Swimming again

Eileen and I got photos taken at the swimming pool last week with her friend Dieter and my friend Ashra. That is my hand above Eileen in the pool. All the other little kids sank into the water when their parents let go. Eileen started to tread water almost immediately, and resurfaced by herself without the aid of parent or instructor. I was proud and frustrated at the same time!

Meanwhile, the holidays are here. I managed to get every single card out by 9am this morning. Unfortunately, the mail truck left before then, so most of the cards are going to spend Christmas in Volkel before they arrive wherever they are going. Thank goodness I didn't mention which holiday -- so if you end up with one in time for Groundhog's day, you know that is what it meant (even with the Kwanzaa stamp on it) -- note, please do not be upset if you don't get a card. Clearly, I am not the paragon of organization -- send me a note and an address and I will see if I can remedy the oversight (again, please wait until about the first week in February).

Eric, Eileen, and I are looking forward to spending a couple of days together. We will be planning our next trip to the US in detail and feeding the single guys, the people who are working, and any families that have not yet moved into their homes who are part of our community on Christmas. It really does feel like a community. I am so proud of this place and all the hard work that so many people have done to make it feel like a community!!!!

We expect a photo of us (Eric and myself) from the Dutch Christmas party soon. I will post it. Yet again another lovely night at the Orangerie http://www.orangerie.nl/ -- The Dutch Air Force do throw a lovely ball. I felt slightly under dressed in my mid-calf formal. Many of the dresses were floor length Gala Gowns (think prom, but more grand).

delinquency, thy name is Karen

Okay, so I haven't been a faithful blogger. As we hit the 12 week mark of sickness in the house let's do a bit of recap.

Thanksgiving was with my parents. We fried a turkey, roasted sweet potatoes, made stuffing, and sang traditional Thanksgiving carols (okay, I don't even know what one of those would sound like - and I was so hoarse that everyone would have requested that I stop). I was sick enough that the actual night of Thanksgiving my parents got left-over couscous and I got matzos ball soup. On Thanksgiving, the table and food had to sparkle without my conversation. My parents only got to leave the house occasionally with me. We did enjoy the time and Eileen entertained them.

Leading into the Christmas party/holiday season. I made and sold many hats and a couple of scarves and some tiny crocheted flowers that can be added to store bought baby/girls clothes to make them semi-homemade at the first annual Christmas Bazaar on the base. While my healthy friends headed toward fantastic shopping experiences in Germany and in the caves at Valkenburg, I mostly stayed home. Eileen and Eric have both been sick off and on with me. Eileen, in fact, was running a high fever last night.

We have had five Eric-work related Christmas parties (one of which I was sorry to miss and the rest I have dragged myself to). Each has a different dress code. When did these dress codes proliferate? And how does 'Holiday Casual' relate to women wearing shiny cocktail dresses? (thank goodness I attended that one last year and discovered that misconception on my part -- I went shinier this year). The night after tomorrow is 'formal' but probably they don't mean 'cocktail' -- more likely 'gala.' Ah, how I miss Los Alamos where formal meant no holes in the jeans.

Anyway, not that it is New Year's -- but I have been sick since the Jewish one...so here is a quick resolution. I will try not to ignore my blog. Thanks to those of you who have e-mailed wondering where I am.

Now is the winter of our...

Parents arriving from the states is of course what Shakespeare was insinuating with that statement in Richard III. No, not really. Really it is lovely here. Great cocoa and hot tea weather and time to visit indoors. Mom and Dad are really looking forward to some great interaction time with Eileen. And she in turn is looking forward to even more people treating her as though she is the center of the universe. And smiling when she says 'cookie please.' We will probably explore Christmas markets in Germany and locally. Possibly see a couple of Castles decorated for the holidays.

So, there are some questions that you might have: 1) will you have Thanksgiving. The answer is yes! I bought our turkey a couple of weeks ago -- it is about 18 pounds and kosher -- and I bought it from the nearest US commissary*. 2) is it traditional here? No, neither Thanksgiving, nor enormous birds are traditional here -- even though many from the Mayflower started their journey from these shores. Final bonus question: yes, I am still sick, though my doctor claims that he no longer hears the seven dwarves hammering against my lungs with every ragged breath I try to draw. Eric and Eileen aren't much healthier. In fact, none of our friends are.

*Caveat: we are actually helping some of the single guys and new families with their Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day, so ours will be on Friday night with a couple of Dutch friends and my parents.

As Fall Heads Toward Winter

We live pretty close to Germany. In Germany from about the middle of November on, there are these things called Markets. They sell snacks (sweet and savory), hot beverages (with and without alcohol) and of course lovely things that could be gifts (ceramics and wood -- toys, household goods, etc. mostly 'hand made' or at least look that way).

We went to Germany yesterday to go to the nearest Sea Life Center. In case you don't know of Sea Life Center, here is their website http://www.sealifeeurope.com/ My toddler has become obsessed with Fish, so we went to a large shopping mall in Germany (Centro in Oberhausen) and also visited the Sea Life Center.

Backing up, Eileen likes to play on our Wii. We have a fishing game on that. She will run up to the TV and scream FISH at the top of her lungs any time we catch a fish on that game. Hence the need to visit some real life fish. I have been printing out fish coloring pages for her. Today, I am going to use some card stock and make her a fish hat to decorate. Before she goes to the swimming pool.

