October 19, 2009
· Filed under Samuel, fun stuff
First, we make sure our hair and makeup looks right:
Hair and makeup
Then, we read the program, so that we know what’s coming up:
Reading up
And we try to get in first:
The big crush
In the interval, it’s time to think over what we just saw:
Relaxxxxx
And afterwards, we complement the artist on a job well done!
Dirk Scheele
Yes, Sam and Amy went to see Dirk Scheele (and band) sing loads of cool songs about Dikkie Dik, a big orange cat with attitude. It was great! They had front row seats, so were close to the action. Sam loved it, and is definitely up for another theatre visit 
But first, it’s Hannah’s turn again. As a true Annie MG Schmidt fan, she’s going to see ‘Tante Patent’ this Friday. Looking forward to it!
October 12, 2009
· Filed under Samuel, fun stuff
Whenever a little boy turns 3, one party isn’t enough. Three is about right!!! So, we started out with party 1 at home, when we unwrapped his presents and blew out the candles on his birthday cake…
That's a big one!!!
Proper stuff for Sam the Builder
Smile!
A strange-looking, but yummy cake. Just call it Dali Mickey...
At daycare, handing out his treats!
All the kids sing for Sam
More presents, a cool rescue chopper!
Hanneke also came to drop off a present
The Thomas draw bridge and Cranky (not pictured)
Party 2: Joshja, Shanara, Hester and Marit dropped by, and later on, we also got a short visit from Destin and Ebony (and all their moms)… Not really good piccies, we were too busy fetching coffee, cake, sweets, and having fun chatting and clearing up after the little uns… 
Hester, Hannah, Marit and Sam
Shanara and Joshja and their moms. To the left is Ingrid, Shanara's mom, who is 31w pregnant with twins!
And party 3! With the ‘Vrienzinnen’, Amy’s group of friends – a combined birthday for Sam, Ruben and Marije. Again, more chatting than picture taking 
Sam playing with Simone en Ruben
With Ruben and Yestin, opening presents: loads-a-cars!
Sam has been horribly spoilt with cars, trains, books, and more. Thanks to everyone! Even though he was a bit ill, he enjoyed last week and all the partying very much!!!!
October 7, 2009
· Filed under Samuel
A long blog post today… As a lot has happened this week!
It all started out really well, with Sammy doing his Teddy Bear 1 test at the swimming pool. He had to swim on his belly and back, jump and dive in the pool, and do a few other tricks. Of course, no problems at all. He had great fun jumping in the pool and reaching up as high as he could to get to the teddy bears, that Barbara, the teacher, had put up to decorate the pool. Steve made some cracker pictures, and here’s a selection!
Little did we know that 9 hours later, Amy and Sam were at the hospital, as Sam was suffering from a severy bout of pseudo croup. It was extremely scary to watch him, as he had so much trouble breathing and had a very high fever. After a few hours of observation, they were sent home with medicine, just in case the croup flared up again. It was a fitful night, but we all survived. Yesterday, Sam had another bad bout, but this time slept through the night and woke up quite cheerful. Today, he was tired and very clingy, and because of all the coughing, he got an earache and even had to vomit a few times.
But… tomorrow he will be well again (we hope), because it will be his THIRD BIRTHDAY!!! Yes, our little mister man is turning 3! And he is having cake, Mickey Mouse cake, with chocolate filling, even though we botched the icing up a bit (so no pictures, we just hope he recognizes it as a MM, ).
Piccies of Mister Man with his prezzies, balloons, bunting etc… later on in the week!
May 21, 2009
· Filed under Hannah, Samuel, fun stuff, holiday
Hannah got her B swimming diploma last week and then the next day we were off to Austria for a wedding… Pictures of these happy occasions are on Steve’s computer and on Amy’s phone, so these will come later…
But today was also a happy day, ’cause finally, finally, finally: this!
Of course all this got paid back with a big mouth a bit later (but hey, the girl was tired…)… But we know they love us…
April 24, 2009
· Filed under Samuel · Tagged Samuel
Sam sees me empty and flush the potty in the sink every night after he has done his pre-bed pee. So, what does he do when he is in his room for his afternoon nap and does a poo? He gets his toy box, climbs on it with the potty and very neatly deposits his faeces in the sink. 
Luckily we heard him pottering about and cleaned up after him straight away…
But… Sam is potty trained, fully! He only has the odd accident at night, and had to wear a nappy at daycare because the toilets were too far away (normal situation will be restored from next week, hooray), but our little scitter has been nappy free for some time. Even though it did take a bit longer than Amy had anticipated, who firmly believed in the infant potty training thing, it’s still a huge achievement for such a wee man… Big round of applause!
April 5, 2009
· Filed under Samuel
February 11, 2009
· Filed under Samuel
Just a little corner of wall left after the paint ran out… but it needs a quick extra roller coat anyway, so we’re off to buy some more paint later. But Steve was surprised and happy with what we did (although he did come home too early, as we were by no means finished… haha).
