emma every day.

For the 2009-2010 School year, we had moved to Kerekegyháza and here was easy to get Emma into public school and we could save a mess of money that way, but Benson could go to public school until he turned three. So he started at the private Pre-School on September 1st. They both had great first days!

But it didn’t take more than a few days for it to be evident that Benson only loved Pre-School as long as his older Sister was there and we quickly realized that Benson needed some Mommy-time. He stayed home for a few months and it was really good for him and for his Mommy! He turned three in November and could technically start at public Pre-School, but we waited and by the time the Christmas break was over, Benson was ready to go back to school.

So, on January 4th of this year, 2010, Benson went back to Pre-School again and really, really loved it, once again going to the same School as his older Sister.

For our little family, however, we’ve found that instead of them being at school all day, they would come home right after Lunch. It is great because they get to have time with kids their own age and at the same time they have serious quality time with Mommy every afternoon.

School has been a great blessing already for our family for the last two years!

Getting Updated on the Tedds – There is a Time for Everything

Kelley — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:35:35 +0000

It is a bummer that we neglected the Family Blog for a year. It is a great way to keep friends and family updated on what we are doing and on how things are going over here. Plus it is a great way to record memories. In Tündi’s mind it is more of a journal of sorts and she is leading the way on keeping the blog up, but she is naturally, doing it in Hungarian. I need to pull up the rear in English as often as my busy schedule allows me to.

This last year has been very hard and very good! As I mentioned in the last post, last year we moved out to Kerekegyháza right then my Mom got very sick. Things have been, for the most part getting better, but it has been a two steps forward, one step back type of thing.

The biggest thing that happened in the last year was this Spring when everyone, including myself, got the Chicken Pox. That was a rough time.

This last year, both Emma and Benson went to Pre-School. They could be at home with Tündi, but they both needed and wanted the Social interaction with other kids; however, they came home after lunch. It is perfect because they get to spend quality time with Mommy every afternoon and still get to play with other kids in the mornings. It seems to be the perfect solution for our little family. I don’t know if Olivia will go to Pre-School or not, we’ll see what is best for her. We have another 18 months before we have to decide that.

I love living in Hungary, I love my calling in the Church I love my job, and I love what Hungary and Europe have to offer, even with all of its faults. I also miss the States very much and am very anxious for the Children to be exposed to that culture and way of thinking too. But we feel like that the time hasn’t come yet. Even when we decide to leave, it won’t be because we don’t like Hungary, but because that is what will be right for us then. Hungary will always be Tündi’s home and America will always be my home, while at the same time America will someday become Tündi’s second home, Hungary has long-since been my second home.

This seems to be the theme of this Blog entry, that there is a time for everything. We will feel and know what is best for our Family and when we we aren’t sure, we do know that we can ask our Heavenly Father for help!

So Many Things to Say, So Little Time

Kelley — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:55:01 +0000

We are Back!

Tündi and I have been inactive in writing in our blog for the last year. After Tündi’s insistence, we are back! We are going to try and update the ‘ol Blog more often (she in Hungarian and I in English). For her it is more like a Journal. For me, instead a way to express myself and share things about our family with friends and family. I keep a journal anyway. To give them a plug, I found a place online a couple of years that I love for journal writing called LDS Journal and I much prefer to do the Journal type private stuff there.

Where Are We Now?

Last summer we moved to Kerekegyháza , which is about 18KM (~10 Miles) from Kecskemét, where we had been living for 5 years. Kecskemét is about an hour southeast from Budapest. We moved out there because it was cheaper, close to some good friends and has a small garden for the kids to run in. We had been living in an apartment building and now we are living in a townhouse-type place. It looks big from the outside, but it is actually quite small. We love living there, except that there is some work that the City (owners of the complex) really needs to do. The best part though, are the friends that live by – the Bognár and Furkó families.

About the Tedd Family

I have to save something to get you to come back and read next time, so I’ll save this topic for the next post.

Seeing the World Through Their Eyes!