Now, back to the visit to Germany. I had not visited one of these markets before, but at the mall at Oberhausen, they were busy installing the little plywood huts for the Kerst Market. All I can say is it is like walking through a town designed for a child sized railroad. It should be fun when there are actually things to buy.

For those of you looking for a health update: 1) x-ray came back without much on it. 2) I am still coughing, though not as badly. 3) Eileen is now coughing and it seems like more than just imitating a sound she hears (e.g. she does it in her sleep).

Cough and Prague

For those following the bronchitis: Bronchitis 25 Karen 0. Still working it. Still chasing Eileen. Still drinking tons of coffee to keep me vertical after all the other stuff I have been taking. Eric says that Saturday is sleep day.

We did a quick weekend trip to Prague last weekend. Fantastic city. LOVED it. The synagogue I visited was painted vibrant colors. We got to see an antique astronomical clock in action. We got to drink tasty hot alcoholic beverages (except Eileen who had hot pear juice with vanilla). We also got to spend about 20 hours on a bus for about 24 hours there...not a good ratio. And, for those wondering, there is no comfy way to sleep with a toddler on the bus (but extra points for Eric for trying so hard).

Chrismas in early October???

So, the treats for Christmas are already out at the Grocery. Happily, no one is piping in Carols yet. But, without Halloween and Thanksgiving to delay the Christmas foods, it starts getting cold, and out they come. It also helps that, as we discussed last year at this time, the day that Santa visits the kids is 5 December, so twenty days earlier than here. At least for some of the festivities.

Eileen is already trying to grab at the candies as we walk by....goodness, shopping with toddlers is sporting.

For those not facebooking, I have been pretty ill since our return from my cousin's wedding in September. Hence the lack of useful posts. I am on antibiotics and keep hoping that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up without coughing, and able to hold thoughts in my head. The blog has definitely suffered.

A while since last post

One of the joys of military life is that there are always new people arriving -- even if we have to say good bye to others too soon. So, I have been spending a bit more time on base meeting new folks and of course picking up our mail.

Otherwise, Eric is back in the US for the week, so Eileen and I are enjoying some great Mom-Daughter time (okay, we are enjoying some of that and some Mary Poppins -- her favorite movie).

Now is the time to explain that I don't really understand why UPS won't deliver to an APO. They won't. So if I am on-line shopping, there is a good chance that I cannot get whatever it is delivered here. But, with that small exception, I can get almost anything that I want sent here. Okay, not fresh green chile, but short of that need, almost anything else will arrive here.

The balance between tourist, resident, and Mom

So, I am still working on the idea of balancing my life. I need to stay busy, since that is how I have always been. But, I need to allow Eileen the space to have play time and nap time. I need to see as much as I can, so that I don't kick myself for not doing more while living in Europe. I need to not drive myself crazy (which knowing me is likely no matter what I do).

This week, I had planned to go to the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam. It might have included a tour of the Portuguese Synagogue. I had lined up some friends to travel with me on the train. I figured it would take 3/4 of the day and screw up Eileen's nap schedule, but with Eric on travel for a couple of days, that would be for me to deal with -- so hopefully it would yield: fun for me, some fun and new stuff for Eileen, maybe some Channukah gifts, new stuff for my friend, and no down side for Eric. Then my friend was dealing with illness in her family (of the flu type), so suddenly, it became too much adventure for one parent to handle.

Wait, I hear you crying out: are you the same woman who willingly flies internationally with that baby/toddler? Did you not end up overnight in Dublin without planning it? Do you not manage yourself and Eileen fine over multiple flights into many cities, managing luggage, toddler, seat, and all and rental cars? Why would you be fine with all that, plus jet lag and not a 1.5 hour train ride each way to see a museum in Amsterdam. Good points all...

Yet, we spent the day playing at Hemelrijk in the morning and with the neighbor's dog in the afternoon.

I think part of the reason that I am not confident here has to do with the fact that we just don't use restaurants much. They are for date night and maybe for coffee/lunch. Hardly ever for dinner other than date night. So, I have to factor in that I will be cooking something. And usually (as in 19 out of 20 dinners or so) I do better than hot dogs or insta-dinner. So, if I am home, I am looking at spending at least some of my energy cooking something. That means conserving some energy.

Back here for the Jewish Holidays

I have just returned from 9 days in the States with my little family attending my cousin Bonnie's lovely wedding weekend and seeing my Idaho in-laws.

The Jewish New Year starts this evening (all Jewish holidays start at sunset, unless they are minor fast days...but that is another story). I will probably spend tonight at home with a festive meal and my family -- this sounds more like a holiday than traveling to Tilburg either by myself or with a crabby toddler. Tomorrow I will go to Tilburg -- possibly by myself.

Somehow, holidays are a reminder of both the old family traditions (a sweet new year with Baskin Robbins at my grandparents' home in Chicago), and the fact that I am defining my Judaism as I go along.

