Mini Break

Ned had a couple days off last week so on a whim we decided to go on a "mini break." (Yes, very Bridget Jones of us....)

We headed to Paris to go to Disneyland Paris Resort. Katie had been to Disneyworld in Orlando when she was 10 months old so she didn't remember it. Andrew had never been. Ned and I love Disney and we figured the kids would love it to.

We left Thursday at 11am. The drive took 4 hours and was pretty uneventful. Both kids napped and we did not hit any significant traffic or roadwork. We stayed at the Dream Castle which, as you can imagine, was the whole princess and knight theme. The lobby had a ball pit and 1 euro kiddie rides. For the first time, we stayed in what is called a Family Room. It had built in bunk beds and a queen size bed. The bottom bunk even had a full bed lenght curtain (think princess bed).

We hit Disney Friday and Saturday. We rode all the major attractions like Orlando has...It's A Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Flying Dumbo, Lancelot Carousel, Pirates of the Carribean and so forth. Katie's favorite rides were Autopia which was a racecar on a track ride and Casey Jr. "roller coaster" train ride. Andrew liked the rides, but didn't love them. He was a little scared in the Flying Dumbo and Aladin's Magic Carpet rides when we went up. I know he was scared because his entire body clenched and his face turned beat red for about 5 seconds. Once he was reassured, he was interested and enjoyed it. Ned rode Indian Jones roller coaster while Katie, Andrew and I picked up a few Disney souvenirs....Baby Simba stuffed animal, Mickey tee shirt and a Winnie the Pooh balloon.

Mommy and Andrew in front of Cinderella's Castle

Katie, Daddy and Baby Simba in front of Cinderella's Castle
(notice it is pink)

Mommy and Andrew riding behind Katie and Daddy in Casey Jr. "roller coaster"

Katie VERY happy driving the racecar in Autopia ride

Andrew sort of in awe in It's A Small World

Katie in awe in It's A Small World

Andrew in a Mickey Ears high chair

Sunday we checked out of the hotel and headed to the city center of Paris, just a 40 minute drive from our hotel. We figured there wasn't a lot in Paris that would interest the kids and they were exhausted from a long couple of days in Disney and off their nap and bedtime schedules. But, how could we be in Paris and not go to the Tour d'Eiffel? So that we did.

We got to the Tour d'Eiffel around noon and had a picnic lunch at the park around the tower. It was a gorgeous day, high 80s and sunny. We had baguette sandwiches, creme brulee and petite bingnets from a local mom and pop shop bakery. The kids chased pigeons and ran all over the grass.

After lunch and some picture taking we went to a couple playgrounds in the park and had ice cream. (Yes we just had creme brulee and bingnets, but it was vacation!)

It was a perfect mini break.

Picnicing

Happy Birthday Tucker!

Tucker, our mixed breed, turned 5 years old on May 15th. We arent sure if that is his actual birthday. He was a rescue dog that we found on www.petfinder.com and met on August 15th 2004. The vet thought he was approximately 3 months old. So, we sort of made his birthday May 15th.

He was all of 17 lbs and they told us he would grow to be about 45 lbs. They were a little off... He is 70lbs! I wanted a medium size dog... Opps. He has turned out to be great dog.

This is the first year Ned and I have missed Tucker's birthday. I am sure Tuck hasn't noticed, but Ned and I (and the kids) were especially missing him this 15th.

Grammy and Grumps (along with Aunt Jeanne and Soon-To-Be-Uncle Dino) are taking care of him while we get settled in Holland. We will see him in August and the plan is to bring him to our new home then.

To celebrate his birthday the kids wore their "Tucker" shirts. They were hand me downs from a NH friend (Thanks Sylvia!) We also put candles in some ice cream and sang happy birthday to him over the phone. Cheesey, I know, but Tucker was our first baby. For those of you who have dogs, you know what I mean.

Happy Birthday Tucker!

(Sorry the video is sideways, I thought I could edit it and turn it, but I couldn't)

Katie's First Day of International Preschool

Picture right before we walked to school
Just a 10 minute walk, so nice!

Katie did pretty well for the first day. She cried for about 15 minutes after I left and then plugged right in.

Day two was Thursday and no tears. She was too excited to feed the tadpoles to cry. When I picked her up she said, "mommy, you are so proud of me. I had fun at school."

Proud I am.

Her class has 12-19 children in it depending on the day. It is the most diverse I have ever seen. There are children from all over the world, I mean really all over. China, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, England and more. The teachers seem wonderful with the children and I think Katie will be very happy there.

Just a Hello Video

Kolner Zoo, Koln Germany

After a wonderful breakfast complete with eggs, bacon, fresh fruit and ham and cheese croissants, we headed to Kolner (or Cologne in English) Zoo to have a fun family day on Mother's Day.

