Happy Halloween

Wishing you all a Scary and Safe Halloween!

Last day

So a last look at my desk. I quite my job last Friday. Was a fun but hectic week, filled with goodbyes, farwell parties, cakes, nice compliments. But all good things must come to an end, even after twelve years.
I am looking forward to start my new job tommorrow to see what challenges lay ahead of me.
Wish me good luck. Here we go...

First day of school

 

First day of school and yes, son#1 doesn´t wear a uniform anymore since it will be his first day in Highschool.

 

Good luck, boys!

More pics of the Ardennes

 

Some more pictures of our short vacation. We visited the caves of Remouchamps. very impressive and a fantastic spooky boattrip back to the exit. The kids loved it.

 

In the afternoon a quick visit to the SPA factory. Had a taste of the new waters, I wasn´t thrilled, but I understand that a lot of people like the news ones, I only like mint water. But was fun to do. And the boys loved watching the conveyor belts with hunderds of bottles of water.

 

Since the weather was really hot, we decided to buy a bach and with some soap and water, hours of sliding fun.

 

The Eifelpark in Gondorf is really awesome for kids, good entrance price, free parking and lots of fun. Price of food is decent.

There is also a wildpark where the kids can feed all sorts of deer. They absolutely loved it. Great day in Germany.

 

All in all, a great short holiday in our own country, really enjoyed ourselves.

 

Ardennes

 

So after a trip from hell, where we drove from traffic jam to traffic jam, we arrived at Malmedy.

This morning we visited Gerolstein, drank some water, (some of us, I drank coffee). Had some lunch before driving to Bitburg.

 

Several years ago we made the same picture so we thought it would be fun to make a new one and see how the kids have grown.

 

So Bitburg... not much to see, but we had a nice walk.

 And now everybody is relaxing and the kids are playing in the large garden. Great location to stay.

Finished Barry the bear

Thought I would finish Barry the bear, I guess he has been laying in the closet for more than a year, he was completely finished but not sewn toegther. So I did today.

Greece

So we are back home. Public Wifi is not that great in Greece that I could post during our holiday, so here is a summary.

 

 

As Always, son #3 had his birthday during our holiday. I took him for breakfast at the local bakery while they decorated the boat and prepared the cake.

Went in search of a boat wreckage that was supposed to be on Zakyntos, and we found it. Great day with a rented small boat. We visited the blue caves and the wreckage.

 

Zakyntos is famous for its turtles, but we only saw them in Argostoli. They are so fun to watch and they are quiet curios.

 

The waves can get quit big on Myrtos beach and the boys just loved them.

 

Greek coffee and icecream... they are so delicious...

 

 

 

Yes the water is so blue, the picture doesn´t do it justice. It is almost unnatural.

 

This year we also saw bigger octopus. Very fun to watch and to see how strong they are.

 

Caves in Sami, not big, also not the most beautiful that I saw, but a relief to get into if it so hot.

 

And yes, most of the days there was a red flag, so no swimming...

 

But we had a great holiday.

NICKEBOY's party

 

The kids had their graduation party on Friday night. Fun party.

 

 

 

The next day, son #1 had his paty, at last...

 

 

The music was ready, except the wethar was helping us, around 21:00 we had to evacuate all the kids indoors as the room was too bad...

The kids were all their...

 

We even had a birthday girl...

 

Belgium - Ireland: 3 - 0

 

Getting ready for the match...

 

While celebrating cousin #1´s birthday... Happy Birthday!

 

And then there it is Belgium - Ireland: 3-0, we did it!

 

It´s raining...

So this is the road I drive home everyday, but yesterdya it took me almost two hours to cross the 10 km next to the canal. It rained so hard yesterday afternoon, that this was the result... Almost no cars to pass eachother and the roads were closed, but no signs placed, so chaos ensured...

Well, if we need to believe the experts, this is going to happen a lot in the near futher, so I guess we better buy a SUV with an air in take on the roof, LOL.

Yes!!!

Yes, I did it, I passed French exam, so I have very happy!  Opened myself a nice bottle of champagne yesterday evening...

Pet bottle rocket launcher

The kids were getting bored and they found something to do: built a PET bottle rocket launcher...

 

 

 

Finally the rain stopped...

Fianlly the rain stopped, and it is warm and Sunny. We shooed the kids out of the house and they are playing in the backyard...
And me?... I am studying for my French exam...

Lentefeest son#3

 

Today son#3 had his birthday and was seriously spoiled. And he like it... :-)

 

Even with all the rain, the kids had a great time in the inflatable pirate cave.

 

He wanted an ice cream truck, so he had one stopping.

 

I scream,

You scream,

we all scream

for ice cream...

 

And of course the traditional picture with teh au pairs who were able to make it this time. So thank you everybody that was there. You made son #3´s day.

feels like summer

 

Feel slike summer, temperatures hit 27°C this afternoon.

Even Bobbie watched the boys play utside from her favorite spot in the lower trees.

Real Mother's day.

 

Made some Beurre salé to go with the apple-nut cake I made for tomorrow. I had to ask a favor from co-workers, so they deserve a cake for their troubles.

 

For those who want to make it themselves:

 

- 60 g butter

- 110 g crystal Sugar

- 120 ml heavy creme

 

First melt the butter, then add the Sugar and let it melt, don't stir too much. When everything is dissolved and the colour turns brown, add the creme. Be careful, the mixture will rise suddenly.

Keep stirring et voila...

 

Son #1 gave me this cupcake for Mother's day. I was quiet impressed by the shape, they never turn out this way when I make them.

Turns out, their teacher bought them... :-)