Christmas in lots of variations

For the record, we are mostly through the Christmas parties. Eileen still has the preschool performance that she will attend on 16 December where her classmates will reenact the birth of Jesus. I am still working on myself and how I deal with this all. I had hoped that she would be older before the peer pressure of Santa and the rest of the season hit her.

Meanwhile, we are now queens of gingerbread houses. We have one more to make. Soooo excited, now that we know what we are doing.

Some recent photos

These were done at a local park by a fantastic photography: Unique Images by Misty. So, there are some recent photos for people clambering for new photos of the family. Our house seems very empty as my parents and brother and his wife and son all left this morning. The last of the linens are now in the dryer...and life is getting back to normal - whatever that might mean :-)

Thanksgiving here

Well for those brave readers wondering what is up, we hope to upload Halloween photos sometime soon. Meanwhile, my parents arrive on Tuesday and my brother, his wife, and their 4 year old arrive on Wednesday. We are very excited and can't wait to do lots of preschool art projects (like turkey napkin rings). Otherwise, life here stays busy.

We are through the first of my holiday events: a large bazaar called Hangar Holiday. The after action report reads like a need to have checklists to follow for each of the 10 plagues of Egypt. But I loved the people I worked with and will happily volunteer again next year if they need me.

Holiday parties 2 and 3 are next Friday and Saturday. Saturday afternoon we head to Dallas so that Eric can run his first marathon on Sunday morning.

brave new media?

My friends, most of you know that I hover on facebook occasionally. I claim that this is to stay in touch with friends -- and usually I have kept it that way. But lately, I have had the crushing feeling of watching my friends' lives come apart in slow motion from a distance. I often feel like a voyeur. And, I must say, that despite the part of me that is curious, mostly I feel helpless and uncomfortable. These are certainly people I care about. But, that said, most of those 200 plus people who are my friends on facebook would not be close enough to me to call me in the middle of the night and tell me the details I have now got access to.

I know that I am on the far side of the facebook line, where I choose to share only the good and the happy and occasionally the outlandish...but would never share my problems with my mate in that forum (if there were any such problems....and here too, I prefer to resolve personal problems with the people themselves -- friends, mates, pets, and usually even Eileen). So, I am beginning to believe that I should be taking one day a week away from my computer. I feel like I would lose the rest of the world doing that. But, mostly I sit in silence, as people just need to vent sometimes, and mostly I grieve for them silently, too...as I don't think that they would actually want my grief or commiseration.

I am interested in hearing from friends who have resolved these issues without going cold turkey. I would love to continue to see photos of my small friends growing bigger, and hear of exciting happy news, and even be able to send a quick condolence for friends who have lost close family. I love being that close, even when the Air Force has played "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" with our family often in the last 5 years.

whither halloween

Okay, so I have been gone for a couple of years. This is a gripe post, so skip it if you were in a cheery mood -- sorry for the Monday gripes. My mother-in-law admitted that adults and very old kids (i.e. obviously in high school) without costumes and without apology had trick or treated at her home, too. I can understand a bit if you are hungry. Or if you are walking your kid. Or even if your kid is sick (though bringing a photo of the kid). But didn't the Halloween that I grew up with involve little kids (i.e. ages in the single digits) dressing up adorably. And if the parents had a role at all (other than the hours of hand making the costume, then taking the kids out), it was adult parties.

When did this change? Discussion?

Our neighborhood yesterday was inundated with many many people that were not locals and not invited by locals. I went through seven large bags of candy. I don't even mind the kids that parents might have brought to a safer or nicer neighborhood as long as they were little kids. But for you guys who are older, without costume, what is your excuse?

Okay-- whew, I am through with my whining. Eileen had an awesome time. I hope to upload some photos soon. We'll see.

Super Jew in the wild west

So, for those who are following my saga, you should already be familiar with the fact that my Judaism plays a large role in my life. Eileen has books with morning and evening prayers. I wasn't able to join our community 45 minutes away in the Netherlands as often as I wanted, but the language barrier and my lingering illnesses made it difficult. Here, though, there is a tiny, close knit community. We have a rabbi (he became ordained over the summer) and I am the Jewish education at the synagogue -- teaching an adult Hebrew letter learning class and a kids all-in-one, one schoolroom class (mostly bible stories and holidays). I am really enjoying all this. Especially, the participating in a community.

