Papa das is Nielske das

Like Papa like son you say?

Giant Courgette

This is real guys! It’s not plastic nor magic. In Oma’s garden you can find lots of these giant courgettes. One is enough to feed us soup for the whole week! Probably doesn’t weigh that much but for me it feels like a cow is sitting on my lap!

"I feel so small now..."

Kabouter Niels

Back to reality

Een beetje luieren…dat mag toch?

Back to onthaalmoeder Nicole after a 3-week-vacation. I was so excited yesterday when Mama told me that I will be going back to Nicole. She told me I will see my friends Arne, Brent, Elise, Alicia, Timonne, Dan and Ilke again. It has been a while and I kinda missed playing with them. And even got more excited when Mama reminded me that Nicole has lots of auto’s to play with!

The morning has come and I was up earlier than normal. I guess excitement was dominating! I sat beside Papa, who was still half asleep lying in his bed, I turned his radio on and gave him my tutter and doggie so he can sleep further as good as I did (hihi).

Anyway, I had milk, we ate breakfast, Mama dressed me up, and put me in the car. KINDJES HERE I COME!

When we arrived Brent and Arne welcomed me back! They were already there (as usual) and looks like everybody grew a little bit during the vacation! Me including of course.

When Mama said that she will leave and will come back in the afternoon to pick me up…I just waved DADA to her and left to pick up the autos on the floor and started playing!

I had a great time and was so happy to see the kindjes again. When Mama and Papa picked me up in the afternoon, they asked me if I want to go home and my answer was quick and clear, “Nee!” Hehe, I gave them both quite a shock hehehe…but I was just kidding. I raised my hands up to Mama to pick me up (after finishing my craquotte of course) and we went home.

But even at home, its still long way from rest time. I played outside, we had a short walk to the forest and around the block, and on the way home saw Arthur! They are back from vacation my neighbour “Tuur”. We ran to each other and gave each other a welcome kiss hehehe. He gave Papa and Mama a kiss as well and I gave his Papa a kiss on the cheeks too.

Arthur and I, we are one hell of a team! We ran through their lawn, went to the trees (bomen) and he showed me their “mesthoop” and the bomen of his Papa and Mama. It was so much fun but it was just a short fun. It was getting late, Mama and Papa called me and we have to go back home.

Time to drink milk and sleep! Tomorrow will be another busy day for me.

Good night guys and till the next blog!

Sleepy Niels

Lieke in Koersel Vakantieland!

Yes, another “ki” kindje that is on vacation right now is Lieke! Yesterday we visited her while she was at Tante Nicole’s. While Hannelore and Joerie are in UK, and her Moeke and Pepé in Czech Republic, Lieke has to stay for a while with Tante Nicole and Nonkel Roger...and to tell you, she looks like she is totally enjoying it!

She played ball with me, ran with me, played the train with me, and we “aaie” the pigeon figures of Nonkel Roger.

When I gave her my hand, she gave me hers and we walked together going to the pigeon house. And when I gave her a kiss, she also gave me one hihihi that was so sweet.

Here is a picture:

I believe Tante Nicole has a lot more fotos, we wait what she sends when she has free time :-)

Good night for now!

Niels

Garden talk

The sun and warm weather awaken Papa’s crave for gardening. It has been a few days now that Papa is working on our hill in our forest. Plans and ideas were formed and are about to be realized.

Today, we visited a “plantencentrum” in Oostham to see what plants or flowers we can plant on our hill at the back of the forest. It’s a nice place that “plantencentrum”. Besides the hundreds of “bomen” (trees) and “tow” (stones) and “paan” plants they have is a friendly salesman that helped us through the way to enlightenment.

On the way, we saw butterflies, bees and meneer De Uil. While Papa was busy talking to the salesman, Mama and I walked through the pathwalk.

After a while, I wanted to go “oom” (home). The walk and pushing of my “bumee” (buggy) made me quite tired. So we sat down inside the cafeteria to rest while waiting for papa to finish his business.

Finally, we can go “oom” (home). I helped Mama put my "bumee" (buggy) in the car's trunk, drank a little bit water and drove home.

Sleepy and tired Niels

Waves and Sand for Papa's birthday...in Oostende

Yesterday was a special day, not only it is a national feastday for Belgium, it is also Papa’s birthday!

We planned an overnight in Oostende to have more time to enjoy the seawater, the waves, the sand digging, and the making of my mini damns.

It was a perfect day for this perfect occasion. As soon as we found a spot, mama put up our tent and papa and I proceeded to our agenda…its PLAY TIME!

Sand, sand and more sand.

Afterwards, we went a little bit closer to the water and from then on it was water, water and more water.

Brrrrrrrr! Water was cold but neither Papa nor I didn’t care. After a while, guess who accidentally was also there in Oostende??? Ermina and Vincent! Ermina was like me, hungry to jump into the water. Vincent was a little bit more fascinated with my toys and the sand near the tent than the water…but anyway, I continued.





