Practice makes perfect!

Hi party pips!

After our trip to Austria, my parents have to go back to work for 1 week. And during that week my Onthaalmoeder Nicole is on vacation so I spent my 3 days with Oma and Opa until Mama starts her vacation again (?!?)

Me in Celeste's (park) crib

During my stay in Balen I have learned a lot! Thanks to Celeste's old crib I was able to practice standing up good!

Me playing with my Bumba ball

What a busy summer vacation!

Crawling and standing! Phew!

Till the next blog!

Busy Niels

A pose with Mama Rosa

Hello Lolo and Lola,

As promised, we visited Mama Rosa when we arrived Nauders...and of course, here is a picture

Sixth day...shopping day

Hi there!

After our breakfast...

With the tired legs we (I mean they) had from yesterday's climb, we still were able to drive to Samnaun in Switzerland border to do some shopping. Its a duty-free place so everything is cheaper there. Gasoline, perfume, liquor, chocolates, everything!

Its our last day today in Nauders, tomorrow we drive back home to Paal. We all enjoyed it and we will surely go back! When? I dont know, I think when I can walk already on my own up the mountain! hahaha

Here are some of our last moment fotos...

Pensioen Tirol, the place where we stayed

Papa sunbathing

Me...sleeping

My parents playing Dobbel score while enjoying the sun

Till Belgium!!! See you again next time Nauders!

Fifth day...Trial day

I call it a trial day because if we make it to the top today I think we can join the Olympics! Hahaha

Good day everyone,

Today we will have a biiiig climb to Fluchtwang. Our goal (besides testing our leg stregth) To see some eidelweiss.

Its a tough one, steep and rough most of the times. Opa and Papa has to lift my buggy when we were almost at the top of the mountain because the way is very small, rocky and full of cow pies!

Once we got to the top, its breathetaking! Magnificent nature! We wrote on the book to prove that we were there. At an early stage in my baby life, I was able to be on top of a mountain 2000 meters high. Im proud, especially of my Papa, Opa, Oma and Mama who made it a point that I get there.

Without their help, I will just be down the mountain, in my buggy, waiting till someone pushes me...

Here is our picture on top of the mountain...

And on the way back, we had a rest in a small place midway...had some beer, chocolate cake and the owner gave me a free Mars :-)

Till tomorrow!

Fourth day...swimming day!!! Yupeeee!!!

Hello summer-feeling-people!

Today is swimming day. After eating my groentepap, Mama, Papa and me went to the Hotel to go swimming. Oma and Opa went walking as usual but for the 3 of us, its swimming time.

When we got to the swimming pool, mama put me ready, Papa blew up my Sesame street "zwembandjes", my swimming toys are ready...and dive we go....BRRRRRR! Water is cooooold!

We did not expect that! Water was cold but after a while we got used to it. In the water I was busy eating my seal (a gift from Tante Liesbeth), and sometimes my badboekjes. Mama didnt stay long in the water (too deep for her) so I was most of the time with papa while mama is busy taking pictures.

After an hour of staying in the water, we showered and dressed up. We went back to our room and met with Oma and Opa for a warm apfelstrudhl and a half-liter of Stiegler beer in town.

Third day...Rest day

Good evening to you all,

Today is a rest day. But not the rest day that you are thinking about. A rest day in Janssens terms is a mild-walk (not a no-walk). We went to Vallelunga in Italy but it was snowing, too cold to have a walk there. According to Oma and Opa its nice but if the weather is bad, we better do it some other time.

We went to the town called Ried and walked along side the water. The water was green, deep and cold. Strong too! Nice for river rafting but we didnt see anyone rafting...I guess it was not that time of the year.

We had our lunch and my fruitpap in a big park with lake, playground, swimming pool and rabbits!

There I drank water out of a spa bottle...tried at least. Its not that they forgot my water bottle, they just want to have fun and see if I can do it hahahaha.

After our lunch and tour around the park we drove to Landis where Oma, Opa, Papa and Vicky had their first ever Austria trip and had a short walk around the center. Its a charming small town.

When we got back to the hotel (earlier than normal) Mama and Papa went to the Sauna while I went on walking with Oma and Opa. It was a cold evening. We went to bed early, with the cool breeze, we took the opportunity to rest fully :-)

Good night everyone!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Yeah this is the reason! Today is also Papa's birthday.

