Quack Quack, Gobble Gobble

Those are important words to remember during a pie fight.

I spent a lot of time this past week with animals. Az apam was trying to teach me about life and love and women. He thought that ducks would be a good metaphor.

If you chase them too agressively, they run away from you quack, quack, quacking.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6548594861998830126&hl=en

However, if you chase them by throwing bread their way, they pay attention.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3455282772902626805&hl=en

The young ones get most impressed by how much dough you throw at them. Just ask Adam Jones.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8325831606443357178&hl=en

Not az apad's magyar iskola

Every other Saturday I attend Magyar Iskola. Yes, despite the fact that I just turned two, my over-zealous Fairfield parents feel it important for me to start school.



It's not really school-ish. We play games and sing and at the end we get pecsetek.



We don't play foci or anything. It would be a whole lot cooler if we did.

Rolling, rolling, rolling

One of the, if not the, biggest perks of having a birthday is the gifts. While 'tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free, toys are an even better gift.

From my friend Benji, I received a truck that I can ride. It's a dump truck, but I call it a szemetes truck. I'm just keeping options open if the world domination and singing careers fail.

From Nagymama and Nagypapa I received a tricycle. It's got these great foot rests on it where I can just rest my legs while az apam pushes me.

My friend Nicholas was at the party showing off his cool riding toy - Erwin Bacsi. Az apam won't put me in my BabyBjorn anymore, so I rode on top of Papa instead.

My kinder, gentler side

The party wasn't just high-intensity activities. I have a daintier, more delicate side that frequently shines through.


I spent some time working on a picture frame at the craft table az anyam so thoughtfully set up. I ended up with more animals stuck to me than to the picture frame, but I still worked diligently at the table.





I also have my soft spots for the children. After all, I believe the children are the future. We should teach them well and let them lead the way. We have to show them all the beauty they possess inside - it gives them a sense of pride.



I got to hang out with my boy, Matthew, a bit. He's one of us quasi-Canadian Americans.


I also met a new friend, Lukas. I like to meet new youngsters and hang out with them and give them hugs. Big Hugs. Probably bigger than I should.

Playing with others

While the party was fun, having so many people around had its own challenges.

I tried playing golf with Charlie, but couldn't get used to having people close by. We improvised and developed a new style of golf:

Then I tried to golf with Leah and Charlie and things got even more complicated.

Do note the good sharing.

The last party might have been the best.

This birthday season has been one of my favorite so far. Easily in the top three. Az anyam and az apam threw a big whiz-bang party for me, Matepalooza. It was awesome.



We did the cake thing....but instead of just cakes az anyam got cupcakes.

Many little hands were grabbing those.

I got to hang out with a whole lot of my friends. There were lots and lots and lots of friends.
No, really, a whole lot of friends.

I did slow down briefly to catch up with some of my friends.

We played games and az anyam set up a craft for us to make.

And then we ran.

And then we stomped.

Do you see what I see?

My trip is over. I am home. I did get to spend some time at a big airport and watch the planes and, more importantly, the szemetes truck-ok.

I expect to have all sorts of new stories next week, but I still have so much to tell about Cleveland. Reflecting on the trip, I am thankful that I got to spend time with everyone...

Hanging with Keresztmama was fun - not only is she my Keresztmama, but she is also Sari and Sandor's mother. Who knew? Also, who knew she was a speed demon....at least when trying to get her kids to run to the park?

Robi Bacsi has been working hard to get into shape for his move to Louisiana. He gets to play an Iraqi, so he's starting to really look like one. Nothing says "I'm a Bedouin" like a Mickey Mouse pizsama.

Pak Bacsi had just gotten back from a European tour, so I kinda sorta sacked out on top of him. I'm an old pro at that.

Love of family is strong. It's even stronger than annoyance at being left to fall in a fishpond twice by one's own grandfather.

I will be seeing a lot more of Peti Bacsi soon. He explained that watering the plants is much easier when standing in cold water with a bottle of beer and getting your niece and nephews to do it.

Sandor and I got along dandily - I taught him about kavics dobas and he taught me cool ways to swing. He taught me how to climb the tower at the playground az apam didn't want me climbing on and I taught him how to give really strong bear hugs.

I also gave Sari really strong bear hugs. Yesterday at dinner I was explaining to az anyam, az apam and Papa that I wanted to go see her again. I told them we needed to put our shoes on, get into Papi's car and then we could see her again.

It's always fun to see Nagymama. She hugs me back almost as hard as I hug her. She also makes sure everybody in the house is extremely well-fed.

I enjoyed seeing Dedi too. She watched us play outside which was a lot of fun, both for us and for her.

Something we can all agree on

Waking Peti Bacsi is fun.


I got to share techniques with my cousins on how to wake Peti Bacsi. They are more of the screaming school, whereas I enjoy the physical presence (also called the "big hug") method.




The important thing was we got to wake up Peti Bacsi.

We interrupt this vacation

In this corner stands Matthew Istvan Andras Strada at 37 1/4 inches, weighing 29 lbs 12 oz.

What corner is this fine specimen standing in? The one for the 75th percentile for weight and 97th percentile for height. Oh yeah, I'm almost there.

Corrupting Sandor

Although I'm sure he was doing it before he hung with me, I like to imagine that I had some influence on Sandor's rock-throwing.