We built a damn around me, Papa and I. First we only made a high wall in front so the water won’t go in my hole…but the wave was too strong and my hole got filled with water while I was sitting in it. We learned our lesson and built a wall around my hole! Talking about war strategies! I have to defend my hole from the enemy…the wave! I hired Papa as my engineer and he helped me a lot! He fetched the water to build our wall :-) Thanks Papa.



Then it was time for us to check in the hotel. While Mama and Papa were by the desk checking in I….ZZZZzzzzzzz…yup, I fell asleep. I was so tired, wasn’t able to sleep in the car on the way to Oostende out of excitement and when we got there I was so busy playing, didn’t have time to sleep. And at one point, I cant fight my sleep anymore, I gave in. I closed my eyes and slept.

When we woke up, yes, we (cause Mama and Papa also took a nap)! We went for a walk along the bank and had fries for dinner.

I didn’t wait for the fireworks anymore cause it only started at 11pm. But looks like Mama and Papa did.



That was a nice overnight. This morning, we had breakfast and went home…on the way home, in my familiar place (in my car seat) I fell asleep again. Still catching up from yesterday’s lack of sleep. By the time I woke up we were almost home. After unloading our bagages, we played all over again :-)

Such a nice life I have! All play!!!

The ever playful Niels

Toren bouwen

Hello everyone,

Just want to show you what I built....a TOWER! And I did it ALL BY MYSELF! I was so proud of it, showed it so enthousiastically to Mama and Papa and there were also soooo proud. So, here it is:

Isnt it nice?

And then later in the afternoon I went playing outside with my bus and truck plus had a short walk with Mama.

Niels

Dierentuin Planckendael

We just came back from a tiring day today. We and I mean WE, did lots of running (Mama or Papa running after me) and walking through the zoo of Planckendael. I wasnt able to take my nap this afternoon...and with that you think I will be tired on the way home? Na-ah!

Here are some pictures for you:

And what's there for me besides all those animals? ZANDBAK!

Papa needs a rest

And when we got home...the day is not over yet! It's of course time to play with my AUTOS!

BROOOOM BROOOOM!

Night-night!

Niels

PS: I dont eat fruitpap anymore...today I ate a whole banana and a piece of pear (before it fell to the ground)

At 60, it's a BEAUTIFUL LIFE!

And Lolo wrote:

"A week before my birthday, Susan jokingly told me to invite my friends over since 60 is not an ordinary milestone in one's life. I retorted that it's not necessary that with the recession looming on the Philippine horizon. She said not to worry since somebody will take care of the expenses. Ok, but I insisted that I prefer a small and private affair. So we invited only Virgie's clan and Danny and Joy. I learned they were preparing the ubiquitous kare-kare with anti swine flu vegetables, special lumpia from chicken and bangus, the usual bihon pansit for long life oozing with calamansi, everybody's favorite sliced tenderloin with mushrooms and gravy, plain coke, fruits like banana, mango, apple. In my mind I mused that they forgot something appropriate for such an affair, cake.

All went well on that special day, so well that even the weather permitted us to savor the spirit of the event. The radiant sun was up but hiding a little behind white clouds, not a drop of rain fell. Mira, Acho, Paul, Hershey and her yaya Michelle, Danny, Joy, Geli, JM, Susan and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The special gift I got, a collection of my pictures brought the house down as I reminisced to them the meaning of each picture. It triggered memories from them too as they started to retell the events we had together, with Mira leading the assault on memory lane. Then somebody shouted "Let's go swimming". Each one had a choice of where to go : Mira suggested San Juan Batangas, Danny-Covelandia Cavite, Geli-Tagaytay Highlands, Acho-Cebu, JM-Ayala Alabang pool, Ben-Golden Gate swimming pool, Susan-Villa Cristina Burol 1st, Paul-Don Bosco Makati and Heshey was saying something too, her pampers was full. Finally it was La Roca.

Unfortunately it was closed already since it was past 5pm. So we just decided to go to Pansol, have a look and got Hacienda Resort. It was old but it had 3 pools; 7 feet, 5 ft and 3 ft.. we were practically the only ones there so we got what most desired, a private pool. We stayed there from 7pm to 7am. We swam till we dropped. We sung videoke till hoarsed up and relished our baon. Back at home, we just slept.

Incidentally, Geli ordered a special cake. It was the first cake in my life.

So at 60, it's a beautiful life."

And we say, "Happy happy 60th birthday Lolo!" - Niels, Mama and Papa

Gelukkige Verjaardag OMA! Happy Birthday LOLO!

Today we celebrated 2 birthdays! For Lolo's birthday Mama cooked pansit and for Oma's birthday we treated her and Opa to a restaurant in Nieuwerkerken, Restaurant Kelsbekerhof. Both the home-made pansit and the food at the restaurant were super yummy!

So, again I wish both my grandparents Lolo and Oma a very very very haaaaaappy biiiirthday!

Here are some fotos from the restaurant:

Playing with Oma

Smiling with Papa

Hiding from Opa

Posing by the tree

Good night!

Niels

Swimming time...

Helaba!

Last week, Mama and Papa had the great idea to put up a pool for us during this HEATWAVE.

Here are some refreshing fotos for you :-)

And a video to show you exactly how Papa and I had fun in the pool!



Enjoy!

Niels