Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Austria - Day 4 update

 
So, we had our last diner of the year. The kids as you can see wanted pancakes... very nutrious, but on the last day, everything is fine.
 

And as you can see, we also had our diner. And no, that is not a glass of wine next to my plate, but delicious cherry juice, so I can look the part... again doctors orders...

So, we all wish you a Happy, Healty and Safe 2014!

Austria - Day 4


The last day of the year. Wonderful weather, sun, warm, so great ski fun.


As you can see, everybody is haveing a great time, me aswell, although in the appartement for the most time, resting, but that is OK. The sun and the fresh air are great.


The boys are having a great time skiing, so that is important.


After the lessons ended, the boys took their sledge to the piste and some great time coming down.
So now we are preparing for our last meal of 2013. The kids already ate and as soon as they are off to bed, we are starting our tradional gourmet...

Monday, December 30, 2013

Austria - Day 3


The weather today was fantastic, it was warm and sun was sining, so I took my midday nap (doctors orders) in the sun on our balcony.


Meanwhile, the rest of the family had great fun skiing, as the conditions were perfect.

 
At the moment, everybody is pooped, so the kids are watching Turbo and then they are off to bed...

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Austria - Day 2


First day of lessons for the kids. They had a blast even with the weather being very bad. It snowed all night and day today, so I didnt leave the house, as the risk for falling was to big. So almost no pictures were taken as the other adults in the group are not making pictures...


Saturday, December 28, 2013

Austria - day 1


Yesterday we drove until Augsburg and today we left for Austria. The Satnav showed grid lock on the highway around Munich, so we decided to drive over the Achenpass. And this is what we saw... At some point we were above the clouds, and since the satnav again said that there was gridd lock towards Zillertal, we decided to have lunch at the restaurant aove the clouds...


All kids at the bar...

And this was the view from the restaurant... Yes, really great and nice food.


Grid lock...


But finally, we reached Koingsleiten. And Lucky for me, I need a lot of rest and am not allowed to carry anything... I went to the appartment and stayed there and the rest of the family had to unpack the car...
Marjo cooked, so I was able to have some rest after the drive. With the nice weather, and a recliner I guess, I will get enough rest.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas


Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Last day in Circus class


Yesterday was the last day of circus classes for son #1. But he likes it so will to try to enroll him again next year. They did a performance with all the kids, and we all were inpressed... Great job.
At the moment I am trying  a go at crocheting a fire fighting helmet.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Thinking of Alexandra


Know that you are always in our thoughts...

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Christmas Market in Antwerp


Today I tried to make red velvet cake, my favorite when I was in NYC. The cake was delicious, but not red velvet... So I have to try again. I also didnt have enough frosting... The frosting was nice, but again, it was not the same as I could remember. Anybody a good recipy?


 
This afternoon, we decided to pay a visit to the Christmas market in Antwerp. We parked the car in the old harbour and walked to the Grote Markt.
And as you can see, the sky was gorgeous, there was a nice admosphere and we had some nice treats.
 


Saturday, December 07, 2013


Today was a day filled with chores, we installed a new cooking plate in the kitchen, as our old one was broken.
And this afternoon we got our Christmas tree from the garden and decorated it. So, Christmas, we are ready...

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Sinterklaas


Traditionally, a friend of the family came to play the "trekzak", he played all the Sinterklaas songs the kids know, so the atmosphere was OK.


Sinterklaas showed up and spent some quality time with all the kids in the family. Thely were all individualy seen by Sinterklaas and they all got a small present and some pepernoten (traditional ginger cookies).
 
And after Sinterklaas left, the Zwarte Pieten left a big bag with presents, so the pater familias, my FIL, presented the presents to all the kids in our family. Great fun, great food, a great night.


Saturday, November 30, 2013

Creative

 
So, we have been very creative around the house. Son #3 made this bust of Zwarte Piet (without golden Earring!).

 
And I finished another Happy Hippo from a pattern (Heidi Bears). This one I made with DMC embroidery thread, so it is a small one, but very cute.


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sinterklaas

 
Sinterklaas is back in town, so he visited DH work, son #2 and #3 are still young enough to visit him, son #1 is a little bit old, but he tagged along, because there was a chance he would also get some presents, and he just wanted to make sure...


Luckily, they all got presents,... oof, but son #3 was especially happy with his presents, a guilty consience???

