International Peace Day

Tomorrow is International Peace day and in celebration the children at Katie and Andrew's school have been asked to dress in white. Katie had homework that included coloring a dove and both kids came home Friday with poems and songs about lighting candles and peace. Here are two separate conversations we had on Peace Day:

Sunday night.
Mom: Tuesday is International Peace Day so remind me that you need to wear white to school
Katie: OK, well they will probably have peas to eat and I don't like peas.
Mom: (gets a good laugh)

Monday night.
Mom: Remember, tomorrow is Peace Day at school so I picked out your clothes. They are white.(She likes to choose her own clothes, so I had to warn her)
Katie: Well, shouldn't I wear green since it is Peas Day?
Mom: Not Peas day it is Peace Day.
Katie: Whats that?
Mom: Peace means that people get along with one another and don't fight. They compromise on issues, like when I tell you and Andrew to compromise on picking a DVD, and they try to be kind to one another.
Katie: Well, I hope we don't have peas at school tomorrow. I don't like peas.

Think she missed the point on this one? Hopefully it will become clearer to her at school tomorrow.

Gotta love her...

Movieland

Last weekend we hopped in the car to Movieland in Germany. Just about an hour and half away. I recommend it for people with small children (at least 90 cm, that is). They have a Nick Jr. themed area that our kids loved. Blues Clues, Wonder Pets, Dora, Diego, etc.

Swiper's Sweeper Ride - like a mini scrambler

Diego's Jeep - bounces and "drives"

We saw a Shrek 4-D short movie. The 4-D aspect is that you feel the movie. ie when Shrek rides a horse, the seat gallops. When Dragon sneezes, you get wet! We wore silly glasses that made the movie jump out at us.

So brave - Andrew with Shrek

There was also a Santa Monica Pier area. Complete with a Jaws exhibit. There was also a Jet Ski ride that Katie and Ned had a lot of fun on.

Ned and Katie on the Jet Ski ride

Back to School

Week one of school was a success. A whole day and half for Katie and half a day for Andrew.

Katie started Senior Kindergarten, the equivalent of kindergarten in the United States. Last year she did Junior Kindergarten, like a pre-k. She loves her teacher and was so excited to see friends she hadn't seen since July. She walked right in proud and confident. Her teacher told me she likes to be the helper. She likes to take care of the kids that are sad for their parents by holding their hands and comforting them. She also thinks it is pretty cool that she wears a necklace when she goes to the bathroom and puts it back when she comes back. She very proudly told me that it lets the teacher know where she is.

Andrew couldn't wait for Ned and I to leave the preschool classroom. He walked in, sat down at the playdough table and waved at us. His way of say, "ah, you can leave", I guess. He had started at the end of May, a total of 5 weeks (twice a week) and loved it then too. His one gripe - that he didn't get to paint his first day because the teacher couldn't find the aprons (smocks).

Our babies

Walking to school (from the car)

His expression - looks annoyed-

at Katie and I for not keeping up

Outside in line waiting to go in - Excited!

Home Sweet Home

We are back on this side of the pond now and it was probably the easiest flight thus far. It was an overnight flight and both kids slept for about four hours at the same time. (That last part is key). At one point, and I wish I had the camera accessible, they were lying toe to head on two seats next to each other. It was adorable until Katie kicked Andrew in the head!

It is about a seven hour flight but takes about 16 hours door to door. Exhausting....And, when you get there that is when the real fun begins! Jetlag. I have heard that it takes children 1 day per hour of time difference from the place of travel. I don't know who told me this, but it is pretty accurate. We are on day 7 now and completely over jetlag. (there is a six hour time difference)

Now what is keeping us up is back to school jitters! More to come on that soon.

The kids resting watching a movie

Vacation on the Jersey Shore

No, I did not see Snookie. (from the Jersey Shore reality show). That show is not a depiction of my fond childhood memories of the Jersey Shore. I have been going there since I was a baby. Haven't missed a summer. It's the best!

This summer was extra special. We got to meet the newest member of the family, my nephew, James Michael who was born on June 24th. So sweet, so small. Katie was very interested in him. Andrew, well, he wasnt all that exciting to him. He was much more into his older cousin (by 5 months), Charlie.

Katie, so proudly, holding James

The four grandbabies. Charlie, Andrew, Katie and James.

The proud Godmother

We had perfect beach days, there by 11am, exhausted the kids followed by a long nap. We made lots of swimming "pools" and castles, collected shells, and went "in the deep", as my kids called it.

Digging, Making cupcakes.

My favorite beach picture.

Cool dude

Grandma. Oh no a wave!

Swimming in "the deep"

Sandy. Crunchy ocean dried hair. Love it.

An Ocean City summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to Gillian's Wonderland Pier - the rides! My kids, spoiled as they are, went twice in one week. Once with 2nd cousin, Audrey (18 months) and once with cousin Charlie.

Katie, Andrew and Charlie

Audrey, Katie and Andrew

Andrew's first roller coaster. Katie is a pro.
My little thrill-seekers. They didnt get that from me!

