Growing Up!

We

It's offical, my baby won't be a baby much longer. Johnny is making the transition into his "Big Boy Bed." A friend had an extra toddler bed. So, we moved it in this weekend! Johnny thinks he's just about the coolest thing in Western Europe! We'll see how this transition goes! Climbing in and out of the crib was starting to seem a bit dangerous.

I can't believe in a month my baby will be two and my oldest will go to school five days a week! Time flies....so I'll continue enjoying it with them!

Curtis's First Sleepover

Above, Taylor getting her hair washed. Below, Curtis thinking it's the FUNNIEST thing ever!
Below: Curtis and Taylor trying to go to sleep in bed #2, Out of 4 for the night!

This weekend Curtis had his first offical sleepover. His friend's parents went out to dinner and we decided to keep her for the night. I forgot how much fun and how COOL it use to be to have sleepovers. The kids had dinner, played, took baths, watched a movie, ate candy, whispered, and stayed up WAY TOO LATE! After four bed changes, 7 potty breaks, a glass of water, and two "I'm Scared's" the little buggers fell asleep. After a pot of coffee between Erik and I this morning, we have recovered as well!

My Little Ladies Man

Today, I was biking home from a friends house with Curtis on the back baby-seat, and Johnny on my handle bars, on the front baby-seat. When I am biking, Curtis is always helpful with the hand signals, or telling me if the light is green or red at an intersection. So, as we are biking, he keeps saying something. I can't hear him because it's too windy. So, I turn my ear, and as we pass some woman, he yells, " Hey SWEETIE PIE!" -to her! I'm dying, that he's been yelling this to people. So, I tell him that's not appropiate to yell that at people. He's ok with that and seems to understand.

As I keep biking, he starts yelling again. This time as we pass a woman and a man holding hands, he yells "Hey Honey Pie!" I told him to quit yelling and he said, "You told me not to say Sweetie Pie, so I didn't!" Totally thinking that he is innocent!

The more I think of it, I'm trying to figure out where he would learn something like that! I'm pretty sure it's Uncle Kyle teaching him bad habits! But, Big Johnny crossed my mind too! Since he NEVER made a comment about a pretty girl during his visit! (: In either case, We miss BOTH of you!

Save You a Trip!

I thought I'd write this blog to all the mom's and dad's out there with young children. If you were JUST thinking about running out to ALDI to get "cheap" diapers.....I"ll save you the trip! Erik came home last night, smiliing like crazy, with a huge pack of Aldi diapers. He was saying, "Look at all the cool ducks on these diapers Johnny, want to put them on?" (In his "You Have a Present to Open" voice)

A nap later, and I don't want to be that person who says, "I told you so," to Erik. But, I guess I'll buck down and do it! "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They leak!"

And if that wasn't enough to get you to put your car keys back and keep you from going to Aldi, here's the cheery on top- Their coffee tastes like mud! Who would have thought?

With that said, I DO appreciate my husband getting the grocery's and it is SO kind of him to shop for us. Not bad to only have two complaints for a $100.00 grocery bill! (:

Doctor Part II

In Holland, they don't prescribe antibiotics easily. They do a lot of "Herbal" treatments. Today, I was NOT in the mood to mess around with any "Herbal" treatments. If the doctor wanted to try an "herbal" treatment with Curtis, then I was going to tell him there is no better "NATURAL WAY" to treat my kid, than switch places with him. He could see what it is really like in the middle of the night...all night long! And I'd go to his house to sleep!

So, I called the doctor and told him about Curtis and that I was just in the office a day and a half ago. He told me it's not normal to do this in Holland, but he would just call in a prescription for me to the "Chemist". (Pharmacist) I think he could tell that I might literally turn into that "Crazy American" if he didn't offer some drugs! So, hopefully in a few nights, we'll be sleeping again at night!

Doctor

When my parents were here, Johnny started getting really crabby. He developed a terrible cold. Since then, we have had many sleepless nights. He won't stop coughing and medicine isn't working. So, yesterday, I took him into the International Medical Center. Our regular doctor is on a three week holiday and my friends doctor is on a four week one. (Can you imagine that happening in the US!) So, someone suggested this center to me.

It was quite the ordeal going to the doctor here. First of all, I had to drive there. Now, I am getting much better at driving- if you don't get car sick from the consant jerking of the stick shift. My friend has a TomTom It's a satalite operated computer that sits on my dashboard. I tell it where I want to go, and a lady gives me directions the whole way there! It's definitally something I'm going to have to purchase, as it's been a LIFESAVER!

