Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Grandpa flew home with us! (what was he thinking?!!)

Grandpa was kind enough to fly home with the kids and I after our stay in the USA. I'm not sure he knew what he was getting into but he sure found out! He was a HUMUNGOUS help on the airplanes and in the airports. On the 10 hour flight he spent 8 hours entertaining Kaelan nonstop. They sat by each other the entire time and Kaelan likes to be entertained. Fortunately he zonked out the last 2 hours and gave Grandpa a little break. I am so thankful for his help. It is not easy! 

Colette and I sat across the isle and fortunately had a nice seat mate. The kids did great but I sure wish they would sleep more!

No rest for the weary!
If grandpa thought he would rest once he arrived in Holland he quickly learned otherwise! Kaelan found he had a great playmate in Grandpa and took advantage of him the entire week. They became good buddies by the time he had to return home and Kaelan was sad to see him go. We all were! 


Despite the cold we played a lot outside at parks and in our yard.

Coco joined in the fun too!

The zip line is K's favorite and if he was doing it he made sure Grandpa did too!

We took a trip to a nice little zoo near our house.



On the weekend we drove north to the royal summer palace called Het Loo. 


On Sunday we drove an hour into Germany to Oberhausen where we found a great aquarium amongst other things we will be returning for including a model train museum, water park, mall (not to be found in the Netherlands) and some great restaurants.

Daddy came too!

K really enjoyed seeing the sharks!




This was back in the USA but it was something I meant to include and something K and Grandpa did together. Grandpa has a friend that has this model train set up in his bonus room and he invited K and Grandpa to come over to look at it. This was a dream come true for Kaelan! 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Christmas


Christmas Eve at Aaron and Kelly's
Aaron prepared a SUPERB BBQ dinner for everyone that night. He made everything from the meat (4 delicious kinds) all the way down to the blue cheese dressing and smoked cheese. Scrumptious!
Christmas Morning
Mammy and Papa joined us for gift opening and breakfast but couldn't stay long because they were singing that morning in church.
Coco got Violet, the dog next to her, from Santa
Kaelan got an electric train from Santa
Kaelan in his Christmas pj's
Thanks Tammy for finding the kids cute pajamas!
Sweet cousins
Christmas with Travis' family
We love and miss you Aunt Stina!
Coco Bean!

Kaelan got his first Hess truck!
He loves it and plays with it in the dark (cool lights and sounds) almost everyday!
Colette's First Christmas!
Grandma did a great job on dinner!
Olivia and Kelly


Christmas with Grandpa Hanna 

Nano and Aunt Nan
Christmas at Mammy and Papa's
The Loot
Not all for Coco, we still had a plane to catch with only one check in bag!


Playing with Christmas gifts in pj's.
Perfect!

Mammy had a little surprise in store for the little ones and it was right up Kaelan's alley.
Thomas!
The girls had a great time playing on it too but it was Eli who really wanted a turn. He helped the little ones ride it the entire time. Too bad he is too big for such toys now.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Good Ole USA!

We spent 5 weeks (Travis 3 weeks) in the USA over the holidays and had a great time visiting with family and friends. Here are a few of the fun times we had. More Christmas pictures to come.  
Evie loved to feed Coco her lunch and this was the first opportunity she had when we all visited for her Daddy's birthday! She is such a good cousin. Love the mommy mouth!

Hanging out with Grandpa

We finally got to visit with some long lost friends while in town.
 Janelle and Tyson and her boys made us some incredible pork followed by some yummy homemade peppermint ice cream.

BSU football game at Aaron, Kelly, Owen and Olivia's house.


We had a few fun play dates and dinners at Chad and Bridgette's house.

Jayne, Emme and Colette
Can you believe Jane and Coco are just a couple weeks apart? Colette is only pretending to stand, with Emme's help, when Jayne has it all figured out!

Emme giving Olivia and Claire a piano lesson 

Kaelan had his first dentist appointment. He did great and Natalie did an excellent job easing him into the process. She made going to the dentist lots of fun!

Breakfast at Aunt June's

Botanical Gardens AGlow!


Freezing, Fun Zoo time!

Feeding the Goats

Colette really didn't like this part! She is not a big animal fan.

Chuck e Cheeses!


A trip to the US wouldn't be complete without a trip to the train station.

Kaelan is obsessed with Big Mike!

Colette had her first (probably her only) Johnny jump up time!

Monday, January 30, 2012

December before the USA

Not sure if we did this right but here is how Sinterklass visited our house! 
We left our shoes by the fire place and Sinterklass left a few presents and chocolate letters. The Zwarte Pieten left a few pepernoten scattered around and the horse even took a bite out of the huge carrot.  

It seemed to work because the kids were happy!


Kaelan's Birthday celebration at School
He got to be the train engineer as all the kids sat around in a circle while they listened to a train song. Then he got to dance in the middle of the circle with a friend.
He put 3 candles on the cake and after we all sang he got to pass out the treats he brought for the class. Train shaped sugar cookies.

The birthday boy/girl always gets to open the gate for the mom's to come in at the end of the day! Travis, Colette and I got to share in the festivities. 

Aachen Christmas Market
We barely fit it in but we made it to a Christmas market in Germany!
It was beautiful, cold, yummy, crowded and fun! We were glad we did it but next year we will be sure to go in late November...it was crowded! 

Travis enjoying some gluhewine. A hot, sweet wine which is a must, along with the fresh ginger bread, if you go to a German market. 

Mums and Tots Christmas Party
Coco's second visit with Santa in 2011. She didn't like it as much this time around.

Now that Kaelan realizes Santa brings presents, he is getting a little more tolerant of the jolly old fellow!


We lost this one at the party and Kaelan was soon to follow in the car.
Sign of a great party.