Sunday, May 15, 2011
Silly 'Kip' (Chicken)
Espen got a cute duck costume for Halloween, and Boefje (Jasper) really wanted to try it on. SO ofcourse I let him, as he is very good at wrapping me around his finger :) (as are all the other kids). Boefje thought it was a chicken, and as chicken is 'kip' in Dutch, he constantly called himself a 'kip', which was really cute. The outfit had a typical chicken/duck bum too, which was really exaggerate when he walked around in it. I have never seen a cuter 'kip' before. Anyway, silly Lily then didn't want to be left behind and she too tried it on. Qute tight, but definitely funny! Lilian is always up for a laugh, and doesn't mind making herself look silly for that reason. We had a really fun time mtaking pictures of these cute 'kippen'.
Twin Love
The girls are absolutely crazy about eachother, but they sure make a great pair for quarrels too: Sofia likes to tease, and Lilian gets easily upset. Sometimes they sound just like a maried couple: LiliN: "their [some neighbor's] dog got hit by a car". Sofia:" When did you hear that?" Lilian: "Oh sometime last year." Sofia: "And you are telling me now???" I thought that was really funny. Anyway, despite their many arguments and quarrels and 'trying-to-get-the-other-in-troubles, they love to be together as witnessed by this photo!
Child like love
One of my favorite things in the morning is to see Jasper all sad to see his papa leave for work, and for him to get with papa in the car driving down the driveway before he gives him lots of kisses and waves goodbye to him. It is so sweet, and I think it makes a good start of the work day for Josh. The girls used to do that too: if Josh would start the car and they were still in bed, they would jump up, and race in their PJs to the car and climb up to the window to give him kisses, then run down the driveway to get more kisses and then finally wave goodbye. So sweet, and what a testimony of their love for their sweet papa!
Here a pictures of Jasper and Espen on the way down the driveway!
Here a pictures of Jasper and Espen on the way down the driveway!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Skiing at Arapahoe Basin, Colorado During Winter Break
We were so very excited to go skiing at Arapahoe basin in Colorado during winter break. We had found an amazing deal on a 2 bedroom condo in Keystone and the girls were in full day ski classes for the first 4 days. We rented a car, and were given a 6 seater pick up truck, perfect for our purposes, until we found out one of the seat buckles was missing. Ofcourse that wouldn't work for me, so we got a differnt PU truck. After loading all the kids, and all our stuff (at was 1 am by now), we were sent back, as the truck had a recall on it. SO after waiting once more, reloading all the very sleepy kids and our stuff into truck #3, we were on our way.
We first went to visit the girls favorite cousins, the Taskers, who had just received a family addition: sweet baby girl Mamie. It was so fun to see all of them again, and to have the kids play together, we sure love that family.
On Monday, we started an amazing week of skiing, wonderful weather, fun and patient ski teachers, fun time with the boys, taking turns watching Espen, and skiing with jasper, skiing behind the girls and see them having fun and learning quickly. After taking every day to the max. skiing every hour available, we would jump in the hotel's pool and hot-tub, eat and all fall asleep together reading books to the kids.
Jasper loved skiing, he skied most of 4 days! We had to hold him between our legs, as the school was for 3 years and up, but we loved taking him down. He also had no fear, which was good, as I get lost easily and accidentally took him down a blue pretty steep slope, oops. He loved going 'superfast' (he loves Littel Einsteins too).
One morning, Josh took him skiing and I had Espen in the baby bjorn watching all of my loved ones. After one short run on the bunny hill, Josh took Jasper over to another lift, so I thought he was taking Jasper on the big mountain. But then Jasper pretty much fell over flat on his face, so I was like 'what in the world..??' He can't have been hurt, as he never fell. So I ran over to where he was lying flat down with his face in the snow. Josh explained........
He had fallen asleep on the lift and was sound asleep on the way down and there in the snow. We took him up into the lodge, fully dressed with helmet and goggles still on, and he slept for another few hours on a wooden uncomfortable bench. :) Sweet boefje, he is such a joy! Espen was just a great sport, insoide or outside, he was just as content as could be. We bought him some sunglasses, so he wouldn't hurt his eyes outside with the bright sun and snow. Doesn't he look cute and funny?