Kelley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:35:09 +0000

For the last number of months, the over reaching theme in the Tedd Family revolves around the childrens’ behavior. Having three kids all 4 years old and younger presents certain problems, namely temper tantrums lasting from morning until night. It comes with the territory, but it is frustrating for parents and the constant question is “am I a good parent”?! Tündi and I are no different. We are struggling with this, Tündi more so than I, but that is because she is closer to the proverbial fire.

Because of this continuous struggle, I have given a lot of thought to why are the kids acting the way they are and I am making a concerted effort to look at the world the way they see it – with all of the joys and frustrations that life carries for them. This has been an eye opening experience for me – in more ways than I would have thought.

For instance, I have realized that not only can this help me avoid some arguments and problems with the kids, but by developing this talent of seeing the world through the eyes of others, a lot of frustration and some conflicts can be avoided altogether. In English we have a great word for this: empathy. I have always admired those who are empathetic. They often have a great spirit about them, but only recently through this process of concerted effort of seeing the world through the eyes of others have I begun to see the great value of empathy.

Think about conflicts and difficulties that you might be having with other people – inside or outside of your family. Could be more empathetic with the person(s) that you are struggling with? I’d be willing to bet that in most cases we’d honestly have to answer ‘yes’!

The Scriptures, as far as I know, do not use the actual word ‘empathy’, but the Scriptures make many references to wisdom and the need to become wise. I feel it is appropriate to say that an empathetic person is a wise person.

In the Bible, in the book of ECCLESIASTES (Chapter 2 verse 26) it says:

“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy…”

In other words, wisdom, knowledge and joy are all gifts one can receive from God. I literally have been praying often for a better understanding of my children, but we should all commit to being more empathetic and trying to see the world through the eyes of others! I know that as I do that with my children and with others, I will have less frustrations and be happier and have more joy!

As an incredibly funny and lighthearted anecdote on the subject, Tündi and I were literally and unexpectedly able to see the world through Benson’s eyes yesterday. We had downloaded all of the pictures and videos from Tündi’s camera and were looking through them. Unfortunately for Tündi’s camera Benson often steals the camera and goes and takes pictures of things, but last night, much to our surprise a few weeks ago Benson had taken a video. We got a small window into how he sees the world. This was, for us at least, a powerfully amusing and fun thing to watch.

Enjoy seeing the world through Benson’s eyes for 2 fun-filled minutes!

Making Memories and Trying to Remember Them

Kelley — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:36:44 +0000

It is interesting, that when one has 1 child it is easy to keep a memory book and take notes on everything the child does – noteworthy or not. It is easy to record first words, first tooth, walking, etc. With Emma we were really good at doing that and even with Benson we took a good crack at recording all of those memories. But when Tündi got pregnant with Olivia, that all stopped.

Simply, with three small children Tündi (and when I am home), we are too busy creating memories to record anything. I think that sometimes people put too much preassure on themselves to record memories at the risk of not having them. I think that in our family on this issue, we have found a good balance. When we have time for ourselves and have larger family activities, we strive to take pictures and videos and make them special so that we have things to look back at.

But to be honest, if I don’t remember when one of our kids’ teeth started coming in, or if I don’t remember the exact day and circumstance when my child first says ‘Daddy’, it doesn’t matter. Especially, if I was too busy enjoying the memory to record it.

We had a great family vacation a few weeks ago, when we went to Debrecen which is in Eastern Hungary for a few days and a day in Budapest . I did take a bunch of videos & pictures, and after the vacation, put it into a great video. The entire time, however, enjoying the family and having tons of fun!

I look at what Church leaders have taught us and I am reminded that they have never taught us to keep a Baby Memory book (which is fine though), but rather to keep a journal. For that reason, I try to spend time each week writting in a journal to make sure that our family’s life is recorded.

I would like to share with you the video we made from our Vacation. Enjoy it and remember to keep a journal for your benfit and for the benefit of your posterity!

The End Morphs into the Beginning

Kelley — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:26:31 +0000

We, like every other family on the planet just went back to school earlier this month. Emma has started a Pre-School near our home. Benson, is going on Mondays and Tuesdays to a different Pre-School.

Last school year, however, they went to the same Pre-School that had a type of Day Care too, where Benson went. So, they attended the same place, but different classes you’d say.