It's been a long time...too busy

Well -- we are mostly moved into the house. My mother-in-law is coming to visit next week...coinciding with Eric being gone for yet another week. What a luxury to have help coming for me with Eileen. I am now wayyyy over committed through the holiday season. This means that I won't have time for my 40th birthday trip. Or much of anything else. I am helping with the major fundraiser for the Officer's Spouse's Club, the Holiday Party for the Kids, and the Squadron Holiday Party...and all of these things will be over by 4 December in the mid-afternoon.

Meanwhile, I am starting the entire education program for the synagogue -- that has been dormant for two decades. What am I thinking...especially since Eileen is only off of me for 5 hours a week. I think I am thinking that I really want to feel part of the community. Hope I get everything done for everyone and they are all still speaking to me afterward.

unpacking and a Sukkah

Well, hopefully I will post a picture of it before the holiday is over...but we built most of our Sukkah yesterday. Usually Eric builds these beautiful pergolas (pergolai?) or other long term garden devices and then we toss on some temporary walls and a temporary roof...but this year we finally acknowledged that we have left one too many of those behind. So, now we have a lovely kit Sukkah that we put up yesterday. Today Eileen and I will be buying some burlap to make the roof. Got to say, it is not as secure looking as the pergola in C. Springs, but it is a thing of beauty that we can take with us. Anyway, the kit is from Sukkah Soul and looks like their advertising photo.

We had been at 49 boxes and holding for a while. But, yesterday evening Eric went through many boxes while I tried to convince Eileen to sleep...(which takes up approximately 3 hours of my waking day at this point...ARGH). He was looking for our irons (the back up that I bought awaiting his iron in C. Springs, and his iron. They were both in an office box of mine. But, we are definitely seeing progress on the boxes. Down to probably 40 book boxes and still have shelf room. YAY. But, we will need to construct a storage device in the garage for things like my old office files that I don't yet need access to, but might want at some point if I have a lot of work coming in.

For those who don't know or have forgotten, I have a love of ironing that seems irrational on many levels. Can't wait for freshly ironed sheets tonight!

the move that never ends

We're all worn out here. We spent two weekends ago in San Diego with my family. Good times were had by all! (I hope -- and statute of limitations has run out if they weren't)

Eileen brought home her first little bug from school. Left her so drained one day she actually fell asleep standing up with her head resting on a chair (I was taking her temperature). Eric and I have been battling it too. Yuck.

Otherwise, we still can't get Eric's car in the garage because we have 48 book boxes there. Ugh. So today Eileen and I bought some shelves from an office supply store (I have had it with buying furniture grade shelves, they always warp if you will them with books -- apparently they are more made for housing your decorative tissue paper collection) which arrived today. I ran into the garage and cut open a box...no good, stuff from his office, not a clue what he wants done with that. Okay, another box...no good....geez -- 5 boxes later, I find one with some actual books in it (as opposed to old school notebooks or gifts for occasions when we don't have time to shop or something). So, I start to look at that and realize that most are his and I am perfectly willing to shelf them or not as he see fit. Here is to hoping that he can take a day off and I can park Eileen somewhere and we can just tear through those boxes.

a garageful of boxes

Eileen is potty trained. Okay, that has nothing to do with the garage, but it does in a way. She tried it three days before that shipment (including the washer and dryer arrived). She is still not sleeping...and really curious about everything. I am overwhelmed and making no progress. I guess I will put her in day care for a day next week -- between school, and doctor's appointments, and volunteer work, it looks like Friday...somehow these last 50 boxes are scarier than the ones from the Netherlands.

Since we left -- movers???