On friday, we hired a baby sitter for the boys, and went skiing with the girls all day. It was another amazing day, with lots of fresh powder snow, and beautiful weather again.the powder was a little challenging for the girls sometimes, as it is a little different skiing that way, and it worked out well to have one parent leading the way (Josh) and one staying behind to pluck them up out of the snow (me). Of course, Lilian had to pick me up out of a tree, after I decided to ski with one leg on one side of the tree, and the other on the other side... that didn't work, and mom the dinosaur took quite awhile to get up! :) That was a good laugh! It was a special time to spend with the girls, and we were so proud of them for not being afraid, being excited about all of it, not giving up after falling, and seeing the fun our special 'date'. Jasper and Espen were in great hands, and I was able to go back to feed Espen w/o any problems.
On Saturday, it was unfortunately time to leave. We decided to take advantage of one more day of fresh powder snow, and to split up: Josh with Sofia, while I and Lilian watched the boys at the lodge, and then Lilian and I skiiing after lunch, with Josh and Sofia watching the boys.
Well, unfortunately, we never quite made it to lunch time. Around 11 am or so, I saw Josh.... alone. 'Go to the first aid, Sofia got hurt. I felt like I flew over there, I was so worried that she hurt her knee badly (that is what Josh seemed to think). As I arrived, it hurt so badly to see her so hurt. She was crying adn in so much pain. So sad, it still hurts to remmeber her face like that, my sweet little Fietje. Josh described she fell and her skies didn't come off, and her pain was in the middle of her leg, so it seemed quite obvious that she had a spiral fracture of her right lower leg. We gathered up all the kids, our stuff, moved around some car seats, and drove Sofia to Keystone's medical center, where they verified she indeed had a very bad spiral fracture of both the tibia and fibula. She ended up with a full length posterior splint for a few days, during which we traveled home. We again stopped for a day at the Taskers, which was wonderful as always, and then moved on to a quite difficult trip through the Denver airport, with a very very brave Sofia, who was in a lot of pain, but made herself breath through it mostly. We made it home alive and with a lot of help from Lilian watching Jasper. I was so proud of both girls, they sure behaved very mature and strong.
Sofia got to stay home from school for the next 10 days, which was a special bonding time for us. I was happy to be able to help her as much as possible, and probably more than necessary, as she is so unbelievably independent. She received her cast 2 days after we got home, and already the day before that, she refused pain medicine, even though I could tell it still hurt. She would defineitely be able to make the Olympics for 100 m dash on crutches if that were an event! :) She is one tough cookie! She has been very brave, and I have been in awe of her bearing her 'lot' without complaining. Especially considering how active she really is, she has not complained or expressed frustration about the things she has not been able to do, definitely something I can learn from. Lilian has been extremely helpful, and has gladly taken up some extra chores, that Sofia is unable to do. We all have truly learned about the importance of families, and how we are here to help and uplift eachother, a thick silver lining!
She has now been in a cast for almost 5 weeks, and will find out on tuesday what is next, and how much her bones have healed. We are hoping for a beautiful waterproof walking cast or boot! :)
We first went to visit the girls favorite cousins, the Taskers, who had just received a family addition: sweet baby girl Mamie. It was so fun to see all of them again, and to have the kids play together, we sure love that family.
On Monday, we started an amazing week of skiing, wonderful weather, fun and patient ski teachers, fun time with the boys, taking turns watching Espen, and skiing with jasper, skiing behind the girls and see them having fun and learning quickly. After taking every day to the max. skiing every hour available, we would jump in the hotel's pool and hot-tub, eat and all fall asleep together reading books to the kids.
Jasper loved skiing, he skied most of 4 days! We had to hold him between our legs, as the school was for 3 years and up, but we loved taking him down. He also had no fear, which was good, as I get lost easily and accidentally took him down a blue pretty steep slope, oops. He loved going 'superfast' (he loves Littel Einsteins too).
One morning, Josh took him skiing and I had Espen in the baby bjorn watching all of my loved ones. After one short run on the bunny hill, Josh took Jasper over to another lift, so I thought he was taking Jasper on the big mountain. But then Jasper pretty much fell over flat on his face, so I was like 'what in the world..??' He can't have been hurt, as he never fell. So I ran over to where he was lying flat down with his face in the snow. Josh explained........
He had fallen asleep on the lift and was sound asleep on the way down and there in the snow. We took him up into the lodge, fully dressed with helmet and goggles still on, and he slept for another few hours on a wooden uncomfortable bench. :) Sweet boefje, he is such a joy! Espen was just a great sport, insoide or outside, he was just as content as could be. We bought him some sunglasses, so he wouldn't hurt his eyes outside with the bright sun and snow. Doesn't he look cute and funny?
