Posted at 09:05 AM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (5)
It has just been the most wonderful time of the year!
Besides some stomach flu that has been passed around, we have enjoyed our stay here to the fullest.
warm,
cozy,
loving
Christmas.
A winter outing in a winter landscape.
Family and friends.
Just simply perfect.
.......If only I would get some more sleep! (little sweet Gabe;-))
Have a creative, healthy, loving, adventurous, balanced and blessed 2011
Posted at 08:06 AM in Family life, Nature, Travels | Permalink | Comments (1)
Posted at 06:37 AM in Family life, Nature, Travels | Permalink | Comments (8)
So someone commented on my last post "so how is your little prince doing?"
My little prince is a big charmer!
I received this message on my phone a few weeks ago and just melted.
Being a mama of two is the best thing ever, I seriously LOVE it and find it easier than being a mama of one.
Most likely because I just expect less from myself.
So the laundry is not always done on time. The meals aren't as creative. Emails left unanswered.
I do try and keep our home clean and organized, as that is where we spend most of our days.
Next thing is getting back into doing more art and blogging.
SOON, very soon
Posted at 09:54 PM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (5)
Has it really been this long? Over a month since my last post? "Oh, dear!" Ayanna would say.
It has been a hectic, busy month and yet a beautiful and most precious month.
Both my parents have stayed and helped us out tremendously. After my father left, my mom stayed another two weeks. She helped us transition more smoothly into life with now two children (A big blessing, a huge responsibility.)
My mom worked so hard to give us as much rest and energy as she could possibly give us by taking away daily duties. SWEET sweet mama.
Fall, my favorite season.
The time of the year that inspires me,
makes me long for creative days,
has almost passed by without me noticing much of it.
My eyes were on my newborn mainly or closed trying to catch up on sleep.
But now my mom has left and I am some days on my own with both children.
I saw the golden leaves outside and realized my mom was GOLD for us as well.
Today my GOLDEN mama (our kids GOLDEN oma) turns 65! We are not there with her to celebrate, but will think of her throughout the day.
Mama, this fall inspired post is for you. You love flowers and outdoors, you love gold and photography.
Happy happy happy birthday filled with love and loved ones....
miss you
Posted at 08:50 PM in Celebrations, Family life, Inspired by, Nature | Permalink | Comments (5)
Posted at 04:25 PM in Celebrations, Family life | Permalink | Comments (5)
Waiting for my parents at the airport was fun.
Ayanna called for twenty minutes "opa and oma" out very loud by the window. Then they arrived and she jumped and screamed and I have the cutest video of this...
And now we have fun waiting for the baby brother.
Swimming, playing, walking, celebrating birthdays that have past when we were not together, reading, singing, snuggling and lots of cups pretend tea.
Her belated birthday gift is the doll house that opa handmade last time he was here and had been hidden in the basement.
She loves it.
It is beautiful.
Posted at 09:35 PM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (4)
Our day away.
One of Ayanna's birthday gifts (Thanks tia and tio!) was tickets to a fun park.
So we took her an afternoon and evening out and she was overwhelmed,
but then got brave and loved every minute...
It was so exciting and yet sad to see my little baby standing in line with all the other children. Like a big girl.
She is becoming a big girl!
After this adventure I needed a day at home...
... to listen to piano play,
finish birth announcement cards together with Josiah,
watch a modern ballet performance AND...
REST!
Posted at 03:14 PM in At home, Family life | Permalink | Comments (3)
Posted at 02:09 PM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (6)
Posted at 08:13 AM in Art, Family life | Permalink | Comments (6)
She makes us smile many times a day.
She is mama's meissie and papa's girl.
She is funny, caring, sweet, loving, smart, interesting, pretty, special.
She loves her babies, books, dogs, cats, monkeys, dancing, singing, drawing, skyping, family, friends, parties, shopping and "pretties".
She is always in for snuggling, giggling, walking, reading, tea parties, sushi, avocado, ice cream and tickling.
She is our baby girl, but she is turning two years old today....
And soon she will be the big sister.
We talked about how we wish we could put every face, stage, memory in a little box and keep it forever.
So here are some of them "boxed up".
Ayanna, we love you!
We are so proud of you and so thankful to be your parents.
You made us become a family, you give us joy daily.
We pray you stay your joyful funny self and will continue to love and care around you....
Happy birthday, Ayanna Ella. Let's party today!
xox
Posted at 01:03 AM in Celebrations, Family life | Permalink | Comments (14)
When Josiah and I went on a date Ayanna was with her friends. Last night their parents went on a date and the girls stayed with us.
It was a rainy night, so we spend it inside.
We giggled our way through dinner... girls...
