My future tennis champ!



Waiting for the opponent's serve



Hitting hard!



And watching the ball land

Another powerful forehand hit

And a backhand

And who is the opponent/victim you may ask?
His ever loving Oma (hehe)

The Pacifier Experience

This is literally a pacifier experience and I will tell you why.

As I was walking to the train station like any other weekday morning, weather was cold and wet...like any other Belgium morning, at the bridge over the train tracks I saw a blue pacifier on the ground.  Immediately I thought about my little girl.  Not that I want it for her but thinking that the owner of that pacifier is now probably crying or cannot sleep cause the pacifier is lost.

I passed it, trying to ignore it like any other litter I see on the floor but cannot go another step further away from it.  With my conscience full of pity for the owner, I went back, picked it up, placed it on top of the bridge wall (not really that high thats why I can reach the top hehe) taking into consideration that maybe the mother will pass by the same place while searching to where did her baby's pacifier fall.

Feeling a little bit better, I went on and took my train. That afternoon on the way back home, it was still on the wall waiting for its owner to find it.

The next day, it was on the ground again..probably fell from the heavy wind and rain the night before, I picked it up again and put it back at the same place I put it yesterday.

For 3 days its just right there where I left it.

On the fourth day, there was such a heavy rain that day, when I passed by that morning...no more sight of the pacifier.  Not on the wall nor on the ground.  Somebody picked it and threw it in the trash or it fell on the other side of the wall which is the train tracks...

Now everytime I pass this bridge I think about that pacifier.  A baby blue one with a white teddy bear design.

Maybe its just me but if you are a mother too, with such overflow of emotion like me..then I think you would understand why.  "If it happened to my baby..." That was what's in my mind that time. 

Anyhow, taking out the drama...the mother probably bought her baby a new one already (hihi).

I'd immediately do the same if I was her.

Welcome Fientje!

Welcome little angel Fientje!

(photo from Tante Nicole's Facebook album)
3.175 kg, 50 cm at exactly 11.40am

Baby daughter of Jimmy and Astrid and baby sister of Staf

We were not able to visit you sooner but when we did you treated us with a thousand cuteness!  And your brother was an entertainer too!

We cant wait to see you again!!!

Neri, Nico, Niels and Nina

Wel niet de bedoeling kleine meid!

Ja, groot worden betekent niet alleen flink groeien en alleen brave dingen kunnen doen...dat weten jullie allemaal...want onze kleine meid is echt groot aan het worden met alles erop en eraan...kijk maar:

Wel niet de bedoeling dat je mama's wasknijpers opeet of aan je kleertjes hangt...wat ga ik nu gebruiken voor mijn was?

Wel niet de bedoeling dat je je pop en knuffels op de grond gooit en je zelf op het popbedje gaat staan Nina! Ik zeg het al, het is gevaarlijk...Nu ja...en ze lacht ook nog naar de camera...dus ja, ze was gevallen..en wie was dan stout geweest?  Nina zeg dan heel spontaan "Stoute vloer! Stout bed!"

Maar door die stoute dingen te doen wordt ze dan ook wel slim van hé

Carnival Fever!

Last friday was the last day before "Krokusvakantie".  And at Niels' school they celebrated Carnival!

All children dressed up as their favorite characters, or their favorite wanna-be-when-I-grow-up...realistic or not...hihihi..and by the way the teachers were dressed up as well!

Mamas and Papas, Omas and Opas who could come were invited to help with the baking and distributing of the pancakes. And Niels asked me last week, with his cute puppy eyes, "Mama ga je met mij Carnaval vieren in school?" ("Mama, are you going to celebrate carnival with me in school?") I said sorry Niels but mama has to go to work...Papa is in Germany and Oma and Opa are taking care of Nina...."Maar mama, alle mamas komt, en ik ben alleen" (But Mama, all other mamas are coming and Im the only one alone") So Mama's heart was melted...asked a day-off...and gave the good news to Niels that Im coming...he almost hit the ceiling with his jump while shouting YUPEEEE!!!!!

And we had a good time!  And he kept on saying until we went to sleep that night, "Mama I had a good time with you!"...ooohhhh...How could you not give in to this little sweet boy...Mama was soooo satisfied too!

Here are some pictures...by the way, Niels went as Mega Toby:

Mega Toby eating his pancake

During their playtime outside

With one of his 2 girlfriends FARA

With Brent, Fara and Niels: The scary group

Niels and Xander

Ehem...the other girlfriend...AMALIA

My Mega Niels!

again as you can see...

PARTY!!!!!

I enjoyed seeing how Niels is in school...and luckily that day I was the photographer of the day in school so I was able to take pictures of everyone...the whole day!!! It was fun!

Mama Neri