At the end of the year, the Pre-School put on a great production! However, we only got the DVD at the end of the summer (see video later on down in the post).

It is interesting how we as humans put a value on beginnings and endings. An opportunity (gained or lost) to finish something as well as start anew. School years are so typical of the grandiose excitement and anticipation and in some cases reluctance that all children place on these mile markers.

We as children were no different and out children also are the same.

These milestones are great opportunities to celebrate and evaluate. For our family, the end of the Pre-School year was a pleasant surprise on how much Emma and Benson had progressed and grown right under our noses.

Benson was one of the few little kids that knew all of the songs and didn’t run out screaming in the middle.

Emma, was given a lead part in the production the older kids put on. It is also important to note, that she was the smallest of all of the big kids. We had no idea that she could sing to musical accompaniment. It was a joy!

We are incredibly proud of both Emma and Benson and on how well they did!!

Then, a few short weeks later, a new school year was already on us. While we as a family are still trying to work out the kinks, Emma and Benson are going to Pre-School. As I mentioned, they are going to different Pre-Schools. Last year, they would be in school all day. This year, they are only going in the mornings.

I am posting here, the short version of the year end productions that only focus on parts that Benson and Emma actual were in. Also, will be a video of the first day of school this year. Naturally, they are all singing in Hungarian.

Then, the school year began and here is a video that we made of Emma and Benson’s first day of school. We had a blast making this!!

Trials Keep Coming Until the ‘Cows Come Home’!

Kelley — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:17:05 +0000

Tündi and I haven’t written very much lately because the last two months have been extremely difficult and full of trials. Some good things have happened, but we haven’t really been able to enjoy them or appreciate them because of all the difficulties.

Lately, however, things seem to be getting better! I was reminded yesterday of an idiom that about things keep happening “until the cows come home”.

You know how it is often used:

‘Violet talks until the cows come home and nothing ever happens’,
or
‘You can diet until the cows come home and you still won’t be able to fit into those clothes from High School’.

I was beginning to feel that the trials would keep coming “until the cows come home”. As I mentioned above, things have gotten better & while we aren’t out of the woods yet, we are feeling better about things.

Cows Have Come Home!

This is underscored by a fun thing that happened last night! I got home from work and we took the kids to a playground and then for ice cream. It was pretty late, but we decided to drive around for a bit while they ate their ice cream especially since Benson had slept a lot in the afternoon. While we were driving around we came upon a farm with A LOT of cattle – Grey Hungarian Cows to be exact (in Hungarian: Magyar szürke szarvasmarha or Magyar alföldi) and they were beauts!

While Olivia slept in the car, Tündi, Emma, Benson, and I got a guided tour of the farm and the cattle by a very nice Ranch-hand. Took some video for you to see below. I think that means for us, The Cows Have Come Home!!

Let this be a lesson to all of us, eventually, the cows always come home!

Relfections

Kelley — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:28:10 +0000

For the first time since I was a teenager practically, I had to stay home from Church today. I had s stomach flu that was giving me grief. I got to stay home with my darling little Olivia as Tündi and the kids went to Budapest for Mother’s Day today (Mother’s Day in Hungary is one week earlier than in the States – so don’t worry guys, you didn’t forget…. yet!)

I have had plenty of time to reflect today. I have thought much about our Family, the changes we are going through, the Temple, my Savior my work and things going on in the world.

Family – Great Changes Ahead for the Tedds

We are so blessed as a family! We have three perfect little ones we love so much and who love us unconditionally. They have enriched our lives beyond words! Because of them, it doesn’t matter where we are and what we do, because no matter what, we are one.

I think that since this “Great Recession” has hit, people all over the world, have begun to focus more on family and things that are important. I am so blessed, that together with my wife, we haven’t had to make any adjustments. Her intense love and wise perspective have been imperative to us being that way! Having said that, we too feel that adjustments must be made. It means living leaner and wiser so that we can be better prepared for any unseen problems and also to make sure we are able to not only provide for our children’s now, but their tomorrows too!

