Flo

casper

meet casper

 

born july 10th, 2009

7 weeks early

8 weeks old now

a sweetheart.

 

6!

Victor is 6 today!

He's a first grader. Just lost his first tooth. He's starting to play field hockey. He is as enthousiastic as ever - loves going to school, learning to read and write. Has a bunch of close friends at school and in the neighborhood. He doesnt mind his little brother tagging along and adores his little sister. He's generally a pretty good eater - spaghetti is one of his favorites. But these past few weeks he's been tasting new foods. Lots of new fruits - nectarines, blueberry, kiwi -- all soft foods that don't hurt his loose teeth too much. He loves watching television - shows such as Phinneas and Furb, but also TellSell with all the gadgets, and he'll recommend them to Rutger and me :-) He's still totally into building and playing with tools. Loves heling the new neighbors and a few weeks back he even painted a part of his own room while we redecorated. He still wets his bed :-( something to work on although he isnt bothered by it. He's kind, happy and at times moody. He generally listens well, knows how to behave properly but will occassionaly rebel in a good way. He has swimming lessons 2x a week, with school an additional 1x. Hockey training will be 1x a week. He's eager to learn, but when something is too hard the first time he can give up almost immediately. He's not picky about what he wants to wear. Loves baths more than showers. Bikes to school himself. Can stay home alone for up to 15-20 minutes - and as he now knows my mobile phone number will call me a few times when home alone. He's tall and heavy! He wakes up around 6am in the morning, going to bed at around 7:30pm.

Last Saturday we gave him his present - the lego police station. With school today and swimming lessons later this afternoon we figured during the weekend he'd be able to build it. And built it he did. Alone, no help from parents, friends, brothers or sisters. 4 booklets! Lots and lots of pieces. He was so proud in the end -- he even mentioned that there was a point when he didnt want to conitue, but he did because he wanted to finish it!

 

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIC!

lost tooth

Right before we left on vacation Victor had a loose tooth. It pretty much stayed loose during the summer -- and this past weekend it started to become looser. Yesterday at school Victor was on a swing - there were lots of kids around and I found it quite dangerous. So after warning him twice I went up to him and stopped him from swinging anymore -- in the process of doing so my thumb hit his tooth and it was pushed out! Lots of blood, lots of tears and a tooth initially no where to be found... Luckily we found it and he couldn't be prouder he lost his first tooth!

 

 

It won't be long before he loses more teeth as his second tooth - top left one is loose now!

faces

 

 

 

He's handful at times -- the one who can totally get on my nerves. Who sometimes still needs a nap during the day because he will be too cranky otherwise. The one who loves playing with all the older kids in the neighborhood, never asks them to slow down for him. The one who thinks he can do everything his older brother does. The one who loves an occasional quiet day in front of the television, who loves candy and sweets. The one who talk really well -- who is constantly asking questions and who will tell stories -- repeating things we have told earlier, making it his own. Who loves to dance and sing. Who out of the blue knew how to bow after a performance in the summer. Who sometimes forgets he's only 3!

happy and proud

If she's happy and proud this is the face we see.

Back to school

Today was back to school for Victor -- 1st grade. He's been really excited to go. To learn how to read, how to write -- but also traffic lessons, swimming during school. Lots to look forward to.

 

 

While biking to school he said "I think I will enjoy first grade" ("ik denk dat ik het wel leuk ga vinden in groep 3"). He couldn't wait to get into his classroom, to say hello to his teacher! He has a fun table to sit at, 2 girls, one boy. The yellow table. He was telling me this afternoon there were no teacher's helpers as there were the last 2 years, but you could be the helper of your table -- helping to get things, pass out things etc. He was hoping to be that tomorrow. When I went to pick him up from school this afternoon he was playing outside -- able to play on the full school play area (he's been waiting for that quite a while). He came running towards me -- telling me he had learned how to read, how to write (the letter "i"), being overall excited and happy. He did learn how to read -- 2 words"(ik and rik) and he can't wait to fill his little book with more!

Chris also went back to pre-school. 4 morning a week! And he couldn't wait to see his fridends, to play. He seems to realize he's getting closer to going to kindergarden... He played and played - it was like he'd never had a summer vacation, no need to get reaquainted.

 

frown, pigtails and commands

O is 18, almost 19 months old and such a character.

She's quite the lady, stubborn, happy, totally doing those things she enjoys and can get quite upset or mad even when things don't go her way. If things don't go her way she'll get a frown on her forehead. The same one I have and that shows up when I am thinking hard, upset or not happy with something. It's hilarious to see this frown on Olivia.

 

She's cheeky, flirts and is unafraid. She's climbing stairs (and I think she can climb them down as well, but I dare not let her do that). Not only does she climb the stairs inside, but also the four stairs to the playhouse outside with a stone floor underneath that she could fall onto. Very scarry... She loves the water and enjoys swimming. Bouncing up and down in the water was a favorite activity on holiday. She loves being in control of what she does -- eats more when she's eating herself! She can sometimes pull on a pair of pants herself. And she loves shoes. Will change a few times a day. And loves putting on my shoes, or Victor's shoes, or Chris' shoes.

Her hair is curly at the bottom -- not sure if it will stay that way, but for now we love it. I also love that I can put pigtails in her hair and that she actually lets me -- need to practise a bit more to get them neater, but for now they work and we think she looks adorable in them.

 

Besides walking (she was the slowest of our three kids to start walking.... at 15 months!) she's got quite a few teeth. And the past few weeks she's been talking. Rutger and I were talking and noticed that a lot of her vocabulary is made up of commands -- lots of verbs to get something she wants.... Guess it fits her.

The words she's saying now that we can understand -- there's more we think but we don't know what they mean....

toko = auto = car

laken = laken = sheet

ja = yes

nee = no

uit = off

die = that

klaar = done

ijsje = ice cream

koekoek = koek = a cookie

ba = bal = ball

woofwoof = hond = dog

miauw = poes = cat

hospital

So this past week was spent in the hospital - from Monday till Sunday - a week. 6 nights. The week before last I hadn't been feeling well -- headaches, throatache -- but really didn't think anything of it. That changed Sunday - father's day. I did not feel well. I ended up going to the doctor's and got antibiotics for a bladder infection (or possible kidney infection - nierbekkenontsteking). Sunday night was hell -- I didn't sleep. Was sick and vomiting pretty much the whole night. Monday was spent sleeping on and off. In the evening things just didn't seem to improve -- especially since I was also really really nauseaous. So I ended up being taken into the hospital. Given an IV with antibiotics and fluids. The next day there were tests and scans -- and I did indeed have a really really bad kidney infection. So I spent 2 days sleeping. And from Thursday on I felt much better....... now I am home. Still need to take it easy the next few weeks and we need to cancel one of our 2 weeks of vacation.... but at least I am better.

favorites

Still extremely busy here -- now that Olivia is walking, taking less naps, Chris is growing and needing naps and not sleeping at night. Victor has lots of year end activities et. Fun, but sometimes I wish I could catch my breath, clean and purge and organize the mess that is in my house... But for now that will have to wait...

Some of my favorite pictures from the past months -- most taken with a little point and shoot.

 

With the kids taken by Eef!

 

 

 

 

 

yuck

Last night -- while I was home with the kids asleep - our home was broken into. Nothing of importance was stolen (only cash and a small digital camera) but I feel so violated - so yuck that someone was in our home. Dealing with police and locksmiths today.

Hopefully I'll be able to sleep ok tonight.