So, Eric called to let the guys no that we had an address and could take delivery of our shipment of stuff we left behind: antique furniture, washer, dryer, vacuum...anything with an electric motor (or anything that I was unsure of) that remained in storage while we had our European sojourn. Well, they told us that it would be arriving no later than tomorrow. I called yesterday and heard that they would remove it from storage on Friday, but wait for a full van to send it our way. ACK! Eric, of course, knew how to phrase it so that the people understood that we had a real need...and it will arrive on Sunday. Meanwhile, I feel so horrible for all the junior people, or people who aren't as good at communicating. I think that the movers agreed to a contract that doesn't work for them.

More later.

Home again

Well, it took more than 5 weeks, but with a waiver in hand, we found the perfect home for us. Our belongings from the Netherlands arrived last Wednesday and we have been racing through the unpacking. Down to fewer than ten boxes. We still have the non-temporary storage stuff that will be arriving at some point...and that contains the washer/dryer/vacuum/iron/mixer...in short the 110 V appliances. So, we are making progress...we have internet...we are starting to feel stable. And Eileen seems to think we are soon going to move to Texas. Poor kid!

More of the same - transitions in slow-mo

Eileen has started day care (which she loved the first week and now doesn't seem to like as much), fit kids, and gymnastics. She is a darling at the synagogue. In short, she is sort of settling into our unsettled life here.

We got a second car, last night (a brand new, just off the boat, 2010 Jetta TDI) and dropped the Subaru off for much needed love and attention. So, we are still temporarily a one car family -- though that will be fixed this weekend.

Still homeless. Still living from 3 suitcases and 3 carry-ons and a couple of boxes we mailed to ourselves. Still promised that the situation will be resolved soon. Not holding my breath. Still like Wichita Falls as a community. Still excited to be here. Just wish that the housing issue would be resolved soon...it's been 4 weeks in temporary lodging. My husband is wonderful - and patient - and willing to make sure we are taken care of....so really can't complain, but don't have much else to do.

stasis

Welcome to Texas. We have been here about a week (okay exactly a week in TX, but only 6 days in Wichita Falls). What to say: 1) lodging doesn't have phone or internet in our area (so don't expect updates); 2) got new cell phones, first call happened before Eric's change of command (chatting with his Wing Commander) -- it was a bail bondsman; 3) Eileen is now pretty sure that Lodging is home...which is pretty much true; 4) it is about 100 degrees (F) and 90% humidity but our local friends say it will get hot in August. I think that is enough of an update. We don't have a feeling for when we will be in our actual house. So, for the time being, think happy thoughts. And, if you e-mail remember that I am only checking once every two days!

Happy 4th

Eileen is getting much better with the time change 5:30 am today -- and she cuddled back to sleep until after 7am. She is so very happy to play with her cousins all the time. My sister-in-law better watch out or we might just add her to their lovely collection of kids (I think she is a saint for putting up with us, so I won't put her through a ransom of Red Chief situation).

Meanwhile, it is the 4th. We saw fireworks last night; except Eileen, who after hearing the first one, looked at me and said "too loud, must sleep now." It was nearly 10.30pm so it seemed a fair commentary on the whole situation, and she immediately fell asleep in her car seat. So, tonight, we clearly need to light things of our own. Eric went down to buy some fireworks. He saw that most of the stands had bottle rockets and some pretty high powered things and asked the guy who worked there if they were legal outside the Boise (or Nampa) city limits. The response was that they are not legal anywhere within the state (and you must sign a form acknowledging that). We are several hours from any other state....HMMMM... and these are the best selling fireworks...HMMM again.

We are still homeless but seem to be settling into a life of relaxation: eat, rest, play with kid, eat, nap, play with cousins, eat, play, sleep. Tomorrow, we will take Eileen to the Children's Museum in Boise in the morning.

Homeless in Idaho

Friends, we are visiting with family in Idaho! We have landed successfully and hoping that we have only one or two jet lag days. Busily watching the Futball -- in my Orange Volkel shirt. Eileen is puzzling things out.

I'll probably write more at some point, but right now, just wanted to send a quick update. Mostly, getting used to the idea of not actually having a street address for the first time since going to graduate school in the first place.

Good Bye Again, so sorry that I'm leaving...

