This is us

So here are a few results of the pics we had taken by Marline. She is the talent behind Rokki. I really like this picture of the boys.

We offcourse also had pics taken of all of us, with this as a result. I think they are great, the spontaneous pictures.

Early christmas preparations

Yesterday I vivisted a friend of mine that was already making great progress in her christmas crafting. She already made a ton of wonderful decorations and it looked like she was planning on making much more.
So that made me think of our christmas, since this year the christams holiday starts at the 24th, we will have to do the preparations up front since we are all working until the last day...
So I asked my cousin to join us, and my parents, offcourse our au pair, so it will be a fun group.
I talked to my cousin what we would prepare and neither of us could make a suggestion, I orderd this book, I ordered it in dutch, since that will be easier on the recepices, I think.

When I occasionally watch her show, it all lokks so wonderful, so hopefully the book is a good substitute.

Autumn walk

We had a walk this morning in the forest in Halle. And as real boys they discovered a small bridge where they were looking for all sorts of stuff in the water...
Afterwards we wanted to get some wafels with cream. We have a special address for suchs treats, but it turned out that they were still selling icecream. Next week they switch over to wafels and pancakes for winter. SO the boys had an icecream... as if it is not cold enough outside, but OK...

Afterwards, we visited the ladies that are at the source of the icecream. As you can see, she is as curious as son #3.

The farm makes their own products, icecream, butter, cream, yoghurt, etc. Ad you are welcome to visit the cows and their calves in the stables.

Elephant

So I promised my SIL to make her an elephant on wheels. I followed the instructions on the crochet pattern that I bought, but this is the result...
He is not FAT enough, never guessed I would say that, but he is just not fat enough. The head is OK, I like the shape, but the legs and the body are too slim for an elephant. Anyone any ideas?

Help needed... Star Wars Cookie cutters

Oh, aren´t these fantastic? I just love them and I bet my boys would love them to. Too bad that none of the Williams Sonoma items get sold here and that you can´t buy them from their website, if you live outside the US.

If anybody is willing to help me obtain these cookiecutters, I would be very grateful. We would work something out, I am sure.

Weekend

What a weekend, the weather was better than in summer, so we went to the beach. It was warm and sunny and the kids had a great time.
And no, my kids normally don´t walk in matching clothing, but we had a photoshoot in the mroning so that is why... People at the beach were thinking, what a family, all matchin clothes, but they don´t know that it was the second or third set, since they even managed to get dirty just before and during the shoot...

I could jet used to weekend like this one.

New swap

I joined the Scrappy Hoop swap organised by Heather and Kerri. For details, check out Heather´s site. It look slike great fun. I have swapped before, individually and with swap bot, but this swap looks like great fun. Can´t wait to get my partner.

Martial arts festival

My cousin is head of a Pentjak Silat school in Maastricht called Panca Sila. Because they celebrated their 15th anniversary, they organised a Martial Arts festival. The picture above is my cousin in action with one of his students.

Since our boys also practice a martial art, we went to watch all the demo´s, he did very well and we are all proud of him for accomplishing all of this. Keep up the good work Henry.

Autumn has arrived!

This shroom is standing in our garding, the first of many... We always have a lot of these ´vliegenzwammen´ as we call them in dutch.
So it is official, autumn has arrived. That is why we took a nice walk in the ´peerdsbos´, a sort of park, alias wood, where there are a lot of chestnut threes, so this was our loot:

The boys wondered what we should do with them. The small ones will go to our local squirrel, that lives under our roof... Yes, it has a nest in the roof above our bedroom.

The bigger ones will be heated on our wood stove or I can make creme des marrons...

Other suggestions?

Baby quilt

Still working on the babyquilt. Wednesday I popped by the craft store, because it was quicker than ordering from the internet. They had a matching backing so I started quilting. I am handquilting the quilt so steady as she goes. The colors turned out nice, I thought it would be a bit pale, but the reds make a good combination.

I also heard that the course I ordered (nautical technique) arrived at my PIL´s, so I will pick it up and start studying. I am looking forward to the study.

Cupcake pincushion

Isn´t this pincushion just gorgeous? I saw it on etsy by madeinlowell. I think it is just the cutest and would make a lovely and handy jewel when you are crafting.

elephant on wheels

This weekend we were in Rijnsburg and I picked up a copy of this magazine. There are lots of wonderful ideas in there to make yourself and my SIL asked me to make one of the items in the magazines, it was a red crocheted elephant on wheels.
Something like this: an elephant on wheels made my Hillary Lang, only it should be crochet. SO I will see what I can do. Anyone any thougths on the wheels?

Star wars!

I saw these star wars sandwich cutters on the Williams & Sonoma website. My kids would eat their lunch without asking, and even DH.

Why are all these fun things not available for international order? I wrote to W&S but they are not planning on selling internationally, so I check out the website and look at all the gorgeous and fun bakeware, and sigh.

Our au pair arrived

Our au pair arrived yesterday from St Petersburg and she brought me these lovely nesting dolls. I just love them. How cute are the small ones.

