A few days in Alphen

When you have vouchers to go to places for free, you sometimes decide to splash out and book a hotel. Like we did last weekend. As members of Aquazoo, we had tickets to both Avifauna and Archeon, which are both in Alphen aan de Rijn. Too far to drive to separately, and both fun enough to decide to make a nice weekend out of it. As we were all still a bit sniffly, we decided not to go camping, but treat ourselves to a hotel, with swimming pool and four comfy beds.
The view from our room, with terrace. Lots of planes! Luckily, they didn’t keep us up at night.

We left on Friday, and drove straight to Avifauna, a zoo with just birds. Despite it sounding boring, it was quite exciting. We had massive eagles, colourful aras, bulky pelikans and dainty hummingbirds. We also enjoyed the bird show. It was quite spectacular to see a sea eagle land on a fence just behind you
The pelicans in their massive pond.

While there, we also realized why there was a Van der Valk hotel on site. They own the place! Of course… That also explains the toucan bird, although there are no toucans in the park, only hornbills. Look similar, different continent. See, we learnt a lot at Avifauna!
There was also a great playground, with a massive slide (well, actually, a MASSIVE slide), which kept us busy until well into the afternoon, until it was time to go hunt for some dinner and retire to the hotel for a few laps in the pool.

The next morning, we were up nice and early, and after breakfast at the lokal baker’s, we set off for Archeon. This blew our minds away. It was so cool! We went this weekend especially because it was Fashion Weekend, and they did put on a special fashion show, there were spinners (from Amy’s crowd) and lots of other fashion and textile/yarn was on show. No need to say that a certain girl was in her element.
Posing with a neolithic beauty.

We started in the Prehistoric period, where Hannah and Sam got ‘natural’ tattoos and got to dress up in leather outfits.
The weather was great, so we really got the Prehistoric barefoot thing!
There were several farms, ranging from very long ago to a bit less long ago, all as original as possible. This one just looked amazing, with the comfy benches, sheep skins and the weaving loom and basket full of yarn outside.

After a quick scoot through the maze, we went on to Roman times, where Hannah got her hair done Roman style…


The kids got to try making some mosaic letters (Sam still with his Prehistoric face paint)


We watched a Nehalennia ritual, the Germanic/Roman goddess of sea trade and fertility…
And last but not leist, the gladiators!

The Middle Ages were also great fun! There were lots of games for the kids, such as these fake horses for jousting.


And of course, we had to pose with another loom…

We could have stayed a few more hours, but unfortunately, even fun days come to an end… Hannah and Amy are considering spending the night here next year, in Medieval costumes, of course!

Now, back to work… with computers, TV and stuff…

Proud

With a feeling of enormous pride, we announce the latest addition to our family, our cousin and nephew Bram!

Hello world!

Proud mommy

Proud sister

And a very proud Hannah!

We will come and see you again soon, little boy! Then with our boys as well

The first camping trip of the year…

We went on a short camping trip this week, hoping that in the meantime we would also be able to celebrate the arrival of our wee nephew… but alas, the camping trip came and went, and we are now home and Amy’s sister is still eagerly awaiting the birth… As she was feeling very tired and poorly, we didn’t get to see her, but hopefully, soon, the baby will arrive and we will be able to go see him!
But, in the meantime, we had a great trip! The weather was great, a bit chilly at times, especially at night, but dry (apart from the last day) – and that’s the most important!
We planned ahead a bit, and decided on a campsite both close to Amy’s sister and close to a few attractions we could go to, using our museum cards and 50% vouchers. It worked out great, and we saved enough money to pay for the campsite and all the fuel (plus lunches and other treats). It was great fun to be out and about again!
We left on Wednesday, with glorious weather welcoming us in Zeewolde, where we put up our tent…
The tent went up without much bother (we’re getting quite good at this and the kids were exploring the playground), and we had enough time to enjoy the sunset and a cool beer…
After a chilly night, we set off to the Dolfinarium, in Harderwijk. First, the walrus show!
The four hefty contestants… They could roll over, do sit-ups and push-ups and whistle Fun creatures!
The dolphin pool is accessible from below, where you can watch them cavorting around from behind the glass. There were a few babies as well, but we were kept away from them, so no pictures…

Kiss Flipper!
The North Sea pool was great fun. There were lots of rays and mini ‘sharks’ in this pool, which you could stroke and touch if you tried hard. Sam tried REALLY HARD! I bet he would have jumped in if he had been given half a chance!
Then it was off to the big show, ‘Droomvlucht’. With 5 dolphins and lots of jumping about. Fun, but the story didn’t really add anything for us…
And with our cameras, it was almost impossible to get good pictures… Shame!