Well, gentle readers, we had a good bye party for Eric on Saturday night. Many Dutch and Americans came to wish us well and give us kind words and gifts. I couldn't believe how much thought was put into each gift -- from formal pens designed in France but imprinted with the Dutch Air Base logo, to a pewter plate with so many symbols on it that the person who usually does the etching actually commented, to a license plate with Eric's name and thoughtful messages from so many he has come to respect, to a tiled plaque with my name! (and lots of whiskey from my friend who knows what I drink). It was a night that was hard to say good bye.

Then today, there was a welcome to the lovely incoming spouse and a good bye for me. Again, so many thoughtful gifts including a photo book of our time here. I cannot recall the last time that I cried that I wasn't watching a chick flick...but it was a long time ago...and then today I actually did cry publicly. ACK! I didn't see too many flashes, but I hope that there are no bleary eyed photos of me lurking somewhere in cyber world.

Tomorrow is the change of command and a change of venue -- we will head to the airport hotel. I think it will be a good thing. But, I am heartsick leaving. So many things I wish I could have completed. In a lot of ways, I have actually done surprisingly well over the years -- making the most of the time and places I have lived. But, here, due to naps and Eric's long hours, I feel that I didn't even scratch the surface. Eric talks about 'when we come to visit.'  I certainly hope that we do come back.

hotel life (2)

So, we have a fashionable suite (meaning with refrigerator and microwave and a couple of glasses, plates, and the like) in the small town of Mill. Some quirks: the shower wall (which is in common with the room) is an opaque glass, so bathroom light fills the room if it is left on. It is in a piece of the hotel accessed by an elevator and then some steps down (after a long hallway) and then some back up.  The sink in the bathroom is a faucet that goes over a sheer wall on one side (the side where the faucet is) and pours onto a large angled surface. The drain is a very long slot. So far, we have already lost a comb down the slot. Thank goodness that is the total loss to date.

Eileen is doing really well being put back in a crib. She knows she can get in and out, but as I pointed out, it was either her sleeping there or me, and we all know how crabby I get with no sleep. We have lots of toys and toddler snacks and brought her videos and a travel DVD player. In short, she is always in the same room as us (or at least me), but thus far, we aren't missing the other 3000 square feet of house.

Tonight is a goodbye dinner for Eric - but mostly we are enjoying a last weekend here.

hotel life

For people not up to date on my life, let's just say that two days ago was chaos. I was busy packing for the hotel and doing laundry when the movers showed up. I had written down that they were coming the next day. The original plan had me packing, giving Eric the suitcases, while I took carry on bags and kid and last toddler snacks.

Instead, I had two trips in a borrowed car hauling large amounts of stuff. Happily the hotel took us a day early. I somehow hauled that stuff with a patient daughter in tow.

Now we are in a hotel. More to come.

the return of the computer

As some of you know, Eileen decided to give my computer a bath about two weeks ago. Please forgive the absence, but not surprisingly, I had to wait until my computer was returned from the dead (thanks to the AMac store in Eindhoven and their wonderful tech guys). So, since the last post, we are still on borrowed furniture, with the house echoing. Our car was sent to the US, so we are on a borrowed car as well. I had hoped to do everything by bicycle, but the idea of loading luggage on this Thursday as well as baby on the bike was too much for me.

Meanwhile, we go out to play every day. Eileen has discovered that she loves to do watercolor (preferably all a murky brown). And the house gets emptier every day (I think that Eric is tired of 'freezer surprise' for dinner -- but it seems to be working).


Every day, Eileen and I venture out to play outdoors when the weather is good -- which it has been, thankfully.


Oh, and for those of you who thought I didn't notice, we hear lots of noise across the street as I type this...world cup and drinking at the bar there! I have a browser open and am watching bits and pieces stream across the screen occasionally as Eileen sleeps....go nederlands! (and the US was robbed the other night)

Ear Infection

Well, my daughter is dealing with the longest lasting ear infection that I have ever heard of. So, we are staying close to home on a bed she detests (she really hates the borrowed furniture and keeps asking to move to the hotel). International moves are difficult with a toddler (I assume all moves are -- but imagine it taking 2+ months for your belongings and you to be in the same location again). So, we are keeping busy. Today IKEA. Usually at least out to the playground and time with friends.

