Gelukkig Nieuwjaar

This morning we drove to Rijnsburg to celebrate in the New Year with friends of ours in Holland.
This was the view this afternoon, quite foggy, so I wonder if we are going to see the fireworks, but OK. As you look closely you can see three persons skating over the canals.

Just a couple of minutes ago, DH and DS#1 and DS#2 went out to buy fireworks, as you can see, they are deliated even with the kids stuff. The bigger stuff will be for tonight and they they will have to wear safety glasses.

This will be my last entry in 2008. I am wishing you all a happy New Year and a wonderful and crafty 2009. Be safe tonight so that we can all start 2009 healthy and with all our fingers and eyes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Visit to the zoo

A late entree about our visit to the zoo. On Monday we visited the Antwerp Zoo. They have a pregnant elephant that is due any day now, so we visited her and entered the contest for naming the baby. If it is a boy, we want Kamille and if it is a girl Kaatje. As you can guess the name has to start with a K.

I hope the check the ice of the tiger and lion cage every couple of hours because when it freezes the can easily jump onto land...

It was so freezing cold that we only had a quick visit and then went out to have lunch.

And to finish the visit, my guys gave me this great Kodak moment.

99 things

Nabbed from here.

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant - not in a restaurant, but I bought a bread
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted - not painted but drawn
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen - not a soup kitchen, but a meal serving
61. sold girl scout cookies.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible - I am busy reading it
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating - does seen it killed and then prepared it myself also?
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person.
96. swum in the great salt lake.
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

I am amazed how many bold items I have...

Best Wishes

If you want to see our christmas wishes, please click the 'play'button.

Merry Christmas

We are wishing you a wonderful Christmas from Antwerp. (this is a picture of the Grote Markt in Antwerp). Hope you and your families are well and spending these holidays together.

Christmas preparations

Friday was the last day of school this year and the boys wanted to dress up. Since they are going to an uniform school, dressing up is what you see on the picture above. They both looked cute, they had a great time. And now they are on holiday.
Normally I also would have these two weeks off, but because it is soooo busy at work, I was asked to come in on Monday, so I will visit two more clients and then my holiday starts.

Peter made this christmas tea lite, which looks great and we will lite it on christmas night. I am very proud of him, in those two months that he is going to school, he is doing very well, except for the potty training. For some reason he still is to late telling his teacher that he has to go to the toilet. Are there any mums that have tips?

My mum made us this wonderful christmas table decoration. She also made us a wreath for the frontdoor. She is so great with flowers and plants.
My dad on the other hand is fantastic with glass and he made this father christmas glass decoration. It is a lamp, so at night we turn it on.

Myself... I haven´t been that creative, it has been so busy at work, that I came home late a couple of nights and the other night I am too tired to do anything... so, nothing to show from me.

crocheted toys

Just wanted to show you what I have been up to. There haven´t been any pictures the latest two pots, so here it goes:
This little space bunny is my latest project. I think she is very cute, wasn´t sure of her head, but she is a spece bunny, so it looks good.

This little shroom was made for a swap at swap-bot. I got a rating so he must have arrived at his destination, so it safe to post a picture of him. I made him about a month ago. I think he turned out cute, don´t you.

Christmas meme

I got this letter in my mail box:

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) this entire email, and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis' the Season to be NICE!

I will be honest, I have a very busy week with work, I just arrived home, so I will let you know my prefernces, but I just cannot send this mail to differnt friends. But since I don´t want to be a spoil, here it goes:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
wrapping paper in bright colors.

2. Real tree or Artificial tree?
Real, no fakes for me, our largest tree (indoor) was 6 meters and I just didn´t fit in teh living room, we had to cut one meter off. Imaging our guests faces when they entered our living room...

3. When do you put up the tree?
Immediately after Sinterklaas (7th)

4. When do you take the tree down?
After 'Driekoningen´ (6th of January)

5. Do you like eggnog?
I don´t like it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Playmobil farm set that you had to color yourself. My parents still have them and my kids play with them.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Parents and parents in law

8. Easiest person to buy for?
my kids - actually anyone's little kids - girls are easiest!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
yep! my eldest got it from my parents in law. I am thinking of buying the playmobil set.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail - I am trying to get a picture reading in time???

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
household appliances...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
The Muppets Christmas Carol

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
last minute , I will have to start next weekend.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
yep!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Big christmas diners

16. Lights on the tree?
oh yes lots of them - white

17. Favorite Christmas songs?
Driving home for Christmas -Chris Rea

18!. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
stay home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
nope - i'm Belgian, I only know a couple!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
neither! A natural top

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
toy adverts on tv "i want that . . . i want that"
no you dont!!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
red, all our ornaments are red.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
traditional turkey - roast potatoes -stuffing

25. What do you want for Christmas?
I have a wish list on my blog... and a happy family at my home for christmas eve.

Well, I hope this gives you a little inside in our christmas.