Anyways, I'm a bit nervous driving to the doctor. The lady tells me to turn left, and Curtis repeats it from the back seat. He does this over and over,in case I didn't hear EVERY command she gave me. Driving down the tram tracks (train tracks) on the middle of the road is another story. It's going ok- but get's me nervous every time. My friend told me, when the train beeps at her to get out of the way, she just honks right back at them, and goes on with her business. I'm not quite as daring.

I decided to bring Vanessa, who is a good friend of mine, that also nanny's for us a few times a week. I knew with a new experience in Holland, I might need back-up. Anyways, we get to this house. It looks like a normal apartment/house. It does have a very small sign outside of it. I can't open the door. So, I ring the door bell. Nothing happens. Vanessa tells me to ring it again, and then I do it again. Finally, I get out my cell phone, wondering what I've gotten myself into. I call the doctor, and as I do, the front door opens. His wife/receptionist answers the door and tells me to come in and go upstairs of their house and wait for her. She needs to finish her lunch and tea. (In my head, I'm dying. Could you imagine your doctor in the US telling you to wait, while they finish their tea at 2:30 in the afternoon!)

So, we climb up the STEEPEST steps ever, that aren't carpeted, and very narrow. If I hear the words- "NO, I DO IT!" one more time at this point, I might go mentally insane! I'm pretty sure one of the kids is going to tumble down the stairs and end up in the hospital. Again, thank goodness Vanessa was with me to walk behind one of them.

Upstairs was a small bedroom that was made into a reception area. They had a few puzzles and some coloring for the kids to do. I always come prepared- but not prepared enough for us to be called back an hour later. (They must have drank a gallon of tea!) Imagine my kids in a small bedroom in someone's house, with the wife sitting at a big desk that takes up half the room, for an hour. Again- thank goodness for Vanessa.

We FINALLY get called back to a bedroom that has been transformed into an exam room. One half of the room is the doctors desk, and the other half is the exam table. I chose this clinic because they specialize in helping expats (English Speaking people living here). The doctor starts talking to us, and I can only pick up a few words of his in every sentence. I'm dying, thinking -this THIS IS GOOD ENGLISH! His accent is SO thick. I am having to concetrate SO hard. Only problem is it's hard to concentrate, while my kids are going behind his desk, climbing on the exam table, emptying out a lego container on the ground, ect. Again, thank goodness for Vanessa.

The doctor is very friendly and great with the kids, if only I could understand what the heck he keeps saying. Finally, after another 45 minutes, I leave. With Vanessa's help, I know that Johnny has bronchitis. We drive back, and for some reason, I'm physically exhausted and so is Vanessa. I'm not sure if it is from the 3 hour adventure, the wait, the driving, a two year old ("I DO IT"), or the transulating that made us so tired. I got home and THANK GOODNESS for Vanessa again- she stayed with the kids while I ordered pizza for dinner and ran to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions...or "recipes" as they call them!

One would think, life would get much better now. I might be able to sleep at night again! WRONG! They gave Johnny a prescription that made his SUPER wild and hyper. (Like he needed any help in the "energy" department!) He was being funny and crazy- but come 3 am when he still wouldn't go to bed for the night, it wasn't so cute anymore. He even went the whole next day without taking a nap- which is rare for him. It was like he was on high gear for over 24 hours! He would crawl in and out of his crib, and open the shades and yell, "Good MORNING!"

Finally he crashed last night at about 7pm and slept for 13 hours! If I could only get Curtis to stop coughing all night long now!



**** By the way, this website is only in Dutch at our house. I can't do spell check or anything, because it's only set up for Dutch. So, excuse my spelling and grammer mistakes in all my blogs.

Pretty, Pretty Princess!

The boys LOVE to go to their friend Emma and Cullum's house from Scottland and dress up like a "Pretty, Pretty Princess!"

Country Line Dancing Festival!

What else better to do on a Saturday and Sunday, than sit out on the balcony and watch the "Country Line Dancing Fest" going on. Actually, I can think of one thing that would make it better...if my brother-in-law Kyle were here. It makes me smile thinking of the comments he would have, with the binoculars in his hand! I'm sure he wouldn't make fun of the lady wearing the CRAZY American flag shirt, that shimmered with glitter all over it! She didn't stick out in a foreign country or anything. (Couldn't get to my camera quick enough...she's not in the photo!)

Eat Your Heart Out Timmy!

My cousin Timmy works for the Milwaukee Brewers. He has one of the most important jobs in the club house... he's one of the WIENERS that race during the 7th inning! He doesn't appreciate my neighbors in Minnesota brainwashing the kids into becoming Twins fan. A good friend from college, Amy, is visiting and is a big Twins fan as well! Well, Timmy,it's offical... Look's like we all made the switch! Go TWINS! (Dave and Jeff, hope this blog makes you smile!)

