Days in the Sun

We made it to the beach (one of many) to enjoy the sunshine and play in the sand.  It is the first time for them to play at the beach and the loved it.  It was a little cooler than we planned but we stayed for a bit and then had a nice coffee.  We will definitely go back and play as the weather gets warmer

The beaches are long, flat, low surf, and shallow.  It is perfect for the kids to enjoy.

We met up with some good British friends of ours.  They have two kids as well.  Both Archie and Sylvie love spending time with Amber and Rufus.  They even posed for a photo!

Our boy!

Archie enjoying some mint tea with his glasses.  He likes to have tea with mommy in the afternoon.

The tulips are in the stores and quite nice to bring home.

My cooking is improving.  This is my latest and greatest so far:  chicken pot pie (all homemade, including the crust)

Enjoying and afternoon gelato.  He was so happy he wouldn't 

Sylvie was into it but not as much.  So I helped her finish it!

Bathtime!

We visited a reptile house in town.  The kids enjoyed it and they have excellent coffee.  So it was fun for all.  Not sure if you can see in the photo, but in the background, there is a HUGE python with its head in the air.  Creepy!

Archie pulled the chairs to the windows so he and Amber could watch the turtles.

The kids like to dance together.

Archie wanted to help Sylvie wake up by crawling in bed with her.

Staying Busy

Archie and I do more cooking together while Sylvie is sleeping.  We have lots of new things to do since he isn't taking a nap (most days).  He loves to make muffins with me.  This is him posing for the photo.  I can't get him to smile normally but this is still cute.  We even wear aprons.

Yoghurt "ice cream" that the kids love!

Oh, it's cold!

He will either say, "Delicious!" or the Dutch version, "Lekker!"  He has been using more Dutch phrases he picks up from a friend at daycare.

This is the space under the sink that they like to sit in or hide.  They are getting pretty silly these days.  

Scack time

Archie dancing

Not a baby anymore!  She is quite the walker and runs really well too!

Best buddies off for a run.  I think we have a photo of Archie a year ago doing the exact same thing.

They like to hold hands a lot.  Archie likes to lead her around and tell her where they are going.

The first flowers of spring are up in the park.  These just bloom and rebloom in the grassy fields every year.

Nice day in the park

One long Fall Season

We seem to be skipping winter and heading straight to spring.  No snow or ice this year (very unlike the winter wonderland of last year).  I have no complaints as I don't have to walk (with the stroller and kids) to the stores or bike them to and from daycare.  But it would have been nice to see some snow for the kids.  My brain is still thinking in F and not Celcius I live in otherwise I would be able to tell you how not cold it has been! 

Here are some recent pic of the kids.  I haven't posted in awhile so there are a few!

Another day out to Ghent, Belgium.  We go often....they have Starbucks!

Nice crisp, cold day in Antwerp, Belgium.  They have a great old center to the city. 

Saying "cheese".

Finally both kids can do painting and crafts together.  They usually don't eat the paint, but it happens.

And that in the background is our laundry.  I have to hang dry everything and I couldn't keep it out of the photo!  Real life in our house, nothing edited here.

Still obsessed with Campbell's hats

So we played with hats!

Sylvie is such a character now.  She and Archie are good friends and play together well.  Archie likes to lead Sylvie around by the hand.  Sylvie likes to call our for Archie and can say his name really well.  She is super giggly and wants to be wherever Archie is.

Archie is obsessed with Campbell's Texas Longhorns hat.  He wants to wear it all day and to bed (which he does).  This was from a nice day out to the shops.  I will try and get a photo of him running through the grocery store with the mini-cart.  He is crazy and fast.  He never hits anyone or anything which seems impossible when you see him.  He scares all the little old ladies but always says sorry.  Luckily he is so darn cute most people enjoy the show.  I sweat a little worrying that he will take someone out or go down the wine isle.

Our super happy boy!

Our weekly lunch of toasties at the gym.  We go after our swim classes.  The kids love the water and have a great nap afterward!

Archie was feeding the T-rex some toastie because he was hungry too.

Bubbles at the park.

Sylvie is now big enough and walking.  So going to the parks is way more fun.  This is a great one near our house with lots of sand to dig in.  The summer should be a lot of fun getting outdoors to play.

A little blurry but you can see how long her hair is getting.  She looks more and more like Campbell every day.

One of the few times they are not moving (which is why most photos are blurry).  They will sit for a snack but not look at me for a photo!

Blurry!

They are liking the muffins I make!

I had to stop the car and take a photo of Archie in his hat, with Sylvie's sunglasses on, and with his binky.  He was a happy boy!  He had no idea how cute he looked!