So, we are going with the suggestion of "Karen's Air Force Adventure" but keeping the WWW.karenabroad.blogspot.com (since that is how you know where to find me).

Meanwhile, know that we are moving forward with things. The car ships on Tuesday. Between now and then, the house cleaning crew is coming by for the first time. Then a trip to the American cemetery in the NL (a World War II era cemetery) for the annual memorial day celebration. Then the car is being cleaned and prepped for the trip...then off to turn the car over to the military transport folks.

More biking and walks to the parks. Ah, at least it is finally summer like weather here.

Getting ready for more adventure

For my friends and readers, we are still in transition. The pace is going more quickly. We effectively have three days until the movers arrive. We need to have out a month's worth of things (we have an air shipment going the end of June). We no longer have any house guests. But, we have an overnight in Germany between now and Tuesday when the mayhem starts. Including all that we need on vacation in July in Idaho and for our first couple of days/weeks in Texas.

Eileen has a week of grand days out planned for while the movers are here, but it is complicated. Eileen has a double ear infection at this point. The Dutch method of 'wait before antibiotics' ran its course by Monday, but it took until Wednesday before I realized that and just today was she finally in to see the doctor and put on antibiotics. So, I have not been particularly useful until today when suddenly the lists got written and Eric and I feel like we are finally in sync. (I am a list writer, and my husband is a doer...it is an amazing combination and I am lucky to have him).

I am taking a vote. Should I just change the name of the blog -- or do I need a new one for Texas (is Texas a reasonable location for karenabroad.blogspot.com) ?

the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine

Well, friends and curious folk, here is the next two weeks in a nutshell:
kid exchange for a couple of days this week, we are looking forward to playing with our good friend Zy for a couple of days, then a visit with another close buddy -- Dieter, then my close friend from the states is coming for a week long stay, he leaves and I have three days of move prep, then we host a bunch of folk in town for an Indonesian wedding, a birthday party, a day of playing with friend Dina, a Monday with the dentist and then the movers arrive (and we let Eileen play with Zy assuming that the kid exchange was positive for the girls).  I am in the zone! But, if I don't respond to e-mail or external stimuli, know that I will once I can breath again.

Leaving here is as strange as coming. Again, we have two sets of movers (we had three for coming here and will have three for arriving there), so this is just the furniture, out of season or unnecessary things, and most of the kitchen.

Our car will leave on 1 June.

Then, Eileen and I will be oh, so Dutch, mostly, and bike or take bus/trains to places.

The last movers, the borrowed furniture (we will receive a couple of beds, a couch and table and chairs before the furniture is on the truck), and the home inspection aren't until 24 June. Then we move to a hotel here....you get the idea. At this point in the sales pitch, we would say, "And then the fun begins," but instead, we hit the US on 1 July to spend some time with family and a little time just to ourselves before Eric's next job starts in Wichita Falls.

This brings me to my next question for my friends out there -- what should I rename the blog come 13 July when we begin the next chapter in our Air Force adventure?

Germany and the Netherlands

I live in a country the size of Maryland (and roughly the same population). Let's see. Here we love the Flemish speaking Belgians, dislike the French speaking Belgians, like the French and believe that they have good engineering (and that you should aspire to own a Peugot), and hate the Germans. For some reason, this all makes sense to me. The Netherlands has been overrun in turns by the Spanish, the French, and most recently and often the Germans.

So, what does not make sense to me is the equal hatred the Germans feel toward their next door neighbors, the Dutch. The two speak slightly different languages, but if you understand English and German, you can mostly understand the Dutch (though the grammar is different).

The Dutch, like the Germans are seen as truly industrious - for good reason. But, the Dutch are more mercantile. Makes sense considering their history.

