Semantically unpredictable sentences as a measure of functional speech intelligibility

...congratulations to Renee for her masters in language and speech pathology, completed in a language she's known for 3 years. Apart from the obvious kudos, I also just wanted to quote the title. It's trippy.

Kaemon JUST started saying MAMA!!! That boy sure knows how to string us along. For the record, his first words were (in order of appearance):

Tractor (the followed by a host of vehicular-themed words), giraffe, bobthebuilder, Papa, plane, Mama.

Nelson is a cheeky boy who likes to hang out with his mum. LOves hanging out at the milkbar.

The richest people in the world!

 

Happy anniversary to us! Teething kids and midnight snacking babies kind of had us wondering whether it was 3 or 30 years...but luckily it's engraved on the inside of our rings. (along with each other's names, all important information to survive an anniversary!).  

All things good must come to an end

For two weeks I had eating company, we had laptop parties and watched movies 10 minutes at a time (tired parents can only handle so much). Now they've gone...but not far!!! lovelove
 
 

Dorien and Joris!

The last wedding of the season.... It was sooooo lovely. A perfectly planned day, the bride was gorgeous and radiant, the groom too (grooms don't get much attention at these digs), and I have to admit, we were doublejointing it on the dancefloor. Ouch, it's been a long time.
 

it's been one of those months where the universe gives me a hug. THat is, all goes well- take for example this day: sufern and hanoi visiting, joep taking us on his boat through amsterdam (however we did ram a tour boat- scissors beats paper, paper beats rock, steel beats fibreglass...yay we won!), sun shining, lunch in chinatown, lovely!
 
 
 
 

saucisse coupée et sauces mélangée

Just to show that it's not all caviar and champagne, this is what we served up to our very special guests Renee and Martijn. What can I say?... it's a compliment when you're comfortable enough with someone to serve them cut up sausage and three (not just one, no) sauces. Melange of sauces, that does sound fancy doesn't it. french makes everything fancy.

 
 
 
 

summer = discovering playgrounds. We three up in the air....douwe down on the ground!
 
 
 

Thanks for the poo

Simone visited, brought gifts, her company, entertained us, and we thanked her by pooing on her. Nelson needs to learn that that's not an accepted method of payment.

Good night Irene

It all happened so suddenly, one night douwe came back with her, he said a burgundy limited tokyo edition daihatsu- my first reaction was, em, it's PINK. But we grew to love her, pimped her (with bubble wrap, wooden beaded seat cushion, boom boxes, rubber nobs for antislip storage etc) and she was loyal, reliable and suprisingly roomy. Then her upkeep exceeded her worth and we weighed up the factors and they came out in her disfavour. So Good night irene- just like a dog you put to sleep, Let's say goodnight, not good bye... Apparently she's going to Ghana where she'll probably transport a family of 12. I think she'll like it, but I do feel a little pang in my heart thinking of the bumpy roads and heavy loads there.
 

PS we did get a new car, I do know that it's silver but further than that I don't know. It may be new, shiny and not have green stuff growing in the window rubbers, but it's got a long way to go before replacing the Tokyo Limited Edition in our hearts.

Sweet and Yummy!

Little nelson is such a happy baby, laughing more and more and still being sweet as....
 
A pineapple cream jelly slice. What a slice of sublimity (note to self: check if word exists). A crunchy biscuit base, creamy lemony filling and a topping of wobbly jelly: it's the contrasting textures of this piece of heaven which inaugurates this simple dessert into the Sweets Hall of Fame. Thanks to Alison who awakened my longing for Australian Slices...or should (my hips) be cursing you?
 

Farewell Tracey

It was a night out for the ladies, no kids, no men, just babble and eating and oh the freedom! ;) These are the Playground Mums (sounds like a posse and it kind of is) that have made Oegstgeest a great place for us!

Nelson is learning how to get what he wants- what a flirty baby!


They are such GOOD babies! One reads, the other studies motor skills. Giving me time to internet (is that a verb these days?)

We visited Merel & her Mum for a delicious lunch (which I immediately tried to copy that same night -see picture) and good running around in the gorgeous garden!

Kaemon's friend came over for pizza and chips...wondering how we get them so well behaved and sitting so calmly? Cars on DVD of course!!

Transport for the needy

One can't hold his head up, the other falls when he runs, both are back-breakingly heavy...how do we get around? Ta-da!.....I'm holding my breath as kaemon hasn't poked out nelson's eyes yet, with my back to them both, anything can happen.
We've been out and about and discovering a whole new world of the playground, playgroups, playdates, playmates etc etc. It's mind boggling, it truly is. I liken it to a kind of matchmaking process or even picking up at a bar....did we pick up? Discretion is key. Time will tell whether long lasting relationships can be borne out of playgrounds.

HOt hot hot

What we are eating today: >30degC, chilled green tea soba with pretty things Mmmmmmmmmm!