Christmas with the Galkas

Our first Christmas in the Netherlands was very nice. Ned's parents came the 17th and we were able to enjoy several pre-christmas activities with them - building our family gingerbread house, decorating the tree, making cookies, and going to Christmas markets.

The Christmas markets in Europe are quite impressive. We went to the Maastricht and Valkenburg markets in the Netherlands and one in Aachen, Germany. They have local foods, craft items and rides for the kids. I have to say, I like Maastricht's best. We enjoyed delicious potatoe pancakes, bratworst, waffels, and chacroute. The kids rode the carousel and "cho-cho" numerous times and Katie tried ice skating for the first time. I didn't think she would like ice skating but she went around about a dozen times and never complained. However, I think arm of the hand Ned was holding may be a few inches longer than the other one!

Grumps, Katie and I "attempting" to put the star on our tree

Christmas Eve - ready for dinner

Christmas Eve - ready for bed!

For the last 5 years, we have read the Night Before Christmas as a family. We all cuddle in bed in anticipation. We leave milk and cookies out for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. This year Katie wanted to write Santa a note to leave with the cookies and carrots. It said:

Dear Santa. Thank you for the toys. I love you Santa Clause. Love, Katie and Andrew

This year, Katie received an email from Santa himself. She was glued to the computer screen nodding with agreement, smiling, and listening intently. He told her that he knew she was trying very hard to be good to her little brother. (If you are interested to watch it, here is the link. It takes a few minutes. http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/e8b1d8ea54e127db4ea5104d562187c1 )

Christmas morning, as you can imagine, was very exciting. The kids slept in until about 8am and all six of us went downstairs together. The kids "big" gift was a plastic playhouse for the garden. They loved it. They got a lot of other things...too many to list. Andrew's favorite was a hammer from Grandma and Pop and Tic Tacs that were in his stocking. Katie's favorites were her princess dolls from Grammy and Grumps.

(Thank you to all their aunts and uncles and grandparents for making it a wonderful holiday!...our kids are SO spoiled by you)

Andrew fixing the plastic house with his new hammer.
This went on for hours...days

First Tonka truck

Daddy opening jeans

Reading new Olivia book

Hanging out in the house

Fireman Andrew

Hording the tic tacs. He took them out of other peoples stockings!

Katie discovering her craft desk

Opening new dollhouse people

Top video: Andrew and Katie singing "Jingle Bells"

Bottom video: Katie singing "O Christmas Tree"


Andrew with his wine glass at Christmas dinner.
Ready to make a toast?

Family picture

Andrew definitely has a sweet tooth!
(those are chocolates in the ornament)

Grammy and Grumps with their favorite grandchildren

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!


First "snowstorm" of the season. December 2009.

Sinterklaas morning

These a a little late, but better late than never...

Saturday, December 5th Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Piet made a stop at our house. They left a big sack of toys at the front door...

The sack

Andrew realizing that Sinterklaas ate the cookies we left for him

Dumping the sack. Very exciting!

Andrew digging in the sack

Sinterklaas brought a tractor for Andrew

Sinterklaas brought Katie Disney's Aristocats movie

Mommy with two happy kids

We had traditional Roomboter Amandelletter for dessert

FOUR

Katie turned 4 years old on Wednesday the 9th. Hard to believe!

Katie has just hit the princess phase. I think I avoided it longer than most parents, so I cant complain. She loves Sleeping Beauty and Snow White best. She has also been very interested in dress up. Turning very girlie! She still loves crafts, playdoh, animals, puzzles, and playing outside too.

Katie has started trials at Junior Kindergarten this week which means she goes to preschool in the morning and Jr Kindergarten in the afternoon two days per week. So far, she loves it. In the Netherlands, when children turn four they go to school full time. At Katie's school this means four days 8:30-3:15 and one half day.

Katie in her "Birthday Girl" tee shirt.

Katie woke up to a hallway full of brightly colored balloons and I made a #4 out of croissant pastry. It comes in a tube similar to Pillsbury crescent rolls, but tastes like croissants. Katie got a kick out of it! She would not share it with anyone. Good thing I made few handfuls of mini croissant for Andrew. That is the most croissant I have ever seen her eat!


Andrew and I went to preschool a little before pick up. The children sang happy birthday to Katie in English and in Dutch. At the end of the song, the children cheer "hip, hip, hooray" four times. Katie loved it. The class gave Katie a present and Katie gave her classroom gift in lieu of goodies bags for the children. At snack time, Katie had a princess cake that I had dropped off. Complete with Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella figures.

Katie listening to "hip, hip, hooray"

Nutella.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not a celebrated holiday in the Netherlands. For obvious reasons, of course. But, being Americans and having had turkey for the last 30 some years of our lives on "Turkey Day", we had to do it. Plus, being in a new place, it is nice to make things feel as much like "home" as we can.

Ned was not off from work on Thanksgiving or Black Friday so we celebrated on Saturday. Two American families came over. I have grown quite close to these two particular moms and their children. I am very thankful for their friendship and support over the last eight months. When you are so far from home, your friends become family.