To that end, in less than 6 weeks, we’ll move to a smaller city and a smaller apartment and I absolutely draed moving, but I look forward to being able to having the resources, that moving will allow, to better obey the Lord’s Commandments, like build Food Storage!

The Temple

As I wrote last week, Benson and I got to go to the Temple in Freiberg, Germany. I love the Temple and I love going and I love that Tündi shares that same love for the Temple! What I have been praying for, for more than thirteen years now is a Temple in Hungary. Each General Confernce, I sit on the edge of my seat as the Prophet speaks, hoping and praying that he will announce a Temple for Hungary. I don’t know when the Temple will come to Hungary, but I have recently been reminded of an important teaching: no matter how often or how rarely one can go to the Temple, it is imperative that we reflect on the Temple often – at least weekly! That way, the Temple will be a part of us and the Spirit of the Temple will be powerful in our lives!

My path to the physical Temple has changed over the years. When I lived in St. George, Utah, I had 5 minute drive to the Temple (7 minutes if I caught the red light at the corner). I remember with fodness going at least weekly with my friends and for a time when the St. George Temple was open all night long, we would catch a midnight Session. Oh what beautiful memories!

Then, one of the things that led to my staying in Hungary was a Temple Trip to the Freiberg, Germany Temple. Trips in those days were such, that everyone going would go on a bus. It would take at least 12 hours, but more often 15-18 hours – depending on the boarders and whether the bus driver got lost or not. Those trips have special memories because of the friendships built on the buses!

There was a little more than a year while the Freiberg Temple was being enlarged and renovated that members from Hungary would attend the Swiss and Frankfurt Temples. Those have unique memories that helped make me who I am.

Today, Saints from Hungary don’t take organized buses any more, but rather we all drive. The boarder crossings are gone (thanks to Hungary joining the EU) and the roads are better. The drive is not 7-9 hours long and we still go on Monday and come home on Saturday and spend all day Tues-Fri in the Temple.

Each type of Temple visit has its own quality. I have been close enough to go each week for a Session, popping in during the middle of the day. I am now far enough away that we go for the entire week, two or three times a year.

The common thread in all of this, is that during the hours, days, weeks, and months that I am not in the Temple, in order for the Temple to truely be a blessing in my life, I must set aside time outside the Temple to reflect on the Temple. Otherwise its significance is lessened.

Jesus Christ

One thing that got the spiritual juices for this reflection started today was as I stumbled accross a powerful exhibit this morning on the Web titled “Reflections of Christ”. From what I understand the photographer, Mark Mabry, had an exhibit and film at the Mesa, Arizona Temple titled “Reflections of Christ” and that exhibit is now on tour throughout the U.S.

What struck me most about Mr. Mabry’s (see a slide show here) work is the intense Spirit that it was created with and in such a way that each person’s thoughts hone in on their own Spirituality and relationship with the Savior and doesn’t attempt to explain the reflections, but rather leaves it to the viewer – which is how the Savior teaches. His work is powerful in its simplicity!

Work

Things at work are going well. Tomorrow begins another audit, but these are routine and I enjoy them because we learn a lot! Looking forward to seeing my boss! No matter who I worked for, no matter what my job has been, ever since I began working, when I was 16 (my first job was at Radio Shack!) I have always loved my job and loved going to work every day. Since it my place to work and support the Family, I am so greatful that I love what I do! I have always told people, only do a job that you love – otherwise, find something else!

Crazy Things in the World

Finally, it would seem that the world is moving faster than it ever has before!! A year ago, no one would have imagined the financial problems in the world and the complexity & enormity of them! Two weeks ago, no one would have imagined that we’d be talking about the possibility of a global pandemic. Political strife is as bad as it gets in the two countries I pay attention to the most – America and Hungary!

Even as fast as the world moves, I come back to where I started. We must all focus increasingly on our relationship with the Lord and on our Eternal families. And if we don’t have a family of our own yet (or anymore) and we are of age, we must spend all of energies ensuring that we are worthy of of an Eternal Family when it comes! By adhering to that, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we will be blessed!

If you made it to this point of the post, you deserve a reward – I leave you with a picture of my dear angel, Olivia who has been my companion today.