Hospital

Peter and I are just back from a visit to the ER. Earlier this evening Peter complaint of pain in his arm and he didn´t use the arm, so I was worried. I called DH to ask what time he would be home and once he could watch Nic and Ruben, I took Peter to the nearest hospital, he fell asleep in the waiting room.
It turned out to be a dislocated elbow... how this happened? Anyway, they relocated the elbow without him awakening... Peter even slept through the X-rays. So everything turned out OK and he didn´t even need any pain medication, he is a real trooper.

Sinterklaas

This is how Peter came back home on Friday. He made a Sinterklaas hat and was very proud of it, so we had to take it with us to Holland.
My PIL had planned a whole 'thing'around Sinterklaas, my FIL knocked on the door and threw candy through the letterbox, so the kids were convinced that 'Zwarte Piet'was in teh neighbourhood.
When they walk to the back door, this is what they found, lots of presents...

The boys both got a big box but inside was only two cookies. On the outside there was a poem that said that they had to search the house for the presents, so the hunt began...
They ran screaming through the house looking for clous (not sure I spell this correctly). But finally there were the presents hidden in a broom closet.

Then it took opa and aunt Marijke two hours to put the playmobil pyramid together... but then the playing started. Nic with his Egyptian playmobil and Peter got all sort of police vehicles from Playmobil.

I got a nice book about decorating children´s rooms and a new rotary cutter, mine was broken.

Yesterday we went skating with some friends of ours. They had the greatest thing to learn how to skate, a pinguin as you can see on the pic.

Afterwards, everybody was tired and we went home, the kids were watched by my PIL and we went to dinner at some friends, who made us a delicious home cooked diner.

How hard is a child´s head?

This morning DH was tying his shoes and son #1 crawled on his back. This seamed like a fun game to son #2 and he tried to climb on his brother´s back, but the lost their balance and both slammed into our coffee table with their heads. The result can be seen here:


As you can see, they were impressed but more about the broken glass than their hurting their heads. After a short outburst of crying, a DH that called me in panic and lots of icepacks, all was forgotten. Especially since Sinterklaas came to their school this morning.
What shall I say: boys will be boys?

Unbelievable

OK, what is the chance that a parcel comes back a second time? This package (for the cupcake swap) was sent a second time last week. And guess what the postman brought back today???

This is unbelievable, I checked the address with Sara and sent it again and still it came back. Sorry Sara, will try again on friday when I have time to go to the postoffice.

Weekend

No pictures this time.
My dad turned 68 so we went to diner with my parents, their best friends and our family. We chose a child friendly place, where they have an indoor playground, so the kids had a great time and we could enjoy our diner peacefully.
Friends of our had their second daughter Fleur, we still have to visit her, but we will do so this coming week, when the family had their chance to visit their new family addition.
And I am still working on my blue and white quilt. Things are going well and I will post a picture soon of my progress.
So we had a busy weekend which we spent with family.

Cupcake swap #1 arrived

The first cupcake swap parcel arrived yesterday. It is from Catherine of Mollycupcakes.

She made me some wonderfully handpainted pegs and kitchen utensils, and a lovely little frame.

Also a little egg cosy and some cards. Thank you very much Catherine> Since she told me that my parcel also arrived, I will show you what I sent her.

This was my first attempt to make a tea cozy and I think it worked out well. I also crocheted some cupcakes, a pair of cupcake earrings, some napkins, a cupcake box and a dutch kids magazine and finally a handcarved cupcake stamp. I hope catherines likes the goodies I sent her.

Snow!!! + update

Update: This is most snow we have had in years, in a couple of hours there is about 10 cm of snow. So Nic and I couldn´t resist making a snow man. This is us, just two hours ago with our snowman. I can´t remember when the last time was we were able to make a snowman in our backyard. Great....

It started snowing yesterday, but it wouldn´t stay because the ground was too warm. When we droven back from the Sinterklaas party in Holland, yjere was no snow, but once we crossed the border into belgium the snow started. Just before our exit we saw a carcrash on the passover of the highway.

But when we left the highway for home, there must have been a big car crash on our passover because it was closed for traffic, and there were ambulances, fire rigs, etc, so it must have been quite bad. We were the third car behind the crash and after five minutes we realized that this would tke some time and we turned around and found another way were we had to cross another passover which we did very carefully.