In between the shows, there was lots of playing about. There were some more pools to go see seals and other sea animals, but we were finished quite quickly at the Dolfinarium…
After some shopping in Harderwijk it was off to the campsite again for dinner.
The next morning…
Off to the Aviodrome, the aeronautical museum in Lelystad, just around the corner from where we were camping. What a great place! It had closed down a few months ago, due to lack of funding, but was reopened by a few enthusiastic fund raisers, and what a great thing! This was the second or third week after the reopening, and the place was positively buzzing. Inside, amazing planes from days past and present…
You could go inside many of the aircraft, such as this Sikorsky chopper, Salomé. The big Boeing was also great! We’d obviously been inside a similar one on our trip to Thailand, but going upstairs into business class and looking inside the cockpit was really cool.
After a warming roll, we continued the tour outside, past more planes, the old Amsterdam Airport terminal (beautifully restored here) and the simulator, which gave Amy and Hannah buzzy tummies The boys went to the playground instead. We were planning to see Amy’s sister, but she was having a much-deserved nap… So we played about at the campsite and then went for a late-night drive around the area. The kids loved it! Especially the late-night visit to the McD in Huis ter Heide for an ice cream…
On our last day, we enjoyed a lazy breakfast at the McD (sorry, yes, again) and then packed up the tent, before heading off to Dierenpark Amersfoort. We were flabbergasted, what an amazing park!
The Japanese garden was so beautiful, with masses of Koi in the pond.
While we were enjoying a coffee under the umbrella – it had started to rain – the kids got soaked in the playground. But as they were still smiling, we carried on.
The Dino Trail was amazing! Life-size dinosaurs scattered around the forest, with sound effects and some of them even moved. Sam and Hannah loved it!

And now we’re back home, enjoying our creature comforts again… awaiting a baby…

Fun in April

Sam in his new judo outfit.
A day out with Hannah’s class. First a walk around the city and then a tour of the Historical Centre.
Amy sniffing tobacco in the Museum in Joure.
Pulling strange faces at the printing press.
What will the headlines be saying tomorrow?
Can we have one of these in the garden? Please???
A boy after his grandad…
Getting ready for Queen’s Day.
With painted faces.
Cycling home with bags full of goodies from the free market…

Easter and other fun

We had a lovely Easter weekend this year, with one rule: KIDS RULE! So, to get started, we asked them what games they wanted to play. The two monsters quickly decided on Rolit, and then team Sam/Steve quickly decimated us girls. The second game, with the teams changed, ended in a win for team Hannah/Steve. Now, who’s got the brains of the family! We then boiled a lot of eggs and started decorating these for breakfast the next morning. More paint ended up on their faces than on the eggs, but there you go

We enjoyed the rest of our Saturday in the garden, and went to bed early-ish, because on Sunday, we had a full day on!
It all started with the Egg hunt, organized by a few moms in our street. We had 40 kids participate. 40!!! We had realized the number of kids was exploding here recently, and this wasn’t even all of them! We can easily get 50 kids together, just in our street, if we want to now! Big fun, especially as a few parents are now actively organizing events like these, to bring back the sense of community that had been lacking for a while. It makes this place a much nicer place to live.





The hunt was followed by lots of games, but me and Steve decided to leave the kids to it and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet before heading out here: the Kruidhof in Buitenpost. A lovely place, where we try to go at least once a year, to get garden inspiration, buy some plants and let the kids run wild…



On the Monday, the weather was not as nice as the weekend, but we still wanted to head out a bit, so decided on an indoor activity center, in Sexbierum, called Aeolus. It is fun, and educational, but to be honest… the place is getting seriously run-down. Such a shame! They must be getting enough money in from the indoor playground to do up the big piramid with the educational center, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste like it is now… But still, lots of fun was had by all
In the cockpit of a fighter jet, lots of buttons and levers!
The construction area. First build a wall, then deconstruct it and jump on daddy. Of course…
In the colour room, first with normal light…
… and with black light.
And creating our own 3D images…
It was fun, but now it’s time to get back to work…

9

A certain little girl became a bit bigger again…
And she’s very happy with her ‘big’ present!


There were also some smaller presents, of course! Which were unwrapped early in the morning… Beware of bedheads…


There were veggie fries to hand out in class…

And there was a party! With 6 of her friends, Hannah decorated cupcakes and had a laugh!





All in all, a successful week! Time to get the bunting down, I think…

So close…

But no Elfstedentocht again this year… But we did our best and skated until our toes dropped off…

Last Wednesday, we spent the afternoon skating in Dokkum. It was great to be back there, as Ammerins spent many an hour skating around the city here.

Getting on the ice…

Skating into the beautiful center of Dokkum, to where the Elfstedentocht turns around again and goes back to Leeuwarden for the ‘home stretch’.

Even the Moss boys were out on the ice! And they did so well!!!

And some action…

On the way back we drove past a section of the Elfstedentocht route, and really, it would have been soooo cool if this ice had been this good everywhere…

On Thursday, Hannah had her last skating class in the Ice Hall. I went along as a driver and of course also stretched my legs a bit:

Then on Friday, we had a glo-ri-ous day here in Leeuwarden! So, after Hannah had finished school, we jumped in the car and went to the Prinsentuin. In the summer, this is full of little pleasure boats, but now it was full of skaters.

The very official looking people of the ‘Golden Ball’ committee, a skating race which was to be held the next day. For the first time again since 1997!

Smile!

Glorious sunshine weather. And yes, why not skate behind your pram? That’s quite normal here…

As are crazy hats.

