Two Out Of Three Aint Bad

I wish I had this on video...

Me and Andrew having a chat.

Me: What is your name?
Him: Andrew

Me: When is your birthday?
Him: January

Me: Where do you live?
Him: Africa.

Plain as day. Pure and simple. He wasn't being funny, but it was SO funny.

SinterKlaas

Sinterklaas (also called Sint Nicolaas, de Goedheiligman or simply de Sint in Dutch) is a traditional Winter holiday figure in the Netherlands and Belgium ; he is celebrated annually on Saint Nicholas' eve (5 December) or, in Belgium , on the morning of 6 December. The feast celebrates the name day (birthday) of Sinterklaas and is the basis of the mythical holiday figure of Santa Claus (Father Christmas).

Children leave their shoes out from Sinterklaas' arrival into the Netherlands from Spain on November 20th until the morning of December 5th. His Zwarte Piet's (literally black elves) leave "snopes" (candies) or small gifts every morning. Katie and Andrew have be lucky enough to receive something every day but one. Like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas sees when children are naughty or nice.

On December 5th, Sinterklaas leaves a burlap bag of larger gifts. Traditionally, this is the dutch Christmas morning. December 25th is the celebration of Jesus.

Katie with Sinterklaas

This is the first time she has willingly taken a picture with Santa or Sinter. I sort of told her if she didnt, he wouldnt bring her gifts. Oh the things parents do to their children....

NH Fall Fun

While back in NH, it was the height of the fall foliage season. Up and down the highway, as far as the eye could see, there were gorgeous colors - red, yellow, orange. It was beautiful.

We don't really have a yard in Maastricht, more of a garden. And, we certainly do not have the big oak and maple trees that are prevalent in New England. It was a treat for the kids to make a big pile of leaves and jump in it. It never ceases to amaze me, what great childhood memories I relive through my kids.

Grammy was the ringleader. Not sure who had more fun...Her or the kids...

Holiday - Part III - Home

We were lucky enough to hop up to New Hampshire from Florida for about a week to see friends we just don't get to see often enough. And, bonus - Grandma and Grammy came up/over for a visit.

Halloween and pumpkin patches do not exist in the Netherlands so we took full advantage of the fall customs. This was Andrew's first time Trick or Treating. We did not get an opportunity to Trick or Treat last year, much to Katie's disappointment. This year, she remembered and was very excited. Call me a glutton for punishment, but we hosted a Halloween Party for about 40 people 4 days after we landed in Boston. It was a little hectic to prepare for - including a costume for Andrew last minute - but it was great to see our friends. There is no way I would have been able to see them all in just a week.

Grandma and the kids at a pumpkin patch that also had a corn maze

Dinosaur Train

Snow White

Trick or Treating

In total we were gone three weeks. It was a whirlwind tour, as usual, but worth every minute of aggravation to get there.

Holiday - Part II - Sanibel Island

After Disney World we went to Sanibel Island, about a 3 hour drive. Ned's parents go every fall and it had been 3 years since our last visit. This year several extended family members were there - Aunt Jeanne, Uncle Dino, Cousin Julie and Mike, 2nd Cousins Delany and Cole, Cousin Jill and Rick and Great Uncle Dick. Everyone lives all over the map so it was a nice mini reunion.

Sanibel is known for the shells. First thing in the morning is the best time. In this picture, we were out by 8am shelling.

Wonder what he is thinking...

Making a sand castle

Our last night in Sanibel. Sanibel sunset with Grammy.
It was the perfect end to Florida vacation.

Holiday - Part I - Disney World

We got in late Saturday after a not-so-easy 9 hour flight and 2 lost carseats. With two sleeping children, we stumbled into the hotel. We would have slept in, perhaps, if Delta had not called at 10pm, midnight and again at 2:30am to let us know the status of our missing carseats. Are you for real Delta??? I would have screamed at the delivery guy if I was SO tired! Andrew was up for good at 2:30am Sunday morning and for those of you that know Andrew - Well, when Andrew is up, the whole house (or in our case, hotel room in our case) is up. He is not a quiet child.

After Sunday, it got easier. How could we stay grumpy when it was 88 degrees outside and sunny? Yeah. October can be kind of dicey with hurricane season, but we lucked out. We hit the hotel pool, complete with cheesy DJ, and dowtown Disney to help get over our jet lag. Then -

Monday. Disney Park #1. ANIMAL KINGDOM

Katie and I got soaked on the Kali River Rapids

Rainforest Cafe

Tuesday and Wednesday. Disney Park #2. MAGIC KINGDOM

The highlight of Katie's Florida vacation was Cinderalla's Royal Feast at the castle. I think it was my favorite park of Disney as well. We had our picture with Cinderella and Ariel, Belle, Aurora, and Snow White came to our table. The food was better than expected and the princesses were wonderful. So true to character.

A classic. The flying Dumbos. And, strangely, the ride we waited in line for the longest. 25 minutes. While Grammy, Katie, Andrew and I waited to ride the Dumbos, Ned walked from Fantasyland to Tomorrowlandm rode Space Mountain, and walked back.

Prince Charmings Royal Carousel

We were disappointed to learn that It's A Small World was closed for renovations but pleasantly surprised that it opened two days earlier than expected. My favorite as a child and still a wonderful ride.

Katie and Grammy in awe

Andrew taking it all in

Adventureland: Swim Family Treehouse
(Don't you just love the matching tees?)

I think it was a tie between the Barnstormer mini roller coaster and Tomorrowland Speedway ride for Andrew. Check this out - what a terrible driver! Luckily for Ned it was on a track, but Andrew still had quite a bit of steering capability!

Ned turned 30-something the second day we were at Magic Kingdom so we stayed for the evening parade and firework display. Well worth it!

Grumps and a worn out Andrew.

Thursday. Disney Park #3. EPCOT

Outside "Apricot" as both Katie and Andrew called EPCOT all day...and thereafter.

Bruce the shark from Finding Nemo

Mexico

Mexico

The kids (all three of them....and me too, actually) loved the "jumping water" outside the Imagination Pavillion. We stayed there for a LONG time laughing great big belly laughs and squealing with anticipation for the water to "jump" again. What fun!

Tokoyo

Pumpkins!

Last fall we were here a total of 4 months (because we left for 7 weeks in the summer) when pumpkin season came around. If you recall, we were not truly successful at finding pumpkins. I settled for the small very expensive ones at the grocery store. This year we found a farm with BIG pumpkins. Great ones for carving!

How many languages can You say "hello" in?

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

The idea came to us (in an IM skype to be precise) very late Friday night. Friends of ours were headed with their two boys to Luxembourg and, on a whim, invited us to tag along. These friends, unfortunately, are only here 6 months. Great people. Really great and our kids love each other. Ned and I figured...why not?? Saturday morning we packed our bags and off we went on yet another exciting European adventure!

For those of you not familiar with Luxembourg (as I wasnt not that long ago either...) Luxembourg is a small country that neighbors Belgium, France, and Germany. It covers less than 1,000 square miles. Small. Very small. Blink and you are through it. It is about a 2 hour drive for us.

It ended up being a great mini getaway. The kids loved hanging out with each other in, as Andrew called it, our new house. aka hotel room. Saturday, we visited downtown and took in the sites via a super adorable train through old city and the park. Breathtaking views. Lots of history, but I was busy making Andrew sit in the moving train. Sunday we went to the most amazing playground I have ever seen (see below) and then to a phenomenal castle.

Luxembourg

The amazing playground...


Me, Katie and Andrew at the top of a climbing tower with a HUGE twist-ie slide

Happy Fall