Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!

As promised, we give you all a warm Merry Christmas greet from the warm and noisy Philippines!!!!

And here are some more pictures to lavish upon:

Christmas Tree and gifts all ready to be opened!

First pose with Lolo by the tree

Playing while waiting for 12 0'clock!

Ninang Geli, Makayla and Lola with our gift to McKay

Niels saying "Thank you" to Tita Joy and Tito Dan

Papa with his gift

And Niels with his gifts

and toy cars

Nina with her coloring book and barn gift

and shaul with tshirt gifts

Our new tent

Niels with Ninang Gel and McKay

Eating Time

Show your pizza!

Yummy spaghetti!

Merry Christmas once again!!!

The 4Ns

Welcome to Philippines!

Whew!  Warm once again!  This is for sure Philippines!  We looked for our bagages and went as soon as we can outside to meet Lolo!!!

I asked Niels to help me look for Lolo from the crowd of people waiting on the other side of the street.  I asked him, "Do you still know how Lolo looks like?" and he answered, "Ja, ik ken hem nog, die heeft een bruin gezicht en die heeft een grote bril aan" with a laugh, I told him thats correct! Hehehe

And so we found Lolo. But it looks like we will not be joining him but instead we will be going with Ninang Mira back to Las Pinas.  And Lolo with all his excitement, forgot that we have to put the bagages in his Vitara. 

After about an hour and a half travel back to the normally 15-minute-away Golden Gate, we were welcomed by a refreshing swimming pool, a lively Makayla, excited Lola and delicious food!

Nina was so friendly to Therese, Ninang Mira, and everyone else in the car.  She was laughing the whole time when Therese keeps on teaching them "Camping Pupu".  They may not understand each other (Niels, Nina and Therese) but they were having fun and the one common word they know now is "Camping Pupu"...and I guess that left an impression on Nina cause since then she has been calling Therese as Camping Pupu.

Here are some photos:

Niels and Papa enjoying the refreshing pool Lolo prepared

Makayla and Nina trying to get used to each other

And the 2 princesses reading a book with Lolo 

See you soon Las Pinas!

We all woke up very early not to be late at the airport.  Our taxi arrived on time and Niels and Nina as good kids as they are, woke up on time and were as excited as Mama and Papa to go to the airport.

We have enough reasons to be excited cause you know what?

1. This will be our first time to meet dear cousin Makayla!
2.  This is our first time to spend christmas and New Year with the Palacios.  And for  Mama and Papa, it has been 10 years ago since they last celebrated the Holiday season with the Palacios.
3. This is Niels' second trip and Nina's first.
4.  Tito Dan and Tita Joy's wedding!!!
5.  Niels' 4th birthday party will also be held in the Philippines!
6.  And simply because we will be seeing Lolo Ben, Lola Sue, Ninang Geli, Ninong Danny and the rest of the gang again!  We missed them sooo much!

...and this is why this is such a special trip to the Philippines.  

Here is a glimpse of our flight:

With Niels, Papa and Nina

and now with Niels, Mama and Nina

Nina cleaning the floor of Brussels Airport

and Niels found Santa Clause in Amsterdam Airport

It was a tiring trip but everything went well.  Nina was hyperactive in the plane but at the same time adorable and she had made lots of new kiddie friends in the plane.  Niels amused himself with the games in the computer and he has his own seat now so he was able to sleep a lot better than his first time.

And we bet they are also as excited as we are at the destination.




SEE YOU SOON LAS PINAS!

A proud Ate...

Congratulations Dan and Joy!

From your proud Ate.

See you soon!

Feeling Artistic and Feeling Technical

Niels and Nina feeling artistic today...they took out all their pens and started coloring Mickey Mouse book...Niels at least...

Sitting together and feeling artistic

Nina just started eating the pens..NINA its not for eating!

Niels showing off his...teeth?

And here in this video, Nina is feeling technically knowledgeable and is trying out if Niels' new Cars racetrack is working...see for yourself!

The Elsen Family Christmas Party

The Elsen Family

The four 2010-Babies: all big and healthy
(From left to right: Nina E., Nina J., Stafke, Laurens)

Nina walking and having fun!

Nico and I

And the craziest brother you could ever have...Niels

Here is a glimpse of Nina walking:

An early greet to all...

Great Indeed!

When Nina was born, Papa gave her an ultimatum to be able to walk not later than 14 months. So when we get to The Philippines, Lolo, Lola and the rest of the gang can enjoy playing with her while she walks and runs around.

When she was 10 months, I was starting to get impatient cause Niels started walking when he was 10 months.

