Christmas 2010!

Merry Christmas!! I made the family go out in the cold snow to get our 2010 Christmas family picture this afternoon. Kees wasn't so happy about being cold. I have been enjoying learning to crochet and our hats are one of my first projects.

I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year in 2011! Steve and I have been blessed beyond words by a church in the states who has paid our tickets to come home for a visit. We will be headed out on Monday the 27th! I will be back to blog in a few weeks! See you then.

City Center

Today I met my friend Ruth in the city center for coffee. What better meeting place than to meet at the Christmas tree. It is indescribable how beautiful it was in the city today. I was glad I had my camera. I would take a picture then put my gloves on for a moment to let my hands warm up before taking another picture.
Just beautiful! The building behind the tree is the City Hall of Delft.

The New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) on the city square.
A few of the Old Church (Oude Kerk). Founded in 1246. Painter Johannes Vermeer is entombed in the Old Church.

Bedtime

Kees loves books. Tonight I went in to check on him and he had all his stuffed animals and books standing up around the edge of his bed. He thought it was pretty funny!
Kees reading about how to go potty. He prefers to read about it than put it into action. :)
Getting sleepy. Kees always has raccoon, dog and Elmo by his side and his Pooh Bear pillow.
I have been wanting to paint something on the wall in Kees' room but because we are renting I had to figure out something I could do instead of a painted mural. I decided to make a Winnie the Pooh tree on the curtains made from fabric.

Let it Snow!!

Our backyard has turned into a winter wonderland! Kees had a fun time playing on the sled. Yes, those are his pajama bottoms.
A fun Saturday on the sled.

Sinterklaas Party!

We had a Sinterklaas party with our missionary friends Mike, Anita, and Grace. They are doing children's ministry here in Holland. We made Sinterklaas sugar cookies, and Grace and Kees opened their gifts from Sinterklaas.
Grace at the cookie decorating table.
Kees checking out the cookie decorating table.
They brought Kees a special present wrapped like Elmo. Kees wasn't so sure why his present was in Elmo's belly. He wasn't liking the fact Grace was tearing Elmo open to get the present out.

Later he realized that it was not so serious. Kees looked at Elmo and said, "funny."

Christmas Tree!

Little trees are popular here because you have to carry them home with you on your bike. I carried this one home while pushing the stroller...I really wanted a tree! Kees and I had fun decorating the tree. I don't think he was totally sure why we were putting these new fun little toys (ornaments) on this tree that we brought in the house. He has the first present under the tree from Papa. We also put up a nativity scene that came in the mail from Kees' missionary kids program. Kees points to it and says, "Baby!"

-2 Degree Celsius

Off to get groceries. Kees sporting his stroller sleeping bag. Most kids here have these type of bags that attach to their strollers so it is funny to only see little faces looking out of strollers as they pass by.

Bungalow

We are home from our time at the Bungalow park. Here is a picture of all the snow outside of our bungalow!
The kitchen with a beautiful snowy view.


Kees had fun playing in the snow until he realized that it was getting pretty cold so we came inside and Kees snuggled with his papa.

Papa reading Kees' bible to Kees and staying warm!

Bungalow

The past week we were able to spend some family time in a Bungalow here in Holland. We could not believe all the snow! It was beautiful!
The park has a indoor kids play area, restaurants, grocery store, and tropical pool area with a wave pool. Kees was interested in checking out the fish in the pond inside the main area entrance.
We took Kees to see one of the plays that is put on at the park. He was having a great time singing, dancing, and watching the show.
I thought it was so cute how he sat on the bench next to the other kids. He always wants to be right in the center of the action.
Puk and Pella are the camp mascots. It was the week of Sinterklaas so a big surprise came on stage...
Sinterklaas and Piet!
Kees loved the slide! He would say, "Again!" before we even were done with the first ride. Steve and I took turns going with him. I think 20 each.
They had a toddler size race track! Once he figured out the gas peddle worked there was no stopping him.
Having a fun time in the balls!
Climb, climb, climb.

Family Time

This week we are going to a cabin park here in Holland to have some family time before things get busy with Christmas and ministry with the church. I will be back to blog next week. See you then!

Washing Machine!

Today was a happy day at the Kramer house! The new washing machine came! The great thing about being a renter is that the owners pay for it and I get a new washer. I guess the one that was replaced was 35 years old! I think this is one of the few times that I have had a washer and dryer before. For some reason it hasn't worked out to have one. I went to a laundromat when we were in the states which happened to be conveniently located next to a Starbucks. I just washed a load of towels tonight which is so much better than hand-washing your clothes! I think the washing machine is one of the best inventions man has ever made. The soft hum of it running is like music of a perfect melody...can you tell that I'm excited to have a washer!

"Bites, Bites, Bites!"

This kid loves to eat! I think it is a growth spurt. In the morning for breakfast Kees will eat 2 pieces of French toast, fruit, and milk only to be saying, "Bites" a few moments later. The other afternoon he said one of his first almost sentences....he said, "Mama more bites please." It has been so fun to listen to him trying to say new words. The latest word is peanut butter only Kees says, "Pe boo." So cute! I have been speaking English to Kees and Steve speaks some Dutch to him. On Sunday at church his teacher and the other kids all speak Dutch and he hears me speaking it at church so he has started to pick Dutch up as well. I have been teaching him to tell his teacher, "Dank je wel" when she gives him his snack....I would love to be a fly on the wall in his class and see how he speaks and interacts in Dutch. I know one thing he loves his Sunday school class! It has really been great for him to have a consistent place to play and make friends.

Special Card from Great Grandma Fram!

Welcome Caleb Elias Fowler

Congratulations to Jeremy and Kelly (Kelly is my cousin) on their beautiful baby boy born November 20th!

Sinterklaas!!

He is here! Sinterklaas has arrived in Holland! He made it all the way from Spain on his boat. Sinterklaas day is celebrated on December 5 but Sinterklaas arrives in Holland and our city of Delft on November 20th. On the 5th of December is when you give each other gifts and also write a poem to go with your gift. We are looking forward to starting this fun tradition with Kees!
Looking for Sinterklaas.....
I think the whole city came out to greet Sinterklaas today! It was packed! Kees got a front seat to the action in his stroller and enjoyed every moment!
Zwarte Piet (Black Piet) Sinterkaas' helper gives little cookies called pepernoten to all of the kids. Kees could not believe that cookies where being piling up on his lap! He held them in his hand for a long time and kept saying, "cookie, cookie!" He wasn't so sure of black face paint on black Piet but once he realized that he was the one giving out the cookies he was okay with him.
Thumbs up from Sinterklaas! Let the Christmas season begin!!

Amsterdam

Our fellow Oregonian and good friend Kathy Varis and her daughter Shannon had a layover in Amsterdam so we were able to spend the day with them. Shannon is an amazing photographer. She has a website at redcouchphoto.com. Here are a few of the pictures she took in Amsterdam.