New Pet

The boys found something to keep them entertained now that their grandparents left. We were on the beach, and a seagull was eating a crab. We found it, and I'm pretty sure it's dead now. But the boys have taken a liking to it. They named it "Hermit" and it now has a home in a bucket at our house. I'm sure it's only a few days, before it starts to stink and we have to have a proper burial for it. But until then, I'll let them enjoy Hermit, and feeding him biscuits!

Goodbye Margie...Hello SUN!

Wouldn't you know it... it rained almost every day of my parents vacation! They left Wednesday and we have had two BEAUTIFUL WARM, clear summer days! Hello BEACH!

All My Bags Are Packed...

All good things must come to an end. We had a great time with my parents here. It was so awesome that they could come spend time with us. Wednesday will be a very sad day!

He is his FATHER!

Curtis has been BEGGING to go on these little Go-Karts since we've been here. So, on my parents last day in Holland, I thought we'd go out and try them. I envisioned it to be SO cute as we watched the kids. It started with Curtis almost running out in front of the other kids driving their cars and getting hit. I should have put an end to it right then and there. But, I was feeling nice.

I let Curtis get in a car and put Johnny next to him. I went off to the side by my parents and Curtis HIT THE GAS and went flying into the wall. Johnny just about flew out. We had to walk around telling Curtis to steer straight. He continued to drive like a maniac! My dad started yelling at me to hop on the back. So, the ride ended with all three of us on the car, and it was going like 1 mile an hour! When it was over, Curtis threw a HUGE fit- and we ended up taking him home ASAP so we didn't have anymore dangerous situations on the track! NASCAR here we come!

THE FINGER!!!!!!

For those of you that know the "Finger" story, you'll get a chuckle out of this! These were taken outside of the MC Esher Museum.

Terry's Turn

A bird made my dad it's latest target just outside of Amsterdam's Central Station, 2 minutes after we arrived to view the city! We were dying! Seems as if there is some sort of a story EVERY day!

Yummy!

This is for my sisters because they all know that no one likes HAM as much as me! Makes ya want to come visit...doesn't it?

Competition

Sussex Lion's Daze EAT YOUR HEART OUT! We have the best action right outside our balcony!

Another Adventure...

Before we moved to the Netherlands, I crossed all my t's and dotted all my i's when it came to natural disaster research. I made sure there were no tsumnai's, no hurricanes, and no tornados for me to worry about. My source for research was Erik- as I trusted he would know. He told me Holland never has tornados. So, weather wise, I haven't had to worry too much living here. Compared to Minnesota!

On Tuesday morning this week, the weather stations were predicting rain. We woke up and the weather was BEAUTIFUL! I looked on the radar and it looked like we had about 2 hours before the rain would get to us. So, my dad, Curtis, and I decided to go for a bike ride in the Dunes. We rode for about 45 minutes. As we were riding, the clouds were thickening over the sea. All of a sudden we started to hear and see thunder and lightning in the distance. We decided to turn around and head home, before the storm reached land. We were riding and now the lightning was just off to the West of us...and was following us home. I was trying to act calm, cool, and collective around Curtis. Dad and I kept saying, "We LOVE thunderstorms!" Inside, I'm dying and pretty sure we will get struck by lightning.

We get on top of a hill, and I look out on the sea, and there is a cloud that looks like a funnel cloud to me. I comment to my dad that it sure looks like a funnel cloud. Then I told him, Erik said we don't get tornados in Holland. We pass some trees and can't see the cloud any more. As we get into a clearing again, I look up, and the funnel is now halfway down to the ocean. As you can imagine, I am getting a bit more nervous...but still trying to act calm. We round a corner and can see the sea again, and look out, and SURE ENOUGH....it is a full fledged tornado stretching all the way to the water. I look at my dad and say, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that IS a tornado!"

We were biking as fast as we could. Not talking much, except to tell Curtis how FUN it is to bike in a storm. I have one thing and one thing only on my mind, and it is to get home ASAP. Curtis starts yelling that he has to go to the bathroom- NOW! So, we quickly stop the bikes and just let him go right there on the trail. There would be no walking into the woods to find a good spot.

We get back on the bikes and continue to head for home, which is about 7 minutes away. I ask dad if I should call mom from my cell phone to let her know of the weather situation. He said, "It's pretty hard to miss! She'll be fine!"

So, we get home, put the bike in the hallway, and as we get on the elevator, the rain and storm hit land! We just made it by about two minutes! We get up to the apartment, and mom is there watching Johnny, totoally UNAWARE of what is going on outside! The entire apartment is surrounded by windows and there is a huge storm on the sea, and she didn't even see it! We were dying!

