A stroll down Meulkids-lane

A fun impression of Zoey's swimming lessons

2010-03-31T20:21:00.001+02:00

Swimming. from Sandra Lako on Vimeo.

Swimming lessons

2010-03-26T20:39:00.003+01:00

Zoey did her best today, a bit shy but she did well!!

Oefenen op het speelkleed!

2010-02-28T14:11:00.001+01:00

"verplichte buik-tijd"

I absolutely love these girls!

2010-02-28T14:05:00.000+01:00

our oldest and our youngest playing on the bed

2010-02-24T21:28:00.000+01:00

Photo update

2010-02-21T16:44:00.003+01:00

Zoey - our beautiful 5 year old!

Esmee - (almost) always happy

Sterre - sleeping beauty

how often do we get to play with her??

isn't she adorable???

2010-02-16T20:11:00.001+01:00

Back into the swing of things

2010-02-16T11:02:00.003+01:00

It's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things that happen on this planet, but for our family a new phase has commenced...
I started work again last week, and this week Sterre started going to daycare: meaning getting out of bed at 6.15 to make sure me and Sterre are ready to leave an hour later. It means waking her up at 6.30 to feed her instead of letting her sleep a bit longer, it means driving back and forth through town to her daycare, as she was not placed in the same one as Esmee (because that one is full - so sad!). It means Jacco gets to get the other girls ready for school and daycare. It means making sure I do all my household chores, grocery shopping and cleaning on Monday so that the house is ready for a week of activity. It means I don't get to eat my lunch with Zoey anymore on the days I go to work. It means pumping and sterilizing...
It means that I cherish my weekends so much more now that I am busy from Tuesday to Thursday again.
Busy, busy, busy...
But it also means that I get to go to a job I love, work with people who are great to work with, help patients who have questions about anything from backpain to headaches, from regular bloodpressure check-ups to heartissues, from neonatal check-ups to visiting the critically or terminally ill.

So, even though I'm back to stricter morning schedules and planning, and I am sad to have to take Sterre to daycare, I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to manage it this way. That we have a daycare system that works and that is accessible, that there was at least an opening for Sterre somewhere, that we have three wonderful kids and eachother to enjoy, and that I have a job and like it as well!

I love my family! I love my job! I have friends! And I have a God who helps me on my way! I guess...in a nutshell...I am blessed!
And contrary to what I may sometimes think or feel....my life is not that bad after all :-)! Compared to more than half of the world's population we've got it pretty good!!

Help Sandra helpen

2010-02-06T19:24:00.004+01:00

Druk maar geslaagd weekje achter de rug. Mijn laatste week vrij voor ik weer in de wereld van de werkende moeders mijn re-entry neem. Woensdag mag ik voor het eerst weer aan de slag.

Maar waar heb ik het dan zo druk mee gehad?

We hebben een Haiti actie op de basisschool gehad, waar we de focus van giro 555 hebben weten om te draaien naar een focus op Sandra. Super leuk dus!

Veel kinderen hadden al geld opgehaald met karweitjes, legen flessen ophalen en wegbrengen, diabolo'en voor het goede doel, de deuren langs. enz enz.

Op donderdag 4 februari zouden al deze kinderen hun ingezamelde geld bij elkaar brengen en zou er een soort rommelmarkt op school plaatsvinden. Met een hoop telefoontjes, emails en uitleg hebben we de directeur en de leerkrachten enthousiast gekregen om met de opbrengst Sandra te odnersteunen in plaats van giro 555. Super dus!

Flyers gemaakt en opgehangen, een goede vriendin heeft blog posts vertaald, we hebben een hoop foto's opgehangen, en door de kinderen werden koekjes-cakejes-oud speelgoed-boeken-appelflappen- je kan het zo gek niet bedenken verkocht en gekocht! De activiteiten comissie had limo, thee en cake verkocht, de groep 8'ers hebben een verloting gehouden van allerlei "zooi"....

Opa's en oma's, vaders en moeders, buren en oppas....allerlei mensen kwamen erop af. En zo veel mensen waren blij dat we Sandra konden steunen- die zelf gaat, die zelf goederen mee kan nemen, die zelf medische zorg gaat verlenen, die zelf ook verhalen kan komen vertellen als ze terug is.... Echt hartstikke leuk!