But talk about swimming… here’s Sam with his first ‘diploma’. He got it last week, and the picture was taking with my phone camera in a very moist swimming pool. Not good quality, but oh boy, was he proud! The teacher, Barbara, had decorated the pool with flags and bears, which was super nice. And the ice cream as an extra reward was very yummy! Sam can dive off the side in the water (with his hands up next to his head, so cute), can walk up to the point where his nose goes under (up to there is no problem, he knows how to close his mouth under water), and swims under water to pick something up. Cute boy…
January 30, 2009
· Filed under Hannah, Samuel
Unfortunately, Hannah did not qualify for her swimming exam A today, but she will very likely be up for the exam in a few weeks time, on February 26. We’re very excited, and look forward to jumping in the big pool without the obligatory water wings!
Sam has also started his new group. He’s now swimming in the shallow pool and learning basic skills such as floating on his back, picking things up from the bottom of the pool etc. It’s great fun! Hopefully some pictures of our two water rats will follow soon!
December 5, 2008
· Filed under Hannah, Samuel, fun stuff
A big day for the little ones! For the last 3 weeks all we heard was: I want this from Sinterklaas. I want that from Sinterklaas. How many presents can I ask for? And so on…
Yesterday, Hannah even went to bed early, so that this day would come sooner Bless her…
It already started at school, where the kids were visited by Sinterklaas and two Pieten. They had lost their shoes, and were looking around which parents were wearing them. Two (unfortunate) parents were ordered to take their shoes off, so that the Pieten could perform a dance. (They did get their shoes back…)
After more song and dance the parents and siblings left, and the kids went back to their classrooms. The younger ones then got another private visit from Sinterklaas in the morning, while the older ones exchanged gifts which they bought for each other (all the names in the hat, pull one, and then you have to buy a present, write a poem and think of a fun way to wrap it up).
Hannah said this one was the ‘real one’ (as opposed to the one in the swimming pool on Wednesday, whom she instantly recognized as one of the swimming instructors ), as he knew about how she had put her friendship book in her shoe a few days earlier, so that Sinterklaas could write in it (her booklet was in the bag later at night…).
In the gym hall waiting for Sinterklaas!
All our plans about unwrapping one gift at the time, singing songs in between and eating sweets and taking it easy, went out the window as soon as we heard the rap on the window (thanks to our neighbours) and found our presents on the doorstep. Within minutes, the paper was flying and Hannah and Sam were ooh-ing and aaah-ing. All the presents were a great success (even though Sam’s biggest present will be arriving later, due to the ‘wonders’ of Internet shops who tel you two days in advance that something is out of stock… bummer…)!
Sam got three train wagons... the airport and airplane are delayed (typical...)
Barbie's vet's practice
Time to clean up and get ready for Xmas…
November 16, 2008
· Filed under Hannah, Samuel, fun stuff
A busy weekend at the Moss family! Yesterday, Sinterklaas arrived in the Netherlands, and he of course also visited Leeuwarden. Hannah and Sam had been practicing their songs and were super ready for a day full of antics. Here are a few piccies, no Big Man, but he’s on video and will be published on this site soon… and for more news, check here! ‘Our’ Sinterklaas in Leeuwarden has his own site as well: Sinterklaas in Leeuwarden
But here are our little critters getting ready for Sinterklaas, very excited because he brings PRESENTS!!!! Or ‘doooootjuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhs’ as Sam calls them
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Sam trying on his Piet-outfit first thing in the morning
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Hannah and Sam in the bike car/double buggy. This is how we ferry them around when we’re not using the car
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Sitting on daddy’s shoulders to see even more
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Hannah can’t wait!
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Piet carrying a bad boy…
Then, after getting a few sandwiches from the supermarket (we loooove Saturdays, because the AH then has all its sandwiches for 35% off… katsjing!!! Lunch banquet for almost nothing…), we ran to the Oldehove – the leaning tower of Leeuwarden – to watch the unveiling of the largest quilt in the world. Some of Amy’s knitting friends had also worked on it, so this was something we couldn’t miss…
To top it all off, today we went to Zwolle to a large Games Exhibition. Not as big as Spiel in Germany, but a lot closer and big enough for us! We got home with 5 new games: Babel, Roll-it, Ballonnenrace, Catan for 2 players and Tayu.
At the fair, we ran into Fifi, and both Hannah and Sam were mesmerized. ‘Is this the real Fifi, mommy?’ ‘Why doesn’t she talk?’ Sam didn’t ask any questions and just gave Fifi a big hug!
And we saw a full rainbow on the way home. Spectacular! We even drove past the spot where it hit the ground, but no, unfortunately, no pot of gold (or it was too small to see…). No dancing leprechauns either.
*unfortunately, I can’t both add a gallery and separate photos… so these last ones were deleted… Our end of year round-up will however have some of these in it…*
Now, Steve can grow a neat moustache, and if I’m down and he wants to chear me up, he shaves his beard and leaves the bit of fluff under his nose… Gets me every time 
