Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
April Showers bring....Volcanic Dust clouds????
Happy Spring all!!! Today finally feels like it's arrived. I even got to go out and updated my spring wardrobe. Now if only I can find shoes. I may wait until we head home. We are getting ready for lots of exciting things. We have our school musical coming up this week. It has been a big undertaking that both Matt and I have volunteered to help with but it has been really fun. It is called Aesop's Fables and is really cute. The teachers are even singing a song. We are also getting ready to move at the end of the month into a house and we've bought a car to go along with it. It will just be a rented house but it has a garden...a tub... and two bedrooms (guestroom anyone??) I will really miss the city as it is on the outskirts a bit more, but the country will be right across the street. I am really looking forward to this.
We are anticipating two visit home this summer!! We have two weddings and with the second we hope to spend a lot of time at home just enjoying a Michigan summer and friends. Hopefully the Volcanic cloud will have blown away by then.
Our Dutch is continuing to improve. We still can't speak too much but are starting to understand the conversations that are going on around us. We only have four more lessons left and we're done with the entry class!
One really fun thing we've started is cooking date night. This is good because we make a special meal, and save money instead of going out. The rules are it has to be a new recipe we've never tried before, it has to be presented in a special way and we usually make/get a dessert too!!! It's a bit fun because sometimes we feel like we are on one of those cooking shows and it's been a good thing to force us to make more interesting dishes and it allows us to spend quality time together. I highly recommend it if you can find...(which you probably can't so you need to make) the time.
Our congratualtions go out to many families who've had their new babies, Noah Spedding arrived April 9, Issac Andrew Baareman arrived April 5. Both my cousins and Matt's cousins welcomed new babies as well, Madison Orefice and Levi Mast. Happy times.
Hope all is well with everyone around the world! Blessings to all!!!
We are anticipating two visit home this summer!! We have two weddings and with the second we hope to spend a lot of time at home just enjoying a Michigan summer and friends. Hopefully the Volcanic cloud will have blown away by then.
Our Dutch is continuing to improve. We still can't speak too much but are starting to understand the conversations that are going on around us. We only have four more lessons left and we're done with the entry class!
One really fun thing we've started is cooking date night. This is good because we make a special meal, and save money instead of going out. The rules are it has to be a new recipe we've never tried before, it has to be presented in a special way and we usually make/get a dessert too!!! It's a bit fun because sometimes we feel like we are on one of those cooking shows and it's been a good thing to force us to make more interesting dishes and it allows us to spend quality time together. I highly recommend it if you can find...(which you probably can't so you need to make) the time.
Our congratualtions go out to many families who've had their new babies, Noah Spedding arrived April 9, Issac Andrew Baareman arrived April 5. Both my cousins and Matt's cousins welcomed new babies as well, Madison Orefice and Levi Mast. Happy times.
Hope all is well with everyone around the world! Blessings to all!!!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
March Update
Well, well, well....March is here and now I am 26. Yes, that downward slant toward thirty. I feel older but not wiser :) Well...maybe. It was a lovely birthday weekend. Matt provided me with my usual scavanger hunt of birthday clues and goodies followed by the big ending reveal that we were going away to THE SEA!!! We spent the weekend in Oostende, Belgium where I got the best b-day present of all, a sunset. We weren't totally in love with Oostende, espeically since it was Carnaval there. (we didn't know, it was lame and not cool at all like Maastricht's) but I had read about another close by beachy resort town so Sunday we ventured over there! It was AWESOME. Just like being on Mackinaw Island. So cute and quaint. We had gelatto and strolled in the sand. Watched the kites whirl in the wind and the kids in their wellies, kersplash in the puddles/waves. Don't get me wrong. It was indeed bitter cold but the shining sun warmed our hearts and even put a little color back in my face. :) It was great to feel like we were in Michigan because we were surrounded by dunes and beach grass. AHhhhh....