De krant is gebeld en zou er op dinsdag een bericht van de actie en opbrengst in opnemen, met vermelding dat een reportage bij terugkomst volgt! Dus een hoop goede Haiti aandacht!

Goed om er zo mee bezig te zijn, goed om zo achter mijn zus te kunnen staan, goed om haar in onze gedachten en gebeden te houden....want wat zal ze veel zien, horen, doen. En wat zal ze dag aan dag Gods kracht en genade nodig hebben....Zoals wij allemaal....maar in een vreemde omgeving waar mensen dagelijks met wanhoop geconfronteerd worden kan het soms even te veel worden. En dan is het goed om te weten dat er een thuisfront achter je staat. TOCH??

IJS foto's. Wat een super meiden!

2010-02-02T14:40:00.001+01:00

Sneeuw pret

2010-02-02T14:36:00.005+01:00

Een hoop lol in de tuin!!

Kerst 2009

2010-01-09T10:07:00.004+01:00

Spelen rond Sinterklaas

2009-12-29T13:34:00.001+01:00

Esmee als "beschermengel" of was het fee??

2009-12-03T14:51:00.005+01:00

2 grote zussen spelen poppenkast

O, wat lief

Zoey & Esmee's birthday party

2009-12-03T14:41:00.002+01:00

2009-11-21T16:46:00.000+01:00

Sterre 5 weken oud

Sterre krijgt een kusje van Zoey

Jacco bewondert zijn dochter

Prachtig in het grijs, (on her due date)

Esmee's third birthday!

2009-11-21T16:26:00.003+01:00

Weg met die slang!

2009-11-13T07:50:00.004+01:00

De sonde is er uit, en het gaat hartstikke goed!
Wat zijn we trots en blij met onze Sterre - kijk maar hoe blij de meiden zijn!

Eindelijk thuis

2009-11-08T19:34:00.004+01:00

Sterre mocht op 29 oktober 2009 mee naar huis, na bijna 3 weken ziekenhuis waarvan 2 weken in de coufeuze. Ze maakt het goed, en we vinden het heerlijk om met zijn allen samen te zijn! Een gezellige boel met 3 kleine dames in huis! Dat belooft wat te worden in de toekomst!

2009-11-04T15:39:00.003+01:00

Mariska, Zoey en Esmee kijken even bij Sterre in de coufeuze
Zoey en Esmee op bezoek bij mama, met allerlei knutselwerkjes! Super leuk!

Mariska en Sterre's knuffelmoment op de kinderafdeling

Jacco, trotse papa van drie prachtige meiden

OUR NEWEST ADDITION: #3

2009-10-19T19:09:00.003+02:00

On October 11th, at 34 1/2 weeks, Mariska gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Sterre Lisanne. The delivery had an interesting start as daddy Jacco was at a Christian concert in Rotterdam, and Mariska had to call him during it to make sure he came home becasue her water broke!! Good thing our friends drove fast, because the unexpected early delivery was fast! Sterre was born at 1.25 am and weighed 1829 grams. She was checked and ok'd by the pediatrician, and placed in the incubator
Sterre, in the incubator: oxygen (just in case, due to a high bloodcount), nasal tube for feeding, and on the monitors for heart rate etc...

Sterre, 5 days old, off the monitors, the oxygen and the iv. Only the nasaltube for feeding. What a beautiful little girl!

And here are our three beauties together! Zoey, Esmee and Sterre. The most beautiful treasures we will ever have!!

My favorite girls!

2009-09-10T10:36:00.001+02:00

Twee prachtige zusjes, en mijn allerliefste meisjes!

Camping in Luxemburg

2009-08-31T20:42:00.003+02:00

De caravan: in the mornings we had sun, in the afternoon by 3pm we were in the shade! Great spot!

The inside of the caravan: table/play area/and at night our bed!
One of the playgrounds at the camping...with the train that could go ANYWHERE!!
A day at a beautiful nearby lake....the girls playing with DaddyEsmee playing with her super-soaker!

Plopsacoo

2009-08-31T20:25:00.004+02:00

De meiden bij Mega Mindy- een echte superheld!

Who was the driver?? Are we in mainland Europe or England? Why are there two steering wheels?

Zoey's scherpe bochten

Esmee's grote lach

Maris - pregnant and wishing her face wasn't so fat :)

Three is better than two!