To that end, I am planning a journey to the Amsterdam Jewish Museum for next week (I hope). This is a complex of Jewish sites that are no longer (with the exception of the Portuguese Synagogue) actively used. The Netherlands was very receptive to Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria at the beginning of the War, but by the end more than 80% of all Jews were dead. That means that there are an awful lot of Jewish sites that are now repurposed. That said, the Dutch have done a marvelous job of coming to terms with their past. There are monuments everywhere. They were at best embarrassed and mostly morally outraged that their tolerant society was overwhelmed by the Germans.

Some of my friends know that I am not really an Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jew -- I am about 1/4 that. The rest is either German or Spanish. I am at least Sephardic tracing through my Mother's line (Eric has been doing Genealogy) and possibly elsewhere as well. That line left the North West coast of the Netherlands some time in the 18th century. So, I guess some of my wish for traveling to the Jewish Museum is to find my roots.

Also, it is time for me to start looking for holiday gift ideas, as it takes a while for things to get back to the States.

Away again...

I am heading off with the family for a wedding and a really quick turn in Idaho. I just downloaded my photos from Scotland tonight and they leave a lot to be desired (e.g. I have only one photo from Edinburgh -- the gate that I found interesting at the Botanic Gardens). I am hoping that Eric has better photos. Otherwise, we will just have to order some Scotland postcards for our scrap book :-)
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One of the great things about being associated with the American military overseas is the astounding generosity of people back home. The family received a care package from Project Mot today. They sent us one at Passover as well. We have honey and lots of other sweet treats for the new year. So, to those who donate to those care packages, know that they are appreciated wherever they fall.

GPS Addiction

Well friends, today we needed to go to the nearest commissary to buy turkey bologna for a toddler who is addicted to the substance, and meat and canned goods and treats for the cat. Anyway, we decided to visit a Kasteel (castle) near the commissary. So, like a good trouper, I found a lovely one with a restaurant (usual Commissary run fare is Burger King) on the internet. No address on its site. So, I asked my GPS to find it. And, my GPS recognized the name. Off the three of us went -- yes, Eric was available and had an errand to run there. We followed the GPS. And again -- like our hunt for the famed winery of greater Arnhem -- we were left in the middle of a residential street. Based on street signs, we got near to the location, but clearly not near enough for us to see any sign of it.

Ah well, we'll find it another day!

Uden, our big city

I have failed to write about Uden, our big city (Volkel is a village and is considered part of greater Uden). It is not that Uden isn't a wonderful town. And the people are amazingly friendly and warm. It is not that there are no good restaurants. It is that Operation Market Garden and the fact that the Luftwaffe was in Volkel mean that the whole area is new since 1945. So, despite market mornings and dappled sunlight, despite many parks, and people playing accordion in the streets, it lacks the physical charm of a city that survived WW II more in tact -- like Veghel, our near neighbor or Den Bosch.

Eileen and I go there often. The shops, like most places in the Netherlands (and like most places in the US) tend to be chain stores. Two of my favorite non-chain stores are going out of business...I assume that would be true in the US too. But, most days are like today. I managed in my mostly useful Nederlands to do errands and marketing. Eileen made such a big hit with the olive man that he gave her not just free samples there, but a goody bag to go home with (have I mentioned that the Dutch love kids).

So, I should tell you what the difference is between Volkel and Uden. Volkel has about 5 places to eat (two restaurants -- the rest snack bars or bars). Uden has more like 50 -- including ethnic restaurants (note: do not expect Mexican or South American food to taste authentic in mostly rural Europe). Uden has 6 or more grocery stores, to specialty fish stores, a specialty cheese store, at least one butcher, and at least four bakeries (possibly more). Volkel has a grocery store, a bakery, and a really nice butcher.

My love of Dairy continues to grow

The other day Eileen and I met some friends in Eindhoven for lunch. I looked at the specials menu and saw a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream as a special. Now, I don't know if I have blogged about this, but Pancakes are a reasonable dinner here, sort of a flat crepe...they come sweet or savory. When we go for pancakes, Eileen often gets one with strawberries. So, I thought it would make a happy baby lunch.

Out came my smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese sandwich on a baguette and her lovely waffle.

My child ate about half my cream cheese and all of her whipped cream - except the tiny bit I tasted. Hoo boy...was that yummy. I think that most of the cows here are grass fed...and it comes out in all their dairy products. Butter, cheese, cream cheese, milk. So, it makes me wonder that most of my Dutch friends use diet margarine on their sandwiches.

In other news, I have figured out the bus system and the fact that in general, it isn't much cheaper than driving...but sometimes it is convenient not to have a car in places. The cheapest method of using the bus is to go to a grocery store, news stand, book store...and buy a multi-use pass (a stripkaart). Then you hop the bus, tell the driver where you want to get off, and s/he will mark your pass accordingly. Our closest bus stop is at the windmill -- about 1/4 mile from home. It will take us to Uden or to Eindhoven. I thought it would be fun...and allow me to interact with Eileen. It took about 1.75 times the amount of time hopping in the car and driving directly would...but made up for that by actually costing a bit more (if we had stayed longer, then it might have been cheaper since parking does cost in Eindhoven).

Another week in Germany

I have been computer free for 3 days. Instead, I enjoyed some time with Eileen and Eric in Germany. We got Eileen vaccinated for 18 months. We took the shuttle bus places while singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and "3 Cheers for the Bus Driver." We were surprised that none of the bus drivers there had been serenaded with bus appropriate music before. We played on a playground or two. We enchanted Eric's leadership chain (okay, this was all Eileen...I was merely her roadie).

