Visit Opa Kees

Some of the more random pictures from Opa Kees' visit. The Cowboy demo at the George Ranch.

 Trying out the Rocking chair at the 1890's Ranch House

 Daring it alone in the smaller one.

 Can you tell he is a Texan the way he walks the Ranch?

 The 3 boys intrigued by something at the Natural Science Museum

 Enjoying a fine meal out in good company

Aar-Bei!!

Rick is a strawberry junkie. Aar-Bei (should be Aardbei - Dutch for Strawberry) is his new favorite word and we have to avoid saying the word out loud if we are unwilling or unable to serve them the minute we utter it.

Lego!!!

Opa Kees came to visit over Christmas and bought Rick his first big Lego (Duplo) set after a brief test to see if he was ready.

Opa Kees, Eelco and I where all VERY relieved to see that Rick does indeed have the Lego-gene and loves the bricks.

 

 Rick gets pretty inspired by the stuff and chats loads when he plays with it. At first he was mainly concerned with pulling things apart and sorting the blocks by size and color.

But today, unfortunately only hours after Opa had left, Rick built his own first tower! Granted in the below picture he is trying to connect things the wrong way around but he did get it right after (and before).

 

What a proud moment!

Our Christmas

Our Christmas was brief but lovely this year. We skipped any celebrations on the 24th and focussed on xmas day only starting off with breakfast.

 Rick was in a very very good mood and dressed for the occasion thanks to one of Eelco's colleagues.

 Santa did come around to fill our stockings

 And Elf Rick was at hand to help unwrap everything. I got a very nice action camera for the handbag to be able to take even more pictures for the Blog!

 Everyone liked their presents a lot - except this one that Rick was a little scared off....a pink-pig-ball thing. He still does not dare to touch it!

 In the afternoon we headed over to Rick's future inlaws (Dirk & Sietske) for Dinner. But of course some play time first.

 Every time the grown-ups made it back into the Kitchen to prep another course the kids went too and got busy in Mees' kitchen. 

 Rick did well and fed himself enthusiastically strawberries, Duck salad, Beef Tenderloin, green bean casserole and Mash with Cranberry Sauce (using his spoon upside down). As he was still wearing Mees' apron over his bib the xmas vest-top remained spotless!

 Cozy with Opa Kees

 And a little story time before Mees went to bed (Rick outlasted his pregnant mom and the boozing fathers and jet legged grandparents parents and stayed up till we went home)

Merry XMas

Baby Dinner

Rebecca organized a Dutch/American Baby shower for us this passed weekend. American, as in that we had a baby shower to start with and that I got to wear a mom-to-be-again tiara and medal but Dutch in that it involved just close friends, a very very good meal and not too much hoo-ha.

The most impressive thing was that the whole group, including Eelco, had managed to really keep it a secret from me in the past few weeks. I honestly had no clue at all and that is some achievement with over-organizer me.....

The group, with input from others overseas as well, made us also a lovely baby book. Safe to say it was a great night!! Thank you all y'all!

PS - Ever wondered what a 22 USD Milkshake looks like? (Add some 50% to those prices to get other major US City or Continental Europe equivalent I would say at least) Well here it is:

Judging by Janko's reaction it was very good and well spiked -;)

Rick the Rednose Reindeer

Rick's Walhalla

Rick's school had organized a Winter Wonderland party last Saturday (well actually, the PTO parents including undersigned put the whole event together). One of the attractions for kids Rick's age - who are not ready for Cookie Decorating or writing letters to Santa - was the so called 'snowball pit'. Ironically it was filled with....no not snow balls...beach balls. Rick had found his Walhalla! Ball, Ball, Ball!

Oma Marijke

Oma Marijke spend a short week with us and especially Rick of course. Oma brought some very nice books, also from Tante Neeltje and Rick LOVES being read to.

We spend some time in the zoo and took Oma to see Kemah Boardwalk. The Houston version of Scheveningen especially as it was -15C in NL and + 25C for the day in Houston.

 

 Kemah has a lot of attractions like carrousels and fund rides and a little train. Rick was a little apprehensive but felt reasonably safe between Mama & Oma as long as he could hold both their hands.

 Working away a whole Ice cream was of course no problem at all.

 There was a lot of secrets being discussed between Oma and Rick. Smootchers!

 Rick and Oma also spend a lot of time playing outside with sticks, boxes, pool toys, the sand box etc etc.

 And inside singing along to Dutch children's songs and practicing the Sinterklaas songs.

 The last 1.5 days Oma and Rick spend cycling through the neighborhood, but they where so busy cycling and having so much fun that we have no pictures of all the adventures incurred during those days.

Thank you Oma says Rick for all the book & play time and all the cuddles & kisses. 

(No None of the visiting Oma's caused Rick's red & swollen eyes in the above - he just had a little eye infection - no physical damage)

Pakjesavond

Last Sunday Sinterklaas also visited us here in Houston and so we had Pakjesavond (The Dutch Christmas Morning when presents are received and unwrapped) with what we refer to by now as the 'Holland Heights Club'. Rick first got some presents which Sint had left for him earlier.

 And when Little Maartje & Mees arrived they happily played together with the new additions to Rick's Kitchen.

After some not all too impressive singing we heard a loud knock on the door. The kids did go out to check only to go straight for the Thanksgiving 'display' still out on the Porch.

We kind of had to point out the large baskets with presents! With 7 Adults and 3 kids - guess for who the fullest basket was? Exactly - the kids.

 

 Once inside the girls grasped the concept pretty quickly and after a little teaching Rick caught on too.

Of course there was a little present envy as Maartje got a really really nice Ball that Rick loved and Rick wanted Oma's necklace too. Maartje in turn really liked Rick's new toy.

 

Tired from al the commotion Rick and Mees each decided to find some private space in the Kitchen to recoup.

 

 Somehow Sint got Rick in the Romantic mood and he displayed some serious signs of affection towards Mees which only got him a lukewarm response from her.

 To wrap things up Eelco calmed the young couple further down with a nice story from the new book and we were all ready to call it a day.

Dank u Sinterklaasje!

The Mayor's Holiday Celebration

We were invited to the Mayor's Holiday Celebration. That is not too special as so was the rest of Houston, but we actually decided to check out the event which involved performances at the City Hall followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree and Fireworks.

The event was sponsored by one of the local energy companies (Electricity) and everyone got a free xmas hat with lights in it including Oma Marijke. 

 

 Performances included choirs and orchestra's from local schools, ballet groups, theater groups and Eddie Levert of the O'Jay's (Remember the hit 'Love Train' -;)) and the apparently currently very famous artist Hamilton Loomis of whom we had also never heard. (Rick looks more scared then he was that evening - he did a lot of dancing!)

 The City Hall was appropriately lit

 And the lights still on in Houston's downtown High rises also helped as additional decoration.

 Santa and the Mayor lit the tree - which compared to the spectacular high rises behind it appeared to be small. Then some very good fireworks followed right behind the tree in front of the buildings you see below. Very close up! We all loved it, and the nice weather helped too.