Pre-school (J1)

Of course the big news (and big change) since the new year is that our little J3 has started pre-school. She is going mornings only, but five days per week. She has really been enjoying her time there so far, and has been quite active in the afternoons at home, probably lots of new stuff to process. Some pictures taken during the first days:

The pre-school entrance.

This is the side of the school with J3's class

With a really nice play area between the rooms

First day at the class

Arts with the teacher

The school has a nice playground, a petting farm and also a swimming pool for swimming lessons, which she is all going to enjoy. It of course means that our time working from home is over (or at least for the mornings), but is is nice to be at the office again together.

J1

Farm pictures (J1)

Of course there was the excitement of all the animals for JJ (and for us), she thought their were all 'puppies' though.....

My parents had this very nice wagon to take her around, and took some of these pictures.

Telling them stories....

Staring contest with one of the cows...

and Pake with a tractor (which I would have been much more interested in that JJ appears to be)

There were also goats

and JJ was not the only one posing with the animals, J2 also did her part...

and also with the goats

This picture was taken from the frozen Ijselmeer lake, behind the farm

There is many more holiday pictures of friends, our trip to Texel, winter and other holiday stuff, but I may upload some recent stuff of camping and first days at pre-school before continueing with the last holiday pics.

J1

Christmas pictures (J1)

I realize it is almost a full month ago already since Christmas, but I suppose that means that there are only 11 months to go until the next one.....

Here are some pictures of our Christmas day in the Netherlands.

J3 unwrapping a present during breakfast (which was not hers....)

Chrismas dinner at my parents

This was her present, back at our house that evening

What is that?????

Oh, a puzzle with numbers....

Nice family picture under the tree

J3 particularly liked the BALLS in the three, we liked the smell of a real tree (instead of our plastic one in Botswana)

And a present for J2

J1

iceskating (J1)

During our time in the Netherlands, we even managed to get an afternoon of iceskating in. Or more like an hour, as it was pretty difficult to get going. First time for myself in over 15 years, and first time for J2 on 'hoge noren'

Some pictures as evidence......

J1

post holiday eating (J1)

After our splurge during the holidays in terms of eating cakes, breads, droge worst, Christmas dinners, boerenkool, Indonesian food, beer etc there was need for a serious detox and discipline....Such as fruit salad for dinner (below) and soup. J2 has really become a champion in making healthy and filling soups.

J1

family (J1)

Of course there was a lot of opportunity for all of us to spend some time with family.

JJ and her aunt

JJ playing with her cousins

Beppe with the four granddaughters

JJ with uncle and aunt.

Undecorating Pake and Beppe's Christmas tree

learning to share

Cuddle with beppe

All four girls together

Cake and icecream after christmas dinner

J2 with little niece

Me and my sister (on the ice)

JJJ and Pake

a visit to newlyweds at their new house.

J1

Huisje (2)

Some more pictures of our little bungalow, this time from the inside.
The little woodburning stove, that kept many guest (too) warm, as we were trying to create African tempratures.....

The house had some nice extra features which we really enjoyed, like this sauna in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

And this wooden hottub in the bathroom (but it was a little complicated to bathe little JJ in this tub)

The kitchen, in which we prepared a few delicious holiday meals

My parents were so kind to lend us their little convertible car, which was great for getting around. Too bad we could not take the top down.

J1

our 'huisje'

We really enjoyed our stay in the "Notenkraker", our little holiday house we rented in het Fonteinbos. The holiday/bungalow park is just outside the village of Oudemirdum, and less then 3 kilometres from my parents farm.

The house had a nice livingroom, kitchen and bathroom downstairs, and three bedrooms upstairs.

It is set in a small forest, which was beautiful for running, but also provided a nice winter scenery.

The outside patio was also very nice, but a little too cold for the season.....

The manager of the park provided us with some firewood for the woordburning stove (in addition to the central heating).

J1

Christmas holiday (J1)

Here it is, first post of 2011. Happy new year to everyone that we have not seen, spoken or written yet. Our Christmas holiday was celebrated in the Netherlands this year, in my old hometown Oudemirdum

We had a great time with family and friends, enjoyed the Christmas weather, fun and company. Yesterday afternoon we arrived back home, trying to get ourselves ready to get back to work, get fit again (too much yummy food definitely affected my waistline). Luckily our bags also arrived this afternoon, with all the presents, motorbike parts etc. We are happy to be home with the dogs again, but sad the holiday is over. I will post some random pictures here in the next week, from the times we remembered to bring the camera.

JJ's first winter weather, with borrowed winter coat and shoes

She really found the snow very 'hot'

And slippery...

Some beautiful scenery in the forest near our 'huisje' in the Fonteinbos

Thanks to everyone that came to visit us, loaned us stuff, hang out with us etc. Many more pictures to follow.

J1