Rocking this daddy thing

My dearest husband, I love you, I think you rock this daddy thing and I totally think you are the best dad to our children you can possibly be. Every day you are 150% daddy, from the moment Monkey was born. You love them, play with them, empathize, never shout, always care, always think of them and always, always, always do what's best for them. You're a confident, fun and smart daddy. You think before you make parent decisions, and dare to make decisions that are not main stream, like teaching our children sign language. That takes guts and brains and out of the box thinking.

You rock! I know you going to the Dutch Airforce days with Monkey was a highlight this year. And that just proves above mentioned points. I love you!

Hey, that's not a plane!

LOUD

10 points if you spot the toddler

Ehm, honey? i think we need to clean your ears more often. There are planes flying out your left one.

I have mixed feelings when I see my cutie pie on a war machine like this. But he enjoyed himself.

Hey Handsome!

Niiiiiice!

Niiiiiiiiiiice!

Nicest.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

Letters for Roo (17 months)

Sorry guys, I know I always wrie these letters in English and then publish it here. I got the sweetest reactions to my letters, and I've always appreciated that. But this time - maybe triggered by the slight fever and virus that got me - I just felt like writing in Dutch for once. I promise the next one will be in English again!
Hugs,
Nadine

Mijn liefste Roo,

Morgen word je 17 maanden. Waar is de tijd gebleven?

Je hebt enorm veel plezier in lopen en schoenen. Een paar keer per dag kom je op je majootje de woonkamer in gewandeld. Een glimlach op je gezicht en schoenen in je hand. Je wilt ze dan aan. Het maakt je niet uit of we naar buiten gaan of niet, maar die schoentjes moeten aan je kleine voetjes. Vanaf je 13e maand loop je rond zonder je vast te houden aan de bank of de tafel. Je vindt het heerlijk om je zo vrij te kunnen bewegen. Eerst onzeker en wiebelig en nu betrap ik je regelmatig op een sprint door de woonkamer. Je loopt vaak achter je grote broer aan terwijl je wijst en je lieve geluidjes maakt. Ook buiten loop je vaak. Wat vaak tot blikken van vertedering leidt van voorbijgangers.

Je bent een vrolijk meisje. Je lacht heel vaak, maar als je een keer moet huilen, dan zijn je tranen zo gedroogd. Maar meestal lach je dus. Je staat open voor nieuwe ervaringen het ontmoeten van nieuwe mensen. Je bent nieuwsgierig en je durft zoveel.

Je bent een avonturier lieve Roo. Je klimt, klautert, rent, hangt en ontdekt de hele dag door. Je ziet je broer op een stoel staan, wanneer je het na wilt doen en het niet lukt, dan schuif je met gemak het krukje uit de keuken tegen de stoel, en bereik je alsnog je doel. Mijn hart slaat regelmatig over wanneer ik je zo acrobatisch zie doen. Je klimt ook vaak in je broers bed. Heerlijk vind je dat. Als ik je betrap, lach je ontdeugend. Soms met de speen van je broer, en soms zie ik die paar glimmende tanden.

En met die lieve mond zeg je drie dingen: mamma, pappa en klaar. Mamma zeg je al vanaf 9 maanden. Heerlijk vind ik het om je mamma en pappa te horen zeggen. En net als je grote broer leer je ook gebaren om duidelijk te maken wat je wil. Je kan al zeggen: eten, drinken, brood, kikker (tong in en uit je mond, heel grappig)., slapen en lezen. Soms doe je ook de gebaren voor meer, klaar, giraf en eend. Je pakt de gebaren snel op en het doet je veel genoegen dat je ermee duidelijk kan maken wat je wilt.

Je slaapt heel goed, meestal van 19.00 tot 08.00 en dan nog een dutje tussen 11.00 en 13.00. Je bent gezond - al vind het consultatiebureau je ietswat aan de kleine klant. Op het moment dat ik dit schrijf hoest je wel een beetje. Je hebt een verkoudheid van je grote broer overgenomen. Maar daar knap je vast snel weer van op.

Je geeft kusjes en knuffels en je bent een echte meid. Je houdt ervan met poppen te knuffelen en om met je kinderwagen te lopen. Maar je houdt er ook van om je grote broer na te doen en op zijn fiets te klimmen.

Je at als geen ander tot een maand geleden. Ik noemde je grappend wel eens prullenbakje. Alle restantjes schoof je met gemak naar binnen. (Ook dat doe je al een aantal maanden helemaal zelfstandig, dat eten). Maar nu ontwikkel je je eigen voorkeuren die vaak het tegenovergestelde zijn van die van je broer. Je houdt van groente en salade. Van fruit, van toetjes, van ontbijtkoek en sinaasappelsap.

Je adoreert je broer, je houdt intens van je vader. Wanneer hij thuis komt van zijn werk verwelkom je hem met een lach die de polen doet smelten. Hij houdt minstens zoveel van jou.

Lieve Roo, het is lastig om zo'n lieve persoonlijkheid als jij in woorden te beschrijven. Je bent een knappe, slimme, mooie, lieve, vertederende en nieuwsgierige meid. Ik ben elke dag dankbaar voor jou in mijn leven.

Ik hou van jou,

Mamma.

I promise these guys didn't pay me to write about their nuts PLUS the hottest little black dress ever. Who says titles have to be short anyway.

When we're not lazy and order our groceries online, my husband does our weekly grocery shopping. I have taken it upon me to make a week menu and write a grocery list. He always takes the car and shops at a local organic store and sometimes comes back with a little more than the items on the list. Usually things I forgot, but a few weeks ago he came home with something *special*.

Husband: Honey, I've bought something special to do our laundry with.

