Last weekend before thenew schoolyear

As it was the last weekend before the schoolyear, DH and I took friday off that spend a last weekend with the kids. On friday monring we left for Aachen in Germany, were we spent the day.

 

The sun wasnt always shining but it was warm, so we had a nice day. We had a wedding the next day just across the border in Holland, so we stayed in a hotel in the village where the wedding party took place.



 

The next morning we had some time over before the wedding, so we took the kids to a local museum, which said in the brochure that it was about the local customs, mining activities, etc.

 

But once we entered the museum (which was free admission), it turned out to be a kids museum where they had all sorts of activities for kids. It is called Continium. There is also a kis laboratory, where they can make all sort of stuff, like:

SLIME...

A solar powered fan

 



a roman catapult

 



 A dino house

 



 

So it turned out that we didn t see much of the mueum, as we had to leave to go to the wedding.

I couldnt resist this picture of my cousins mustache tatoo...

Great wedding, fun party and a the end, we spent today in the museum as well. As the admission was still free, we looked through all the exhibitions and the kids, made a car that drives itself, some hairgell, shampoo, and a rocket launcher... So we really had a great weekend.

TGIF, I think not

Well, no TGIF for son #2. He broke his wrist earlier this afternoon. I was called at work to please and come pick him up as he had a nasty fall and they thought he needed to go to hospital, so I left work immediately and drove up to the Speelpleinen and found him sleeping and really looking pale. As he is not a complainer, I took him to the ER, where the nurse said that it was probably nothing, so I asked if the doctor could have a look at it and he send us for x-rays. And yep, he broke his wrist, so 6 weeks in a cast... great way to start the new schoolyear...

Bean stalk

 

Because it is hot with a lot of rain, our beans grow and grow. My dad blanted some plants a couple of weeks ago and as DH and I are not really green people, I thought this would never work, but look, the plants give a lot of beans. We already ate twice from them.

Family weekend

On Friday we gathered for our annual family weekend, as we were only allowed on the premises after 15.00, DH took the boys to Snowworld for some summer skiing. I had to wrok, so they went with the four guys only, it looks like they had a great time to me and the kids loved it.

I had some difficulty getting there as the traffic was terrible, even though it is summer holiday, but I managed to get there after dinner...

 

The next day started with rain, but luckily it stooped soon enough and we had a very nice day, it was even warm in the afternoon.

 

My parents had their 46th wedding anniversary while we were there, so there was cake...

 

After dinner, the kids were allowed to make smores and they loved it. In the morning they had been making flares.

So son #1 couldnt wait to light one... He couldnt even wait until it was dark...

We had great fun around the campfire with what apping to family that wasnt present, yes, I know, modern day youth... But we spent some family time together.

And this morning we had to clean up before we left, so we also had to get the frisbee that was on the roof, as it was not ours. So DH suggested to just lift one of the boys on the roof. And they did it safe, as he was wearing a helmet...

 

TGIF

OK, the weekend is coming, just a couple of more hours. Hang in there.

Paper due

I saw this C&H and I realised time is ticking away and I need to work on the adaptation of my paper. It is due end of the month, so I need to get my butt in gear.



Farmers market

This morning we visited a local farmers market and one farmer sold differnt sorts of cauliflowers, the white ones we normally eat, the green ones but today he had purple ones, and they made me think of the purple minions.
I know, sometimes, my brain is taking me on weird thinking paths, so we bought one, the kids looked horrified that I mentioned we would eat it... but we already had great fun with it, taking pictures.

Birthday son #3

We already celebrated son #3 birthday on board during our holiday, but today we had a small party for family and friends. His godmother and godfather came ove for lunch, we had some BBQ as the weather was great. As dessert we had plane vanilla cake (his choice), chololat mousse cake, raspberry bavarois and a pear tart. They were all yummy, so I guess everyone had a cake to his liking.
At th emoment we have a thunder storm, so it is raining, hard... luckily, all the guests are on their way home.

Greece

We are back from our summer holiday in Greece, we went sailing with DHs parents, whom have a sailboat. As you can see, the weather was great.

Last year we saw Dolphins, but this year thay really came close to the boat, and they were big... Much bigger than I ever thought .

 

We rented a car and discovered Corfu and found some really nice places, beaches.

 

And offcourse son #3 turned six during the holiday. He wanted a cake, so we went to local bakery, but they didnt have any, so we went to search for a plain cake... And we found some. So he had a great birthday on the boat.

 

In one of the harbors, there was a cat family, mum with three kittens. They were really hungry, so after feeding the table scraps, son # 1 went fishing for the kittens and he caught 23 fishes... Those by the time we left the next morning, the kittens and mum were well fed.

 

We had great weather, but on our way back from the Mainland to Corfu, we encountered a storm, so it was quite the trip back.

But all well, that ends well, so we had a great day at the swimming pool on our last day in Greece. Great holiday, sun, sea, great food, we had a wonderful time.

Happy 4th of July

Last day of school

 

Last day of school: as you can see, they were happy and she should. Their report cards were very good, so they had every reason to be proud of their achievement and they have earned a nice holiday.

I heard that the school gave them all an ice cream so they really celebrated the last day of school. It was Rubens last day in kindergarden... Another milestone achieved!

Tonight, I also got my diploma for my evening course French.

 We all can be proud of ourselves.

Cake cones

 

Yesterday, son #2 was taken to the bike shop by his godmother. She and his godfather were bying him a bicycle for his Lentefeest (communion for lapsed Catholics) :-)

He chose a white mountain bike typed bike, really nice and he was soooo happy. When we arrived home, he jumped on it to have a go with is brothers, only to return crying :-), he apparently fell off the bike... But he went back on it and biked until it was 9.30 pm and he had to go to bed. great success, thank you very much.

 

Tomorrow, son # 3 will celebrate his birthday in his class, because he has his birthday in July and school is already out, so tomorrow is his day at school.

He wanted cake cones, so I did my best, I guess they turned out alright...

Belgium

We are ready... Let the game begin...
The kids were allowed to show that they are cheering for Belgium. So over the uniform, they were allowed so show how Belgian they are...
I guess, if we are all this engaged, we must win...


GOOOOOOO ... Belgium!


Updated: son #1 was on the local news: link

Weekend

 As you can see we had a busy but lazy weekend. On Sunday we had a big party at friends. They had all sorts of entertainment for the kids and even someone that did mak-up, well as you can see, they are ready for the World Championship Soccer... DH was very proud...

Yesterday we spent the day at the beach. The weather was not great, but OK, it was warm, but not very... But we stayed at the beach, even if it was cloudy.

When we decided it was enough, we left the beach, and he moment we arrived at the car, it started raining.
The boys were done for:

Premiere How to train your dragon 2

This morning was the premiere of How to train your dragon 2 in Antwerp, and they predicted so so weather last week, so I bought tickets. It turned out that the weather is great, but OK, we had to be in the cinema at 9.30, so that was early... There were some VIP´s, I guess the actors that did the voices in Flemish???
OK, we didn´t wait for them, so we just went to see the movie. Fn movies, a bit scarry for son #3, but fun to watch.

Beach party

 

Friends of ours gave a birthday party for their kids on the beach, so we were invited and spent a wonderful afternoon at the beach. We weer there early so we could lunch on the beach. The kids had a swim... OK, it is beyond me who they stand the temperature of the water? But the swam and in the afternoon we had the party. Great idea.