Why Ask Why

There was a marker mixed in the crayon container. I wasn't watching. Andrew decided to eat it. Why? You would have to ask Andrew...

Halloween

Thanks for the Halloween shirts Cousin Charlie!

Halloween was a little "tricky" this year (ha ha, get it??) They don't celebrate Halloween in the Netherlands and Katie is just old enough to remember last year's festivities. It was a little difficult to explain to her that we were not going trick or treating this year. Luckily, we had a few distractions.

Katie was off from school the week prior to the 31st so she was able to go to the Maastricht International Playgroup (MIP) with Andrew and I. It was dress up, there were decorations the and everyone brought food to share. I made cupcakes which is a story in itself...

I bought cake mix called "homemade" boeren cake (still not sure what that means). Made 12 cupcakes and set them on the kitchen counter to cool. Took the kids for a bike ride for about 30 minutes. Came home around 5pm to find that Tucker had eaten 8 cupcakes! Wrapper and all! I had to make 2 dozen more cupcakes that evening and frost them. And, no can of Betty Crocker frosting here...you have to melt the chocolate (called glazuur) with warm water and spread with a knife. Luckily Ned pitched in with the decorating so I wasnt up until midnight frosting cupcakes!


Next we hosted a Halloween party at our house with about 50 people from the MIP group. I organized a Trick or Treat activity to give all of our friends from non-Halloween celebrating countries a taste of Trick or Treating in the United States.

The kids "trick or treating" at our back door. We had 3 doors to knock on.

Katie and Andrew helping me decorate

Katie the Great Mouse Detective and Andrew the Monkey

Family picture

Katie as Nala from the Lion King at the playgroup party

We also have a Fall party to go to at Katie's school this weekend. Lots of festivities to distract an almost 4 year old from Halloween at home. It is dress up once again so I think Katie got to wear a costume 4 times this year.

Cinderella?

A few mornings ago I was folding laundry in our bedroom and the kids were playing in Katie's room, a few doors down.

They were playing nicely...It does happen occasionally....

I overheard Katie tell Andrew that he was going to school because it was Friday and that she would pick him up at noon. (it is so funny to hear yourself through an almost 4 year olds voice!) I finished folding and went to deliver Katie her clean clothes and evidently they were playing dress up!

Who needs dolls when you have a little brother?

(notice he only has one sequin shoe....Cinderella?)

Our "princess"
Once I got the camera out and took a picture of Andrew,
someone else wanted to get in on the attention