Let me tell you, I'm pretty much married to my brand of laundry detergent, so my left eyebrow raised until it hit the roof.

Me: What?
Husband: Let me show you, it's hard to explain.
Me: Okay?
Husband: (gets through boxes of vegetables, juices, soy milk, fruit, chips, beans) Here it is!
Husband: NUTS!
Me: Nuts? I thought you said laundry detergent.
Husband: Nuts for laundry detergent.
Me: You have lost me.
Husband: An eco friendly way of doing laundry!
Me: With nuts?
Husband: With nuts!
Me: You serious?
Husband: It will last longer than our usual detergent!
Me: And you know that because you do a lot of laundry?

I have to tell you we're hippy when it comes to cleaning products & skin care products. An organic natural cleaner cleans just as good as one with a lot of chemicals. The benefit is it doesn't actually bring more chemicals into the oceans AND usually you can clean organic a lot cheaper too.

But NUTS? Even for the hippy in me, washing with nuts.. is NUTS!

Before you read on: the nuts people did not ask or pay me to blog about their nuts.

BUT I have tried this "Muko nuts" for our colored high temperatures, and I will admit. It is great and it does clean. And it doesn't hurt the environment AND it is cheaper than our usual brand (Neutral).

So the point of this post is.... that it is good to be nuts and have a cool hubby that goes grocery shopping and actually thinks with me on these things.

I did not really just finish a post just on laundry did I?

More on the Soap Nuts, on the Tree Hugger website.

Serious, I did just write a whole post on laundry? A quick weekend recap: 1 big bump on Monkey's head, nothing serious, two sick children, nothing serious, a lot of rain, rain, rain, rain and rain. OH and I bought THEY MOST awesome little black dress.. let me see, I tweeted a photo... where is it.. AH, found it;

I am IN LOVE with that dress! IN LOVE. (hand wash though; no nuts for this dress)

When city people visit farms

Today, we took the children to a organic farm somewhere in Strijen, Zeeland. Once a year (organic) farms organize a weekend where you can visit the farms. They sell and serve all kinds of lovely food, provide entertainment for the children and their parents.

There were toys.. for the boys

And a horse and carriage. Mind you, in this horse and carriage we were accompanied by a Dutch Duggar family!

What's that mommy?

I think that's what they call "horse". You know, you've seen police ride them!

And while I played with the camera, my husband walked around with the kids. (remember that book you bought me? "Good enough mom", honey?)

Now look at the little doggie on the left

Maybe this photo is better. The dog actually FELL OUT when we were riding and dangled on his leash. and This is what the driver said: "We used to have a normal leash, you know, on his neck, but that didn't go to well". I am serious. What would YOU say to that?

Then we had our photo taken in traditional Dutch costumes. We did the same last year, the photographer even recognized us. Roo hated her wooden shoes.

And how handsome is my little farmer boy?

This was him LAST YEAR:

What do they say about toys and boys?

My apologies to the people that came after us, this food basket was a prop and it had little baby teeth marks all over it by the time we left.

I have NO idea what drums have to do with farming. BUT there was this huge kind man from Gambia playing the drums. And as I might have shared with you, Monkey LOVES drums. Everything is drums to him (very STOMP-like).

And this very nice man, I think his name was Ismeijel or Ismael or something, was kind enough to let him play.

BUT Monkey has a sense of rhythm (not our genes), and Ismeijel or Ismael decide to play WITH him.

And they did awesome.

They played over 15 minutes. The big man from Gambia, and my 3 year old son. It was awesome.

Thank you Ismeijel or Ismael.

Of course there was some biking

Some sleeping.... (my husband thinks farming is reallllllly relaxed!)

And some playing

Excuse the dark photos, I am still learning how to use it properly. Apparently I set the light to CENTRE.. or something.

I hope your weekend is just as great! What are your plans?

How to entertain and embarrass a friend from abroad

We had the pleasure of seeing our American friend Matt again last Sunday. When we asked "what do you want to see of The Netherlands this time?" He answered "Country side and mills!"

(I know you're just here to read about the embarrassing part, it's at the end of this post, so you will just have to read it alllll :)

We thought a trip to Zaanse Schans would be the perfect combination of both.

It's like a little vegetable stock cube: everything Dutch concentrated in one place, a little too salty. You know, you can follow cheese workshops, eat typical Dutch food, buy every Dutch souvenir you've every looked for AND learn how to make a wooden shoe. Matt now learned how to make his own clogs! As you know all Dutch people walk on wooden shoes all the time.

They also serve as cars!

No need to adjust your screen! The professional photographer (me) who is experimenting with the NOT AUTO options of the camera has obviously forgot to change the settings to daylight... Hence the blue'ish photos.

We even took a boat trip!

STILL didn't notice the settings.. so here's the Blue Men Group

Pretty in blue!

I FINALLY noticed my camera error and changed the settings! (Aren't you just glad it wasn't your wedding pictures I was taking! :)

Look a MILL! (MILL NOT MILF) We're really in Holland!

Pretty in pink too

Grab your glasses, and stare at the screen because that's really Matt, and my husband and Monkey up there! It was a PAINT mill.

Pretty in pink and blue! Dinner in Volendam. I have never quite seen a Dutch town anything like Volendam!

But now the EMBARRASSING part!

My little Monkey is quite the entertainer. He found a few steps, climbed up and asked me to give him a coin... and he danced and sang!

And sang...

(while a constant flow of people passed us by, and passed us by, probably grunting things like "MAD CITY PEOPLE")

And danced some more...

Now please notice our American tourist friend Matt who just silently tried to pull a "I have NO idea who these mad folks are!"

That's us. A tad crazy. But it's all for entertainment and the show must go on.

It was great to see you again Matt!

So who is next to tour The Netherlands with us?