I was also blessed with a great celebration at school. My kids were so sweet and thoughtful and we really have a fun day. I was sung to in English and Polish and got lots of nice messages... and with Dutch tradition kisses from my collegaues. To wish congratualations on a birthday they kiss you on the cheek (three times) and your family members too. So Matt got birthday congratulations kisses for my birthday too. It was really nice. We went to Dutch class the night of my birthday and a collegeaue brough champagne (yes to class) to celebrate and then Matt and I went for a nice dinner at a Greek restaurant. I got a lot of sweets and Matt bought me a piggy bank which is tradition to have in all houses here. They have the coolest ones and I have been wanting one for awhile. Pictures to come via facebook. I also got a few books, tea, chocolate, a nice jacket from my family and some gift cards and lovely pictures of my family back home. Plus a little garden...Two hyacinths and a daffodil. It's like spring in my house!!!! Ahhh....
School continues to go well. My teaching partner had her last day yesterday. I am utterly devestated by this as we have messed into one person and made teaching so organzied and easy. Plus she has become a great friend and it's been fun to go through her pregnancy with her. I know we'll stay in touch but I will really miss her. On a happy note, she has a wonderful replacement who I think I will become good friends with as well! :)
Two weekends ago Matt and I house sat for friends with two teenage boys. It was a fun and enlightening experience. The boys were great. We watched a lot of TV, played a lot of WII and computer. Plus they eat a ton of food!!! The life of boys....
This weekend we are off doing lots of church things and Matt maybe appointed to church council. We are also going house hunitng this week (to rent) as we'd like to move in May out of the city a bit!
Lots of celebrations: Christina got a long term sub job, lots of babies on the way (Julie (best friend/sister due in a few weeks) , Alycia (sister due with a girl in July), Michelle (friend due in August boy), Shawna (cousin having a girl soon), Suzanne (teaching partner due in April) plus many other former collegues and another current collegeuas. We have a few high school graduations coming up to celebrate. We have three weddings coming up this summer/fall and are just extrememly happy. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Lots of love from the Netherlands!!!!!!
I was also blessed with a great celebration at school. My kids were so sweet and thoughtful and we really have a fun day. I was sung to in English and Polish and got lots of nice messages... and with Dutch tradition kisses from my collegaues. To wish congratualations on a birthday they kiss you on the cheek (three times) and your family members too. So Matt got birthday congratulations kisses for my birthday too. It was really nice. We went to Dutch class the night of my birthday and a collegeaue brough champagne (yes to class) to celebrate and then Matt and I went for a nice dinner at a Greek restaurant. I got a lot of sweets and Matt bought me a piggy bank which is tradition to have in all houses here. They have the coolest ones and I have been wanting one for awhile. Pictures to come via facebook. I also got a few books, tea, chocolate, a nice jacket from my family and some gift cards and lovely pictures of my family back home. Plus a little garden...Two hyacinths and a daffodil. It's like spring in my house!!!! Ahhh....
School continues to go well. My teaching partner had her last day yesterday. I am utterly devestated by this as we have messed into one person and made teaching so organzied and easy. Plus she has become a great friend and it's been fun to go through her pregnancy with her. I know we'll stay in touch but I will really miss her. On a happy note, she has a wonderful replacement who I think I will become good friends with as well! :)
Two weekends ago Matt and I house sat for friends with two teenage boys. It was a fun and enlightening experience. The boys were great. We watched a lot of TV, played a lot of WII and computer. Plus they eat a ton of food!!! The life of boys....
This weekend we are off doing lots of church things and Matt maybe appointed to church council. We are also going house hunitng this week (to rent) as we'd like to move in May out of the city a bit!
