The Eagle Has Landed!

We're HOME! Yesterday was a long travel day, but it couldn't have gone better. We got to the airport and walked through immigration, into the terminal area and Curtis yells really loud, "We are in AMERICA now!" As he throws his hands in the air. If only it were that easy! The flight was great. The kids were fine, and didn't cause a problem. I can't believe what a difference six months makes in behavior for kids. I even got to watch two movies!

The only bad thing on the flight, was the snack they gave the kids. Think of the WORST snack you could give a kid on an airplane.......THINK.............THINK.............Think. If you guessed ICE CREAM, you were correct! Ice Cream! They were in heaven! Johnny was licking the dish it came in....only problem was he had it running down his arms, into his sleeves. He had it all over his face, neck, nose, and car seat, and shirt. I took some great pics, but they'll have to follow, as I'm on a different computer.

When we got home it was like Christmas! Curtis and Johnny were SO excited to see Megan and Kyle, who live in our house. They were especially excited to see the neighbor girl Brooke! It's all they talked about the whole way to our house! Brooke was equally excited!

They went on high gear for four hours and then crashed. It's now 5:00am. I have been up with Curtis since 2:30, and Johnny since 4:00am. So, the flight was great, but they feel like it's the middle of the day, and are raring to go! We'll be opening Target and Caribou this morning! I can't wait!

Few more pictures to go with the entry below!

The crowd was unbelievable!
In and outside of the pier was packed!
Motorbike Congestion!
Police were all over. This was a the gate/entrance to our apartment building.

Race Series

Johnny waiting for the action to start on the beach!
This is SO exciting!
The jump RIGHT in front of our balcony!
Curtis decided to take his "nap" from the window sill in his room. Didn't want to miss out on the action!

All week, they have been prepping the beach for the Red Bull Race Series- Motorbike Race. We've watched the preparations, and have had NO idea what to expect. What a great time we had today! There were thousands of people who came to the beach to watch. 500 Motorbikes started the race, and only one survived! The race lasted 4 hours. The boys had a BLAST watching it, as we had my good friend Lynne and her family over for the afternoon and dinner. It was a great distraction, so I didn't get nervous about flying tomorrow. We can't wait to come home! See everyone in the GOOD OLE' USA!

Almost Ready...

Johnny's helping me pack! If only I could pack him up like this on the airplane, and sit back and watch a movie! Wishful thinking that it will be that easy! We are getting SO excited!!

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas and his helpers, on the boat arriving in the harbor.
Zwarte Pete...little elf like helpers, gave the kids candy and juice boxes.
The kids running to see the boat!
Johnny telling sending his love to Sinterklaas!

Today Sinterklaas and his mischievous helpers, Zwarte Pete sailed into town on a boat from Madrid. The Dutch celebrate this holiday, on Dec. 5th. It is similar to St. Nicholas. They set out shoes and Sinterklaas fills them with small cookies, and treasures. Sinterklaas will travel Holland watching for good boys and girls for the next three weeks.

The boys went with Erik and our friend Allan and his kids, to see the festivities. The mom's went out to do a bit of last minute Holland Christmas shopping.

PJ Day

Today was Curtis' last day of school before he comes back to America for a visit. It was PJ day at school, and he couldn't have been more excited! Here are some pictures of him with his friends.

COULD THIS WEEK DRAG ON ANY SLOWER!

My friend Lynne and I took the kids out to the Rose Gardens in Westbrooke Park. The kids were running up and down a really pretty hill. I tried to get them all to sit still for a nice picture at the top of the hill. When I got home and up-loaded my pictures on the computer, this is what I found! Only in Holland would I accidentally take a picture with "PORN" written behind the kids heads! We never even noticed it at the park.

One More...

Gotta love the "terrible two's." Not sure anyone in America will be missing us come 8 weeks from now, when we are on our way back to Europe!

Too Funny...

This was way too funny not to post. I know he'll kill me some day for it...but I just had to capture it on video. Curtis' friend came over after a ballet class, and Johnny wanted to wear her outfit and do ballet! This is what happened when she had to leave, and needed her clothes and shoes back.

SWEEP

Packers 34 / Vikings 0..........GO PACK GO!

In only ONE short week I'll have my BUTT planted in the middle of our culd-a-sac back in Minnesota, harassing my neighbors! It can't come SOON enough! (Live broadcast here again this week.)

Storm

The harbor was under water.
Here is a picture taken from the harbor.
The wave splashes were up above the top of the pier. This picture shows the top of the pier.
Between showers, there were rainbows...the kids LOVED them. This was taken from the house.

Since Thursday, we have been blasted with a storm. It's winds have been above 100km/hr. Thursday night the sea was wicked. We were all awake from about 1am-4:30am, as the howling wind sounded SO loud and the kids thought it was a ghost. Finally, Erik got the kids up (I already had my nosey face plastered to the front windows) and fed them breakfast at 3am. A call to "Granny Bird" and "Pop" was made, and the kids were loving the storm! I LOVE that my kids get into the weather as much as I do! I had the weather radars up, showing Curtis the rain coming in off the sea. LOVING it! Finally, at 4:30, Erik took Johnny to the guest room, and I took Curtis to our room. We opened up the shades and watched the storm until we fell asleep. Curtis would look at me and say, "Dis is SO exciting- FIREWORKS!"