In short, I haven't blogged -- but not too much has happened.

returning again

well, I am back. and of course, unpacked. Let's see...we took the overnight ferry to Newcastle, we spent a week in Edinburgh (slightly less), a night in Tongue, 6 days in Kirkwall, then an overnight visit with friends in Carlisle and chunnel back to home. Details and photos will follow.

News flash: baby has grown

I postponed posting until after our visit to the wellness baby bureau today. Eileen is, surprise, wait for it....short! And a bit skinny. 9.9 kg and 78.5 cm. I will look on-line today and see if I can find a fill in the numbers growth chart so everyone can see that despite being a little short and slightly skinny, she is progressing just fine. She surprised the doctor today by following directions pretty well. Until it came time to give up a toy that she wanted to play with, when my child instead tried to distract the doctor by giving her other toys....

Ah...

At least other people are also noticing things about her. I am not just imagining that she is trying psychological tricks on them.

Today, she also experienced her first real fear at climbing something. Something she had climbed with no ill-effect many times. A ladder to a fort in Volkel. I don't know whether to chear that she finally is not willing to run to do something at the possible cost of plummeting to her death, or to mourn that she is now slightly afraid of heights (though still loves a great slide).

Strange observations

No waterfountains (or drinking fountains or bubblers).

All beverages seem to be served in their own specific glass/cup/etc. E.g. ordering a water and a soda at a restaurant will result in two different types of glasses. Coffee is served in cups. Tea is served in glass cups. You would think that this would lead to an amazingly large array of barware, but as far as I can tell, it doesn't look too bad. Usually, your beer arrives in a glass that is even labeled by the brewery.

Camping usually means RVing.

Our house still doesn't have screens, but we have figured out to close our ventilators when the fans aren't blowing. So, the mosquitoes are not as plentiful as last year.
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Eric and I started having date night several months ago. Every Saturday night we try to go to a restaurant and go for a walk. After several weeks of thinking about it, we went to the Pool/Snooker hall in Veghel early on Saturday night (before dinner). Thankfully, we were the only ones there other than the bartender who looked about 60. We all got to enjoy techno and rap. This while Eric and I both remembered that it had been about 20 years since we had played with any regularity (and for me, that didn't mean that I played well). We were glad to not have an audience of people watching us as two games took over an hour (and I only one the second because Eric scratched on the 8 ball -- I still had four balls on the table). But, pool was a fun thing to do without the baby.

A sick week

Eileen had her first major illness here between Monday night and Tuesday. She had a fever of 104. But, it came right down with acetaminophen. The next day we talked to the doc and she told us that it was likely a lower GI viral infection and would clear within a week. I caught it the next day, but for each of us, it was thankfully less than 48 hours till we were well.

So, then we played with friends in the sun, at the lake at Hemelrijk and the great play area in Handel. And of course, went to Schinnen...getting the car legal for the second half of our time here.

There you have my mindset. We are on the outbound side of this time. I need to spend it more productively, more friends, more adventures, more play. Less time in the house with a frustrated toddler.

Also, for those of you planning to come visit (you know who you are)...remember we are on that downward side of the time here.

playgrounds

Eileen and I go to playgrounds. Last Thursday was indeed a three playground day. There are some things to note here. A playground never ever ever has a drinking fountain. In fact, they are scarce here. Perhaps an endangered species.

If a playground has a swing, it most certainly isn't meant for babies -- except in three locations near us...

All playgrounds must have at least one slide.

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Another thing to note. If the playground has a bunch of kids speaking Dutch (Nederlands), then the correct approach is to rapidly attack whatever you find interesting, even (or perhaps especially) if you must push the other kids out of the way to get there (or at least ignore them). But, if the kids are speaking English, this is rude...even at 16 months...so you should wait your turn.

Play is really a very complex thing. I don't remember it that way.

Anniversary and life

Eric and I have lasted another year. So, year one we couldn't celebrate as the plane did not fly that week from Ascension (Eric missed Karl's wedding as a result). Year 2 was in C. Springs, at Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Year 3 was at Bella Italia here in Uden, with Eileen asleep on the chair next to me for the whole meal. And, this year, Eileen enjoyed a baby sitter (thanks Madeline!) and we went to Listers in Uden.

Other news: we are getting ready for vacation in Scotland.

I am still the least romantic person I know. I got Eric a couple of neat versions of things that he would enjoy (e.g. white chocolate, a place to store the cell phone while charging (thanks for that idea, Karl), a travel toothbrush holder that looks like a cow and mounts to the wall. Eric got me beautiful, pesticide free, lilies. Notice a discrepancy? Me neither!

Eileen and I joined friends for a trip to Utrecht on Friday. It was great. I got to see a bunch of things that were fun...and cannot wait to go back with Eric. Thursday we met my friend Meredith and baby Dina in the cute little town of Son en Breuge for lunch. We had an awesome lunch and time. Wish it had been longer, but we wore out our respective little ones.

Eileen is definitely pushing all the 2 year old buttons full force. We will see if I end up having a break down, but so far so good. Solutions for the tantrums include, putting her in her bed. Walking away. Giving hugs. Tickling. Blowing bubbles. Diming out the cat. I am open to other suggestions, as I am usually through that whole range before lunch!