On friday, we hired a baby sitter for the boys, and went skiing with the girls all day. It was another amazing day, with lots of fresh powder snow, and beautiful weather again.the powder was a little challenging for the girls sometimes, as it is a little different skiing that way, and it worked out well to have one parent leading the way (Josh) and one staying behind to pluck them up out of the snow (me). Of course, Lilian had to pick me up out of a tree, after I decided to ski with one leg on one side of the tree, and the other on the other side... that didn't work, and mom the dinosaur took quite awhile to get up! :) That was a good laugh! It was a special time to spend with the girls, and we were so proud of them for not being afraid, being excited about all of it, not giving up after falling, and seeing the fun our special 'date'. Jasper and Espen were in great hands, and I was able to go back to feed Espen w/o any problems.
On Saturday, it was unfortunately time to leave. We decided to take advantage of one more day of fresh powder snow, and to split up: Josh with Sofia, while I and Lilian watched the boys at the lodge, and then Lilian and I skiiing after lunch, with Josh and Sofia watching the boys.
Well, unfortunately, we never quite made it to lunch time. Around 11 am or so, I saw Josh.... alone. 'Go to the first aid, Sofia got hurt. I felt like I flew over there, I was so worried that she hurt her knee badly (that is what Josh seemed to think). As I arrived, it hurt so badly to see her so hurt. She was crying adn in so much pain. So sad, it still hurts to remmeber her face like that, my sweet little Fietje. Josh described she fell and her skies didn't come off, and her pain was in the middle of her leg, so it seemed quite obvious that she had a spiral fracture of her right lower leg. We gathered up all the kids, our stuff, moved around some car seats, and drove Sofia to Keystone's medical center, where they verified she indeed had a very bad spiral fracture of both the tibia and fibula. She ended up with a full length posterior splint for a few days, during which we traveled home. We again stopped for a day at the Taskers, which was wonderful as always, and then moved on to a quite difficult trip through the Denver airport, with a very very brave Sofia, who was in a lot of pain, but made herself breath through it mostly. We made it home alive and with a lot of help from Lilian watching Jasper. I was so proud of both girls, they sure behaved very mature and strong.
Sofia got to stay home from school for the next 10 days, which was a special bonding time for us. I was happy to be able to help her as much as possible, and probably more than necessary, as she is so unbelievably independent. She received her cast 2 days after we got home, and already the day before that, she refused pain medicine, even though I could tell it still hurt. She would defineitely be able to make the Olympics for 100 m dash on crutches if that were an event! :) She is one tough cookie! She has been very brave, and I have been in awe of her bearing her 'lot' without complaining. Especially considering how active she really is, she has not complained or expressed frustration about the things she has not been able to do, definitely something I can learn from. Lilian has been extremely helpful, and has gladly taken up some extra chores, that Sofia is unable to do. We all have truly learned about the importance of families, and how we are here to help and uplift eachother, a thick silver lining!
She has now been in a cast for almost 5 weeks, and will find out on tuesday what is next, and how much her bones have healed. We are hoping for a beautiful waterproof walking cast or boot! :)
Just too cute to not include!
Sofia's first ride down hill and loving it!
Lilian was too fast for me taking a picture!
Papa with Jasper. It was easier between the legs we found out quickly!
Look at those big, fat, red cheeks. Yum!
How beautiful. It was like this most of the week!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
More zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Perfect fit!
What a smile. After 3-4 months of smiles, I still get teary-eyed when I see this. :)
Jasper, ready to hit the slopes!
Brave Sofia in the hospital with Espen, after some morphine.
First Irish Dance Competition
The girls have been taking Irish Dance from Miss Rowena at the Drake School of Irish Dance for a while. They love Miss Rowena, and have learned all their soft shoe dances, and Lilian just started hard shoe dances too. I am so excited for them, as I love Irish dance, especially the hard shoe dances.
In January, the girls had their first feis (competition). Sofia got to borrow a really pretty dress from the school, and Lilian was able to dance in a skirt of her choice with some long-sleeved white shirt. Both had their hair curled, for which we had to get up around 5 am (not one of mommy's strengths), and were able to weart a little make-up. The feis was at Stone Mountain, and it was an exciting event. Espen came along too, and loved watching the girls, while he was helping them to focus and keep their head up by watching him.