Finding a turkey in November was no easy feat. And, one that would fit in our over. If you recall, our oven is SMALL. Ned found one at a local butcher that was 1 or 2 kilos. And, it was de-licious!

Andrew really wanted the drumstick

The kids. Katie, Ian and Andrew. (I think Katie is trying to blow out the candle)

The little bird

Katie and Andrew picking. Um Um good!
Katie kept calling it a chicken. I think because it was the size of a chichen!

Sinterklaas

It took us a while to figure out what this is exactly and to be honest, we still don't think we understand the holiday 100%.

Basically, Sinterklaas is a Dutch tradition in which Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) arrives by steamboat from Spain on November 14 marking the start of the holiday season. For the three weeks leading up to December 5th, children leave their shoes out for the Sinterklaas and the Zwarte Piet to leave snopes for them. Snopes, in essense, are treats...usually sweeties. The Zwarte Piet are Santa's black slave helpers. Politically incorrect, I should say so. The legend goes that the Zwarte Piet have black faces from the soot in the chimneys. Of course in this day and age, there are controversies over the white men with painted black faces (literally!), but the dutch still do it. I sort of shake my head and am happy that my kids are still young enough that a lot goes over their heads...

Sinterklaas arriving by boat

Sinterklaas and a Zwarte Piet parading through downtown

We stood in the pouring rain on November 14 to see Sinterklaas arrive.
Katie's smile says in all!

Saint Nicholas' Eve (December 5) is tomorrow so there is alot of excitment in the air. The evening is called "sinterklaasavond" or "pakjesavond" ("presents evening"). Katie has been learning about the traditions, holiday songs and making all sorts of crafts at school. Today, Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Piet made a visit to the primary school. The kids were going bonkers!! I stayed with Andrew for a bit to watch...he was, well, confused.

For me, it is a lot to take in. Katie is right on the edge of understanding what should and should not occur... thanks to school and her friends. So Ned and I are sort of muddling through what we are "supposed" to do. So far so good.

So, tonight Sinterklaas delivers toys to the good girls and boys. Check. Got it.
The kids leave treats for Sinterklaas and his trusted horse Amerigo. Check. Got it.
Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Piets sneak down the chimneys (or through doors) and leave a sack of presents for the good girls and boys. Check. Got it.
Purchase a traditional pastry "Roomboter Amandelletter" to share with the family. Check. Got it.

You probably see many similarities... the tradition of celebrating Saint Nicholas, who on his Dec. 6 birthday gave out presents to the poor rather than receiving them, probably gave rise to Santa Claus. Here they typically refer to Santa Claus as Father Christmas, or Kerstman. Saint Nicholas day is celebrated, in different ways, in many parts of Europe.

Next step...wrapping.

It is fun to immerse ourselves in the culture. Despite the confusion, it is a lot of fun.

Sinterklaas gefeliciteerd! (Happy Sinterklaas!)

Katie singing Zwarte Piet. (in Dutch)

If you want to learn more, you can read about it at:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,594674,00.html

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

Automobile

Gas is expensive. Yes, I am the first to complain. I remember two summers ago when the the prices went over $3.00. But, next time you complain think of Europeans (like me)...

First off, it is important to explain that when I fill up the tank the price is by the liter, not the gallon. (think 2 liter of coke and divide in half)

Here is a little math lesson...

1 liter of gasoline in the Netherlands = 1.43 euros
1 gallon on gasoline is the US = $2.59
1 euro = $1.48
4 liters = (approximately) 1 gallon.

So, if 1 liter costs 1.43 and there are 4 liters to a gallon, then 1 gallon of gas in the Netherlands would cost 5.72 euros which is about $8.50.

I am starting to bike more and more. We just bought a two seater kid trailer. Good exercise and cheaper!

Farming

Looking back over the last six months it appears we have gone to a lot of farms. Well, there are a lot of farms in the Netherlands. And, Ned and I agree that it is a fun thing to do with the whole family. Fresh air, exercise and just good old fashion time together.

A few weekends ago in a hunt for pumpkins we went to an organic farm in Thorn, Limburg. The owners could not have been more wonderful.

Jan, co-owns the farm with his wife Bets. Jan took Ned, myself and the kids on a personal tour of the farm. He explained to the kids what the chickens, pigs and cows eat. He showed us the grain shed which had tons and tons of corn kernels. He cracked walnuts, just picked that day, for us. He let us taste the fresh sausage he had made. And I mean fresh! There was actually a picture and pricing for parts of a cow that was next in line to be slaughtered.

The kids bounced on a trampoline and picked carrots right from the earth. There was lots of dirt to be had so Andrew was in heaven. Katie loves to gather so she had fun collecting carrots.

On our way out we purchased potatoes, kale, walnuts, and carrots very inexpensively. And, if felt good to support a local farmer and for the kids to learn where food comes from.

Andrew trucking through a field of carrots

Found one!

Andrew in the dirt

Checking out the chickens

Why do my kids always get hurt or sick when Ned travels? Well, this past week it was both Katie and Andrew.