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Busy week


It has been a very busy week, with the au pair back to her home to visit her sick mum. All classes, work and stuff keep going, so it has been an extremely busy week, but OK, we managed with the help of our parents.
I had my recreation, when I saw episode 5.04 of White Collar, nice Neal whump, so I enjoyed that episode. We are still in serie 4 here in Belgium, and I saw that they are going to repeat season 2...
I also managed to finish the Happy Hippo from Heidi Bears that I corcheted with DMC cotton. I didnt have eyes to finish the little guy, but a friend helped me out, so I could finish him. I will make some pics.
The pic is son #2, he and his younger brother went to a birthday party with  clown and they mugged the guy I guess:-) because the had an obscener amount of balloons with them when they returned from the party...

Sunday, November 03, 2013

Kalmthoutse Heide


Today we had a walk at the Kalmthoutse Heide. As you can see, every tree was climbed and explored, so the boys did three times the distance we did...


And after a campfire meeting, their looks are clear. They were fed up, so we headed back to the car and visited a friend, who lives near the Heide and got us some lunch.


Thursday, October 31, 2013

HappyHalloween

 
OK, this morning I was doing some grocery shopping and I saw some small pumpkins, so I got one, as Halloween is not Halloween without a pumpkin. As I had class today, our au pair carved this
jack o lantern with the boys. ANd it is now standing guard at our front door.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Almost Halloween


Almost Halloween, and no I haven´t got a pumpkin yet... For some reason, Halloween snuck up on us and I haven´t had time to get a pumpkin...

On the other hand. I did smoething yesterday for the first time in my life...
I caught a ride with a big truck. It was the first time in my life that I rode in a truck, and I must admit, I was impressed with what you can and can not see... Everyone should be able to do it so you would have more thought when you see truckers struggle in some traffic situations and for kids that they can appreciate what truckers can see and they they have to be careful around trucks.


Sunday, October 27, 2013

Hats


So, I promised  a pic of the hats I am crocheting and here it is, I know, it is not a good picture, but since they are a surprise, I can t show them until I have shown them to the person in question.
But I must say they look absolutely great. I am really proud of them. I finished 6 of them, so 3 more to go.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Crochet frenzy


This should be my logo nowadays. I am working, taking classes and trying to finish 9 ski hats...  I have finished 4 already, so 5 more to go... I know what to do this weekend.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Result photoshoot


We got the results in from our photoshoot and as you can see, they were not the regular pics a family has taken. But they are so us...
It is funny to see the boys, as we didnt see them during the photoshoot, but they are hilarious.
Marline did a terrific good job. You can contact her at rokki.
On the craft side, I have been crocheting more ski hats, I finished 3, so only 6 more to go :-), but we will get there. I must say, they look spectacular.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Photoshoot


This weekend, we had our annual photoshoot for our family pic and our christmas card. We had great fun and I will see if I can get the ´Making of...´ also on the blog.
In the meanwhile, I have been busy with Uni, french classes and work, but I managed to finish the first hat for our skiholiday and I am 2/3 on the second hat...
Will post a pic of the hats when I can.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

NYC - Day 8 and being back home


On our last day, we visited Time Square in the morning and saw this billboard. It is something that strikes us, as our FD is not considered heros as they are in the States and espcially in NYC. I guess it has to do with the job these guys did during 9/11, but maybe it is just the uniforms ;-)


We had Cheesecake at Juniors, and offcourse I had my favorite, red velvet cheesecake... It was delicious, this and a cup of coffee... you can wake me up for tis combination.


And then it was time to go home...
We arrived back home on Saturday at noon. The kids were very glad to see us, and even more the presents we had with us...
Great trip, good company, seen a lot, eating more and very good, weather was excellent. What else could we have asked for?
TBC?

Friday, September 27, 2013

NYC - day 7


Today our last full day in NYC. We decided to visit the Met, and by doing so, we found out that we could go to he roof and have a spectacular view of the park and downtown.



By the time we left, t was way past lunch, so we had some hotdogs and nachos from one of the stalls in front of the Met, run by veterans.


I was impressed by the collection, but especially by the Tifanny pieces.

 
Afterwards we went to Times Square to Toys R us. Where I took a picture of this Skylander for the boys.



And tonight we went to Rosa Mexicano from some delicious guacamole, and delicious it was...


So This is it, we celebrated our last night with pomegrate Magaritas. It was a great holiday.