Labor Day weekend in NY

Labor Day weekend we went to New York to visit Ned's parents and sister, brother in law and a few friends. We were supposed to go the previous weekend, but hurricane Irene ruined that.

Saratoga is always fun. The summer horse races were still going on and the kids loved them. They loved watching the horses, running around like horses and of course eating all the yummy treats there were to offer. And, it was a gorgeous day with lots of people-watching to be had!

Monday it was rainy so we went bowling. Katie had been once years ago and Andrew had never been. We had a lot of laughs. Mostly at our scores and techniques!

Scores:

Andrew 88

Katie 76

Ellen 83

Ned 119

Grumps 117

Grammy 55

Yes, it does appear that Andrew beat me, but I would like to add that he and Katie had bumpers. Even still - it was embarrassing to be beaten by a 3.5 year old! And, Chis technically came in last, but she did have an elbow injury a few months ago. She had a handicap.

The walk...

The roll...

Watching the ball go. Totally professional bowling etiquette I believe.

Grumps and Andrew. Grammy and Katie.

For some uncanny reason, Andrew could get most of the pins down with his technique. It was ridiculously amazing. Watch here. He gets a spare.

Katie didnt have quite a lot of umpf but had strategy.

Kindergarten

Katie is now in her 4th week of Kindergarten and so far so good. When we lived in the Netherlands she completed Junior Kindergarten and almost an entire year of Senior Kindergarten. Both were full day programs. I would equate Junior Kindergarten to a Pre-K US program and Senior Kindergarten to a US Kindergarten program. So, she sort of had a leg up entering in. Which due to her shyness, I was happy about.

She loves her teacher and is making friends easily. We have already have had one playdate outside of school. Almost every day she comes home with something exciting to tell me and all about what she did on the school yard. She likes to look for bugs and worms with a couple first graders. She loves Music class and Art. She does not care for Spanish.

First day at her desk

Ocean City, NJ

We had a great time in Ocean City once again. We go every year. An,d I have been going every year since I was a baby.

The weather couldn't have been better. Every day was a great "beach day." The water was warm and jellyfish-free. Both Katie and Andrew are waterbugs and spend about 80% of their time in the water. The both love to look for sandcrabs, hermit crabs, baby clams, shells and so forth and this year was the first year they were really interested in surfing (really boogie-boarding). At first they needed help getting on to their boards to catch waves and then, just after one day, they were able to hop a wave and ride it in! I was very impressed, but not surprised. Once they set their mind to something, they aim to master it.

Andrew riding a wave in

Katie riding a wave in

Diggin' in the sand

Neither have ever had a fear of the water. They love it!

Andrew, Charlie and Katie

Of course we made a few trips to Gillians Wonderland Pier and Playland amusement rides. This year was the first year Andrew was tall enough to ride the kiddie rides along (have to be 36 inches) and Katie could ride some of the big kid rides with an adult (have to be 42 inches). Both were very excited! Mom and Dad were excited too that we didnt need to go on as many kiddie rides with them!

Charlie and Andrew braving the boats.

Katie and Daddy on the pirate ship - a big kid ride!

Katie (front) with Andrew, Aunt Carolyn and Charlie (2nd row)
Roller Coaster!

Andrew absolutely loves to mini golf. Katie loves it too, but he really has a passion for it. We went 3 times in 2 weeks. He was in his glory.

Kid pictures on the beach. They love each other, right???

Andrew (3 yr 6 mo), Katie (5 yr 8 mo), James (14 months), and Charlie (3yrs 10months)

Andrew and Katie piggies!

Happy Half Birthday

Andrew turned 3 and a half July 24th. We started a tradition of getting a cake and small present for half birthday. (I am sure I will kick myself for that one someday...) We got him a bubble rocket toy and when he opened it, he said "oh, what is it?" Quickly followed by "this is exactly what I wanted for my half birthday." He cracks us up on a daily basis.

New Additon to the Family

Meet Mo.

My in laws adopted him about two months ago and he is fitting right in with the rest of the dogs - Tucker (ours), Scooby and Fritz (Jeanne and Dino's).

The kids love him. It is very novel to them to have a small dog to play with. (Our dog is 70 lbs). And, Mo is really starting to enjoy the kids. When they are watching TV, he jumps right up on the couch in between them. Against the rules in our house for the dog to be on the couch, but somehow Mo gets away with it....

Andrew 3 1/2 years old

Mo 4 years old

Katie - 5 1/2 years old

More on our "new addition" to the family coming soon.

We are due in November!

Happy 4th of July

We had a fabulous 4th of July. We haven't been here for the last two, so it was nice to be able to celebrate the good ol' USA with great friends. We went up to a lake in Maine for one night. Boating, beach, fireworks on the lake, smores. What more could you ask for in a perfect 4th of July?

Tee Ball

As a parent, this was my first experience with pee wee sports. The first of many I am sure. And, I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Both Ned and I did.