Return to the Netherlands and a Blog

We have spent two weeks in the US since I last posted. By we, I mean Eileen and me. Eric joined in for the last four days to see daughter number 1 happily wed to the father of her daughter. I enjoyed grandparent-a-looza part 1 2009, so thanks to everyone who joined us along the way!

Along the way, we had the ability to contemplate the kindness of strangers. Over the course of 6 flights, we were delayed by: 0 hrs, 26 hrs, 1.5 hrs, 2.5 hrs, 0 hrs, and 2 hrs. During those delays people helped me in various ways, whether watching the baby seat so that I could chase her in a play area, or hoisting my belongings (or occasionally baby and child seat) on my behalf, I must quote Tennessee Williams and state that I depended on the kindness of strangers.

On our return to the Netherlands, our good friend Sheila was visiting. A piece of her equipment was not working and we had to go to take it to be fixed. The young man that was working on the equipment spent at least an hour of his time on it, eventually figuring out that it was the charger, which he switched for one that they use as a diagnostic. He refused to charge for any of this or even take a tip. He used a very popular phrase here: no problem.

I have weaned Eileen and unpacked since our return...but not much else. I promise to try to write more soon!

News from NL

Eileen and I have been having fun biking around. Playing at playgrounds. Buying gifts for daddy. Working on our Nederlands - which despite all that work is still abysmal. I worry that I will never be any good at it.

Meanwhile, we are about to be computer free for a couple of weeks. This sort of silence might be good for the soul -- and my grand-daughter's outfit for the wedding (to which I need only add some buttons and some trim) might finally be finished -- just in time for her parent's wedding.

Another Cultural Observation

It has been a while since I made observations about the culture here. I would say that Dutch people are lovely, honest and forthright. That said, they often wait for the newcomers to initiate a relationship. So, if they haven't interacted much with Americans, we must all seem rather rude. This is not because they don't want to be our friends, but rather because the onus is on the new comers to approach new neighbors and the like. But, of course as an American I am used to that being inverted in most places (except east coast synagogues and purportedly the whole state of Maine) -- where the people who are already residing in the neighborhood seem to do the welcoming. Now, add to that the discomfort of not speaking the language at all when I arrived and only speaking it marginally better now (most of the time people understand what I am requesting at this point -- but I don't do well with the 5-9 year old set, who think I am either stupid or dumb (in the traditional sense of the word)).

Eileen now has a tricycle -- which despite her best efforts is primary colors, and not pink.

I will send photos of her new raspberry colored jelly shoes. She chose them herself and is incredibly proud of them. Tonight is the first night we have managed to pry them off her feet and out of her hands for sleeping. She loves them!

Some appropriate photos

Being Lazy in the Spring

Up until Monday the weather has been so glorious that the thought of staying inside long enough to blog wasn't high on my list of things to do. Eileen has learned the way to the nearest playground and our neighbor's homes. She willingly runs to the backpack to be taken for walks.


Now is our second day of cooler temps and some rain, and having played the let's get out aggressions out in the bath with a splash war -- and dragged her to the grocery and the fish monger and the yarn shop, I am now trying to remember how we survived the long, dark, cold winter. What did I do before we had bubbles?

Other news: as spring becomes late spring, I am looking sadly at the fact that some of my local friends will be departing, but others will be arriving. PCS season has already started!

We are getting ready for our trip to the US in less than 3 weeks. We will hit DC and Chicago. Daughter number 1 will be wed at the end of the month of May and then we will return to the Netherlands.

Eileen --- Parks and the fearless baby

I am hardpressed to call Eileen a baby as anything more than a force of habit at this point. She tantrums. She uses words when she wants to (though lately we are grunting more and enunciating less). She runs, climbs, giggles.

As a woman living with her baby in the Netherlands, I have already told you that I have a bike seat for Eileen. We bike on a regular basis. Often to the park. This leads to the inevitable occasional tantrum while I am dutifully trying to put her into her bike seat and helmet to return home or run another errand.

But, this post is really about our visits to Uden's big park. As you recall, I live in the small town of Volkel -- a village, really. It has several playgrounds, but there is a giant series of playgrounds down Sportlaan in Uden. There are slides, a toddler area that is all in sand, a bunch of swings (though none of them baby swings), climbing equipment, even a fort on a tiny island with a wet moat that you must ford by rope bridge or single rope with a place for your hands. Not surprisingly, Eileen adores the place. Last week, we drove to the toddler area and met an Oma (grandma) and her granddaughter Millou. She said they went most days. So, we returned on Wednesday.

Too late, though, since school was out. So, Eileen, who like all toddlers is drawn to whatever the big kids are doing, faked me out, and ran for the 15 foot high ladder to the slide. ACK. So now she is ahead of me and on the third rung of the ladder with a bunch of school aged kids clambering up behind her. I had to push them out of the way to get to her, but that is fair considering how often she and I have been pushed aside by other school aged kids. We went down the slide together: whee!!!! Again, again. Twice more then we rode on to downtown in search of ice cream in a cupje (little cup) since it was still Passover. We failed and went home to our ice cream at home.

