christmas day

We managed to make the kids wait until 8am Xmas morning before we started opening up the presents under the tree and look in their stockings. Favorite presents: Sander - Hobbit Game from Marissa, me - handmade half apron from my mom, Lara - giggling baby, Julia - tiny Disney princess dress up, Max - doggy dreamlight, Elliot - Disney Cars play mat with tiny cars.

Then we had a delicious breakfast... After breakfast we all got dressed and I made meringues while the rest played with their new toys and games. At about 2pm the family started arriving, and that's when lots more food was cooked and things got louder, crazier, and so much more magical.

My favorite part of this year's Christmas was my little niece Kylee telling me she got a guitar for Christmas and asking me if I would play a few songs on my guitar for her. She then proceeded to stand by my side and stare at me with a completely captivated look on her pretty face as I played through a handful of songs, and she sang along. Or maybe it was when I was playing 'Jingle Bells' and Benson started screaming out the words quite suddenly when we got to the chorus. I believe we have it on video somewhere, which I will try to get my hands on - it was hilarious! I hope you all had an equally lovely Christmas this year, filled with love and warmth.

christmas eve

Last Christmas was a bit of a blur: we were still adjusting to being in the USA, Sander wasn't with us, and I had a throat infection. All I remember clearly is Jace throwing up all over the place and the pandemonium that caused. It's safe to say this year is a different experience! Having oma Marianne and Maarten here, enjoying our very own Christmas tree,  everyone in good health, and as a bonus: snow! Christmas eve day we went for some last-minute morning shopping, played games, ate delicious food, opened a single present (PJs for everyone!) and left out cookies, milk, a note, and even a present for Santa Clause, courtesy of Lara. It was fun, and we were all nearly too excited to sleep - just the way it should be.

roadtrip pt. 2: vegas baby!

It's a shame our trip went as quickly as it did, because one of the things I enjoy most about going to Las Vegas is turning that bend, and coming down that hill to see Vegas appear like a solitary beacon of light in the desert. We still had plenty good views entering this impressive city though. We even managed to take the perfect exit off of the freeway completely on intuition (not mine, it's Sander who has the navigation system embedded in his DNA). We got our rooms at hotel Circus Circus right at the end (or the start?) of the Strip, and after a quick break headed to the hotel buffet for some disappointing but adequate dinner. No time to scout for something nicer when you have hungry kids! By the time we went back outside the sun had set, and the lights had been switched on. There was something to see everywhere you looked, and look we did. We walked and looked, and walked and looked some more, until our feet (and some of our backs..) started hurting. Then we stood and watched the Bellagio fountains go up, and took a cab back to the hotel. Vegas managed to impress the newbies, as well as its returning visitors last Saturday night.

This last beauty was taken by Max, who directed me like a seasoned photographer: "Stick out your tongue mom. Yes good, now do silly eyes... YES! Stay like that!". And can you believe I found the Zoltar machine? I was tempted to wish to be 16 again, but then I remember how much I hated being 16...