Flo

school party

This morning Victor had his birthday celebration at school.

Before he went to school we gave him his gift. A toolbench with real tools. Not really responible - especially since Victor was using the saw this morning and cut himself in the hand. But he loves it -- he's "working" every spare moment he has...

The fifth birthday is celebrated pretty big at school. And the parents are allowed to join in and celebrate as well. The kids are allowed to give treats to everyone in the class. Allowed to go to different classroom and give treats to the teachers (Victor asked Isar and Louwrens to join him). They are the teacher's helper and can ask one of their friends to be the second helper (Victor shose Louwrens). But the best part was the story told by the teacher. The songs sung while all the kids played different instruments - Rutger was also filming and he couldn't stop laughing. Both of us had tears in our eyes - so fabulous! And it didn't stop there - Victor was allowed to choose 5 friends and they made a train and then walked to music around the classroom... Great fun! And a celebration that exhausted Victor (so happy we decided to have his birthday party for friends over the weekend...)

The treats - bite size cupcakes in vanilla and chocolate with cream cheese frosting and smarties. Kids loved them.

The story being told while the candles were lit on the cake. Love his crown with a dinosaur picture (he also ended up picking a card with a police car for all the teachers to sign).

Rutger laughing hysterically while filming the musical section of the celebration :-)

      

5th birthday - first party

He's five.

Our oldest. Our content happy imaginative moody lazy intersting little guy. Who's getting quite tall. He's doing so good. He's enjoying school -- loves it actually. He's becoming more independant. Doing things by himself. Riding his bike around the block. Playing with friends - from school and around the neighborhood.

We celebrated his birthday with friends and family. He got so spoiled with wonderful gifts. A child's first laptop. A toolbox. A fun game. A box with woodpieces. A box with cars to make and paint. A book. Lego's and Playmobil. He was so happy at the end of the day.

The evening before Rutger and I baked 5 different cakes (apple pie, carrot cake, cheesecake, chocolate cake, a date cake) all equally wonderful! So fun to do that each year. The party itself was wonderful.

Victor soaked up the attention. He loved it.

We asked someone to come by to face paint the kids who wanted it. And there were quite a few who loved it. Victor did! As the afternoon wore on we had animals appear, a snake, a tiger, , a butterfly, a jaguar, a seal. But there was also a robot and a pirate.

Victor was a snake!

Chris was a tiger... He sat still for quite a while (almost 10-15 minutes) but couldn't sit still anymore for Lieke to finish the nose and mouth.... He totally got into the act of being a tiger. Walking like one. Roaring.

At the end of the day he was exhausted. He went to sleep with his toolbox and his laptop.            

swimming lesson

Chris had his first swimming lesson last Saturday.

On a whim we decided it might be fun for him to go swimming again - he loved it on vacation. Not sure how he would react to the whole idea - especially since the same type of swimming lesson over a year ago were not a great succes. But we were amazed! He loved it. Took to the water like a fish -- he loved the songs that were sung. He dove underwater no problem - even requested to take several more dives after class was finished. Loved jumping into the water -- but needed to hold onto Rutger's hands...

He feels like such a big guy going -- since he knows his brother also has swimming lessons :-)

 

7 months

So Olivia turned 7 month last Friday and it's time for an update.

• She's 68cm.
• She weighs a little under 9kilos.
• She's wearing size 4 diapers.
• Clothes sizes are 68, 74 as well as 6-12 months and sometimes even 12 months. She fits the 6-12 months perfectly so I am slowly needing more 12-18 months clothes.
• She has 2 teeth on the bottom. The arrived at the same time and seem to be growing at exactly the same rate. They are very sharp - we know since she loves to chew on things and fingers are sometimes taken.
• She's smiley and happy.
• She shines when she sees her brother and the shine in eyes gets even bigger when they hover above her or play with her. So fun to see.
• She's rolling - back to stomach and stomach to back. She's also pushing her bottom up in the air as if she wants to move. And she's rotating on her stomach. Trying to reach toys out of reach - to the left, to the right. This week she rolled from her blanket on the floor towards the couch -- not far, maybe half a meter to a meter, but still she's moving. She seems very impatient to move!
• She can sit - surrounded by pillows as her balance is not perfect yet -- but she can sit.
• She sits at the dinner table in her high chair (or Victor's old high chair) and joins us for lunch and dinner. It's just her little head that reaches above the table, total cuteness - but she seems to enjoy being a part of the chaos that is dinnertime.
• She's eating solids - pieces of bread, fruits (pieces of banana), vegetables with potatoes pureed. She doesn't always like them. Especially the vegetables, but she loves her pieces of potatoes, her bread and her dessert.  She gets "pap". And takes between 4-5 bottles a day.
• She naps 3 times a day. In the morning. Afternoon (at the same time Chris naps, which is wonderful for me!) and then again late afternoon before dinner. Naps are between 1 - 2,5 hours. And she's awake between 1 - 2,5 hours. So that's great.
• She goes to bed at the same time the boys do - between 7:30 and 8pm (started putting them to bed a little later so we can all have dinner together and because it causes them not to wake up at 6am!), wakes up for a bottle between 10 and 11pm and then goes back to sleep until 7:00/7:30am. Sometimes we hear her talking and babbling in the early morning -- but she doesn't cry. Just waits until we are coming to get her.
• She is fascinated by Othello -- will follow her when she's in the room with her eyes and loves to pet (or actually pull her hair) her.