So, the question is, is there a switch in the head that will let her know when she is truly beyond her depth? If so, when does it switch on?

She has made the move to toddler swim class. And one of the little girls in the class runs fearlessly and flings herself into the water, even without her parent there. I know that Eileen would do the same if I didn't hold on ever so tightly to her wriggly little self.

Eileen grows and thrives

Happy Pesach or Chag Sameach gentle readers. Eileen went to visit her friend Doctor Jose Kokxhoorn at the Consultatiebureau for her 14 month well baby check this week. She is doing great. Pretty quick on the uptake. In fact, she raced all over the doctor's office trying to open drawers and grab mats and toys. She is now 19 pounds 5 1/2 ounces or 8775 grams. And she is 29.92 inches (or .76 meters -- roughly half my height).

I have discovered that the nursery school won't take Eileen until she is 2 years old, and since by then we will be worrying about our next duty assignment, I am instead looking to put her into day care for a half day 2 days a week. I could luxuriate in time to do laundry and clean house with out 'help' -- and even get to use chemicals to clean the bathrooms without major fear.

I must admit that since I did not ask for someone to watch Eileen this week, my house is not really kashered for the holiday. Instead we are just ignoring what Mom didn't get to do. The crackers and things are still on the shelves, so we just ignore the chammetz. Not a great solution, but it is what we did this year. Hopefully next year I will have her in the above-mentioned day care, and that will allow me to clean my little heart out. For those who don't know me that well, I really do like to clean my home, especially the deep clean for the holidays.

Scouts and Easter Flowers

My neighbors, specifically the buurvrouwen (the ladies of the neighborhood), have started doing flower arrangements twice a year together -- Easter and Christmas. So, Friday night I joined in arranging flowers. It was nice to actually understand a bit more than I did at Christmas, that said, most of the words that I recognized were not the ones with big impact (I recognized things like names, pronouns, definite and indefinite articles...an occasional verb). But, the flowers are lovely. They are in the laundry room, as that is somewhere Eileen can't reach them.

On our way back (at 10.30pm) from the neighbor's home, we found a bunch of 11 year old scouts roaming the neighborhood on some sort of treasure hunt. There was a candle signifying some sort of hint, clue, or token, right along the street. The kids were armed with a couple of flashlights. And they were about 1/4 mile from the scout house. But, it was something that I don't recall seeing even in our very safe suburbs growing up. Instead, I remember a similar scavenger/treasure hunt at night at O'Hare Field (back when you could go back to the gates, and when there were lockers in different wings and before the United Terminal 1 was built).

Doo Doo Doo Looking out my window

I have mentioned that sometimes see odd things out the windows of the house: e.g. the man on a bike pulling the pony along - or the bar-mobiles. Yesterday some sort of event happened. There were upwards of sixty bike riders, all dressed in warm orange coats, all with balloons tied to the back of their bikes. They road by my house toward town, then I saw them coming back by the house, then once more out past my house toward the windmill.

I have no idea who they were or what they were riding for. Perhaps it was a fund raiser. My friend Yvette mentioned that she had seen them at the local amusement park - Hemelrijk.

Orange is the color that people in the Netherlands wear to show nationalism (their flag, like the French and the British and many others -- including ours -- is Red, White, and Blue -- in fact their flag looks like a sideways version of France's (or perhaps France's is the one that is 90 degrees out of phase)). So, if you are watching a football match or the Olympics, most of the people supporting the Netherlands are wearing Orange and carrying the flag.

Anyway, it was 49 degrees and hailing and/or raining, so Eileen and I enjoyed watching from the living room window. Yeah for heat and a roof!

Comfort foods in a distant land

Every culture has comfort foods. For me, a chicken broth with dumplings or noodles or matzos balls (or even Pho) works wonders on days like this, 46 and rainy outside and 103.5 inside (with babies running in circles).

The Dutch comfort foods tend to be hearty stews with meat and/or sausage, pancakes (which come with cheese, bacon, etc. cooked into them -- or various fruits -- see paragraph below), and white fish.

So, I am of course making Avago-Lemono soup (Greek Egg Lemon Soup).

More on Pancakes. Eileen and I joined a bunch of friends for pancake supper this past week. She and I split a pancake with cheese, leek, and pineapple (which was quite tasty!) and a strawberry sundae for dessert. I am already planning my next trip back there!

Thinking about culture

When we moved here, we heard that it was common to walk your guests to their cars. It turns out that if that were once true, it isn't true this century. I wonder how many other things that we were told are not true. I wonder what the purpose of telling us these untrue things is. Could it be that this person wants to live in a country where people do walk each other out to their cars? Is it all an elaborate game of trick the visitors?

Anyway, those are my cultural thoughts for right now.

too long without blog

Hello blog readers. I have missed you. My parents came for a visit. It was lovely. My father took lots of photos and as they arrive here, I will post them (with his permission). We visited the grave of my paternal grandfather who died as a US Army Air Corps bombardier in WWII. He is buried in Belgium. Otherwise, we mostly stayed close to home except for two days which we spent in Amsterdam.

