Birthday at School

Today Evie was the Birthday Girl at school. She got to wear her specially made birthday hat and was serenaded with a dozen different birthday songs before blowing out five candles on the classroom birthday cake.




Then the teacher gave her a tin of sleeping dust to put all her classmates to sleep so she could pass out the surprise treat (Hello Kitty popsicles!)



Evie loved being the center of the attention and everybody enjoyed the popsicles! It was really nice being able to see the classroom birthday traditions. The celebration ended with the kids throwing fireworks in the air. Not real ones, of course.

Happy Birthday, Evie!

Today our Evie officially turned five! She awoke to a pile of presents, of course. Felix helped her unwrap his present to his sister.



This afternoon we had a birthday party with four of her classmates from school. We have about a thousand one photos, so I'm working on a video of the party and am still waiting for permission from the other parents to publish here. But hopefully it will be finished soon! In any case, here are her Hello Kitty cupcakes for the party. The girls were so cute when they got to eat them. They turned the 5 upside down and said, "Look, Evie's turning two!" Everybody laughed!

Father's Day

After being able to sleep in a little bit, Papa was treated to a special Father's Day breakfast, complete with special Father's Day placemat, napkin ring, egg cup, and banner.

Evie gave him a framed picture with the text: I'm upside down crazy about you, Papa
Felix gave a tile with his handprint, so so cute!
Tom also got a cool new backpack.

Evie's Birthday Party

Today, being the Saturday before Evie's birthday, we celebrated with family and friends. Of course she woke up to a couple presents on her chair, too.

She also got to have a special breakfast to kick off her Birthday week.

Evie really wanted a scooter for her birthday, and she got one! We decided not to go with a girly girly pink one this time. She loves it! She also got a Hello Kitty party dress that matches her invitations.


The party started at three in the afternoon. The weatherman threatened overcast and rainy, but it turned out to be a dry and somewhat sunny day!

Evie with the spread.
Hello Kitty Heart Cake.
Hello Kitty Cookies
Opening presents.
Grandma Nan & Grandpa David sent a present from America that happened to also arrive at 3pm the day of the party! Perfect timing!
Hip hip Hooray!
Make a wish!
It was a delicious vanilla cake with strawberry jam filling and fresh strawberry buttercream frosting.
The girls playing on Evie's bed.
Those who stayed were treated to enchiladas with rice and mexican bean salad.
The kids got quesadillas.

Felix in the Garden

Watering the plants.
Investigating.
Being cute.
Airplane!
Finding bugs.

Guitar family!

Since we got that plush guitar (and even before then), we have been one guitar-happy family. Felix grabbing his guitar whenever there is music, and Evie does, too! Tom has liberated his guitar from the cobwebs and is now playing sometimes, too.
The Schuttes on guitar.
Boy Schuttes on guitar.

Circus Show

Today Evie's class gave a show to round up their theme for the last month, the circus. The teacher was the ringleader and all the kids had a special act to perform. Evie was a ballerina together with some of her girlfriends. The show was very entertaining!
Evie is in the green sweater.
The incredibly strong boy!
Here you can see Evie's teacher all dressed up

Sleeping Felix

Dirk Scheele Concert

Today children's singer/songwriter Dirk Scheele gave a concert at the Grote Markt. Being fans of his fun and addictive kid songs, we had to go check it out. The whole square was a big kids' party with other games and activities to keep them entertained.
Evie decorated a piece of cake.
Dirk Scheele on the podium.
Evie & Felix dancing with the other kids on stage.

New Playground at Pex Woods

For the last couple of weeks Pex Woods has been under construction. And now there's a brand spankin' new playground. Of course the kids had to inspect it at once.
Felix Monkey
Evie Monkey
He looks so cute in those overalls.
The kids came home and had a snack in the garden under the tent Papa made for them.

Our happy boy!