2009-08-31T20:18:00.003+02:00

Another few months has passed since I last blogged....so sorry! I need to keep this up again!
We have been busy, had vacation this summer in Luxemburg and Ellemeet, and Zoey is about to start groep 1 again next week!
lots has happened!!
Mariska's belly is growing steadily, as the third Meulkid is expected in november! Due the 17th, but who knows when it will actually decide to start it's travel to the outside world!
Around that time we have many a birthday as well- Esmee turns 3 November 12th, I turn 34 the 30th, and Zoey turns 5 December 14th. Add Sinterklaas, Christmas, New Year's, My mom's birthday, Stefan, Genae and Porter's birthdays, not to mention opa and oma....And we have enough to do!

Late is better than never!

2009-05-09T16:24:00.003+02:00

sleep-over in Zoey's room

Zoey, Esmee and Ko

Funny sisters

IJS PRET

2009-01-02T14:24:00.005+01:00

Heerlijk even genieten van de koude dagen waarop het goed door kon vriezen...Bij ons in de buurt een grote ondiepe plas die helemaal veilig was.....lopen, uitglijden, doen-alsof schaatsen, vallen en weer op staan....en op Nieuwjaarsdag SLEEëN! Super leuk!

Dress up and Christmas pictures

2009-01-02T14:19:00.001+01:00

The girls at "daycare"/ Kinderopvang foto's

2008-12-02T22:08:00.004+01:00

Esmee trakteert en viert haar verjaardag of de kinderopvang:

Spelen met schuim

LES MISERABLES

2008-12-02T21:54:00.002+01:00

This past Sunday was my birthday. And the reason I'm blogging about it is that I was in suspense for 2 weeks, ....
About two weeks before my 33rd birthday I received an anonymous letter, letting me know that a surprise was up my alley for the 29th. Too busy to plan a party due to the girls' birthdays was a bad excuse according to the letter, and this was going to be changed: the message was that I would be picked up in the morning and be brought back sometime after midnight. The 10 days befor my surprise day out were "normal" work days, in which I (of course) tried to extract information about the surprise from my husband and a few close friends. But ... no such luck! The mystery planner was still a mystery!
On the morning of the 29th I was picked up by four girlfriends for a high-tea brunch in Middelburg. Is Holland we say "gezellig", a very enjoyable, relaxing, and filling morning! After 12.00 3 of the 4 friends went home, and my "mystery planner" revealed the rest of the day's itinerary: Shopping in Rotterdam (without kids!!!!!), out to eat and in the evening the HUGE and wonderful surprise of going to see the musical "Les Miserables". Amazing! Beautiful! Voices, orchestra, set, costumes, moving....an evening to remember forever! For more that one reason - Thank you dear friend, for this spectacular present! Words couldn't say more!!!

Esmee's birthday November 12th

2008-11-24T21:22:00.003+01:00

what's under the ribon-sheet?

AAHH!!! A new kitchen!! Yeah!

The birthday beauty, Esmee!

The penguin cake!

Mommy and Zoey being crazy!

Pictures of our time with opa at "mini walrus"

2008-10-20T10:49:00.003+02:00

Water pumps, mini bumper-scooters, a huge shoe to sit on,
lots of miniature buildings, a mini-train, and a real fries...All
within a few minutes from our house, and a beautiful autumn
day made for a lot of fun with opa!

Surprise visit

2008-10-17T14:22:00.003+02:00

"opa Afrika" came for a surprise visit, and believe it or not as far as the girls are concerned the the first to recognize him was Esmee! The last few weeks Zoey and Esmee have been playing with photo's from last year, and Zoey explained who was on which picture. So when my dad came into the house, Esmee yelled "opa", and Zoey looked confused.... I guess Esmee thought, well he's in a picture, so why is it strange he's in the house. Zoey thought "what is opa doing here all of a sudden?"
My dad came as a surprise for his best friend's 70th birthday, and gave him a good excuse to see us. We had a great time seeing him. Did things like make our own pizza, order and eat chinese, opa read the girls books, helped them make puzzles, Zoey showed off how well she could ride her bike, and we went to Miniatuur Walcheren (a park full of the minature schale models of the well known buildings and events in our part of holland). We even took a ride on a mini train!! And took some great pictures! Unfortunately, though, we forgot to upload the pictures onto my laptop, so dad has them back in Sierra Leone.
It was a lot of fun though, and we loved having you here dad/opa! Come again soon!! And you too, oma!

uitslapen?