I will ask my SIL to paint the blanc ones, if possible with our family... I hope she is up for the challenge. She makes wonderful paintings, so I hope she wants to paint us...

Still busy with the rocket quilt.

Familiar?

OK, who recognizes this problem?

You don´t now what these are? These are the socks that have no twin in our household. From how long you ask? Just the last 6 months...
We must have a monster in our house, no, in our washing machine that only likes one sock, so no pairs, just the ones...
Every six months I throw away such a bunch of socks desperately looking for the twin. Are we the only household this happens to?

Back to school

Today, school started again and the two eldest boys were expected in their new classes. For son #1 a big step since he is now going to primary school. A bigger schoolbag, no more toys in the classroom and paying attention... a big step for a six year old.
But they both did well, so afterwards we had pancakes in a local restaurant with playground.

Back home

After a relaxing holiday in Italy with nice warm weather, sea and very nice food, we are back home, safe and sound.
We left Italy on Saturday morning and went in the direction of Austria to go over the Plockenpass where we crossed the border. We let the kids hplay in a local playground and got some lunch before we went in the direction of Germany, were we spent the night in Ingolstadt, yes, the city were everybody drives an Audi... oh, offcourse, this is the city were they AUdi factory is located.
The old city, where we stayed in a gasthof is very nice and is located next to the Donau, so we had a nice walk and diner before we had a good night rest.
The next morning we left for Koblenz, where we would meet up with DH´s parents, so we had lunch together and then drove off in the direction of Holland where we had to pick up DH´ car at work and then off to our place. So we were back home around 16.30 and I have been doing laundry ever since...

What not to do in Venice and In memoriam Green little rabbit

Let´s start with the sad news that Beesie is no longer with us. Ruben lost him in Venice. We walked the whole route we took back but we couldn´t find him. So helas, he is gone...
So that brings me to #1 of things not to do in venice: take your kids favourite stuffed animal with you...

We visited Venice by taking a boat here in Sottomarina that took us straight up to Venice San Marco square.

It was still the way I remembered, but for DH and the kids it was the first time. So that is me at the Rialto bridge...

So #2 on my list, don´t visit Venice with 3 boys under 7 in Auhust when it is very busy and hot... and they don´t like historic buildings, but who does when he is 6?

#3: don´t have a drink on a terrace, even if it is a long way from San Marco square, it will free you of 30 euros for 4 drinks...

#4: don´t have pasta with meat sauce when you still want your kids to look like civilised kids...

But even with the loss of the wee rabbit and the warm weather and the kids getting tired of all the walking, Venice is a wonderful city, that we will visit again... just DH and I, :-)

Lunch was not expensice as all the webentries indicated, so that was great and it was very nice, the gelatti was marvellous and the handbags gorgeous, so I engulged myself and bought two leather handbags. Yes, I now, but I think they were both calling my name.

Update from Italy

Here is a short update from Italy. We had a good journey through Austria, although it rained and I imagined it different eating an icecream on a terras in Austria, but OK, good hotel and nice snitzels...
The next day we drove over the Plockenpass to Italy which is a bit of a challenge, especially on the Italian side. After we left the mountains, it started to rain and it didn´t stop once we arrived in Venice... So this is why we left Belgium?
Luckily this was only for one night and the rest of the days since, are sunny and bright and the temperture is going up, so nothing to complain there.

As you can see, playing in the sea and sun makes you tired.

So, the weather is perfect, the food veryyyyy nice and we' re having a great time.

We´re off

Yes, we are off on our annual summerhoilday. No, not by boat, this pic was taken last weekend when we went sailing.

Hope you all have a great summer.

Weekend away

This weekend we visited Sprookjeswonderland in Enkhuizen, Holland. It is in the north of Holland near the Ijsselmeer. Since the weather was forcasted as rather bad, we left early and went to the park instead of siling with the kids.
The loved it, the park is very nice and also very nice for small children, the are allowed to participate in all the activities, so that was fun for th ethree boys. After lunch, it started raining and it kept raining, so we went back to the Midnight Stroller in Medemblik.

Rocket quilt top finished

Today I finished the quilt top of my rocket quilt in between painting the cabinet doors of our new bathroom. So I think it was a day wll spent. I finished the top, the doors and I tried to book us some lodging in Austria for our trip to Italy, which didn´t work out so well, since we still don´t have lodging, but OK. I will try again on tuesday when my holiday offically starts.
On Friday a belgian won the Euromillions, which was over 28 million euros... I bought a ticket, but it wasn´t me. What I would do with that kind of money...

Giveaway

Kerri at Lovely Little handmades is hosting a giveaway. Check it out, she is giving away FQ from each of the colors as shown on the pitcure.