The girls truly seemed to enjoy themselves, and were clearly doing their best, and were not ashamed or embarrassed at all. I was so proud of them, trying hard, and being their cute smiley selves in front of the judges. Even whne they made a mistake, they just kept going, chin up, smiling, and being the most beautiful girls on the stage (I am the most objective mom around, I know). They were blessed for their efforts and received both 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes! Great job girls! It was definitely a wonderful motivation for additional feises.
In January, the girls had their first feis (competition). Sofia got to borrow a really pretty dress from the school, and Lilian was able to dance in a skirt of her choice with some long-sleeved white shirt. Both had their hair curled, for which we had to get up around 5 am (not one of mommy's strengths), and were able to weart a little make-up. The feis was at Stone Mountain, and it was an exciting event. Espen came along too, and loved watching the girls, while he was helping them to focus and keep their head up by watching him.
Christmas 2010
WOw, It has been more than a year since I blogged. I actually tried several times, but was unable to type anything. Maybe it was just the computer, although that makes little sense to me. As that computer contains all the pictures of 2010 and has some serious issues, I guess I am out of luck (or is it in luck) and will have to skip that year (for now) and will start with Christmas 2010.
Christmas of 2010 was extra super duper special, as we had our new little boy with us: sweet Espen. We were so excited to hang up 6 stockings, wow, who would have ever thought. It was a very special sight to me, and we feel very very blessed and in Heaven when we look at at our four beautiful and spirited children. Espen was born on November 4th, weighing 7#11 oz and at 20 3/4 oz. He has a TON of black hair, and we are all completely overwhelmed with love for him. It always amazes me how much love you can feel for a baby as soon as he/she arrives and feel 'how could we have ever made it without you?'. It is wonderful to see Sofia, Lilian and Jasper giving lots of love to baby Espen.
The girls loved setting up the tree and decorating, and they had me promise last year to get lights on the house and to get some lighted deer in the yard. So that is what we did. I was able to hang up the Christmas outdoor lights in less than an hour (as was visible from the crookedness), using large paperclips! I felt brilliant :) hahahah.
WE celebrated Sinterklaas again, which to me is a special tradition from Holland with many great memories. We celebrated on monday night, and had a few nights of setting up the shoe in front of the fire place several times. The girls and Jasper sang several songs, although Boefje pretty much only sang 'Sinterklaas Kapoentje', so sweet. We had the usual 'pepernoten' and I was able to find some chocolate 'sinterklaas and zwarte pieten', yummy. This year, 'Sinterklaas' felt that the girls were old enough to receive small poems with their presents, in which he put some special sweet messages for them. I love this part of the tradition, and hope to continue it for many more years. Anyway, we were all very very spoiled with many fun cute presents, the girls' favorite was probably a pair of Sketchers twinkle-toes. Sweet ladies.
Our complete family received an early Christmas present: a beautiful swing-set, with everything on it that you can think of: slide, 3 swings, rock-climbing wall, rope-ladder, trapeze, monkey-bars, and favorite tire-swing. The kids (and I) love it, and have ever since played on it a lot. Mini-boefje (Espen) gets to swing in the baby swing, and will slide down the slide without complaining (too much) :)
I made the kids a snow-hat the night before Christmas, as I would like to keep the tradition of giving them one home-made gift. I just had to make it too pretty, that the girls' hats were so little, they barely fit Espen! :) Fortunately, I just realized that I was overdoing it in time to make a normal one for Jasper. It looks pretty cute don't you think?
We all received a special surprise: a White Christmas!!!! It must have been like 100 years since that happened! We all loved it, went sledding, threw some snowballs, and just had a marvelous family time. How fun. I love looking at these pictures, and reliving the happiness I felt playing together as a family. This past year, Josh has been home a lot more, working often about 3 days/week. It has been sucha marvelous blessing to have him home more: greater bonding with the kids, more relaxing time with dad while less time with demanding mom, more overall family time, and for me more help and less late night work hours, and less worry about the kids when I travel (occasionally). I feel very blessed that my husband wants to be home with his family that much and sacrifices money, and possibly even career opportunities, as well as appreciation/admiration for his extra-ordinary work to be able to spend that extra time with us. Thank you Josh, for that choice.
