Nomad and Babies

Catch up of the last months of 2012

with a few pictures 

captured by...

Thanksgiving was celebrated a few days later, because of course it's not a holiday here 

but my friend Julia, her boyfriend Keimpe (and his two dogs), and her babies 

and our friends Ruth and Hans came and we all celebrated together. 

We took a lovely walk in the forest 

lots of babies and lots of dogs :)

Hans wanted to cook the Turkey

It was perfectly cooked and very delicious 

we were all impressed! 

And then snow came

!!! 

In the Netherlands they have this wonderful Christmas system

which should solve all in-law problems

Seeing as we have neither sets of parents around 

We never have that issue, 

but anyways...

Here they have 1st Christmas day which is the 25th

and 2nd Christmas day which is the 26th

The 26th is an official holiday

and who wouldn't want one more day of Christmas???

I love it. 

So first Christmas day 

we went to Johan's Aunt Els and Uncle Cor's house 

These are the Aunt and Uncle who also take Farah in when we go on vacation 

or when I've been pregnant and my Mum has come to visit for the birth!

They have supported us in many other ways and the girls are crazy about both of them! 

We had a lovely evening and the girls held up very well!

(A shout out to Johan's other side of the family who also the same day had a Christmas dinner together!! Johan's dear Aunt Guda and Uncle Jan host it every year! We were very sorry to miss it, and would have loved to be two places at once! We of course cherish them all very much!) 

---o---

And because on first Christmas day Johan had an early shift and then we went straight to Cor and Els straight after we decided to open presents on 2nd Christmas day (today) because Johan has a late shift

My parents got Shakinah a little doll bed (amongst other things) 

Shakinah decided it was her new "special place"

Funny girl! Maybe the baby doll will get to enjoy it oneday :)! 

Our little bat! 

Who loves to be upside down! 

Of course Christmas picture times 

My Grams sent Christmas dresses for the girls!

Love my silly girls 

:)

Sisterly Love

And after a long line of pictures we got one

or two :) 

And then because Johan worked a late shift 

The girls and I went to Julia's and we six celebrated together

It was a lovely day! 

Julia made a lovely dinner! 

What a lovely last couple of months it has been! 

Merry 2nd Christmas day everyone!! 

xx

Bethany 

I clearly need to start writing more often 

Weather in the Netherlands is bizarre to say the least. 

You really can never predict when summer weather will actually come around (2 years ago it was in April, the year before it was in October) You CAN almost always bet that it's actually not going to be in the actual summer period. 

Here we are in September eating an ice cream in summer clothes

Ahhhh Dutch weather 

In May I recently gotten reacquainted with Ruth

a friend from Egypt from when we were both in Highschool 

We both can't answer why it took us 3 years to actually get reacquainted 

but it did and funny enough we live less then five minutes from eachother (five minutes by bike...that how we determine distance around here...how long it takes by bike) :) 

Anyways, I have been enjoying this new/old friendship immensely and already feel more than blessed to have her in my life. 

Also she's great at getting Kaliya to sleep (obviously)

Kaliya's first shopping cart ride!

Also I am easily excited but this was the coolest shopping cart ever it had two actual seats 

side by side for two babies!

Johan said it was because we were in the farming area and "those people" reproduce like rabbits.

i can relate. 

Thus i like the double seater.

All set and ready to go with my little bug in her moby

We love our forest adventures

Our first cupcakes that we actually made together

She enjoyed them a lot

All was quiet in the house for 15 minutes which made we worry

I turned the corner to hear a little voice reading stories

I walked into the bathroom to find Shakinah has seated elmo in her potty and reading

him a pile of books. She proceeded to read all of her books to elmo while he went poo poo

Kaliya my little hipster

Let's go Ma!

our double wagon 

My little bug

Love my baby

Love my big girl

And I know my blog posts always look like my kids only smile and we have a lot of fun

well they do smile and laugh and we do have a lot of fun

but i just wanted to let you know there is another side of reality. 

shakinah wanted a cookie

I told her 'no way'

This was her reaction 

(yes and she had taken off her pants for no reason) 

Having a two year old ensures we also have some moments like this :)

Johan's Aunt Thea

who the girls are crazy about!!! 

(of course so are Johan and I)

Is giving me some sewing lessons

but while she was with us we took a walk

!!

Shakinah's drawing corner/Farah's basket 

Ruth being a creeper

Shakinah's idea of a hat for Kaliya

Kaliya was quite happy with it!

Shakinah and I made a fort while Kaliya took a nap

It was almost over our whole living room

We had so much fun in it 

And of course Ki commemorated it with a nose pick

 real nice

Shakinah also thought Farah needed a little accessorizing 

I'm not sure Farah was so thrilled with it!

I love Autumn walks

And I LOVE my family!

I'm a truly blessed woman!

Bethany