ANd now it started snowing for real. We will see what the situation is tomorrow morning. For these parts, it is very early for snow, and some winters we don't even get any snow, so this is great for the kids.

Sinterklaas at Haffmans

Sinterklaas arrived two Saturdays ago and he paid a visit to DH work yesterday. Our kids loved it (as did all the kids) and I want to give my appreciation to the employees that made this event possible.
They split up all the kids into groups and one group at a time they talked to Sinterklaas, the other groups did games to get their 'Pietendiploma' sort of diploma to show that you can walk on a roof, do funny danses, now how to put presents down the chimney, etc.

In the aboven picture Peter is playing a game to show that you can walk on a roof with a heavy bag with goodies.

Here Sinterklaas shows Nic's 'wish list'. He cut out pictures of toys and glued them on a piece of paper. So now Sinterklaas knows what to get hime when it is his birthday.

When all the kids finished talking to Sinterklaas they got their presents form the Zwarte Pieten. Nic and Peter both got Playmobil and Ruben a soft toy. An afternoon well spent.

Martha

Look what arrived today!!! The Holiday edition of Martha Stewart, wow, a friend on mine sent it over from the States, thanks sooooooooooooo much Bonnie, it is wonderful. You couldn´t have made my weekend better.
I can´t wait to sit done with a good cup of coffee and some Speculaas and start looking at all the fun projects.

Week 47

First of all, this arrived back in my mailbox this week. It is my parcel for Sara for the cupcake swap. As you can see, there is no 'to' address and no return address and still they managed to get it back to me. I didn´t manipulate this picture, this is the way it was sent back.
And the most curious thing is, I sent this parcel from The Netherlands....
So I have contacted Sara and will try again, since she says she still lives on the address she gave me... But someone put a sticker on the address and wrote ´return´ ... Strange.

Since Peter is a part of the 'Chicken' class, all classes are represented by an animal, so they can put tags on their schoolbags and stuff. And because they are the youngest in the Chicken class, I made him a small chicken keyring. I think it is cute.

I also started working again, so that is great, as I have never been away. But I knew the feeling, after the forth time... So it is great to be back at work. And now I will endulge myself in watching the X-files movie and crocheting.

Last day

Just saw that I haven´t included Molly´s ornament as I mentioned two entries ago, so here is a pic of it.

Today was a slow day. We had brunch over at my friend An with both our families and a quite afternoon at home. I enjoyed my last day off from work and tomorrow it is back to the rat race. I enjoyed my time with Ruben (he is truely a benjamin since I didn´t stay at home so long with the two other boys...) but it is good to go back to work.

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

Look at this fabolous costume at Grossgrain called: Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!! This lady is very talented and she makes lovely costumes. Check her site out.

Wow!

When I picked up the boys from school, Peter´s teacher let me know that Peter received a stamp today. A small apple on his hand, it turned out that Peter had eaten his apple. You must know that we have never managed to have him eat fruits since he was a baby. So this was a big breakthrough. How big they grow...
This arrived in the mail today. I did a needlework exchange, and Molly made me this wonderful ornament and an even nicer biscornu. I think they look great and they both found a nice place in my home. Thank you very much Molly.

Toadstool bun

Nic made this little bread mushroom in school yesterday. They are learning about autumn, so toadstools are part of that.
They made bread dough and baked the bread in a small plantpot. They also put some jam and chocolate dots on there to finish the toadstool. It looks great and tasted very nice. Well done Nic!

First day of school

Today was Peter´s first day of school. But as you can see, no problems there. This pic was taken this morning when we just arrived at school. Alreay playing with the big boys, that is the good thing of having a big brother...
He did fine although I got a bag of laundry this afternoon... still not completely potty trained... Hopefully he makes the ´click´ when he sees all the other chlidren.
He aslo does not eat fruit, and that is compulsory at school, but we never managed to get Peter to eat fruit, unlike his brothers... And the teacher had to ask if it is OK to give him appelesauce. Because that is the one thing he eats, but she thought that it is not allowed to gve to the chlindren... strange but OK, if it is school policy.
We will see how tomorrow goes.

Counting down

The last week of my maternity leave started. Next monday I will start working again, but it feels good. I took care of the boys and now it is time to get back to work. Ruben will be taken well care of by Moeke (our daycare mum). And the other two will go to school. Peter will start school this wednesday... Well I am curious how he will do... Will keep you posted.

Japanese zakka in Belgium

For all of you that like japanese zakka but think it is impossible to find, there is a new site open: http://www.japanesezakka.com/index.html

'Zakka' is a Japanese word for anything cute and fun! This lady imports directly from Japan and ships from Belgium. I think she has great stuff and her shop is worthwhile a visit.