Science mixed with F-U-N

At the start of "our summer" (which is the day we set foot in the United States), Katie and Andrew received 10 caterpillars and a few dozen ladybugs from their Grammy and Grumps. ( In kits, of course)

As most of your know, when we are in the US, we travel a lot. Well, so did the caterpillars and ladybugs. They went from New York to New Hampshire to Pennsylvania to New Jersey. It wasnt the easiest of things. Neither could be in direct sunlight, get any condensation on their habitats or, of course - be dropped or manhandled.

We were very happy that almost all of the ladybugs matured into adult ladybugs and that all 10 caterpillars turned into Painted Lady butterflies. It was a great learning experience for both kids, but especially Katie. She checked her bugs every morning and told everyone about how they had changed. Did you know that ladybugs don't look like ladybugs until they are in the adult phase? I didn't. Before the adult phase they look like ordinary black little bugs, almost like an ant. We watched the caterpillars turn into chrysalids and hang from the top of the cups and then carefully moved them to the netted cage (picture below). The first cocoon hatched (?) on the drive from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania. It was VERY exciting! (I was relieved that I hadn't screwed up and killed them, honestly)

We set them free on our last day of vacation in New Jersey. It was a great end to "our summer."

Happy Birthday to Grandma!

My parents, brother, sister in law, nephews and our family were lucky enough to be together again for my mom's birthday. Third year in a row. Celebrating 60-something!

Andrew, Katie and Charlie
(I have no idea why Katie has that on her head!)

Fish!

Katie has always LOVED swimming. When she was just 18 months old, she would jump off the side, go under, pop back up with a huge smile on her face and then swim to the side of the pool. (with a swim bubble on). Three years later, she is still enjoying the water and swimming unaided.

Swim lessons in the Netherlands, like everything else, are different. So, I decided when we were back she would take lessons. She took lessons Monday through Friday at 8am the first two weeks we were in New Hampshire. Yep, 8am, but I figured that we might as well since we were all up between 4-6am due to jet lag! She was the youngest and smallest in her class but the best student, most determined and the one with the least amount of fear!

Katie in the lead!

Here she is jumping off the diving board. The other children - all boys, all older, all taller - either did not jump at all or had to have the instructor walk out with them and talk them through it.

That's my girl!

Two and a Half

Andrew turned two and a half on July 24th. We landed in Boston July 23rd so it has taken me this long to get around to updating the blog!

At two and a half, Andrew weighs 24.4 lbs and is 34.5 inches tall. He is at about the 50th percentile for both.

He is a very curious, energetic and active boy. And, with those traits, he almost always has a bump or bruise somewhere on his body at all times. Just this past month he chipped both of his front teeth! His knees are both scraped up at the moment. On top of being very busy, he is also very chatty. He has been talking in full sentences for a long time but still confuses his pronouns. "Me want to go to the playground, me not tired, me no do that" Very cute, in my book :)

Andrew and Katie play very well together, but also fight extremely well together. Andrew is quick to tell me "Katie started it." I think I will be hearing this (both ways) for many many more years!

Here us a picture and a short video clip from our family celebration on his Half Birthday.

D, D, D, D Dora!

For those of you with preschoolers know "D, D, D, D Dora!". Well, Dora is here in Holland on Nick Jr. Same channel, but ah.... slightly different. See for yourself!

In the US, as you are very aware, Dora speaks English and teaches children Spanish. Since we have been doing a bit of traveling, we have learned that Dora speaks mother tongue in her home country, be it France, Germany, Netherlands and so forth and teaches children English.

What a hoot!

Mini Break

Last weekend we traveled about 2.5 hours north of Maastricht to Den Haag, Netherlands. We stayed at a Eurocamp called Duinrell. Ned and I both commented that we dont know of anything like in the United States. It is a huge campground of sorts. There are mostly mobile homes for guests but also places for rented/bring your own tents. We went with the mobile home option for three nights. Just the five of us (Tucker too!) in a "cozy" 3 bedroom. The campground has a big indoor water park and an amusement park. It also has trails for biking, supermarket, and various playgrounds. We made use of all amenities.

Katie and Andrew's first cotton candy at the amusement park

Spinning mushroom

We went to one of the biggest tourist attraction in Holland, Madurodam. Just about 15 minutes from our lodgings. It is a miniature Holland. All outdoors and over 100 exhibits. I wasn't sure it would hold the kid's attention, but they surprised me. Katie loved following the route and the numbers associated with each exhibit. You could put in a 10 cent piece into most of the exhibits and make them move. Andrew loved the miniature train that zoomed everywhere...there was even a Thalys high speed train! Both kids liked the Mars plant that brought out chocolate on a truck. Schipol airport in Amsterdam was pretty cool too. But, the best was a couple miniature Maastricht buildings.

Katie next to a windmill

Ned and Katie next to the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basiliek in Maastricht

What big shoes you have!

There was a nice beach only 4 km from the Eurocamp. We took the kids there each night after dinner. The water was cold, as expected, but we had a lot of fun digging in the sand, building sand castles and finding treasures.

Daddy's girl

Katie writing in the sand

She wrote her name. She was so proud!

Beauties

Just a random picture of the kids at the Aachen Animal Park last week. They were being silly.

First you Mow, Then You Rake