Oliebollen

Assuming it would not be safe to deny a Pregnant woman's request Eelco made Oliebollen for New Year from a pack of dough flown in especially from NL, the result was pretty good and the effort well appreciated!

 Turns out somebody else also really likes oliebollen.

Rick's Cabin

Over Christmas Opa Kees and Eelco started making little Rick a Cabin (play house) for his future Ranch. Rick of course also wanted to help with the preparations.

 He even did some field research on a real Ranch.

 The first nails.

 Builders review Day 2.

 Design approved.

 Structural Inspection a couple of days later

I like it says Rick

 Opa Kees is pointing out the Design features.

 The Little Bench is even suitable for grown up visitors (only of they are not 8 months pregnant).

 As you can see we have One very happy little customer. We will sand and paint the house in the next big week or so and post some pictures of the finished product.

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