On Friday morning, we all had a heck of a time getting up for school/work. The weather was bad all day- hailed 6 times, winds blowing, ect. I went grocery shopping and had to leave all the non- refrigerated foods in the car, until I had help carrying them up. (Since I had to hold on to the kids, with the wind and all.) Leave it to me to get an injury too. I was busy getting the kids out of the car, and the wind blew the car door shut and it smacked me in the head. I got disoriented a bit, and have had a headache since then, that won't go away! Let's just say, the wind and storm are getting to be a tad bit annoying now.

Saturday we needed to get out of the house after all this rain and wind. Erik was headed to Amsterdam for a going away party. So, we went with him in the afternoon and went to Vondel Park (Just like Central Park in NYC). We had a great time between showers- kids played at different playgrounds, we had coffee, walked around, looked at Christmas decorations, saw the skating rink in the middle of town, had dinner, and then the boys and I headed home...and Erik met his friends. I'm sure this next week will DRAG on as I'm anticipating our trip back home next week! We can't wait to see everyone!

Random Thoughts...

It was just a few short days ago that the boys had a wrestling partner! Missing Bailey!
Last night Johnny woke up with a fever. He's just been laying around today, watching video's and falling asleep. When he hears me telling a friend on the phone that we can't get together today, because Johnny has a fever, he get's mad. He tells me, "I don't have a fever anymore, because I wiped it on Mommy's shirt!" So that's why he's been wiping his nose on me! Nasty!

When I pick Curtis up from school, he never brings home any artwork. All the girls are loaded down with it every day. It's not a big surprise that my kid doesn't like art, given that I got a C- in Art, in Middle School. Anyways, he came home with this picture VERY proud. I took one look at it and thought- "MAN, this kid's got TALENT!" He he (: I told him it was a very nice picture, and he was wondering if I knew what it was? After a few guesses, he had to tell me. It's a picture of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!" Duh! Now it all makes sense to me! I had to take a picture of this, as he gave it to Bailey to hang in her room. Lucky Bailey!

Amsterdam

Today was a GREAT day! We headed out to Amsterdam first thing in the morning. After a very eventful drive to the city, where cousin Katie might have had a few wrong turns, a few panics, and a few swear words escape her...we made it. The highlight of the day was when we got into the "Red-Light District" and Bailey got the giggles and was making me laugh SO hard! She could not believe that there is a place like that in the world! We were laughing all day, that she hit up the district and went trick-or-treating all in one day! After Amsterdam, we met some American friends out at a Pancake House. We all ate a great meal, and went trick-or-treating afterwards! Weather was warm and we all had a nice time! I'll be SO sad when I have to say goodbye to Bailey tomorrow! I still have a lot I want to show her...but am SO grateful that she's in Madrid for the year and was able to visit for a weekend!

RIBS

An American sized portion!
Bailey digging in!
Erik and I happy to have a night out!
Bailey in the Binnehoff, where the parliment meets and the Queen does business.

After this meal we needed some rolaids! We had a TON of fun. Had a great dinner, and walked around the Binnehoff and Centrum afterwards! Now it's off to Amsterdam!

Parks...

The Queen's House
Bailey, with Queen's house in the background.
Bailey biking on the trails in Holland.
The boys were LOVING that "Cousin Bailey" chased them around the park!

This morning, we went on a six mile bike ride with the kids around Den Haag. I wanted to show Bailey all the trails for biking, hiking, ect. We've been spoiled with weather in the upper 50's all fall. The leaves are in PERFECT color. It was a great morning, and we all needed a nap this afternoon. We have a friend babysitting tonight and Erik, Bailey, and I are going out on the town! Can't wait!

She's HERE!

Here's Bailey RIGHT now as I'm writing this blog. Guess she just can't keep up with her 30 year old cousin! We've had quite the busy day.

Today started off at me picking up Bailey early this morning at the airport after midnight. After getting back home at 1:30AM, we got to bed...only to be waken at 7am by two little squirts "head-over-heel's" for "Cousin Bailey." (They call her "Cousin Bailey" every time they call her. Curtis is also introducing her to everyone we pass!)
After walking on the pier, in the mall, and on the boulevard near the North Sea, we dropped the kids off at a friends house and headed to Delft. Here we are at a great cafe for lunch. When we went to order, Bailey ordered pea soup, and a pancake. I smiled, thinking to myself, I wonder if she knows what she just ordered.
Bailey with the pancake she ordered. She was DYING when they delivered it to the table and was wondering why I didn't warn her. It's bigger than her HEAD! She was in HEAVEN!

The day ended with us going to the church's in Delft, the market, and finally to the butcher, baker, and cheese shops! Now she is pooped out and we are looking forward to tiring her out tomorrow! We are having a blast and it's going WAY TOO FAST already!