Throwing.




Az apam doesn't really get into kavics-dobas. It was nice to hang with someone who gets it. The whole zen-like process: picking the kavics, lining up for the throw, the throw itself, the follow-through and, finally, the observation of the dobas. It's like motorcycle maintenance.

The Cousin Effect

My relationship with my cousins is less educational than with the uncles, but sometimes a little more age-appropriate. We tend to focus a bit less on what every future world-dominator should know and more on balls and lufik.


Sandor and I are definitely on the same wavelength. With just a toss of the lufi in the air we are charging after it with reckless abandon.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2717065114187856987&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7447695063113959871&hl=en

With Sarika and Sandor the play tends to be more structured, but just as wild and crazy.

Under the Influence

I am now in Cleveland spending time with my cousins and uncles and Keresztmama and Nagymama and Nagypapa.

The uncles are great company, but I think az anyam is a wee bit worried about some of the words they're teaching me.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6619861696753188463&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6410404529914989081&hl=en

You can track the updates from the cousins.

I just need something borrowed and something blue

It was my birthday, not my wedding day. We celebrated by doing something old and something new.

First the old, az anyam sang and az apam bellowed the Happy Birthday song:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3775516882247385040&hl=en

I blew out the candles. And then the something new:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5049155536374512206&hl=en

Ice cream? Whatever happened to plain, old, regular cake? I think az apam planned it this way for one simple reason - maradekok.

I am TWO. Hear me roar.

It seems like I was just born yesterday, but it was actually two years ago today that az anyam and az apam had to fight through rush hour traffic to get to the hospital so I could be born.

Since then I've come a long way. I mean, really, come on. How many two year olds are this good at drawing a lila polip?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7854778061370252632&hl=en

Wasted Time? I don't think so

Sometimes guests don't realize the opportunity they've been given to spend time with me.

At times like that I must take matters into my own hands.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3039696238712935165&hl=en

Mildly belated birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday to Sari!!!!



I think she's almost as old as az anyam now. Just kidding! Nobody is that old.

I can't wait to hang out with my cousins in only four days!!!!

Guests are AWESOME

We've had several visitors over the last few days. Nicole Neni came to visit all the way from a different country! (Balazs Bacsi - insert obnoxious comment here) . She's got a great purse full of interesting things and all sorts of exotic jewelry that's fun to try on.


Peti Bacsi came to visit, too. He's been searching for a place to live. He's got a great purse full of interesting things and all sorts of exotic jewelry that's fun to try on.



I get really excited when we have guests. Sometimes, I get really, really, really excited when we have guests.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1066812711340330156&hl=en


It is sometimes difficult to fall asleep when I am really, really, really excited.

In my ownv 5 6twrott y words

I've had enough of az apam adding his own two cents when he transcribes my posts. I'm going to tell you about what Noah, Aidan, Eli and I did during my visit in my own words:

jh j, ddddddddddddddddddddvvvvvvv
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
dddyy744
2```````````````

mmmmmmvv vv

Sweeping changes

Being a Hungo-Amerinadian, I can't just be lackadaisical guest. Just like we can't show up as guests at a house without taking alcohol, a pork product and something made with a pound of butter, a pound of sugar and 23 eggs, I can't go to someone's house and not help. Even if it's family.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2500946484094130405&hl=en

Especially if they've got cool, big brooms. At home I have to use my small yard tools, but when I get the option to use man-sized tools....hooo hooo hooo.

There's a fine line between cute persistence and stalking

I'm generally a friendly kid, but sometimes that's not enough to get noticed by the ladies. That's when I pull out the cunning, sly, subtle charm. It works on the older women.

Yesterday, I talked of all the ladies fawning all over me, but (regardless of what Papa says I shouldn't say) they are all old. Most of my CT female friends are older too.

So I am a little confused when there is a slightly younger lady I'd like to pursue. What are the kids into these days? I tried talking to her about football, but that didn't go over well. Golf - same thing. Baseball - same thing. Foci - same thing.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2280076852168176426&hl=en

I guess I will just make it up as I go along. She will be mine. Oh yes, she will be mine.

Hello Ladies.....

I flew back from Toronto on Monday and, boy, were my arms tired!

I have to say, and az apam will think this sacrilege, I think Mark Steyn is on crack.

Canada is full of females. Outside of Papa, my island in a sea of estrogen, I was surrounded by the ladies all weekend.

There were the young, hot ladies. (She will be my fiancee as soon as Ede Bacsi gets az apam the pupostevek.)


There were the older ladies (as in Dedi, not az anyam....well, yeah, her too...)

Then there were the middlish-aged ladies.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not complaining. It was solid. The best part was that they didn't just fawn all over me, they fed me too.

A nice walk spoiled

Still feeling a bit fluish. I haven't had a chance to upload my Canadian exploits, so I will rant.

Golf balls! What'll they think of next? Really, forget about 'em. They're too small. How are you supposed to get a good swing in at such a tiny object.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MatthewStrada/Export/photo#5207447903665739298


Golf balls should be more cat-sized. They're a pretty good size for swinging a club at.

Not so hot to trot

I'm not feeling too well today - I have a bit of a fever and I threw up on the plane ride home today.

So you only get a grouchy Mate picture.