The next day, it was front page of the paper...too bad we couldn't read a word of the article! It was quite the adventure, and I learned a VERY valuable lesson from it. DON'T EVER ASK ERIK FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE WEATHER! You better believe he got a nice phone call that afternoon from me at work!

Double Trouble...

My dad AND Erik hit up Aldi tonight. This picture was NOT taken at Aldi. It was taken in my pantry after we unloaded the groceries! The two of them were in their glory!

Margie's Saga Continues...

To start off this entry, I need to explain something. First off, dogs are all over this country. You can bring your dog in the supermarket, in the mall, in restaraunts, on the trains, on buses, ect. The only problem, is that most owners don't clean up after their dogs.

I have two more stories about my mom. First one is my mom and I were shopping for shoes on Friday afternoon. As we are in the store, my mom looks at me and says, "This store smells like poop!"

I smelled and said, " I'm pretty sure it's you."

My mom lifts up her shoe to look at the bottom of it, and as she does it, she realizes that there is dog doo-doo, all over her hand and on the bottom of her shoe! We were DYING- and had to high tail it out of the store and find a restroom to wash her hands. There goes 50 cents down the drain! That was day two, in the "Doo Doo Drama!'

Day three, and my parents were walking on the beach. My mom was SO nervous about stepping in dog doo-doo, that she was constantly on the look out for it, watching the ground at all times. What she wasn't looking for, was the huge sea gull that decided to unload on the back of her jacket (I mean -MY JACKET THAT SHE WAS BORROWING!).

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! Welcome to HOLLAND!

Windmill Saturday

On Saturday, we discovered Kinddijk. It's a place where they have nineteen working windmills. Eighteen of them are still lived in today. Really neat place to visit! We had to take a ferry in our car over to them. We all had to trust Erik at the wheel while the ferry was going across the water! Can you say- "Anxiety Attack!"

Here Comes the Sun!

After three straight weeks of rain, we finally had a day of sun! Spent all day Sunday on the beach. Boys were loving it! Curtis doesn't seem to have problems making friends with the Dutch!

Don Curtis The Second...

Let's just say, that my dad has a LOT of his father in him! You think he's been enjoying the view and all the action on the beach?

Oh, #*%@!

We are having a great time with my parents here. We've spent the past few days getting them use to the neighborhood and playing with the kids. Today we went to Delft (The town where they paint the white and blue china). We left the kids at home with a sitter for the morning. Had a GREAT time. Went to visit old churches, went to the market, shopped, and ate at a cute cafe on a canal. The story of the day, goes with the picture on top. We got off the tram outside my house and we were walking home. My dad sees this woman ALL dolled up- OVER the top dolled up like she had it "going on." She is a very hefty woman. She was wearing black shiny boots up to her knees, a TIGHT mini-skirt, and a tight tank top, which I would just wear under a shirt. My dad says, "Look you guys, she's hanging out all over the place!"

He is laughing, and mom and I are straining out necks to get a good look at this woman. As we are looking, Dad yells, "Marge, watch out!" Mom finally gets a glimpse of this woman, as she is stepping right in the middle of "doggy doo doo" on the side walk. We were all dying of laughter, and my mom was laughing, mad, and gagging all at the same time. Had to get a pic of her trying to get it off her shoe!

Their Here!

I think this picture just about sums it up! (Curtis seeing my parents as the elevator door opened.)

Boy After My Own Heart!

Johnny is a "Junk Food Junkie!" He asks for chocolate and candy for breakfast. He tries to snag your soda, if you accidentally leave it laying around, and he loves NOTHING more than a bag of Doritos! (No question that he is my kid, and a nephew of his Aunt Megan!)
Johnny and I woke up on Saturday morning, after Erik had been watching a video the night before and he left a box of chocolates out. Johnny was SO excited, trying to get into the box and eating a few. He looked at me and put his hands on his face and said, "Dis is gonna be SO Yummy!" I had to capture it on film!

Pictures on the slide show above are of our week. We had rain, rain, rain, and MORE rain all week! A huge wind storm hit. Our balcony door was blowing off, and had to be held shut with wood. The sea was the wildest I'd ever seen. Anyone who knows me well, can imagine all the time I spent on the internet looking at the weather radars ALL DAY LONG!

On Sunday, the music group Il Divo played in a free concert on the sea. We had friends over to enjoy the music and fireworks. Only problem is we kept the kids up till midnight, and they cancelled the fireworks last minute. We had some VERY disappointed children. We got away with telling them, Il Divo forgot the fireworks in the trunk of their car. They fell for it this time! Not sure if that same excuse would work in a year!

Today, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my parents. They arrive tomorrow early morning and will be here for 2 1/2 weeks! I'll try to post more often with them here!