Our helmet boy. Yes, both our kids wore helmets. Maybe we’re overreacting, but two nights in hospital with a cracked skull is plenty. We don’t need more silly accidents…

Total posers (and badly at that)

Proud daddy…

And just because she is so lovely… That big leaning tower, the Oldehove, behind Hannah, with the Pier Pander chapel.

And another handsome couple.
Afterwards, we definitely earned something nice. So we fired up the ‘barbecue’ and roasted some marshmellows and sausages.

Sau-sa-geeeeees!

And today, Sunday, we enjoyed our (probably) last day of skating…
Can we go skating????
Again, with lots of antics of little Mister Angenent…

Ice, ice, baby….

While Steve flew off to Northern Ireland to see his granny and mom, we enjoyed some winter antics. After several days of frost and even some snow on Friday, the weather was perfect for ice skating and going about on the sled.

Friday:
First day without Steve, an after school, we take a quick scoot around the area on the sled.

The back garden on Friday morning

Gymnastics

Bright snow angels

Watching the water brigade at work, practicing on how to get people out of the ice

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Saturday:
The roads are clear enough to drive out to the Grote Wielen, a huge nature reserve close to Leeuwarden, where the ice is lovely! A large lap has been set out where the ice is deemed safe enough to skate on. There is a huge crack running all the way across the lake, but no problems where we are. Unfortunately, Sam’s skates don’t really work, so Amy ends up pulling him on the sled. The entire way. Muscles are still sore

Out on the big lake: Grote Wielen

What happens when you cut across the snow where it's NOT safe...

He's quickly pulled out, but cold and wet!

Sunday:
Staying closer to home, skating behind the houses a street away. Our back neighbour was nice enough to shovel away the snow and there were lots of kids having fun! Hannah impressed us with her speed skating skills again and Sam is trying very hard to get the hang of it (or double skates, which makes it easier).

Staying closer to home...

Look at them go!

Lots of kids joining in!

Super Bowl Sunday… waiting for Steve to come back home… What a difference with last year… Remember?

65

A few weeks ago, Amy’s mom turned 65. And as she is feeling so much better (and looks great!), that meant there was plenty of reason for a big party!
Pictures!!!

Coffee and cake

Having a laugh with big sis Rensje

The 'Young Ones'

And after that lovely party, with yummy food, the weekend after, we went away with the family to a lovely farmstead close to Doetinchem.

With skelters...

Horses...

Goats...

Colouring in...

Food...

Fun stories...

A cosy fireplace...

Puzzles and lots more fun

There are some more photos on other cameras, but it was so much fun, I bet we’ll be doing it again!

The end of the year and more such parties…

And before you know it, the first day of February is looming! Time for an update about the Mosses!

We enjoyed a very relaxed Xmas. The kids and Steve weren’t feeling too brilliant, and because the tummy bugs made partying a real no-no, we just stayed at home for Xmas Day at home, and only the girls went out to Amy’s mom’s house for Boxing Day dinner…

Chilling

Just before the tummy bug struck...

...And after

Sorry for the graphic photos… Just be happy we’re not posting the ‘during’ picture…

As has become family tradition, we spend New Year’s Eve outside Leeuwarden. This year, we decided on Cologne. The hotel and train were quickly booked and on the Friday, we left a drizzly Leeuwarden for wintry Cologne…

On the train, we loved the International Train!

Unfortunately, the weather was no better in Cologne, but the trip was a great adventure (despite the first conductor not showing up, resulting in quite a close shave when we had to change trains in Zwolle…). After installing ourselves in our hotel room, and just when Amy had stepped into the shower, Mister Batman decided to crack open his head on the door… And within 5 hours of arriving in Cologne, we were sitting in A&E of a small hospital in the big city.

In the hospital...

Luckily, no brain cells were hurt during the antics in the room, but the cut was just slightly too deep to leave it like that. After a drop of glue was inserted, Mister Batman’s head was as good as new…

Some glue and we're done

The next day, we went exploring. Unfortunately, all the museums had closed for the holidays, so we did lots of walking.

The Roman-Germanic Museum, which was closed...

Cologne Cathedral in the fog

Antics on the Dom Square

And guess what, we found a Lego store. Lots of Lego was bought, of course!

Posing with Woody in the Lego Store

After all that walking, we deserved a Gluhwein… (Hot Chocolate for the kids)

To your health!

The kids treated us to a great show on New Year’s Eve…

Show time!

And just before Midnight, we went off to the river to enjoy the fireworks. It was great! The fun thing was that the train just kept going, crossing the bridge, where loads of people were setting off fireworks, as if nothing was happening. That’s German punctuality for you…

Next day, we went out exploring again, but this time on the tram. Our legs were quite sore from the day before, so it was great fun to see the city above and below ground this way. We even saw some fare dodgers being busted by the tram conductors. Batman was very impressed…

Waiting for the tram...

The 4711 house with glockenspiel

Snow White and the seven dwarfs

An impressive display at the baker's

So we just had to order cakes in a traditional kaffeehaus

Yummy!

And before we knew it, it was Monday, and we were at the station again…

Bye bye Cologne! It was lovely!