Ned left Sunday morning. Katie, Andrew and I went to a friends house for dinner that afternoon. We werent there five minutes before Katie is wailing with a mouth full of blood. She was scooting around on a toddler push bike on hardwood floors and did a face-plant. In the end she was fine, but she had a fat lip for about 24 hours. Thank god we didnt have to go to the dentist! (we dont have a dentist here yet!).

Next day...Monday. I stop at a dog grooming salon on the way home from walking Katie to school and Andrew trips over his own two feet and does a header into the equipment. Cuts his head and we leave there with betadine smeared all over his head and a big bump.

Tuesday...we took a nature walk with friends. No injuries but I was paranoid the entire time that one of them was going to go head first into the lake or stream and I would have to jump in after them.

We got through the next couple days and Ned arrived home yesterday, Thursday. Tonight we will be celebrating his birthday...38 years young on October 20th (while he was away). Happy Birthday Ned!

Katie nursing her fat lip with a frozen yogurt pop

Showing her lip off for the camera

Pumpkins for Dummies

The Halloween season has been, well, a challenge in our new home.

First off, we wanted pumpkins. I called and emailed the few potential farms, which of course is no easy feat since I do not speak dutch. We went to one farm that said they did have pumpkins, but they turned out to be the Japanese variety.

Japanese pumpkins
(that is a 5"x 7" frame to give you an idea of size)

A few ex-pat friends knew that I was looking for pumpkins and told me that the grocery store had them. I was skeptical,but excited to have found some. They were small and expensive but they were pumpkins. Each one was 2.99 euros which is $4.42. We bought three ($13.25 total).



It is difficult to read the sticker that came on the back of the pumpkin, but basically it says:

Step one:Cut off top
Step two: Cut a face
Step three: place candle inside and light

And, there were three black stickers on the front of the pumpkin (see picture below). Eyes, nose and mouth. It couldn't be easier...If you wanted, you could trace the stickers and then cut out the face. Funny dutch...

Yep, the pumpkin came with directions on how to carve it. I got a kick out of this! Can't say I have ever seen this in America!

Since we only had three small pumpkins, we decided to paint two and carve one.

The kids painting their pumpkins. Notice Katie's has a face!

The kid's painted pumpkins (right and left).
The center pumpkins displays the black stickers each came with.

Katie carving

The finished pumpkins.
The right one is jack-o-lantern. It is a bat (Daddy helped....)

Funny Ned

It is rare that Ned (or I, for that matter) get featured in a blog but this had to be recorded...

(Put on your imagination cap)

Story #1
While the kids and I were in the US our frig broke (or so Ned thought..it ended up that the cord had come loose). Ned went to the Home Depot of Holland and bought a small frig (that we planned to use as a second frig in the garage) If only it was that simple... The frig box did not fit in the trunk of his car. So, Ned decided to put the frig in the cart and push it home. Home, just so you can get a clear picture is 8 kilometers (4.9 miles). So picture, if you would, Ned pushing a box (bigger than the trunk) in a shopping cart on a city street. Funny, but I am not done yet. While starting his trek home, Ned realized that the store closes shortly and that the parking lot is gated and locked when closed. Uh-oh. Ned starts running with the cart and the box. Then, gets home unloads his cart and runs back to the store. 8 km. back. Luckily he made it back before the store closed and was able to get his car out of the lot. When he returned, the store clerks approached him. Someone had reported that they saw a man pushing a cart through town. The clerks told Ned he was lucky he did not get arrested.

Story #2
We bought a shelf at IKEA. It was too short for the space. The store is near Ned's work. I asked Ned if he returned the shelf. He said, "yes, sort of" but that he didn't get a store credit. I thought that was strange, but the return policies in Holland are a little strange/difficult. It seemed like there was more to it so I asked him why. Well, apparently Ned went to IKEA with the intention of returning the shelf, but the return line was too long for his liking so he just left the shelf at the store. In the middle of the store. Who does that??? If IKEA's inventory is off, we know who to blame.

These two stories made me laugh. I would never push a frig 5 miles. I would have taken the frig back into the store and either asked someone for help unpacking the box and getting it on my car or asked them to hold it for when I could come back with a larger car. Nor would I leave an item I paid for (only 7 euros but that is not the point) in the middle of the store. I would bring it back later.

Are these stories case in point to the differences between men and women or the difference between Ned and Ellen? I think both.

Back "Home"

Our trip back to the Netherlands was uneventful. Which is all we can ask for when traveling with two children and a dog. Yes, we brought our dog back with us this trip. (Thank you Grammy and Grumps for taking such good care of Tucker the first few months we were in Holland).

We left Boston on Wednesday the 30th of September and landed Thursday October 1. The kids slept a few hours each on the plane and all of us slept in the shuttle from the airport to our house (3 hrs). The dog arrived parched from barking so much, but seems unscathed by flying in cargo for 6 hours.

It is day 6 and we are just getting adjusted to this time zone. They say it takes children 1 day per every hour of time difference. That is right on track. It is a six hour time difference. Last night was the first night that Katie stayed in hr bed all night and Andrew slept through the night.

It was sad leaving our friends and family in the US but it feels good to get back to our routine and "real" life. Katie has adjusted back to school very well and Andrew just goes with the flow.