Lots of celebrations: Christina got a long term sub job, lots of babies on the way (Julie (best friend/sister due in a few weeks) , Alycia (sister due with a girl in July), Michelle (friend due in August boy), Shawna (cousin having a girl soon), Suzanne (teaching partner due in April) plus many other former collegues and another current collegeuas. We have a few high school graduations coming up to celebrate. We have three weddings coming up this summer/fall and are just extrememly happy. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Lots of love from the Netherlands!!!!!!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
International Fair and the start of Carnaval
Alright, well I promised to write about the international fair. It was wonderful. All week at school we had international week. Each class chooses a different country to represent, learns about it and then presents about it to the rest of the school. Our class made a video all about what we learned and South Africa. You can see it on our class website as well as some pictures from the fair. I have shared them on the blog. Anyway, the on Saturday all the families of our school come together to teach others about their home country, share travel info, traditions and the best part... food. YUM. So there are many booths set up and each country of our school is represented. Some examples were: Iceland, Greece, Poland, America, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Isreal, Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany, Austria, Austrailia, France, and many more. Of course all our students wanted us to try food from their country so we were really full when we were done :). About half way through the day there was a performance and there were songs, dances, and other acts to represent something of the countries that were there. My favorite was some of the Indian kids (who have also lived in Michigan :) ) danced to a song from Slumdog Millionaire. They were all in their traditional dress and it was so beautiful. We walked around some more after the performance and met up with my teaching partner Suzanne and her husband Mathew. We then went out for drinks with them after the fair and it was nice just to chat. Suzanne has three weeks left and then she's off on her materinity leave.
This week was another crazy week of school because it's Carnaval here. We experienced it first on Thursday, dressing up with our kids at school. I also linked the wesite to the blog. The kids looked great and I wore a blue wig :) courtesy of Suzanne. Then, yesterday we had a professional development day and at 5:00 had cultural time and as a staff all went for drinks and dinner in town. It is already really crazy here. Someone said it will be like living inside a night club for a week. All the bars/restaurants have their tables pulled out and no chairs so they can cram more people in and people overflow into the streets even. There's lots of singing of old fashioned Omm Paa Paa songs as Catherine calls it. And lots of clinking of beer glass/mugs. We had dinner at a nice Greek restaurant and by 10;00 Matt and I were exhausted and ready to go home. Even now I can hear the beat of the music playing somewhere nearby and I wonder how we will be able to sleep tonight? I asked my friend Joey what the average person spends on Carnaval and he said about 300 euro, just for food and beer. It offically lasts from Sunday to Tuesday but everyone started drinking last night. Everything is decorated with red, yellow, and green, along with lots of clowns and confetti. The best part, which I can't wait for, is supposed to be the parades. People all belong to a float group and they start working on the float and costumes in October. Some of the things we have seen already are SO beautiful. Our friend Audrey is in a group that walks in a "Light Parade" which we hope to see tomorrow night. Sometimes, it's like we live in Epcot Center at Disney World. So far no plans to go away but we'll see what Tuesday brings. I am off to brave the grocery store since things will be crazy for like the next two days.
Oh and let me tell you, we are offically Dutch now since we rode our bikes to school three days this week.....IN THE SNOW!!!!!
Tot ziens.
This week was another crazy week of school because it's Carnaval here. We experienced it first on Thursday, dressing up with our kids at school. I also linked the wesite to the blog. The kids looked great and I wore a blue wig :) courtesy of Suzanne. Then, yesterday we had a professional development day and at 5:00 had cultural time and as a staff all went for drinks and dinner in town. It is already really crazy here. Someone said it will be like living inside a night club for a week. All the bars/restaurants have their tables pulled out and no chairs so they can cram more people in and people overflow into the streets even. There's lots of singing of old fashioned Omm Paa Paa songs as Catherine calls it. And lots of clinking of beer glass/mugs. We had dinner at a nice Greek restaurant and by 10;00 Matt and I were exhausted and ready to go home. Even now I can hear the beat of the music playing somewhere nearby and I wonder how we will be able to sleep tonight? I asked my friend Joey what the average person spends on Carnaval and he said about 300 euro, just for food and beer. It offically lasts from Sunday to Tuesday but everyone started drinking last night. Everything is decorated with red, yellow, and green, along with lots of clowns and confetti. The best part, which I can't wait for, is supposed to be the parades. People all belong to a float group and they start working on the float and costumes in October. Some of the things we have seen already are SO beautiful. Our friend Audrey is in a group that walks in a "Light Parade" which we hope to see tomorrow night. Sometimes, it's like we live in Epcot Center at Disney World. So far no plans to go away but we'll see what Tuesday brings. I am off to brave the grocery store since things will be crazy for like the next two days.
Oh and let me tell you, we are offically Dutch now since we rode our bikes to school three days this week.....IN THE SNOW!!!!!
Tot ziens.
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