2008-10-08T16:28:00.003+02:00

Heerlijk, ik heb nu al een paar dagen tot 7.30 uit kunnen slapen. Nooit gedacht (vroeger) dat ik dat een luxe zou vinden! De dames beginnen het te leren dat papa en mama hun bedje ook wel lekker vinden, en dat slapen goed voor je is :) Het zijn nooit lange slapers geweest, eerder vroege vogels...die heel blij aan hun dag beginnen. Gezellig, maar toch vroeg! Soms begint de dag bij ons echt al wel om 6.00uur, en als je er dan zelf pas om na elven in ligt is de nacht net iets te kort na alle dagelijkse activiteiten van werk, huishouden, schoonmaken, muziek, hobby's, sociale contacten enz. Maar ja, het hoort er allemaal bij! We blijven lachen!!

Zoey- steppesteppestep!

2008-10-05T15:07:00.004+02:00

Steppen is op zijn tijd ook ontzettend leuk, vooral op zo'n echte roze meidenstep!

Esmee- een heel lief boefje

2008-10-05T15:01:00.004+02:00

Ha...ha..ha...choo! I love blowing my nose! Even when it isn't necessary!
This is Esmee's Wild woman hair-do.

Isn't she beautiful and photogenic, even with her untamed hair?

2008-09-26T19:31:00.001+02:00

the promised pictures of Zoey's vaccination bandaid:
never thought a kid could be so proud of one!

SHOTS

2008-09-26T08:21:00.002+02:00

2 weeks ago Zoey accompanied me to the health care center tot get my yellow fever shot. Is this a suitable activity for a 3 year old? In our case it was! Zoey is fascinated by anything medical, especially doctors (lucky me!-) The outing had a double function, as Zoey was due te receive her 4-year vaccinations a week later, I figured I'd show her that "big girls don't have to be scared of shots".
Mission accomplished! Mommy didn't cry :-), Zoey got to help the nurse give me a bandaid and a week later my brave daughter waited for her check up patiently, and got her shot without so much as a peep! I was one proud mommy!! And Zoey was one proud pre-schooler, with a huge Pooh bandaid on her arm....(check her expression in the picture above- post to follow!!)
She did well, the doctor was pleased, everything fine, EXCEPT that she has to redo the eye exam, because her left eye wasn't up to the minimum standard. The big question is, is that due to tiredness or is it her vision....we'll find out in november, when she redoes her eye exam...!
Official "consultatie bureau" years are over, further follow up continues at a lesser frequency through school....!
Wow, do (almost) 4 years fly!

Play dough fun!!

2008-09-25T20:52:00.007+02:00

Sometimes playing is a hard work (for mommies that is, with all the rolling, mashing,and opening and filling of appliances with play dough) And sometimes cleaning up afterwards is even harder work!

Zelfs kleine meisjes worden groot!

2008-09-18T10:39:00.005+02:00

Een mijlpaal bereikt, een nieuwe en grotere wereld opent haar armen om onze dochter daar in op te nemen....Want Zoey kan sinds een paar weken zonder zijwieltjes fietsen! Voor de zomer geoefend, maar te eng bevonden door het keur-meestertje, terwijl ze het hartstikke goed deed, maar ineens heeft ze de smaak te pakken! en gaat er geen dag overheen voor ze op haar prachtige en inmiddels met slingertjes versierde 12-inch fiets op het pleintje rondrijdt! En snel dat ze gaat!
Esmee vindt het ook prachtig, en heeft bedacht dat ze dat zelf ook al wel kan, hoewel we haar dan wel op het kleinere fietsje ondersteund rechtop moeten houden en vooruit moeten duwen....."Meetje, jou tijd komt nog wel!"
Foto's van Zoey's fiets avonturen (op het pleintje, naar de eendjes, naar de kinderopvang en naar de aldi) moeten we nog maken en plaatsen. Maar we wilde jullie deze geweldige prestatie niet onthouden :)

Zoey expanded her horizons a couple of weeks ago when she suddenly decided she could ride her two-wheeler without support from extra wheels or parents! And, WOW, can she go fast!! She races around the grass in our neighborhood, and begs to ride her bike to the nearby Aldi (store) or the ducks like it's the greatest thing in the world! It amazes me how fast kids learn, and how quickly our little girl is growing up, almost ready to start school, chatting away like a preschooler, and sometimes so wise for her age! To be honest, I'm glad she doesn't start school till January, that seems soon enough!

