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!