Here are some recent snippets of conversation with friends: "In England if you go bald you buy a toupee, in the Netherlands, you sell your comb"; "The British are so undependable, if you call someone to provide a service they are just as likely to not arrive or to arrive late (my friend likened this to the Manana attitude in New Mexico without actually visiting New Mexico or experiencing that)". The things that get me thinking are hearing about the privations of either country after the war (I don't advertise my Judaism and just keep my mouth shut). My least favorite quote is the following "Under Hitler, we at least had full employment" (said by a friend of a German friend) -- which to me sounds as hollow as the Russians pining for the Stalin period.  

I guess it makes sense that we are watching the European Union bedrock shake if they cannot get past their histories and animosities.

still learning new things

So, I was with my good friend yesterday at an indoor play area. I have already noted that many children play rougher here than in the States. Yesterday, though, my friend explained that most people like us (parents with a 2 year old who are trying hard to teach manners early) would never take their tiny kids to a place like this (it was Hullie -- http://www.hullie.nl) or even let them use the indoor part of Hemelrijk because it really isn't monitored. The reason it looks like a scene from Lord of the Flies is not because of Dutch kids necessarily being more wild -- but rather the forum. Parents are encouraged to sit and relax while their kids play. So parents who are more interventionist just don't take their kids to places like that very often.

This of course makes it harder on me; though, as the weather starts to look a little better, I have more options. Eileen loves to play with other kids. My instincts that she could actually get hurt by the big kids are correct. But she needs some time to play hard and try to push her body. So, how to work it? Back to normal playgrounds with me sitting close by? That only works if it isn't 50 and rainy? Playgroups? We do them. Music? We do that. Dance? Yup. Swim? you get the picture....I am trolling for ideas!

Spring has sprung

Eileen now knows more names for flowers than I thought possible. She doesn't always apply them correctly, but she knows: daffodils, crocus (crocii), tulips (of course), iris, hydrangea, rhododendron...you get the idea. She also has a true Jewish love of pigs. We went to visit a neighbor's farm this past week. Eileen was introduced to a pair of pigs about 3 weeks old. She tried to climb into their enclosure. Pretty cute!

As my thoughts turn to the longer days, I am starting to think about the move. Eileen keeps asking whether we are going to Texas tomorrow. She has started slipping it into most conversations...but I can tell that she misses her buddies who have left here and she worries about the ones she will leave behind.

Really, she and I are just wandering along playing a bunch. We have started preparing for Seder, but without a huge amount of enthusiasm. We are looking forward to being in the states for it next year. I will be buying my fish for the gefilte fish on Monday morning. We will be doing a bit of touring and visiting over the holiday. Mostly, though, we are just trying to keep her busy with friends. She needs preschool.

Some Eating Thoughts

Well, as you probably have read, I find the culture here in the Netherlands fascinating. But, of course we are returning to the US. Land of 24 hour food availability, where only rarely will we be in restaurants that take 2 hours for a single meal. So, looking back on our time here: the Dutch love all you can eat. They will enjoy a buffet for Chinese/Indonesian food, or will stop by your table for a marked menu in a Sushi or Tapas restaurant. The Dutch also admire French, Italian, and Greek food. Despite my cooking a traditional Dutch dish, and despite their love of pancakes, the Dutch really don't usually buy Dutch food out (except the pancakes and of course all things fried -- from fast food type places).

So, we have no TGIFridays (I am sure there is one in Amsterdam) type eating options, but it has been wonderful to get to know life here in a day to day way. In some ways we are more Dutch than many of the other people Eric works with, as we eat in most of the week (except a coffee out occasionally and our date night) and hardly travel (except to the US for weddings). And basically live at home. I get the feeling that if we lived in a city, where we had less living space and more options out, that my understanding of Dutch life would be different. So, take my understanding of it, as my understanding of American life might be after spending several years in a town of 40,000 people. The only difference, is that in the US, this would be a suburb of Eindhoven.

My life: bits of past present and future

Well, let's start with the news from the past. For those who don't remember, Eric and I left more than good friends and fond memories in Colorado Springs (and the remains of Samantha-cat). We left a home there. We left it in pretty good hands. Last month our tenants announced that they were purchasing a home and would be leaving at the end of February. We have new tenants starting by the end of this month. Once again, we are pretty happy with the whole situation. If we had to leave a property behind, best that we have good neighbor friends and a good property manager.

