A Week of Sports, Talent, and Antique Shopping

There were two volleyball games this week, and I am happy to report that Famke's team ended their season UNDEFEATED!
I thought I took a lot of pictures, but I actually took videos, which for some inexplicable  reason I cannot get to post here.
On Friday Hertsje performed in her school's talent show and did an incredibly wonderful job of it!  Or, so Pake tells me, as I was not feeling well and therefore missed it.
He did take a video for me, but had his phone pointing the wrong way, so I got to hear the music, and look at his sweater.

Then on Saturday we got to watch Jonge and his Y basketball team play.
Again, I took more videos than photos, so this is what I ended up with!
In the above picture he is shooting one of many free throws, and in the next picture, he is indicating to me that he hit a three pointer, which of course I knew, because I saw it in the video I took but can't share on here.
Before the game we took a trip to Saugatuck to antique shop.  I didn't find anything, but THGGM did.  I'd show you what, but it just may end up as a gift.  Maybe.  You don't know.

Birthday Girl

Well since it has been over a month since we've been together for a party, it seemed like it was time!
After all, we had a VERY excited EIGHT year old to celebrate.
She let it be known that she wanted one thing, and one thing only for her birthday.

Oh wait.
Except for one thing from her daddy, who got her her very own switch controller. 
This made TWO kids happy!

Daughter is taking pictures of the excitement happening in front of her.
Feintsje came for cake.

Oh look!
LEGOS!
Just what she told everybody she wanted!

Could it be?!

And even more!

When it isn't your birthday, all you get are hugs.
And cake.

 CAKE!

Happy Birthday Hertsje!

Today At My House

Hertsje and Broeder are seriously phenomenal at play.
I'm not sure where their ideas come from, but they seem to be connected to their brother/sister bond.
Much like the Lewis brothers or the Bronte' siblings.
Might there be written books or plays in their futures?
I'm thinking, quite possibly!

Drama, comedies, and a bit of the macabre - me thinks!

Namaste.

Week End Sleep Over

 What a FUN weekend!
Hertsje and Broeder came to spend the weekend with us.

 I'm not sure who had the best time, us or them.

On Saturday afternoon, Uncle Oldest Son came to play.
I had purchased two new Lego sets and the three of them spent HOURS following the directions to get them put together.
All three of them LOVE doing that!
I wonder if uncles ever realize just how much they mean to their nieces and nephews?
This one is like an encouraging superhero who drops in just for fun, or whenever needed to spread his special kind of uncle magic to a half dozen kids who adore him.

He is helpful when needed, but mostly waits patiently while they figure things out on their own.
It does also help that Lego directions are exceptionally done!

 And, everyone knows how good it feels to accomplish something on one's own!

At the end of the afternoon, Hertsje and Broader had something new and interesting with which to play. 

After dinner we went to see the play "The Little Mermaid" at an area high school. 
Uncle's are also good at introducing young children to the possibilities of someday performing, like the greatly talented young actors we saw on stage.

Happy Saint Nicholas Eve!

Over the weekend we celebrated St. Nicholas!
This is quite likely our family's favorite party.

St. Nicholas brought a bag of goodies for all the good children.

Of course, all six of the children in attendance fell into that category

They seemed pleased with their bag of treats.

 The adults exchanged gift baskets.

 I did not get pictures of our feast, although I'm not sure why that is.  I usually take pictures of EVERYTHING.  Hmmm.
Oldest Son brought dessert.
He made homemade Specalaas ice cream with a homemade caramel sauce and freshly made waffle bowls.

Yum!

Last Night Basketball Game

 Last night's middle school basketball game was played against MY kids alma mater.

 That made it a teensy bit difficult to cheer.

But of course, that other team no longer has my kids playing, but will someday in the future have Hertsje and Broeder playing under their banner!
Anyway, in case you were wondering, we cheered for Jonge!

It was a VERY good game!
Both teams had much to be proud of.

But still, we had Jonge!

 Yay!

This was eight years ago. 
He has changed some.
As kids are wont to do.

On Thursday We Went Places and Did Things

Tuesday and Thursday of this week I was FINALLY able to see Jonge play basketball!
Jonge is number 32.

I didn't take my camera with me Tuesday.
That was a GREAT game, which they lost after leading right up until the end of the 4th quarter.

Yesterday's game went much better for our team.

Which also meant that Jonge got a few breaks.

We were the guests!


I do have to say that THGGM and I are adjusting
quite well to having grandchildren just one afternoon a week now.
Jonge's basketball game was at a charter school in Holland, a city about 40 minutes away.
So, when THGGM got out of work at 12:30, we hit the road.
Did some thrift shopping, some antique shopping, and had lunch in Holland.  We arrived back home at 6:00.  All that on a week day! 

And look at this!
My collection is growing!
I found this darling plate at a thrift store in Holland.  It was THREE DOLLARS!
Yeah, it's been a good week!

Halloween Fun

 Both Wednesday and Thursday we got to spend some time with Hertsje and Broeder.

They each put on many fun and unique puppet shows!

All of us took breaks with our technology. 

No TV though.
They enjoy choosing their own shows to watch and games to play.

Broeder also was AMAZED that I had gotten a new Lego catalog.
He calls it his comics.
I believe he has his Christmas list done.
I have a feeling it looks a lot like his uncle's (oldest son's) list.
We DO have Lego lovers in this family.

A few days earlier I had found a Halloween craft for 70% off at Michael's.
Over the years I have learned that if I present ANY of the grand kids with "this fun craft I found for us to do together" they would all twirl around in circles, fall to the ground, and wail "NOOOOOOOO!"
So I quit doing that.
I just laid the craft out on the dining room table where they could find it, and find it they did!
It is the only way any sort of crafting gets done around here anymore.
I think I have great ideas, OTHER PEOPLE have said I have great ideas, but these guys are not easily impressed.
Nothing happens unless THEY find it themselves, or discover me doing something on my own and ask to join in (a few of them still do that).

 

I'm not complaining!
This way works out much better for all of us!
It ought to be fun, and if it's forced on them it is in no way fun.
Even I dislike that.
Anyway..,
We made bats, spiders, and cats!

I do not usually decorate for Halloween, but I DID hang mine up!  It will last until THGGM notices it.

 Since it was Halloween, I also got out the dress-up suitcase and left it in the living room.
They found it!
I did not get pictures of the wild and crazy array of costumes they put together, mostly because they did not hold still long enough for me to get a picture before they changed into something else!
I wish I'd gotten a picture of Broeden in a 'coon skin hat and a fox collar.  He was adorable.
Hertsje "announced" him.  That was great too!

Jasmine and a Ninja

Then, in the evening, they returned to "Trick-or-Treat" and were the only two we had!
Friends of ours two blocks away had 200.
People just do not cross a street with a speed limit of 45 in the dark on Halloween.
I'm sure that's a good thing.