After the first few months that were pretty tough things have really eased up. She's a delight. Such a wonderful addition to the family. Easy going and happy. Loved by all -- especially her brothers.

Edited to add:

• We all call Olivia "Olijf" or Olive in English
• Chris used to call Olivia "zus" but these days he calls her Olivia (he finally can say her name correctly so no need to use another name.
• We get lots of comments that she looks like me - my mini-me. But also that there is a strong likeness with Victor and at times with Chris.

These are 2 pictures of me at 7 months old to compare.

olive green....

Or garden green -- but wouldn't this dress be fabulous for Olivia (who we all seem to call Olive these days) next summer.... or the summer there after.

Garden Party Frock

First day of school

Last Monday was Victor's second first day of school. And for Chris it was back to pre-school (peuterspeelzaal). Both boys couldn't wait.

summer - part 2

The new playhouse in the backyard. With a new bench inside made by my father that was added this weekend. 

Two teeth!

A new bike! Loads of fun rides ahead for us. Even Olivia can fit in with the carseat. Victor doesn't always sit in it, since he loves to bike alone.

Chris and his constant companions. Used to be just "baby" (the mouse). But now it's both and they are called "muis" and "nijn".

Olivia started solids - fruit and vegetables and pieces of bread. She takes bites of pretty much everything but it's not a full meal for her yet... Slowly...

Rolling over! 

summer - part 1

This week school started -- can't believe we just had 6 weeks of summer vacation.

We mostly hung around the house. Sleeping late. Playing. Spending time together. Spent a couple of days with friends. Spent a couple of days with my parents. Didn't have the best of weather. Built a new playhouse for the kids in the backyard. Had Olivia's christening. Lots and lots of playtime with neighborhood kids. And lots of new accomplishments by the kids. Olivia has 2 teeth and is rolling over. Chris is talking up a storm. And Victor is able to dress himself fully and quite independant as he went and bought an ice cream by himself last week at the corner store...

Some pictures:

US - picture taken by Victor!

 

last day of school

Last Thursday was Victor's last day of school. Last day of his first year in Kindergarden. After the summer he's back for his second year...

It's amazing how much he's grown in all ways this past year. We often forget he still has to turn five. He made a couple of great friends - whom we hope he will still play with next year, but not sure that will happen as they are all moving onto first grade...

Friday morning my parents came to pick up Chris and Olivia for a few days at their house - I had a wedding to shoot -- and in the afternoon Victor went along with friends and their son (who's also a classmate) to France. A weekend trip. He loved it -- did really really well! Enjoyed the knights castle, the car ride, the new experiences, slept well -- but did get sick in the car on the way to France watching a DVD. He was dropped of at my parents house Sunday afternoon about 5 minutes before Rutger and I departed for London. Not really great timing. I believe my parents have been having a hard time with them...

We spent 2 days in London - lots of relaxing on my part - a trip to a great, great spa. A visit to a wicked cool musical - Wicked. And some shopping. And walking around the city. A really nice break! We're flying back this evening -- thinking 3 little kids will be very happy to see us back.

stuff

• Victor fell off his bike and scraped his knee -- bad -- real bad. Funny thing the scrape is the shape of a heart.
• Next week is the last week  of school before vacation.
• Chris is doing so much better -- sleeping more, eating more. He seems to be gaining weight -- and has more color in his face.
• He's loving pre-school -- unfortunately that also closes for the summer vacation.
• Olivia is taking bottles, lots of bottles. And doing well on them -- seems to be starting to sleep a bit more at night...
• She's starting to curve to her side -- signs of movement?
• And she's the star of a fabulous scrapbook made by JoAnne - such wonderfulness. I love it! And can't believe O has such a wonderful keepsake -(I haven't even been able to scrap for her...)
• We borrowed a friends bakfiets a few times this past week -- and are convinced, this is something that would be great to have!
• Lots of soccer to watch these past few weeks...