Baby # 3!

Another miracle in the making....

All you needed to know, and then extra:

• Everything looks in place, and growing the right way.
  
• Due 11 October
• will be called Mack if Kaemon has his way
• 5 cm from top to tail (and the tail is still there!)
• already in maternity clothes, let it all hang out yeah!
• Nelson loves babies, so have high hopes for him to babysit responsibly
• Finished 3 bottles of Gaviscon antacids to battle the nausea
• when nausea is over, will celebrate by going to the best Thai in leiden
• all of a sudden craving for sashimi, rare beef, raw things.
  

Gong Xi Fat Xai!

This year we got together with Nicoline and Edi fellow Chinese foodies to celebrate the new year with the important element of Food: theme? Lots of it!

The laden table

1st row L-R: Peking Duck (Douwe brought from Rotterdam); Peking Duck pancakes; Lobak (bean curd rolls)
2nd row: pickled cucumbers, beef n black beans; Salt and Pepper calamari
3rd row: Mixed veg with prawns and scallops, Roast Pork, Steamed Bream


Kaemon and Nelly getting ang pows/red packets from Edi and Nicoline- which was very exciting as it was filled with chocolate money (and the real thing too, but they just give that to mummy).

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone the most important things in life: happiness and health. We can't ask for more :)

Groovy!

The best snow I've ever seen! And the first time I've seen yellow snow for real! Three pairs of socks and wellies, and my feet were warm. Thankfully I seemed to have grabbed the last two pairs of snow boots for the boys in the entire country.

Snow Angels!

K-monster doing his thing

Family Craft Time

Nelly Belly, just edible in his snow pants!

Nelson's B. Day!

We had fantastic party!! Good company, lots of food, sunshine and outdoors. The birthday boy enjoyed the attention and the good vibes,

Not a chair in sight (not possible for circles to be formed!)

The park had a little farm and lots of space to let the kids run the excess sugar off

Mingling, mixing and chilling

Kids under control

Nelson had enough attention all day long

The cake kind of survived long enough to be eaten

Big TA to all the attendees and for all the presents, we had such a good day!! And big pat on the back to Ingrid, the only acceptee of the open invitation offer!! You doubled the size of the Australian delegation!

Open invitation

Our littlest is turning one! Betting on good weather, we're organising a picnic in the park. We're reluctant to send out personal invitations as many live far away and may feel under pressure to turn up to a 3 hour dig; therefore we're posting an open invitation to all: you are welcome!

Please let us know if you can come!

Weekend at Gold Coast Surfers Paradiso

Had a long weekend at the Gold Coast....Was good, I guess we were "lucky": we had one of the 65 rainy days per year and our day at Sea World was the day after the worst storms in 60 years.

They went in a real helicopter: where the highlight for kaemon was...seeing CARS~! from the the sky...

Grover, Dolphins, Polar Bears

Doing the usual coast stuff, hanging out. Poolside. We're so blase we didn't even go in the sea (the Tallebudgera Estuary doesn't really count). Shame on us, I know.

I should also add, Sea World Resort is Ground Zero, where Douwe met Kelly and the rest is history!!

Vrijgezellendag!

Lieve Marjolein Bride-to-be! Girlfriends are great aren't they? We had a great day on the canals of Utrecht doing some girl-bonding.

300+ photos in 2 days...

Shawn, Loli and Noah came for an intensively photographed 2 day visit. LOTS of FUN!!
Our vessel:

Can you spot Nelson?

Ehm...who's steering the boat?

First family (of four) picture!

Multi-tasking

Shawn actually paid for those sunglasses. (money not shells too)

February

brought us: Sufern, food, sightseeing


Exploring the surrounding area where we live

Master Kaemon's First birthday

A visit with the Whitesides!

What a good month.

Baby one more time!

Since last year's birthday song was also a britney title (not a girl, not yet a woman) I thought it appropriate to stick with this theme. The meaning has many facets. 1. (having a) Baby? One more time! 2. Yeah baby, one more time! I would do it all over again, as it was lots of fun: We celebrated with lots of friends, food and presents! Thanks for all the birthday wishes in person or not, all was supremely welcome. 3. There weren't many song titles to choose from.
I insisted on 30 blazing candles on my cake, and I was rewarded with a pyrotechnic display not seen before in this village!

Yesterday...

...2 years ago, was the day we stepped into the marital boat. We marked the occasion with (among other things) going to the beach only to find they had closed it down for renovation (yes, the whole beach!) and later out to dinner. with kaemon. Ever seen in the zoo how they keep the chimpanzees stimulated and occupied by hiding their treats and food (e.g. peanut butter in a tube)? Money well-spent on Discovery Channel. It was relatively peaceful thanks to a yoghurt-smeared jar lid and a dazzling array of toys :)

Return of the Whitesides!

With the Whitesides living just across the channel, it has been (almost) just like being in the same city again with lots of visits! What we do when we get together:
EAT

The spectacular couscous made by dave recreated by eliza

(the mysterious "yoghurt dessert").

PLAY


get out and about


Hang about at home


Pose for pictures

wrestle with cheapo kites