Eileen reveled in the extra attention and love. We even had a day at the local play area called Hemelrijk. It turns out that if you have a country that is cloudy and rainy and cool much of the year, there is a real need for indoor play parks...sort of like the McDonald's Playland, only usually much bigger and with more screaming children, and usually beer and wine to allow the parents to cope with the large number of screaming kids. Hemelrijk is walking distance from our house and has two large indoor play areas that compliment the smallish lake, waterslides, and other fun outdoor activities that they have. Here is a link http://www.billybird.nl/. Even mom and dad, aka Grandma and Grandpa, took the huge slide!

Amsterdam felt less festive than last time we were there, despite staying at the edge of the Leidseplein (which is full of restaurants and shops) -- right near the museum district. Eileen enjoyed the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum and the family now sports museum cards (museumkaarts) - so we can go to all sorts of museums.

Then, once Mom and Dad were en route to Pittsburgh, we rushed off to Tilburg to put on a dragon costume for Eileen and enjoy a Purim Shpiel in Dutch (Haman is still pronounced Haman -- so we did alright!).

I can finally feel a bit of spring in the air. Crocuses are popping up in the medians.

Speaking of flowers, Eric has planted all my favorites here (or they already existed) - Irises, Hydrangea, Rhododendron, Calla Lilly, tulips...and we have started a few of the veggies inside -- including artichokes! I am really excited to watch the strawberries bloom and have our own fresh produce. Until then, I hit the market.

This week, I finally broke out the hand-me-down bags (5 of them). Eileen has more clothes than she can go through in a week. And we hit market day and bought her a beautiful pair of all purpose shoes for 10 euro.

Swimming is still part of our life, and now I have some American friends joining me for it. I am bummed to have left the Friday group and my friend Ashra and her son Dieter, but we try to meet them after swimming on Fridays. All of the baby swim classes are much more popular than they were six months ago.

I don't know if Flikr will allow me to link to my father's photos with all right reserved to him, but here is the URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/klh2009/

Time with Grandparents

Eileen has some guests for the week: Grandma Carol and Grandpa Ken. They brought gifts and loads of energy to spend on her. Here is a picture of her with her favorite new gift: turtles that stack. There will be more pictures at some point. But wanted to put something out on the net now!

Carnival and those mobile bars, part 2

So, still no photos. I should have been there with camera poised, but they always seemed to be coming around near nap time. There were two. They looked like floats from a small town parade. One looked bar-like and had speakers and lights and loud music. The other looked like a log cabin (invariably with arms waving out the windows, usually with beers in the hands) - complete with a smoking chimney. Both were pulled by tractors. Meaning that there was no drunk driving -- or at least no need for drunk driving.

Tomorrow I hope to have a photo taken of Eileen and I op de fiets (or on the bike). Yes, she used the word 'more' at the end of her first bike ride. Apparently it was worth the indignity of wearing a bike helmet -- especially since Mommy wears one too.

The Bar Mobile

So, if you are new to this blog, here is the deal. We live a kilometer from the town of Volkel. It is now Carnival (started at midnight last night, parade happened today -- though we stayed home with sniffling little Eileen). Much drinking, costumes, and merry-making has happened. Around 11am this morning, I was putting said sniffling baby to sleep, but according to my husband, the source of the theme from Beverly Hills Cop that was playing loudly in front of our house was in fact the local pub mobile. Yes, just like the ice cream trucks of my youth, a truck was combing our neighborhood trying to find customers to lure to its stools (you climbed on and enjoyed your ride). To be fair, Eric says that it was pretty full when it bounced back through the neighborhood to whatever location it was headed at about 1.30 (which the Dutch say as 1.30 but write as 13.30) playing traditional drinking songs.

Ah, if only I hadn't had a sick baby, the photos I would have taken. Oh well, there is always next year.

Note to those who are planning a visit, we have a huge celebration in this part of the Netherlands the Saturday before Ash Wednesday all the way through Tuesday. It would be a great time to visit! Costumes, and parties, and you can stay fully covered up, not like in Rio!

And for those worried -- don't, Eileen has the sniffles. She will survive.

Observed sociological differences of Dutch and American kids

I wrote about Eileen's experience at a birthday party for a friend. A young boy (less than 3) kept trying to grab her from behind, wrestle, and eventually performed a WWF-style body slam before I gave up on him being capable of interacting with her without tears. At the time, I ascribed this to the fact that he had an older brother doing this to him. At this point, though, I am starting to see a pattern. Little boys here are allowed to be really pretty wild. They seem to be able to sustain that with not much malice - e.g. I haven't seen them being brutal with their pets. On the one hand, given that boys tend to have a higher energy level than girls, this is a pretty good idea, on the other, it means that I need to teach Eileen to be a little shy of the boys here.

Then, I noticed that even the girls here seem to want to treat her as a moving baby-doll. They keep trying to pick her up and make her do things. Happily, Eileen is quite capable of doing what she wants and ignoring intrusions. It does mean that I have to step between her and other kids, though, and they have no English and my Dutch is only sufficient to look at them sternly and say 'no no' -- not 'please let her play' or 'sorry, she doesn't seem to want to play with you right now...maybe later.'

So, I have been planning to get Eileen enrolled in the nursery school here. It seems like a great opportunity to get her truly fluent in Dutch. But, then I will have to re-train her both for visits home and for the move home, into what standards of behavior are expected in America.