A weekend out with friends

2008-08-12T07:50:00.002+02:00

A last-minute trip to an old farm house with good friends was the perfect way to spend the first weekend of august! And last-minute it was! Jacco called me at work thursday to see if I had plans that weekend, and called around 6pm to say we could pack! So up I went, to get things organized. After work on Friday, at around 6pm again, we packed the car and headed to a small town about 45 minutes drive away...which in Holland can get you to a totally different town and area! :)
Relaxing, chatting, swimming, eating Subways....it was great fun!
For some impressions of our kids and theirs....

Kabouter Esmee (summer party Daycare)

2008-08-12T07:46:00.003+02:00

more vacation pictures (june 2008)

2008-07-15T14:17:00.000+02:00

VAKANTIE JUNI 2008

2008-07-15T14:01:00.003+02:00

Samen spelen in de kids-club
Geschminkt als vlinder
Esmee als tijger
Buiten spelen. Wat wordt Esmee toch wijs.

Kind zijn

2008-04-18T21:04:00.005+02:00

Heerlijk om kind te zijn, toch? Genieten, plezier maken, lachen, spelen, zonder facades of blokkades.....gewoon jezelf zijn, omdat je als kind niet anders kan dan eerlijk zijn!!

April Fool's Day

2008-04-01T20:55:00.004+02:00

So....she (whoever that is!!) threw her in the basket, capsized it, and did a victory dance!!

(just kidding)

But they did play in the big pink basket, and roll around in it, and dance and enjoy themselves
with their visiting aunt Sandra (knuffel monster)

Beautiful ladies (and their mommy)

2008-03-21T21:47:00.004+01:00

Sisters!

2008-03-21T21:32:00.005+01:00

A picture says a million words!

Who do they remind you of?

Zoey makes 'em, Esmee wears them all!

Who's bugging who?

LIFE

2008-03-20T20:35:00.002+01:00

Want to be a hit for Zoey?
Take her to Bambini
Let her jump on you sofa
or your bed
or a bunch of cushions and pillows on the ground
simplicity has many possibilities!
Let her show you her summersault, that she is so proud she can do (since last month)
Let her show you how well she can jump and how high she can jump
Let her show you she can balance on her two hands and one leg, with the other up in the air
Let her climb up your legs and hang upside down
Take her outside and go for a stroll
Watching how well she can ride her girls-bicycle
Or can hang onto the monkey bars in the playground
or play marbles with her new red-and yellow collectio (a (re)newed hit here!)
Give her undivided attention as she colors in a coloringbook
Or draws her own shapes, lines, squiggles and pictures

Our beautiful 3-year old really doesn't need much to be happy!
Extravagant gifts aren't needed to impress her.
The simple things in life are beautiful.
Love, attention, and a comfortable, safe environment are key ingredients to her well-being
Being loved, and accepted make her feel at home
We can learn a lot from our little girl!
God's love, his gift for us (redemption through Jesus), and the peace He gives us should be enough for us.

What an example of the joy of living, the excitement of life in itself!
Zoey lives up to her name : Greek for "LIFE"

WALKIN' WALKIN'

2008-03-20T20:16:00.002+01:00

A new milestone: since about 3 weeks Esmee has become an independant walker: all over the place, in every direction, in cirkels, in laps, to and fro, almost as if this new and fascinating discovery that she CAN actually stay upright without help is in itself sheer excitement!
Since last weekend she has also discovered "getting up" onto her independantly.
She attempts "sprints" from one end of the house to the other, tries copying her big sister's jumping and summersaults, but this, she must admit, is a bit far-fetched at the moment.
We're proud of our little girl, she's doing so well!

Oh, and she gives the cutest kisses ever!!!
Zoey is her favorite person in the world! They must hug at least a dozen times a day if they get the chance! (anyone jealous?)

2008-02-14T20:39:00.005+01:00

Lezen met Geeske

Een avond-ritje in de bolderwagen

Zwemplezier

Eten in de aqua-mundo

Vol op genieten

Esmee tijdens de vakantie

2008-02-14T20:04:00.006+01:00

Mini-cars rijden met Geeske

En even crossen met Daniel

Snacken in de snack tent!