Papa received a card from Oma and Opa, and from me and Mama of course...but both cards ended up torn and wet...I chew them both :-s

They had ice cream and I had...a book...hmmm

For Papa's birthday we had ice cream in an Italian restaurant pass by Mama Rosa's house. Mama did her best to speak German (thats what she said) to request the owner of the restaurant to put a candle on Papa's ice cream (but honestly instead of speaking German mama ended up doing sign language...acting a "Happy Birthday" and "candle-blowing", so I guess the guy understood because he delivered Papa's ice cream with a candle on it hahaha).




Anyway, "Papa we hope you had a wonderful birthday with us by your side."

Happy Birthday again Papa!

Lots of love,

Niels, Mama, Oma, Opa and the rest of the family!

Second day...to the TOP!

Aaah, what a beautiful day. Once you start you cant stop (only when you are tired). After our "wandeling" yesterday, we decided to go for higher grounds today. We went up the mountain on the way to the Guldzeehut but not totally there because the road was "gesperrt" or closed due to some works going on.

Anyway, so we went up, dressed up in long pants and shirts (its kinda windy today), me sitting in my buggy, Opa and Papa dragging me up, Oma and Mama looking at the beautiful flowers and taking pictures.

We stopped by a small river/waterfall (I was sleeping then) to take some pictures. Our goal was to reach the hut behind there in the picture before the rain falls (if it falls)..but it didnt, so we continued moving up.

Opa and Papa dragging me up up and away

My 4x4 buggy is doing good! A great buy for Mama and Papa

Look! There behind me is Nauders!

Just had our lunch break...by a cliff...

We got back to town around 5pm, we had some ice cream for some special reason...the reason you will see on the next blog...and of course after such a long trip, everybody deserves an ice cream!

Our first day in sweet Nauders

Hi all!

A week in Austria...a week with nature! Guaranteed. I will never be able to describe in words what beauty I have seen on the first day. I hope I can show you in pictures what I am talking about.

Our day began with a hearty breakfast. At 10.30 (after my groentepap) we set off for a long walk today. We walked to the Italian border and saw lots of people with mountain bikes and their dogs.

A picture by the water with Mama and Papa

We had a stop by the big river.

And had our snack there. I also had a cookie!

You think we can get to the top? Not today...maybe tomorrow or something

Austria here we come!

Good morning to you all!

Everyone awake at 5am (me at 6am hehe, that's the advantage if you are still a baby haha). Car packed, milk drunk..we are ready to GO! At 6.30am our engine ran. What a wonderful day to begin our vacation. Soft temperature, dry weather (not raining I mean), and with mama and papa, what more can I ask for (except that I hope they didnt forget my vacation bag).

Our first stop: GROENTEPAP stop. At around 11am, we had a break. Papa and mama stretched, and me of course, and I had my groentepap.

After a 40 min break, we moved on. To eat time, Mama and Papa were counting and betting on how many road works we will encounter in Germany. Mama bet on 16 and Papa on 22. There were quite a lot, just making our tour longer...busy busy road.

Me at the back, Mama and Papa singing with the CD, the airconditioner running high, we were on for another stop in no time.

Second stop: Not only FRUITPAP stop but also PAMPER stop (got to!). Around 3pm we had a stop at a nice big parking. Mama and Papa also had a sandwich.

After a 12 hour drive..its about time to arrive at the Hotel. We got to the Hotel to check in at around 6.20pm and ended up with 17 road works. Oma and Opa were already at the Pension when we arrived. Soooo happy to see them! A start of a good vacation, with Mama, Papa, Oma and Opa!

2 days more...and off we go to Austria!

Hi all,

Thursday was a busy-day-for-them and a rest-day-for-me. I was playing today with my puzzel mat...was able to dismantle 3 squares out! And I must say I have tasted every single piece! After 30 mins of playing with my puzzel, walking around the table and jumping...I got tired. I pointed to my rocking chair and had a cool nice rest...

Still have hang over frrom yesterday. Too much shopping tires me up. I guess sweet dreams for me and till tomorrow to you!

Wednesday...summer day?

Hello again everyone,

So, excited to know where I was yesterday? Wednesday was a busy day...phew! Lots of shopping to do in preparation for our trip to Austria.

Nope, we didn't go swimming.

Mama and Papa bought me a swimming outfit for Nauders.

Not again. I wasn't crying hahaha.

Mama and Papa let me taste Cornetto Ice Cream...MY GOODNESS it was COOOOLD! My two tiny teeth shivered to the roots!

