Maartje, Eelco, Rick, Kaat & Duuk: September 2009

Out & about in Houston

at the zoo for Elfi's B'day party - Waaaay to hot & sticky (ps this is the baby elephant in the background)

too hot for the Zoo, but too cold for the pool according to Rick

out to Kemah Boardwalk (Houston's Scheveningen)

yes he was cool today!

bubbles for our wedding anniversary at the house

Apparently we have an arsonist in our neighborhood. I found out through the bulletin board from the local kids club we are now members off as we stopped following most local news long ago (too sensational, hardly ever any worthy stories and too tacky). It did explain all the helicopters we had been hearing during the night and the sirens. Till yesterday the tally was 8 fires since August 11th. All in the next parallel street between 10th and 11th street. (we are on 8th & Waverly) So pretty close already. The Police yesterday announced a reward to find the suspect.

(http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/heights/news/6609801.html)

Then this morning around 5am we where awaken again by helicopters and sirens right above and around from our house. This time the arsonist had lit 2 fires during the night and even closer to our house, namely on 9th street - just of Waverly (our street) some 200m from our house!. See also: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6623081.html

At first I was somewhat surprised and maybe even excited. All the local TV trucks (just like in the movies) where outside and it was all over the news. Now it is getting closer to bed time I am actually getting a little scared. Good thing we have a good alarm system & fire/smoke detectors. I hope they catch the freak rather soon!

Rick @ 11 weeks

smiling with mama (who has a tear as it is the evening before he is off to day-care)

Rick's 'bunk' at day-care with a blanket made from Eelco's old shirts and with Miffy of course!

he is clearly eating enough!

and is all for playing...

and thinks he can swim as well.

Ike one year after

Hurricane Ike hit Houston almost a year ago today. Fortunately the number of casualties resulting from Ike where relatively limited especially considering the enormous amount of material damage it created. One of the more inconvenient side effects of Ik was a major power disruption to much of the wider Houston area at almost the hottest time of the year and in many area's for as long as two weeks. The result is that Rick was born in the middle of a small very local baby boom in Houston. Between Mid june 2009 and mid July 2009 25% more babies where born then 'normal'. Interesting isn't it? It was because of Ike we received sub-standard care in the hospital and that I needed to share my room the first night there. It is also because of Ike there is longer waiting lists at the day care etc. But it is also because of Ike that the playgroup for his age in the neighborhood is a lot bigger and hence offers more choice for friends for both Rick and his mom...

By the way - today was my first day back at work and my door sign still read the following:

every time I went to the Dr I would write this on my door sign, but this was the first time I also wrote the bottom part....as if I somehow knew that I would go to the Dr and then be told to stay at the hospital to have Rick!