Her 1st birthday came...still nothing.  I mean, she can walk, she can run but you have to give her a hand.  She didnt dare do it alone.

13 months came...while at Aunt Vicky's house...she did a few steps...2-3 steps...and then she dropped crawling on the floor after that...she did it once with Nic (by the daycare) and since then never again.

Last saturday, we were with Peter Pan and Tinkerbel, they asked the same question everyone was asking..."Does she walk already?"  Looks like everyone is getting more and more curious (hehe)...and we give the same explanation over and over again.

And suddenly, Dec 6, Tuesday (mark your calendars!)...during the birthday of Sinterklaas...when Nico got home from work...something amazing (actually something we have been expecting a few months ago already) happened...NINA STEPPED, not only a few but ACROSS THE LIVINGROOM!

WOW!!! Nico and I looked stunned!  We cannot believe what we were witnessing...Nina walking!

...She stretched Papa's ultimatum to the limit! She was then 14 months and 1 day old!

After a few minutes of that amazing moment...she started running around the dining table! Haha I cant believe it!

One surprise after the other!  Today she is with Oma and Opa and they told me on the phone that she was just walking back and forth the living and the kitchen the WHOLE DAY!

But thats how it goes baby girl, practice good so when you get to meet Lolo and the gang...you could amaze them too!

See picture from the previous blog...we will take some more pictures in the weekend and a few videos and we will proudly show it to you all.

Proud and Happy Mama,

Neri

Geweldig toch!

Toen Nina pasgeboren was waren we al van plan om in December 2011 naar de Filippijnen ons Kerst te vieren..dus zei Papa tegen Nina..."Lopen op 14 maanden hé Nina? That's the deadline"  Dan kunnen wij allemaal, ook Lolo en Lola, genieten van een spelend Nina tijdens ons vakantie.

10de maand paseerde, nog geen teken van lopen bij Nina...Niels begon toen al te lopen op zijn 10de maand...

1ste verjaardag...ook nog niks...ze kan wel goed stevig stappen maar moet ze altijd het handje van iemand vast houden...

13de maand...paar stapjes...2-3..en dag terug niets

Zaterdag op 4 december, vroeg Peter Pan en Tinkerbel het vraag weer..."Loop ze nog niet?"...dus terug dezelfde uitleg van ons...

En gisteren...6 December, verjaardag van Sinterklaas gebeurde iets dat we eigelijk al laaaaaang verwacht!...

LIEP NINA DOOR DE LIVING!...en ALLEEN! hahaha DANKU SINTERKLAASJE!

YUPEE!!! We waren zo blij!  Ze loop als of ze al laaang loopt...en ook nog rennen hé!  Oma en Opa weten het dat ze echt al snel kan lopen maar wel met iemand's handje vast..maar nu kan ze dat ook alleen!  ROND DE TAFEL LIEP ZE SNEL ALS EEN KONIJN!

In het weekend gaan we nog een filmpje en nog veel fotos nemen van ons lopend Nina...Niels besef dat nog niet heel goed dat Nina kan lopen...hij kijk gewoon verbaasd!

Happy Mama,

Neri

Sinterklaas...jij bent echt een kapoentje!

Sinterklaas took over the whole of Belgium...every house...every kid's heart

And my kids are no exception.  The night before Sinterklass, his white horse Slecht-weer-vandaag, and his Zwarte Piets arrived, Niels and Nina with Papa and Mama's help put their shoes ready for hopefully a truckload of gifts...or at least those that they asked from Sinterklaas.

Niels who was quite nervous if he will get gifts (I dont know why...) was a sport (making up to his stoute-dagen) and did quite a good preparation for the coming of the Sint.

He was holding his hand by his heart when they showed Sinterklaas on television announcing if there are bad boys or girls this year...I still cant forget the expression on his face...and how he clapped so hard when the Sint said " There are no naughty boys or girls this year"

This week wednesday, Sinterklaas visited school...the day before he started to cry in the bathroom and said..."Mama! My foot hurt!  You have to write a letter to Juf Roos that I cant come to school tomorrow...you have to bring me to the doctor"  I thought it was something serious...afterwards I realized that he knows Sinterklaas is coming to school the next day and he was probably scared that the Sint will tell him that he has been naughty...(I have to keep myself from laughing and have to look serious) and told him, its OK, and that the pain will be gone later.

With Papa, preparing a glass of beer for Sinterklaas
Carrots and sugar for the horse and a cup of water for Zwarte Piet

And this is what they got the morning after...

An empty bumba cup, half drunk beer, and LOAD of toys, chocolates and cookies!!!