It was a great zoo. The elephant exhibit was probably the best Ned and I have ever seen. They had a great playground and both kids were exhausted when we left. It only took minutes for them to both be fast asleep!

Katie at the playground

Daddy and the kids

Mommy and Andrew in front of the elephant exhibit

You can sort of see a monkey in the background

A tired and pouty Katie even though she got a "Nemo" balloon

Happy Birthday Mommy!

My birthday was May 7th. Thank you for all the cards and well wishes!

We had American style pizza from a place called New York pizza followed by cake with candles and presents.

Katie insisted on getting me a soccer ball, specifically a white one with black dots. The condition was that I had to share it with her and Andrew. Ned bought me a soccer ball and "we" have enjoyed it.

A Mall!

Things are different here to say the least. You saw the oven...

Anyway, all the stores that I have seen until a few days ago have been downtown in a city setting. Think cobblestone, lots of tall buildings and people bustling about. This setting is not conducive to shopping with children. I need containment and a kiddie ride to pop a euro into need be.

Well, I found it. My concierge, Alexandra, I should call her, told me about a mall in Maastricht. I was skeptical because she is Dutch and her idea of "mall" may be different than mine. I was pleasantly surprised and quite excited when me and the kids pulled into a parking garage (sort of) and were greeted by a mall...really a mall.

Two stories, department stores, bath and bedding stores, sneaker shops (called "Do it"...as in Nike), supermarket, houseware stores, clothing and shoe stores. I was in my glory. I WILL go back there sans kids soon.

First Adventure

Monday I got a rental car. A manual rental car. All cars are manual here. I haven't drive manual since my Mazda Protege days and I left those behind in 2000. It has been a while, but like Ned predicted it came back to me. Like riding a bike :)

So, me and the kids took our first adventure drive. We went to Belgium. Just a 20 minute drive from Maastricht, but it took us 30. Not bad, I say. We missed a turn or two but made it safe and sound to our playdate with some new friends.

Since then, I have missed many a turns and now Katie says "Mommy, you are always going the wrong way." It is nice that my three year old had such confidence in me!

Just Another Day

Last night we made an "american" meal... tacos a favorite with both Katie and Andrew (and Ned and I too!). I went to two supermarkets to get black beans and even asked. They looked at me like I had two heads! Oh well. I bought kidney beans and Katie and Andrew liked them just as much.

Like usual, Andrew was covered in beans and taco seasoning from ear to ear. He thought it was pretty funny.

Katie, well, she is still three. FULL of sass...lots and lots. I tired to take a picture of her and this is what I got.

Queens Day

The Queen’s official birthday (Koninginnedag) is a national holiday, which is celebrated by street parties, flea markets, concerts and much more. http://www.queensdaymaastricht.nl/

Everyone wears orange, the national color of Netherlands. Orange symbolizes national and royal pride and relates to the Dutch royal family name, The Nassau Family, House of Orange.

Andrew was the only Galka sporting orange. We will have to be better prepared for next April 30th.

Breakfast of Champions

Here is one example of the cuisine in the Netherlands.

Breakfast: Sprinkles on buttered toast.

Not your average sprinkles or jimmies (as some people call them...I am one of them), but flavored ones. For the moment, we have pink and purple (Katie's new favorite colors) which are strawberry and, of course, chocolate at our house.

Step one: Make toast
Step two: Butter toast
Step three: Pour on lots of sprinkles in flavor of your choice
Step four: Enjoy!

Dutch Oven

Nope not the Dutch Oven you are thinking...

I am talking about the oven in my house. Can you say small! Good thing I am not Julia Childs or anything because I would have a very tough time whipping up a fantastic meal in this kitchen. Forget Thankgiving or Christmas dinner at our house. A turkey would NEVER fit in here!

This tiny oven serves as both a microwave and oven with just the hitting of one little button. Yep it is both. Trust me, I had to read the directions a couple times. Thankfully they were in english!

I took a picture of an average size sippy cup to give you and idea of exactly how small we are talking about.

Wouldn't be Holland without a Windmill

Andrew

No time for text...

Just a great picture of Andrew and his beautiful blue eyes.

The Eagle has Landed

It has been one week since we landed in the Amsterdam airport. We then drove 3 hours to our new home in Maastricht. The flight was uneventful and both kids slept a good amount. The 6 hours or so after landing were a little hairy, but over. Thank God. More to come on that one later.

We just got our internet connection and cable set up today. This must be what an addict feels like... Withdrawl.