Katie had a game every Saturday for about 8 weeks at either 9am or 11am. No practices during the week. Easy and convenient. I know it wont be like this for most sports to come. It was a non-competetive league for 4-5 year olds. And, much to Andrew's dismay, he was too young this year to play. He did, however, love to watch and cheer Katie on. He had his friend Alaina there to play with as well so that helped.

Most of the kids had never played a team sport. It showed, trust me. It was pretty comical when the entire infield and outfield ran to get the same ball. By the end of the 8 weeks, the kids were much better at staying in their position and waiting for the ball to come to them. Katie, like most things, was apprehensive for the first few games. She stuck to her friend, Jillian, like glue in the outfield. And by the last game it was adorable to see them sharing the balls they "caught" (more like rolled to them). They literally took turns letting each other throw it to the coach.

Next year it will be Tee Ball for Andrew and Instructional Baseball for Katie. Should be fun.

The whole teach rushing the ball

Katie stuck to Jillian in the infield. Hip to hip.

Katie up to bat

Running like the wind. She is actually pretty quick. Maybe track will be her sport?

The Dunkin Donuts Team. Three girls on the team.

Getting her trophe

Ocean City

The kids and I flew down to Philadelphia for the week. We made a quick trip to Ocean City NJ for 3 nights. We packed in all the major attractions: Mack and Manco Pizza, arcade, and amusement rides on the boardwalk. And, of course, the beach every day.

Cant wait to go back in August!

Andrew enjoying a slice of Mack and Manco. The best pizza!

Air hockey at the boardwalk arcade



The kids got new boogie boards from my parents. Katie and Andrew were both very determined to stand on them. They had a lot of wipe outs and lots of laughs!

Love the goggles!

Living Abroad

Click here to view this photo book larger

Caterpillars to Butterflies!

We did it last year when Katie was 4 1/2 and Andrew 2 1/2 and I think this year was even more fun! Both kids were so into checking the caterpillars to see if they turned into cocoons and then they anxiously waited for the cocoons to turn to butterflies. We had 5 Painted Lady butterflies!

The company we got them from is called Insect Lore. (www.insectlore.com). The caterpillars come in a small cup with a lid in the mail. Yep, in the mail. After about a week of so they get fatter and fatter and then hang from the lid and cocoon. 7-10 days later they turn into butterflies. You feed them sugar water and then release a few days later. Very simple. And very fun and educational!

Last year we released them on the bay in Ocean City, NJ. This year, at a butterfly sactuary park in Saratoga Springs, NY

Speaking English

A lot of people have not heard of Maastricht, I hadn't before we moved there in 2009. Heck, my geography is so bad I had to look at a map to see exactly where the Netherland was! (I think the Catholic schools failed me in the World History department...) But, apparently Maastricht, which is located in the southern part of the Netherlands, is a very attractive location for companies from all over the globe. Because of this, I was able to meet hundreds of other Expatriat families and become friends with dozens of wonderful and intersting ladies.

Something striking that I will take away from my experience for years and years to come, is the English. Those ladies from England. As an American raised in the United States, my history of England is very...well, non existent. It was drilled into our heads "the British are coming!", the red coats, and that we won our independance in 1776, but really other than that, I am pretty ignorant of the English. We had an opportunity to go to London in 2010 on one of our many mini-breaks and it was by far one of the best European cities we visited. The people were great, the shopping outstanding, the food - delicious - fish and chips!, and just an all around wonderful city.

As I said earlier, I met a lot of fascinating expatriate ladies. From Isreal, Russia, Japan, Germany, India, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and more. But, there was a very large population in Maastricht from England. Americans are different from the English, but one obvious commonality is that we both speak English. Or, so I thought.

Here is some of the "new" English I learned while living abroad:

Boot (trunk of the car)

Bonnet (hood of the car)

Telly (TV)

Nik Naks or pants (underwear)

Tap (facet)

Ta (thank you)

Lift (elevator)

Jumper (sweater)

Pushchair (stroller)

Pram (stroller)

Falling (getting pregnant)

Trousers (pants)

Naff (anorak)

chocablock (traffic on the road)

moreish (very yummy)

wingeing (whining)

motorway (highway)

poorly (not feelig well)

crsips (potatoe chips)

I want a go (I would like a turn)

Every time I heard one of these English-ism from one of my friends, it always gave me a little chuckle (that's a laugh for the English reading this ..ha ha). They were all wonderful women and I hope that our friendship continues across the miles.

Cheers!

Easter

Since we moved back I have been very behind in my blogging. We have been back a few weeks and I finally feel like we are getting into the swing of thing.

We had a fabulous Easter in Maastricht. I love the kids innocence with this holiday, much like Christmas. There is a certain magic about it.

The kids riding the canon outside the Maastricht city walls after Sunday service

Katie outside the church gates

Beautiful Maastricht

The best picture I could get of Andrew

After the egg hunt in our garden Easter morning

Ready and waiting by the glass door to the garden

Found one!

Opening Easter baskets

Dying Eggs

Katie and Grandma

Very serious

Very proud