Aren´t they the cutest fabrics? I think they will make some great christmas projects.

update on rocket quilt

Today I worked almost all day on the rocket quilt, and I really like it. DH also told me that the quilt was looking great, so then it must be true, right?
We had a very lazy day overhere since the weather was so so and we also went to bed very late as we visited a friend last night. ALthough the boys went to bed around 10 o´clock, they were awake at 7.00.
So I was standing at the bakery shop at 7.30 and was number 79... they were helping person 58 at that time... This is standard here were we live, and the baker has fresh coffee with freshly baked cookies for those that wait, so it is not to bad waiting for fresh pistoles and koffiekoeken.
And since the ´Last air bender´ is coming out in the cinema this week, DH and the boys watched Avatar all day at Nickelodeon...

panel for rocket quilt

I drew this rocket for the boys´s rocket quilt as a panel. i think it gives a nice personal touch instead of a bought panel. And I think it is also worked out nicely.
Yesterday was a public holiday so we had a small party at my parents home for us and the neighbours. Very nice, mum cooked a delicious indonesian rice table...
I thought it was a very nice gesture to invite the neighbours and have a party, something to consider...

Top babyquilt finished

I bought these Moda fabric cuts called Martinique. They will become a babyquilt for friends of ours. Yesterday I had a day off and the weather was so-so, so I decided to make the quilttop, and this is the result:

Just a small peek, since our friends may be watching...

So now that the top is finished I need to find a nice backing and then on to the quilting.

In the meantime I am still making stars for the rocket quilt for the boys. And they are also coming nicely together. Will show a picture next time.

Son #3 turns 2

Today two years ago. The boys come to visit in the hospital to welcome their little brother.
And this is him now, celebrating his birthday yesterday at his daycare mum. And yes, I made the blue cake myself... It is a pirate themed cake.
Today we celebrate his birthday here with our little family. Tomorrow we will trow a big party for friends and family. Happy birthday son!

Rocket quilt

I saw a nice rocket quilt in a book a got from a friend and I really liked it, the quilt consists out of little and larger stars and in the middle a rocket panel. But I will let Nic draw a rocket and I want to put pictures of the boys in the rocket´s windows. I think it will be cute.
I also would like to make a memorial quilt for my daycare mum, and I would like to incorporate into the quilt pictures of the boys and drawing of their hands. Any thoughts or ideas what would be nice? And what printer fabric should I use?

And another question, is anyone in for a fabric swap, I am in need of dark blues, this can be with a small print as you can see on the picture, but not to bright as they are the background for my stars. I have a lot to swap, just let me know if you are interested.

School is over

School is officially over; the streets were almost empty this morning and summer holiday has definitely started.
It is extremely hot over here; We are not used to temperature above 30°C, but you won´t hear me complaining, because it is better than two weeks ago when we had to light the heating.
The kids love their free time and the knowledge that they passed and are going to the next grade, especially son #1 who is going to ´de basisschool` and will start learning how to read...
He asked me to teach him to embroider, so I will do so this holiday. But now it is time to play in the pool.

And also finished the other project

This is the little amigurimi lion I made for son #1´s teacher. I like the paws, but I don´t like the face, it does'n´t like a lion to me, but son #1 likes it, so that is the most important thing.
Summer has set in, it was around 32 degrees Celsius today, so that is summer to us.
I filled in my taxes and posted them at the tax office, two days ahead of the due date, so I thought I deserved a strawberry milkshake for that... didn´t I?

Finished one project

I made this project for son #2´ teacher. She is a great teacher and she teaches the ´Turtleclass´, so that is why I thought this would be appropriate.
It says welcome in dutch offcourse, she she can hang it on the door or something, so at the moment I am making something small for son #1´ teacher as well.
How fast this school year went... 5 more days and that is it, summerholiday... two months...

Time

No pictures this time, it seems that time is slipping through my fingers at the moment. School is almost over, so the kids have a lot of birthday parties to attend, school activities and we are worring how we will cope with the kids during the 2 months off, since I only have one month off... and that is very long, but I am fortunate that this is possible, so we will see how we cope.
Meanwhile I am trying to finish presents for the teachers, so busy, busy busy, and work is not helping, because it is also busy overthere. We are also remodelling the bathroom of the master bedroom.
I wonder what I will do with my free time in August... do some crocheting, cross stitching or quilting, the choice...
Hope you all had a relaxed weekend.

Gogos

Do you know what gogo´s are? No, well, these little plastic creatures have taken over my house.
The boys collect them so I have to shop in certain shops that give them with a certain amount of groceries, they will beg fo them or try to get some money from their grandparents and buy them.

As you can see, a certain dutch supermarket made them also for the WK and the one where son #1 stands before is the strongest of them all, but nowhere to be found in the ones you get with your groceries. Luckily I had my camera with me when we went to the store since son #1 would have never forgiven me if I had not taken his picture in front of his favourite... Even son#3 (not yet 2 yeras old) can say gogo...

Count your blessings if you have never heard about gogos. Smile.

Lazy weekend

I entered a swap at swapbot for granny squares and these are the ones I made. One lady liked blues and the other one girly, so I hope they like the granny squares I made them.

And since the weather was so nice yesterday, we decided to have a BBQ. We invited some friends and this is what I got as a gift, a really cute crocheted tape measure... I love it and it found a new home in by sew bag.