The week has flown by. We are keeping busy and the kids have already adjusted to the time zone. Ned started work Monday and the kids, my mom and I have been out exploring Maastricht daily. We have been finding all the good playgrounds and figuring out which grocery store has what. Every day is an adventure!

More to come when we settle in a little more.

Just wanted everyone to know we are here safe and sound and adjusting.

Happy Easter!

Look at their hands!

Andrew dunked the eggs and they proceeded to squish them in his hands!

Horsing Around with Daddy

Here are some photos of Daddy and the kids just having plain ol' good fun.

Our babysitter started, what is now known in our house as, "Dance Party" where we crank up Party Favorites on the Comcast music chanel and dance like we just don't care. We try all kinds of new moves! Andrew and Katie LOVE it! Thanks for starting this Krystin!

The chair and half was "our stage" during this particular dance party. This are the after pictures. (I did a video clip but it was too dark)

Good times!

Katie's "smile"

Still has his baby blue eyes

No Turning Back Now

Sorry I have not posted in a while but things have been busy around here. The moving company came yesterday.

You would think that since we have movers (and packers) that there really wasn't much for us to do...I wish.

Everything we wanted to take needed to be separated into 1) Air Freight (12-14 days), 2) Sea Freight(30-40 days) and 3) what we were taking with us on the plane. And, what to leave behind since we aren't selling our house. It was a very daunting task for me. With two small children, there really wasn't much I could set aside. And, how do you decide what you can do without for 12 days versus 40 days? And to complicate it more, we could only take 1,200 lbs by air and a 40 foot container by sea. I could not get my head around what 1,2oo lbs really means.... Needless to say, we did a lot of shifting freight at the last minute and did not get to take everything we wanted by air. Hey, as long as it all gets to Holland in once piece, I won't complain.


All in all it went smoothly.

Boxes bound for Holland

The loaded truck

Oh Boy Oh Boy

To all my friends who have three year old boys or older and listened to be tell them how "active" Katie was and how she got into "everything"...

Thank you for listening to me. I now know that I was wrong. So wrong.

Katie was active and a curious toddler. But, oh my god! The things Andrew thinks to do, Katie never in a million years would have. You may assume that he is doing these "things" because he is watching his older sister. Nope. Not the case. He thinks of everything ALL on his own. Here are a few examples:

Climbing INTO the entertainment center

Climbing ON TO the train table

Eating leaves from the ficus tree

Pushing stools over to the counter and trying to reach things

Throwing toys through the gate and down the stairs to see if they reach the floor

Climbing into the tub, head first.

Putting his face in Tucker's raised water dish and DRINKING the water

Jumping off toys over and over until he masters it without falling down!

Climbing into Tucker's raised water dish (knees in one bowl, face in the other)

And, his latest...Getting into the bread drawer and biting and tearing THROUGH the plastic english muffin and bread bags to bite into the food.

And, he is only 14 months old!

Another step away from Babyhood

Today Andrew had his first haircut. He was 14 months yesterday. His blond wisps were really growing over his ears so it was time. Of course Katie wanted to get in on the picture taking as well so here are her before and after pictures as well.

Katie before...

Katie during...

Katie after.

Andrew before...

Andrew during...

Andrew after.

Pretty Butterfly

Katie and I are working on creating a dress up bin. My gender neutral girl is suddenly turning into a girlie girl. She announced last week that pink is her favorite color. It used to be green, then orange, then white.

Andrew likes to do anything and everything Katie does. Here, he is holding the wings behind his shoulders.

A butterfly in Eagles PJ's!

Walking her brother?

Ahhh Katie. Picture says it all. She decided to "walk" her brother. Andrew, of course, thought it was great. Anything Katie does is golden to him. I couldnt resist taking a picture to document the moment.

Taco Night

Who knew... Andrew loves tacos. Well the shell, black beans and beef. Whenever he eats something he likes he makes this little moaning sound. It is funny! The taco definitely warranted a moan!!!!

Outside

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous. It was 60 degrees. We played outside for a good two hours or more with the kids on the swingset, walking and riding bikes. Here is Andrew on his first push bike.

Family Album

View Project at Shutterfly

Dance it Out

The kids both love the Jungle Book. It has great music and there aren't many "scary" parts, if any, that Katie wants me to fast forward. Enchanted, a movie I actually enjoy to watch with her (Patrick Dempsey), on the other hands, is TOO scary. For those of you who have seen it, the Susan Sarandon character is kind of moody.

Katie calls it Jungle Movie because, well, it is a movie not a book. I see the logic.

Here are the kids dancing to Bear Necessities. Any time music plays, Andrew dances. Even if it is a commercial.

The imagination of a three year old

Don't give Andrew the keys!

Why is it that children learn to go backwards before they go forward?