the big 6-5

He did it! Dad turned 65 and can now officially start enjoying his retirement. We went to oma and opa's house to celebrate with them. After blowing out his candles, opening up his presents, and getting a big cuddle from all of the kids, we headed over to the Texas Roadhouse for some Birthday dinner - opa's treat. They were having a special kid's crafts night so we actually got to sit in peace for 15 whole minutes before the kids were returned to our table, bearing balloon animals and snowflakes. We sure do love you dad, thank you for letting us celebrate your day with you!

utah winters

When we arrived here last year we were a little underwhelmed with these supposed crazy winters Utah offers. Tales of people getting stuck in blizzards, roads closing, actually being snowed in... it all seemed a little exaggerated.

Turns out last year was an unusually mild winter, and the winter of 2012/2013 is making up for it in spades. We have officially never seen this much snow in our lives! Because we live in a little valley, all the roads coming in or going out of our neighborhood are quite steep. So we have been snowed in for days at a time, we have driven through blizzards (In the dark! Scary!!), and we have seen roads closed off because it was too dangerous to pass over them. So we take it back Utah. Your winters are impressive and cold and white and quiet (that dulling of all sound that happens after snowfall - wow, love it) and we will never doubt you again.

what happened to february?

I'm not completely sure how just about an entire month rolled by without a single blog update. I suspect, though, it had something to do with the flu that has been raging through our house, the completely impossible to put down books I've been reading, and the fact that I've been obsessively knitting myself a cardigan. In an attempt to get things back up to date, I have posts scheduled for the next few days... so keep an eye on this place if you're interested.

Today, I begin with the celebration of my nephew Karsten's Birthday party. I was here when Karsten was born, and I can hardly believe that when I'm talking about something that happened a year ago, we were already living here. My memories are filling up with warm and beautiful moments spent here in the US, and it is slightly dulling the ache of all the wonderful people and places I miss so dearly back in Holland.

Karsten had quite the start to his little life. Marissa had placenta praevia and had to undergo a high risk c-section well before her due date. But Karsten was healthy and beautiful and received wonderful care at the hospital, allowing him to return home with his parents after just a little wait. He's been the cutest thing ever since, and we all love him to bits... and he has the biggest eyes I have ever seen! Happy 1st Birthday Karsten!
Poor Ella was quite ill during the party, which gave us a good excuse to have a delicious snuggle with her.
Can you tell us girls are happy to be reunited?