Carnival

As many of my readers know already, Carnival was a tradition associated with The Church (back when there was only one, or perhaps two -- Orthodox Christianity split off a long time ago). Carnival was the party that happened leading into the long dark days leading into Lent, with the biggest celebration on Maundy Tuesday.

We are in a Catholic part of the Netherlands...and so the festivals are starting. Much of Dutch life will shut down for a week of fun starting soon. There will be drinking, costumes, more drinking, parades, fun social events, more drinking, oh...and costumes. Not like Mardi Gras in Rio costumes, but more like Halloween with extra face paint...oh and did I mention: adults in costumes?

Today, while on our way to the grocery store, we passed a celebration. There were literally busloads gathered at a large indoor sport area in Uden. And we were continuing our drive into town only to pass a guy dressed in crown, fake beard and face paint on his bicycle with his velvet robe fluttering behind him. There are times when I really wish that I could stop in the middle of traffic and take photos.

Eileen turns 1

Hello friends and family;
Eileen celebrated her first birthday with friends of all sorts. We had a play group visit on the 29th. So, her little friends got a good dose of play with extra sugar. As I said at the time: we sugar 'em up and send 'em home.

Then today, she had her real birthday. Really, she is one year old. She celebrated with chocolate cake (Anna's recipe from the family archive), lemon layer cake with a lemon cream icing based on lemon curd and whipped cream (unsweetened...and this is my own recipe), and a cherry cream concoction from the bakery which was amazingly good - even by Dutch standards. If anyone is in the area, there are leftovers of each! Of course, I managed to make about 2x what was eaten!

She of course got more loot than a one year old merits and loved every minute of it.

Eric, Eileen and I had a great time with the neighbors and close friends today. And Eileen and I enjoyed the play group on Thursday.

So, aside from not needing any more simple sugar in any of the Jackson immediate family's bloodstream, I think this would qualify as a wonderful first birthday!!!

A Birthday? -- next week

Blog fans, it is almost a full year since Eileen made her command arrival! We are getting ready to celebrate Dutch/American style. No party, but friends are welcomed to our home with coffee and American cakes. I will be baking Anna's Chocolate Cake (recipe from my great grandmother's cook) and a lemon cake from the Gourmet Magazine archive (with a lemon whipped cream icing) -- since my family recipe for lemon cake is a Bundt cake.

I don't know if I have mentioned the Dutch and their coffee. I don't know if it is due to the history as traders or their old spheres of influence. They love coffee here!!! And, there is something called coffee milk. We always have mini-coffee milks available for the neighbors who rarely stop by, but do enjoy coffee when they stop by.

So, please no gifts, but come share a slice of cake (or read the blog and think about cake). We'll post pictures of the baby with cake smeared everywhere!

Off to a resort for a week of meetings...

Okay, Eileen and I are going to see the mountains and the skiing next week...not that either of us ski. Eric is going to work (sound familiar, gentle reader?). We hope to pry him away and into a pool or a hot tub or a nice meal. Anyway, we will be off the net for about a week. Hope to have some pictures to post when we return.

birthdays and anniversaries

Well, perhaps it is that we are in the country, or perhaps it is only our neighborhood, but I think not. We have been invited on several occasions to participate in birthday and anniversary celebrations. Inevitably, these are for years that are divisible by 5. And, all of those have ended up with large catered parties. Lots of fun, although, we are hampered by our lack of Dutch.

Eileen normally loves to play with other kids, but this last party had a boy who was about twice her age and wanted to treat her as his older brother treated him (a do unto her as he did unto me thing). Well, Eileen was dragged, and pulled. I let her try to deal with it, but when every interaction ended in tears (the last one being a body slam from behind the crawling girl), it was time for hovering mom to become Mom of Action. So, I gave both kids some raisins, and from then on played on the floor with her and when he came near, picked her up, or hugged him until she was done with what she was doing and could be picked up.

I think things would actually be much more uncomfortable for us at these parties without Eileen, as our Dutch is basically still non-existent (despite being able to communicate for what we need, it just won't hold up to a conversation -- even about the weather).

Anyway, all is great here...and Eileen is becoming more mobile and excited about the world with every moment. Today she scaled the 18 inches to be on our hearth (Eric has now barricaded our andirons with a gym mat). And, while it is freezing outside -- coldest winter in 20+ years, we do have heating gas - so please don't worry.

Baby wellness for 11 monthes

Eileen is 18.18 lbs and 28.6 inches long, though I got it in metric -- she is 8245g and 72.7 cm long. Eric recently posted a bunch of photos and a short video clip. I am posting the clip with Eric's permission (he filmed this the day after we unpacked the toy). Apparently BLOGGER didn't upload this...working on it!

Happy New Year

Everyone coming to our small gathering had an ailment of one sort or another (we are I think all thankfully on the mend now, except maybe Eileen who is a little congested). So, we did not stay awake until midnight (except me). Then the fireworks really started happening. Eileen is not a fan of awakening to cannon fire...but they were beautiful, and it was a great excuse to have a family cuddle.

Anyway, we have some fireworks already saved for next New Years!

Most Dutch who work in offices had the 2nd off -- similar to many in America this year.

The rest of the week was preparing for a party that didn't quite happen (anyone want some leftovers? -- just kidding, we are plowing through them).