Nina and Niels were soooo busy and very happy opening and trying out all the gifts they got!

Have fun!

Birthday Party in Paal

Yup, I also had my share of birthday party...and here are my enthousiastic guests...

From Left to Right: Celeste, Nina, Ermina, Niels and Vincent

On my 34th...



A diary version...

It has been 2008 since we last had a weekend alone with each other, Nico and I.  As a birthday and wedding anniversary gift, Nico had an ingenious idea of having a luxurious relaxing weekend this weekend in Luxemburg without the kids.  Finally a break.  For both of us, a break from the stressy work, from the household...and from the babyphones at night.

Oma and Opa were so generous to take care of Niels and Nina this weekend to allow us to enjoy the moment without worries.  We both know they are in good hands.

Normally, every year Nico cooks a 4-course-meal at home which is unusual...more of special I should say ;-)...just for my birthday.  But this year he thought of something better.  Its not that he cant cook cause he can, but at least this time we could both relax :-)

We arrived last night in this large Mercure Kikuoka Golf Club Hotel in Luxemburg.  It was late (11pm) when we arrived (after coming from work, straight to Balen to bring Niels to Oma and drove to the hotel) so we passed by McDonald to eat dinner quickly and went to hotel to sleep.

We turned the lights off...TOTAL DARKNESS...no flickering baby phones...it was silent...

But (damn it!) my body clock was alarming at 6 early in the morning!!!!!  I forgot to reset to vacation mood..and to tell myself that I MAY sleep longer.  I couldnt sleep anymore.

Luckily after writing this piece, I tried to close my eyes again...with the thought of my kids smiling at me and saying "Sweet dreams Mama"...I drifted back to dreamland...ALMOST!

A few minutes after my tummy started to growl for hunger!

So what did I do?  While waiting for Nico to wake up...and while waiting for breakfast hour to arrive...I was making myself busy drawing a plan/idea for a walk-in dresser that I want to have...hopefully I could have one by next year.  Clothes are scattered everywhere!!!!!!! I need closet!!!!

...Nico woke and we had breakfast...

After a hearty breakfast (I was very satisfied) we went for a 7km walk around the domain...which ended up quite elegantly.

Usually when we go for a walk like this we end up climbing up the mountain to look for civilization (La Roche, Halloween of 2003?) or we end up digging a hole under a barb-wire fence (Highly pregnant - De Zwin with Lolo and Lola - 2007)...but we are learning our lesson and this time we ended up quite OK. Although a little road diversion happened, it was not that bad.  We ended up in the middle of the golf course but not far from the hotel, so we just followed the golf course path back to the hotel and we made it safe and sound.

Went back to the hotel, took the car and went to Luxemburg city.  It was a lovely city. We had a nice tour around it.

We had a quick lunch from a small Italian-Venetian ice cream parlor and headed back to the hotel.

We were planning to go relax in the sauna or in the jacuzzi...but looks like Men and Women may only go separate rooms...there were no other people so I was alone at the jacuzzi...and Nico alone in his sauna...not what I expected of a relaxing wellness afternoon...alone, no one to talk to...so we just went back to the room, took a nap and prepared for the big dinner.

Dinner came...we went downstairs, nice cute restaurant...very delicious food...but quite a lot!  I literally blown my garters open after eating. I looked at myself in the mirror and I looked like a 5-month pregnant woman. If I took picture of myself then I could really make people believe we are on for a 3rd child!

Too full...not a good feeling...bloated...I went to sleep while Nico still watching television...woke up 8.30am...my body clock finally set properly to vacation mood but its time to go home.  I was one day too late.  Tomorrow is monday and Im still gonna be on vacation mood.  Damn it!

We ate the delicious breakfast again and headed to Bastogne...sleeping on the way...after Bastogne we drove to Balen to pick up the kids...sleeping on the way...if I will count in total, I slept 2 hrs to Bastogne and 1.5hrs to Balen...if I slept continuously I would have waken up at around...lunch time!  I was so tired...but at least Nico let me sleep in the car. 

Thanks Nico!  and thanks for the wonderful weekend!


Neri


See our pictures below:

By Luxemburg City

Making Tatay jealous with the giant cheese!

Mixture of Fresh mushroom

Different Cauliflowers from the Fresh Market

Walking the city lines

View of the city



in Bastogne

 

Teeth Nr. 6, 7 and 8!

Finally!  Its about time they start showing up!  My gums are getting tired from chewing naked!

Nina

Nina eating beans

Photo during a visit to Nina & Lieke in Tienen

Niels baking cupcake!