So if you need something fun for thje upcoming holidays, check out her site.

WIP

This weeks WIP is a blue and white quilt. I promised some ladies that I would place a pic of the quilt as it progresses. I think it will become a great quilt, it will be completely hand sewn and I love to do it, because it is nice working with small pieces of fabric, I think. I can do it whenever I want, on the train, in the car, ...

Then I thought I would make my swap partners a bit curious. This is a piece of picture of one of the handmade things I made for the cupcake swap...

Happy Halloween

For those of you that celebrate Halloween, have a great holiday. I bought this shirt 4 years ago in Scotland at GAP´s, but Ruben is the first that fits it on Halloween.
And the bat I got for a Halloween swap last year.

Halloween isn´t a big thing overhere, they are trying to make it a holiday, but they are the shops. It doesn´t live here, so only people with kids will buy some Halloween stuff.

Look what arrived!

Look what the mailman brought this morning... He was laughing because the package was addressed to Margy & boys, and he had never seen that.

The box was quickly opened and all the goodies where thoroughly checked out. The boys loved all the pirate stuff. Thanks for a great swap Jill.

But the big finale came with the hand made treasure map. They just love it. Peter went to bed with it instead of his bear. They just love the treasure map and it looks fabulous.

Fabric shopping

I was looking for some red/white polka dots fabric and my mum said she say some at the market. So yesterday I went to the market and had a look around and found what I was looking for at a stand that was manned by some old man. He had the most goregous fabrics and all sorts of vichy squares in all different colors, wow, I know where I have to be now.

And look what my eye caught... Pirate fabric. Since Nic loves anything pirate, I bought some fabrics and I will make him a pirate quilt.

I will have to look on the web for some ideas... but not now because this afternoon, a girl from Nic´s school is coming over to bake cookies. So I have to run to the store and buy some eggs so I can prepare the dough.

Photoshoot

A couple of weeks ago we had pictures taken of our family. I will provide you one glimps of the pictures. I think they turned out great, especially the ones of the kids.

They were made by Marline, Niels´s cousin, who is a freelance photographer, check out her website Rokki.

Autumn sunday

Yesterday we made an autumn walk through the forrest around the pet farm. They were baking bread, so we bought a fresh baked bread that was still warm to eat while we were walking.
We saw these black swans, as you can see, they were not afraid of humans, although I think it is a bit late to have babies... I wonder if they will survive the winter that is coming, I know black swans are from down under, so maybe they think it is spring :-)

The trees have amazing colors, I think we are fortunate to live in an area that has 4 seasons.

And this package is on its way to the States to meet a little gril. It is my package for the ´One good book swap'. I hope the little girl it is intended for likes what is inside. I will post pictures of the presents once I get notice that it arrived.

Jam and an award

Nic made this jam ´confituur in flemish' in school last friday. They are learning about fruits so the teacher learned them how to make jam. It is apple and strawberry jam. My dad said it tasted very good. Since Niels and I are on a low carb diet, we can´t tast it, but I trust my dad´s taste.

About the award, I placed it on the right site. No one is really sure where this started, there appears to be no rules except to pass it on to everyone that reads your blog and to link back to where you got it from… I got it from Missy @ Fairy Child Heirlooms . Thanks Missy!
It’s so fun having blogging friends all over the world! Let’s see just how far this award can go!
Leave me a comment to say “Hi!” and don’t forget to take your award!!!

More cupcakes

These are the cupcakes I made for Nic´s school to give to the children that came by bike to school this morning.
I packed them in a little clear plastic bag and school provided some labels to let the children know that they are doing a grat job.
Because they are not allowed candy and chocolate in school, I added just a little bit on teh cupcakes, just plain is not as tasty as a little icing, wouldn´t you agree?

WIP

This week I am crafting on some swap projects and on these little blue flowers. I will make a quilt out of these flowers with white in between them. I think it will give a nice contrast.

Some friendly ladies offered me some small blue fabrics to use in this quilt. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it.

On the cupcake note, I have made these spiderman inspired cupcakes for Nic. But funny as always, he didn´t eat one of them... I think the colors scared him off :-)

Tomorrow I will make some more for Nic´s school. They want to give a cupcake to every child that comes to school by bike, to stimulate biking to school. Great idea if you live near the school, otherwise,... I wouldn´t think of letting Nic ride his bike to school (at this point in time), there is no special path for bikers and everybody drives like maniacs over here. He also would have to cross a road were you are allowed 70 km/h ...