Well here you are right. I was playing with Papa.

Papa calls it KUS GEVEN (giving a kiss) while I call it NEUS AFVEGEN (wiping off my nose).

This is KUS GEVEN. Aahhh! A warm sweet kiss from Papa.

I think now you know why I say Wednesday was a summer day :-)

Hop hop hop, Hasselt aan de top!

Hi everyone,

Since saturday, Mama, Papa and me are officially on holiday. Mama was supposed to be off since thursday but she had to go to work for a few hours to finish somethings...so, I spent my thursday in Balen with Oma...and at 6pm that day, Mama was back. Finally, her vacation has started.

Friday papa still had to go to work. Saturday he was home....yupeeeeee!!! Saturday was a lazy day, Sunday was Balen day, Monday was a work day (you know...cleaning the house, cutting the grass, vacuum cleaning) and today, Tuesday, is Hasselt day!



It wasn't sunny, little bit cloudy but not cold, also not that warm...actually Im confused...cause it looks like Mama was cold (she was wearing her jacket) and Papa keeps on saying he was warm. So here I am, trapped in between, wearing a sleeveless jacket with my hood on. Oh well, it was fun, that's what's important.

We also went into a pet shop. Oooh that was FUN! I saw lots of rabbits, rats, hamsters, bunnies, fishes, birds, parrots, turtles and what's fascinating is...they are all REAL!!! So kids, a little reminder...when you go into a pet shot..or a Zoo for that matter (this is a bigger pet shop only they dont sell the animals)...please note that all animals you will see will be real animals.

Afterwards we went to Hasselt centrum and to Kapermolen park. In the park you can see what type of tree you are as a person looking into which month you were born. We looked at what type of tree we were. Papa is a summer elm tree (July - zomer iep) Mama is a castagne (November - kastania) tree and I am a winter elm (January - winter iep). From the looks of it, the description on the characteristics of the tree really resembles Mama's and Papa's character...so probably will resemble mine as well...we will see.

I ate my fruitpap in Kapermolen park while Papa and Mama munched dried mangoes sent by Lolo and Lola. Afterwards, we continued walking, busy busy busy city but Mama and Papa kept on telling me that they lived for 5 years in Hasselt and that they love it. After a few naps, I woke up seeing Mama eating a big plate of brusselse wafel with ice cream and loooots of cream, and Papa cutting 2 big pieces of pancake with melted chocolate....WAAAAAAHHHHH! I want some too! (but I can't. So I was contented with a sip from my water bottle, tja...)

Time to go home...I was sleeping again in the car...when I woke up I was already in a dark familiar room...my room.

That was it...our Tuesday Hasselt day is over...where we will be tomorrow?....I dont know...I will let you know!

Ciao!
Niels

6 months, 1 week and a whole lot of FUN!

Hey hey hey...hello everyone,

It's been a while since we were able to post a blog. Since 4th of July lots have changed. Let me start from the beginning:

1. With my way of eating...other than being able to sit steady and eat on my babychair...barely nothing has changed....I still eat like a 4 month old hahaha.

2. I also had a visit from Lieke! I will post the picture next time when Mama receives the pictures from Lieke's Mama and Papa. It was so much fun seeing her...our Mamas and Papas definitely had lots of fun. Wait for more about this story...COMING SOON!


3. Kind and Gezin newsflash: 8,70 kilo and 68cm. And with our 2,5 hr stay in that room I met new kids. Emma, Kobe and Sammy...all nice kids! Emma said "Nielt! Nielt!" to me. Kobe is 7 months old and he sat and played with me. Sammy...he was just hungry! I want to hold him so he stops crying but...I wasn't old enough to do that Mama said.

4. Just the three of us: Here you will see Papa, me and Opa. I look like papa when Papa was younger and I will look like Opa when I get older hahaha...no hair! When I heard this...I GOTTA scratch my head!

5. Here is a picture from today. Celeste and I were having a photoshoot, and today's theme was "SIMON says, PUT SOMETHING IN OUR MOUTH!". I was too late to get a toy (Mama counted 1-2-3 too fast) so I improvised. Which also turned out good :-)

6. And to close this blog up...here is a nice summer vacation picture. Next summer...Celeste and I will spend our summer vacation with Oma and Opa.

Can you do that too?

Hi Everyone,

Look what I can do...

Wo...wo...almost...balance...balance...


Yes! See Mama I can sit down on my own!