Now, here is the rest of the post: it is hard to keep your eyes on the present when 1) many of the folks who have been here and active are already either going or gone -- part of the joy of military life. I love the chance to meet the new folks and am always glad when I get to see my old friends or 'see' them via updated photos on facebook...and 2) for those who are not yet in the loop, Eric, Eileen, and I are planning on moving to Wichita Falls this summer to Sheppard Air Force Base, where Eric will again be a Squadron Commander. Eileen and I are planning on spending many happy hours at the YMCA and in other locations where toddler classes are available -- which of course means that I spend at least some of my day thinking about the next house, the move, a vacation between locations...and not about the shorter time frame stuff.

Enjoying Our Last Bits of Time Here

Well, we know that we are going to Wichita Falls, Texas at some point this summer. So, that means that Eileen and I are shopping more and visiting more castles. And if you are planning on visiting, best to let us know soon!!! The hotel is filling up :-). I am still struggling with the lovely flip camera that Eric received for a holiday gift from my folks. I am sure that I will figure it out soon. Meanwhile, all is great. Today we went with friends to shop at a lovely little shop of wood toys. Eileen is soon to receive a wooden toy kitchen. Lucky girl!!!

We're home again

Well friends, we are still trying to convince the toddler that night is really night. But, otherwise, we are really glad that we went and saw family in the States. I can't believe how much family we managed to squeeze into a week. Congratulations to my new sister-in-law and my brother-in-law on their wedding! Yet another super-cool, fun, smart sister-in-law -- Yay for me (and thank you Joanne).

Hopefully, you see a video of Eileen with her second birthday cake. She now equates icing with cake (the other part, as you all know from being a kid yourself, is completely inedible and is solely a vehicle for delivering 'cake'). ****okay, I will need to try this again from Eric's computer, as the video did not upload****

We arrived home at the tail end of Kermis (Carnival or the festival leading into lent). That lead to an amusing train trip from Amsterdam, complete with a large marching band from Utrecht heading to festivities in Den Bosch. And, of course, for new readers, it lead to a repeat of the lovely bar-tractor mobiles!

off for our last long haul before the move (I hope)

Saturday we will dash across the Atlantic (Eileen and I will, anyway) for a quick midwestern February week. Going to see Great-grandma Edie (my grandmother), Grandma and Grandpa Hirsch, and oodles of Aunts and Uncles on the Hirsch side...then rush to Uncle Kirk Jackson's wedding to the future Aunt Kelly. Eileen has never had all the Jackson cousins in one place before. Should be a hoot...though we'll miss Eileen's big sister, brother-in-law, and niece. Sounds like everyone else from the immediate clan will be there!

Sorry for going quiet...and hoping to figure out how to upload video of the birthday girl blowing out her candles.

Birthday weekend for one to turn two

As many loyal readers know, I have a toddler. A toddler who recites whole books and speaks full paragraphs. A toddler who only grudgingly wears pig tails. A toddler who loves the water, a good game of chase, songs, coloring, play dough...in short a happy healthy girl. Tomorrow, as in the blink of an eye (not literally, though, sometimes I feel like I could use two full years of sleep), she turns 2. We are celebrating by holding her close. Letting her open a couple of gifts. Perhaps sharing a cup of coffee with the neighbors. In short: no American style party...but probably a nice cuddly day!

A weekend that reminded me...

I was once asked how I could possibly live in a small town (in this case, not the small town of Volkel). What could there possibly be to do there?

The answer is that even in small towns, you can have friends. If there is no place you want to eat out, you have your friends join you. You come up with unusual parties or themes or dinners. This is also true when you are poor and therefore can't afford to pay someone else to entertain you. Anyway, this weekend was a reminder of that.

Since Eric and I often go out on Saturday night (date night), it was a welcome change to have our home filled with friends for both Saturday night and Sunday. I have been lucky enough to have friends stop by for book club or play group -- but it is a rare pleasure to get to do that with Eric.