Zwemmen

Frietjes eten in de aqua mundo

My new bike

2008-02-14T19:57:00.001+01:00

thank you for my new bike opa en oma, opi en omi, and papa en mama

The walk of life

2008-01-22T14:30:00.000+01:00

A new mile stone for us, and especially for Esmee: she has taken her first independant steps! Walking has become her goal in life it seems! Not only has she been using almost anything in the room to walk along, walk behind, walk next to, or walk with (ie, our fingers, our legs, a stroller, a chair, Zoey)...she has now started braving the sense of balance! Wobbly as she still is on her own two little feet, she stands for alomst a minute without outside help, and braves up to ten steps in any direction, as long as someone is around to catch her if she falls. She's happiest with an adult finger in one hand as support, and a toy (knuffie) in the other... as such she'd take us miles if we let her :)

2008-01-10T20:26:00.000+01:00

We took some new pictures this weekend:

Esmee with her two tiny pigtails (which aren't her favorites to have done), and playing with her toys (as you can see almost everything goes into her mouth), crawling around, and walking around the table

Zoey (after taking our her own ponytails has a wild due, in her African apron and chef's hat her hair seems ok again

Potty trained?

2008-01-08T20:03:00.000+01:00

a real mommy's kid-story...if you're interested

I was wondering...when do you know to start potty training...Around here people say a kid takes its own intitiative and actually leads the way...As if a kid will say "mommy, I'm ready to be potty trained now!"
In our case I think we listened to Zoey's signals a bit too lightly. Around summer time, after we got back from our trip across the pond for Stefan and Genae's wedding, Zoey started wanting to use her potty, or sometimes the "big toilet" as she called it. We would let her do so before her nap and before bedtime, but didn't really encourage it for the rest.
After a chat with a friend who is an experienced mom with four kids of her own, and a bunch of nephews and nieces, and the fact that Zoey was wanting "to go" on the toilet more often, we took the plunge. And in no time she was diaper-free when awake! The first 2 or 3 days we had to remind her a lot, and at the end of the morning when she'd get really tired, she'd forget and be standing in a puddle of fluid, but after a week she did really well. She's now a dry three-year old! The next step will be figuring out when we need to start experimenting with nights! We'll postpone that for now though!!

Zoey's 3rd Birthday (Dec 14th)

2008-01-07T09:22:00.000+01:00

photo 1: poppenhuis gekregen van papa en mama
photo 2: mijn kwarktaart, zelf versierd!
photo 3: African apron and American ovenmits. thanks opa en oma!
photo 4: flink verwend de hele dag: heel veel cadeautjes opengemaakt!

December shots: stoere meiden!

2008-01-07T09:17:00.000+01:00

Sisters having fun, with their matching scarves,
made bij their aunt Sandra in hothot Sierra Leone!

Sunglasses in the winter?

We know they're upside down, but isn't she adorable anyway??

oh christmas tree oh christmas tree, how lovely are your home-made decorations!! Believe it or not, the tree managed to survive through 3-4 weeks without being crawled or walked into or plucked out by our youngsters!

photo update november 2007

2008-01-07T08:58:00.001+01:00

Esmee met grote vriend Daniël (ennuh...zie je mijn ienieminie staartje?)

Chefs in the making!

Big sister Zoey loves helping out, and feeding her sister (when we let her)!

Oma heeft Sinterklaas ons niet voorbij laten gaan! Dan je wel oma! Vanuit Afrika heeft ze'm in Spanje ingeseind!

Enough to do

2007-12-30T22:47:00.000+01:00

Well, it's almost the end of december. We've had a busy month or so! After Esmee's birthday, was Mariska's turn, then we had the traditional dutch "Sinterklaas" activities, with some friends of ours, and the Sinterklaas feest at the daycare where the girls go for 2 days a week, after Sinterklaas was Zoey's birthday and her birthday party, and ten days later was Christmas! Again a christmas party at daycare, and Mariska and Jacco played and sang at church in the services.
Between prepping and partying we did our usual activities of working, cleaning, cooking, playing, grocery shopping, and enjoyed a couple of days of "frost"and 2 cm of snow in Middelburg...
I guess it's time for some new pictures....I'll try to get around to that soon!!

En op 15 nov mag Esmee trakteren...

2007-11-15T20:25:00.000+01:00

En dan is het voorlopig even klaar met 't feest.....over een maand mag Zoey!

