Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Felix on his Bike

Felix grabbed his helmet tonight and wanted to put it on. Once on his head, of course, he had to grab his bike. He was so proud to be riding his bike with his helmet on!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

No Kitchen

This Christmas we are getting a new kitchen!!! The whole construction started a few weeks ago when Tom finally got rid of the hideous and useless closet that was in our kitchen. Unfortunately we weren't thinking about making photos before it all started. But we have some pictures of now of the progress that has taken place. Today Tom removed the old kitchen and the floors. The new kitchen will be installed on December 15th. In the meantime we have to get the room ready - gas and water needs to be in the right place, and Tom will also be refinishing the wall so that it is completely flat.
Upper cabinets are gone.

Empty room.

Our temporary kitchen arrangements. We have a camping stove, an electric griddle, and a crock pot. That should get us through the next few weeks just fine. For now will also still have the dishwasher. But that won't be for much longer. :-(

Friday, November 26, 2010

Group Photos!

Friday Opa Bas celebrated his birthday, which was actually a few days earlier. We all took the opportunity to get some group photos.
L to R: Oma Oma, Thijs, Christyl, Tom, Rachel, Bas, Wilma with Evie, Liz with Felix.

The three siblings with kids.

The next morning

We spent the night in Zoetermeer and awoke to find that the Sint did indeed make a visit while we slept. Evie was so happy with her little doll. It has little accessories that you can switch out and they all get to be stored in her head. Very cool!

As soon as Felix saw that the table was being set for breakfast he ran over and sat in his seat. This kid never misses a meal!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was in Zoetermeer this year with the whole Schutte family! We all helped out to put out a delciously fantastic Thanksgiving dinner.

Evie made this fabulous turkey. The feathers are her made up of her hands, and the body from her feet! So cute!

Kisses!

The Thanksgiving Table

Aunty made some yummy pumpkin soup.

Group photo!!!

Felix spilled something all over himself, so he had a pantless dinner.

When we all gave our thanks before dinner, Evie said she was grateful for her school.

Before the kids went to sleep we all sang for Sinterklaas to come and fill our shoes.

Boys wil be boys.

We played Apples and Apples before going to bed.

We had a great Thanksgiving Day, which is easy to do when you have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Dinner with Thijs & Christyl

Tonight we had Thijs and Christyl over for dinner. Uncle Thijs came with Liz to pick up Evie from the after-school care.
Pasta for dinner.

Thijs & Christyl

After dinner the kids ate some candy they got from Sinterklaas.

Check out how similar their expressions are.

Before bed we had a little dance party. Felix showed off all his moves!

Dutch Driver's License

Today Liz passed her Dutch driving test! The new license can be picked up next week.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Uncle Thijs and Aunty Christyl!

Uncle Thijs and Aunty Christyl have arrived in Holland for a week to celebrate Thanksgiving and Opa's birthday, and of course to see everybody here! Tom and the kids went to Zoetermeer to be there when they got in from the airport.
There were goodies for everybody from America.

Aunty Christyl and Uncle Thijs

Evie got some goldfish and a cool goldfish carrier.

They went all went for a walk around the neighborhood and were greeted with a beautiful autumn day.

We also had presents for the baby. Evie

Here we have a video of Evie reading a book she wrote for her new baby cousin. She illustrated it herself but chose to have no text so that it could be different every time. She kind of gets off track about halfway through, but the beginning is great!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Shoes full of Presents!

Zwarte Piet and Sinterklaas made another visit to our house last night leaving more little presents in our shoes. This time there was also a lovely poem thanking the kids for leaving a carrot and some water for Amerigo, the horse of Sinterklaas. Just like last time there were also plenty of kruidnoten (mini gingersnap cookies) left on the floor and table for the kids to have. What a treat first thing in the morning!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

He came! He came!

Apparently our singing was good enough! Sinterklaas left a few presents in our shoes. Evie was so excited to see the packages. She was also incredibly happy about the chocolate letter and princess toys she received. Felix was happy, too, but not quite so jovial as his sister. Tom and Liz were also treated to some chocolate.
E for Evie!

Some of the presents were too big to put in the shoes so the shoes were put atop the presents!

Princess toys!

Felix got a truck with two cars.

Evie wasted no time waiting to play with her new toy.

Singing for Sinterklaas

While Sinterklaas is here we can put our shoes out at night and hope for presents in the morning. But he'll only come if the kids sing songs for him. Last night we all sang a couple songs and hoped for a visit from Sint and Piet!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Sinterklaas arrives!

Unbelievable but true! It's already that time of the year again when Sinterklaas comes to Holland to fill the shoes of the happy little dutch kids. Evie and Liz had to miss out on the celebration of his arrival, but Tom took Felix to see all the Zwarte Pieten and the good man himself, Sinterklaas. They ended up waiting for more than an hour at the square. Felix enjoyed playing with the other kids waiting there. He may have been the smallest, but he was also the most cheerful!
Felix got a new Piet hat in an extremely bright neon yellow color.

He is waving a flag that says, "Welcome Sint and Piet."

Running around on the square.

The other boys he was playing with.

Finally the Piet parade started! There were Petes on skate boards, driving in mini cars, fireman Petes, and marching band Piets.

The arrival of Sinterklaas also opens up the oliebollen season. A bunch of the Black Petes took over the oliebol stand chanting for some oliebols!

And there he is! Sinterklaas!!! Now that he is in the country the kids will be periodically setting their shoes out at night and hoping that the Sint will visit and leave a present.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Much Needed Haircut

Felix has been in need of a haircut for a few weeks now. Although he does look super cute with a shaggy 'do, it was beginning to be a bit much. So today we finally made a visit to the childrens hairdresser. As to be expected of most kids his age, he didn't exactly sit still for the whole thing. Luckily the girl doing the cut was used to it.

Before pictures:



Just like last time, the hairdresser kept him entertained with toys while she bounced around him cutting his hair.

When she was done she left Felix use the blowdryer. Usually he is scared of the blowdryer at home, but he liked this one. Maybe because it looks like a duck?

Friday, November 5, 2010

Letter from the IND


We finally got some word back on the naturalization application we submitted in March. The Immigration and Naturalization Department (IND) has sent on the application to the Queen with a positive advice to sign it. After that the city will send an invitation for a ceremony at which time Liz will acquire the Dutch nationality! Usually it takes about six weeks from the time of the first letter to the actual ceremony, so things should be moving rather quickly from here on out.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Bye-Bye Grandma!

One last photo shoot before Grandma makes her trip back home to Maine