We had Thanksgiving in January at our house for some Dutch friends...followed by the 'oops -- wish we had baked these for Christmas' baking marathon with Eindhoven friends today -- though we opted for heart and flower cookie cutters, rather than Santa Claus.

I wouldn't have want to be so busy every weekend...and Eileen was kind of miffed that I was doing so much that really wasn't 2 year old related (she helped bake bread by glazing it and putting on sesame seeds -- and enjoyed the products of the baking day)....but it was a pleasure for a couple of days!! I do love seeing my friends. And, I really like entertaining with Eric.

The Recycling Mobile: aka the car

So, just like I used to do in Colorado Springs, I seem to load the car with recycling on a regular basis. But, unlike C. Springs -- which had a centralized facility that was free and run by Waste Management (not that I am plugging for them, but it was a kind service they provided), here we have to go to several places: diapers go to behind the assisted living facility in Volkel; cans and electronics and car oil go to the Uden municipal recycling facility; glass comes in several varieties: some goes to the grocery for a redemption of a deposit (some wine bottles, but mostly beer bottles), the rest gets separated into its color group and dropped into bins outside the grocery store (this leads to back and forth as I was adjusting to the system); plastic: some goes back to the grocery for large deposit redemption and most just gets bagged and dragged curbside once a month (this is really new, we are in our 4th month of that); paper gets gathered and dragged curbside once a month; medicines go in the medicine recycling bin located at some grocery entrances; batteries go in the battery recycling bin located at many places that sell batteries (including grocery stores); clothing and shoes gets separated and bagged and dropped at clothes recycling locations; light bulbs and chemical waste (think that can of EZ-off oven cleaner) go to the municipal facility; cooking oil goes to a container outside the grocery. There is a charge for using some options, but not all, at the municipal facility. There is a similar facility down on the Army base at Schinnen that doesn't charge at all, but has funky opening hours.

So, slightly complex, no?

End result, my car often has a couple of bags in it destined for different locations. Often, it is because I was thwarted on my last attempt (e.g. the computers were down at the grocery last time I tried to drop the redemption from deposit stuff and the facility at the Army base was closed for their 3 hour lunch break while I was there yesterday).

Cold and Car

Please, if you are reading this as a friend in the Western mountain region of the US, put down your drink to prevent damaging your computer. I am not responsible!!!! We have a major snow warning for two inches of snow today. I know what you are thinking. All I can say is that we already have a layer of ice on top of snow on top of ice. So, while the major roads are clear and not a problem, we are grateful for the Subaru on our completely flat driveway. Eileen can handle polysyllabic words now, but we have yet to teach her sublimation, as that is not a problem where we have 100% humidity all the time. Meaning, that if it is cold enough for the snow to stick, there is an icy build up under it by definition. So, stop smirking! (and you can pick your beverages back up now that you have stopped laughing so hard).

I went to get some work done on our car yesterday. Literally the first work other than an oil change since we arrived 1.5 years ago. Anyway, it needed a CV boot replaced. Happily, we caught it just as it failed, so nothing else needed to be done on it. So, oil changed here are about 200 euro (or about 350 dollars  -- needless to say we do that ourselves), but all other work seems to be much much cheaper than in the US. Our CV boot was about 72 euro (or about 110 dollars). I am going to see if painting and body work is cheaper here, as that needs to be done at some point. Anyway, point is that changing oil, buying motor oil, disposing of it (unless it is back into the little oil bottles, in which case our recycling center takes it for free), even the filters, are unspeakably expensive, but apparently, one shouldn't take that as a metric for how much anything else would cost here.

Happy New Year!

Here we are at one of the many Christmas festivities. This photo was taken by one of the people at Spangdahlem. We drove there to see Santa and some of Eric's coworkers on the American side.

We have had a busy holiday season with friends and parties and lots and lots of home baked stuff. I am, as is usual for this time of year, feeling over stuffed. I keep vowing to make up for it, but tonight will be roast duck. This after a breakfast of Cherry Vanilla Scones will probably not reduce my size any...

Ah well, at least we avoided the traditional Ollie Bollie (Dutch deep fried donuts -- spherical in shape and amazingly yummy served hot and drenched in powdered sugar).