14 nov is Esmee's verjaardagsfeestje

2007-11-15T20:19:00.001+01:00

Birthday cake

Zoey, happy as ever

Esmee, birthday girl

Opening presents

Family and friends

Esmee's verjaardag

2007-11-15T19:53:00.000+01:00

Esmee krijgt van Zoey haar grote cadeau!
Best zwaar, en ook best spannend...

Samen uitpakken is erg leuk!
Op de doos drumme ook, vindt Esmee
Zoey ziet het liever snel opengaan om er mee te spelen

Na het spelen en slapen mag je op je 1e verjaardag hier een eigen taartje toetakelen: uitproberen, voelen, proeven,...vandaag mag het voor een keer!

Oma is speciaal uit Afrika langs gekomen om er bij te zijn

models in the making?

2007-10-29T20:35:00.000+01:00

PHOTO UPDATE

2007-10-29T20:19:00.001+01:00

Our beautiful girls keep growing, smiling and making us proud...

Lieve zusjes spelen op het bed
Opa René is op bezoek, op doorreis
Opa en Esmee
Het regent, en Zoey doet in de hal boodschappen
Boterhammen eten

Spelen en bellen op de zitzak

2007-10-29T19:33:00.000+01:00

2007-09-21T19:59:00.000+02:00

Lekker zo'n koekje. Yummyummmm...
Voor het eerst voor op de fiets
I love donuts!
Mommy, me and my donkey...Lotsa fun
A sleigh-ride in the living room!

Coming soon...

2007-09-18T22:01:00.000+02:00

I posted some great new pictures, but even here in the "western world"things can go wrong. After checking to make sure the pictures were online, and signing off, apparently the blog was empty.....so we'll be posting new pictures, yet again, tomorrow.....Sorry for the inconvenience. Check again soon!

Zoey and music: peas in a pod

2007-08-13T21:39:00.000+02:00

Hoe kan het ook anders? Zoey, 2.5 jaar oud is helemaal weg van muziek, zingen en dansen. Het begint (zie foto) al 's ochtends vroeg na het opstaan...met instrumentjes op haar heen, zit ze in d'r pyjama klaar voor de start! Haar favoriete aanbiddingsliedjes worden de hele dag door gezongen, zelfs op de speeltuin, met een struik-tak als microfoon!

Who'd have expected any differently,...our Zoey at 2.5 yrs loves music, singing, and dancing. Even right after she wakes up (see photo) she loves to "praise God" in her own special way, singing her favorite (kids) worship songs or playing her instruments. On the couch, in the bushes at the playground, using the brances as microphones...where ever!<

9 months old, Esmee

2007-08-13T21:14:00.000+02:00

De eerste foto van Esmee zittend! Helemaal alleen! Ik kan het al een poosje met steun, of in mijn wip-stoeltje, maar zoals je ziet kan ik nu helemaal alleen zitten....

The first picture of me sitting all by myself. I am so proud of myself! It's so fun to see the world upright, that even in bed and in my baby rocker I have been trying to sit up all the time. But now I can do it without support too...Hurray!

Ondeugend? nee..Ontdekkend? echt wel.. Ontwapenend? zeker...en Ontzettend lief!

Het bewijs....de volgende foto, o.a.

Airports, Airplanes, Flying, Sleeping...

2007-07-31T22:16:00.000+02:00

At the airport, watching the airplanes, almost home....july 9-10 we started our trip back home after 2 weeks of activity in Texas

Needless to say, the girls needed their sleep. Alas, these pictures weren't as promising as they look, turbulence and announcements that the seatbelt sign had been turned on (yet again) woke them up about 4 times. Agghh! Oh well, we got home safely and we're all used to this time zone again, that's what counts!

Esmee

2007-07-21T14:03:00.000+02:00

Stefan and Genae's weddiing 7-7-7

2007-07-21T13:34:00.000+02:00

Pictures say 1000 words. It was an amazing day! Dry! Pictures. Church. "bloemetje gooien". I do. Crying. The ring. Oasis. Delicious food. Lots of people. Dancing. Photo's. Cake. Esmee asleep next door. Zoey "feestbeest". Fireworks. GREAT DAY!

Our family

2007-07-21T08:57:00.000+02:00

2 LITTLE GIRLS

2007-07-21T08:30:00.000+02:00

A cute picture is the best start of a new blog, isn't it?

Hope our africa-settlers will be able to keep updated more easily now than with the last site.