Then we did some fun art and I loved seeing their character shine through in that. One was done in 5 minutes, the other fully concentrated for an hour or more. I wish I had made a photo of each of their mobiles, as they were both so artistic and unique.
and Ayanna? Well, she just decorated one heart and then needed papa's help for another heart, while she ran off to play.
I soon found two jumping on the bed.
Bathtime; more water outside the bath than in, but fun.
I loved seeing all the happy faces and observing their play, communication and imagination. Isn't it just wonderful to be a child?!
Posted at 09:39 AM in At home, Family life | Permalink | Comments (6)
We went on date night, just Josiah and me. We had not done this, despite various offers by friends and family to watch Ayanna, in months (many).
It was lovely!
We did not find the sunflower fields we were looking for,
We did see many deer driving through the country.
One jumped right in front of the car and we thankfully missed hitting her by a second.
We picked up some nice useful things on the side of the road (love America!),
strolled along the canal , which always reminds me of the Netherlands with the boats and life along the water.
We ate outside at one of our favourites Alladin's natural eatery overlooking the water
and talked and talked without any child interruption! (Although the table right next to us included a little girl, just like Ayanna, with curls, same silliness and same "no ... mine." So we were reminded.)
It was just so lovely, so fun and relaxing.
And Ayanna...was missed by us, but she had wonderful time away as well with friends.
Maybe we should take all those offers for watching her after all!!
Posted at 08:38 PM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (3)
It was just another beautiful day!
Starting off good with our weekly trip to the public market.
Buying lots of fresh peaches, plumps, apricots, tomatoes, vegetables, meat, bread and more!
LOVE it!
followed by lunch,
a very active baby in the belly,
a nap
and
lady playtime...
Ayanna was serving me tea and cookies wearing a very english hat.
She is such a girly girl!
Some playtime with her cousin,
a swing in the park.
Some singing and dancing,
cleaning and sorting,
Just another simple, yet beautiful day.
Posted at 08:09 PM in At home, Family life | Permalink | Comments (4)
We started the day early this morning and drove to the lake beach for breakfast and family time...
Together with Josiah's brother and his family... and we made many many photos!
and some good summer memories.
Ending with a big banana split icecream for lunch.
A beautiful lake beach so close by home, we should spend way more time here!
Posted at 07:30 PM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (5)
We went on a very short walk this morning.
And Josiah made some quick photos...
To capture some of this beautiful life growing fast inside me...
and how much we love him already...
32 weeks!
I can hardly believe it
Our little boy is very loved by us and his big sister with kisses, hugs, songs and stories.
The walk was short, but sweet...
the quick snapshots turned out to be wonderful photos to cherish.
Posted at 07:02 PM in Family life | Permalink | Comments (10)
My birthday was so lovely, I felt so incredibly loved!
Sun shining in the room when waking up, thoughtful gifts, flowers, cards, emails, my blog "hacked" by my non-blogging husband (!), hugs and kisses.
Whe I peaked out of our bedroom window I saw them setting up breakfast on our patio...
Breakfast with famliy...
my parents singing via skype...
followed by a celebration at our friend's home...
a nap...
some relaxing...
sushi and dumplings for dinner...
We did not see the 4th of july fireworks, as we had to pack. The two days after my birthday were spend out of town on a family trip. It was special!
I did not mind getting older this year, I feel right with the age that I became.
Thanks for all your comments and emails, it means a lot!
Posted at 08:56 PM in Celebrations, Family life | Permalink | Comments (4)
For my husband, who I have watched become an amazing papaayanna! If she could write here she would write probably something like this;
"Papa , van you!! papa girllll " (as she is and always will be papa's girl)
She loves you, she adores you, she feels safe with you and she thinks you are the funniest and strongest. Thank you for being all of that in her life. Soon you will be a father of a son as well. WOW!
AND ....
opaayanna...
my pappa!...
Today is one of those days, that I wish I could jump into the computer and walk into your home for a little bit.
I do celebrate today the lovely papa I have and have had throughout my life, along side my beautiful mama. The things they both taught me, showed me, how they have always loved me.
"fijne vaderdag, pappa! kusje. Ik mis je/jullie. "
Sweet father's day to all papa's out there!
Posted at 10:59 PM in Celebrations, Family life | Permalink | Comments (5)
Ooooooohhhh!!!! It was a week of summer in our garden. Another garden post. All we did this week was gardening,
building a fence (!!!)
and enjoying lots and lots of family time...
and a beautiful place outside...
more in bloom daily...
more alive daily...
I am in love with our outside now! Impressed with all the hard work and results!
And Ayanna...
all day outside...
lots of fun...
and attention!
Snuggles one moment and silly the next...
Posted at 05:36 PM in At home, Family life | Permalink | Comments (11)