Another Tradition: making a ginger bread house together, and (for me) not freaking out about eating the frosting!
Christmas of 2010 was extra super duper special, as we had our new little boy with us: sweet Espen. We were so excited to hang up 6 stockings, wow, who would have ever thought. It was a very special sight to me, and we feel very very blessed and in Heaven when we look at at our four beautiful and spirited children. Espen was born on November 4th, weighing 7#11 oz and at 20 3/4 oz. He has a TON of black hair, and we are all completely overwhelmed with love for him. It always amazes me how much love you can feel for a baby as soon as he/she arrives and feel 'how could we have ever made it without you?'. It is wonderful to see Sofia, Lilian and Jasper giving lots of love to baby Espen.
The girls loved setting up the tree and decorating, and they had me promise last year to get lights on the house and to get some lighted deer in the yard. So that is what we did. I was able to hang up the Christmas outdoor lights in less than an hour (as was visible from the crookedness), using large paperclips! I felt brilliant :) hahahah.
WE celebrated Sinterklaas again, which to me is a special tradition from Holland with many great memories. We celebrated on monday night, and had a few nights of setting up the shoe in front of the fire place several times. The girls and Jasper sang several songs, although Boefje pretty much only sang 'Sinterklaas Kapoentje', so sweet. We had the usual 'pepernoten' and I was able to find some chocolate 'sinterklaas and zwarte pieten', yummy. This year, 'Sinterklaas' felt that the girls were old enough to receive small poems with their presents, in which he put some special sweet messages for them. I love this part of the tradition, and hope to continue it for many more years. Anyway, we were all very very spoiled with many fun cute presents, the girls' favorite was probably a pair of Sketchers twinkle-toes. Sweet ladies.
Our complete family received an early Christmas present: a beautiful swing-set, with everything on it that you can think of: slide, 3 swings, rock-climbing wall, rope-ladder, trapeze, monkey-bars, and favorite tire-swing. The kids (and I) love it, and have ever since played on it a lot. Mini-boefje (Espen) gets to swing in the baby swing, and will slide down the slide without complaining (too much) :)
I made the kids a snow-hat the night before Christmas, as I would like to keep the tradition of giving them one home-made gift. I just had to make it too pretty, that the girls' hats were so little, they barely fit Espen! :) Fortunately, I just realized that I was overdoing it in time to make a normal one for Jasper. It looks pretty cute don't you think?
We all received a special surprise: a White Christmas!!!! It must have been like 100 years since that happened! We all loved it, went sledding, threw some snowballs, and just had a marvelous family time. How fun. I love looking at these pictures, and reliving the happiness I felt playing together as a family. This past year, Josh has been home a lot more, working often about 3 days/week. It has been sucha marvelous blessing to have him home more: greater bonding with the kids, more relaxing time with dad while less time with demanding mom, more overall family time, and for me more help and less late night work hours, and less worry about the kids when I travel (occasionally). I feel very blessed that my husband wants to be home with his family that much and sacrifices money, and possibly even career opportunities, as well as appreciation/admiration for his extra-ordinary work to be able to spend that extra time with us. Thank you Josh, for that choice.
Our Special Little Espen/mini-Boefje/Knorretje
Christmas Lights in Tyrone
What a cute boy: Jasper with his big brown eyes!
Sinterklaas with the shoes in front of the fire place.
Sinterklaas night with the whole family
Jasper loves opening presents- and eating chocolate/pepernoten
Look at our special Sofia - with Twinkle Toes
Lilian Showing off her Twinkle Toes
Our new Swing Set!
Had to put in this beautiful picture of Sofia (on top of the monkey bars)
What a special boy, one month old and already swinging!
It was pretty exhausting on the swing I guess! :)
Two beautiful sisters in front of the Christmas tree.
Another sweet picture of our little baby boy.
Our four special treasures, entering on Christmas morning!
Boefje LOVES his train table.
My Sofia.... what more can we say? Special
Sweet Lilian - smooch
Funny Jasper-with his 'Nerf' glasses!
CUte little Espen with one of the too little hats I made for the girls.
I love Christmas lights on our home, even when hung crookedly!
Family fun in the snow- Sofia and Jasper bonding on the sled.
Sweet Lilian with her special baby brother Espen
You can't be too young to go sledding!
Who can get enough of this beautiful face!
Special time together!
Special daddy time for Sofia!
This sweet boy is always skipping with joy! All smiles.
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