Dutch-goed nieuws English-good news

My mom and I last Christmastime...

My mom can talk!!!!!! As I mentioned a month ago, she was having some tests done because she had not had a voice for three weeks. Now, after eight weeks and MANY tests, specialists and unanswered questions she can speak. This is, amazingly enough, the result of only one "voice therapy" session!!! She was shown how to do some self massage from her jaw down to her collar bone and apparently she was talking after a few minutes! Isn't that wild? I have not spoken to her yet but, am interested to know if it is tension/stress related or what. If that's the case I am surprised she's been able to talk for the last forty years..... You know what I'm sayin?

Thirty years ago.....

Chrissy and I Bigger.

Not so long ago!!!!

THREE LOUD CHEERS FOR VONNIE!!!!!

Check this out!!!

I saw this cool map on Anne's blog so I tried it myself. Can't wait to have Matt do it later. Should we start a poll as to what we think his percentage will be? I'll say 20%.

Dutch-BMW English-BMW

Today is the day we finally get a car of our own!!! We have been driving a rental from ASML since the trip to Amsterdam a while back. Although it's a decent car, it'll be nice to have our own. It's a used BMW, not even sure what year. Matt said they didn't ship this model to the U.S. so, it could even be a fun "souvenier" to bring home!!!! Ha Ha Ha. Olivia's ice skating went well, she was delighted to find out that the entire Tuesday afternoon session is dedicated to students from the RIS (Regional International School). Kind of an oxymoron, isn't it? Regional....International. Anyway, she was concerned that the lesson would be given in Dutch and my assurance was not enough for her. So, when we arrived at the Ice Center, she saw one friend after another and could not believe that they would have "special" lessons, in English, for her and her friends. Too cute!!! However, she did not skate to her full potential as her girly friends are beginners and she did not want to stand out and be seperated into the intermediate group. She'll soon find out that it will be boring to shuffle back and forth across the rink until April while the other children are learning spins and the like. I imagine she'll decide to show 'em what she's got in a week or two. Matt is busy with work and has really slimmed up quick... I guess it's true what thay say about excercise. He starts and ends his day with a 20-25 minute bike ride, even in the rain!!! He's become a true Nederlander. I just had deja vu.... either that or I have already said that in a previous blog. Oh, well that is nothing new. Since we all know that I have a tendency to repeat myself. Just ask Tony! Just ask Tony! Just ask Tony! "Jeez, mom!!! I heard you. You've already said that twelve times!!!" I get it from my Mother. We miss you, Tony!!!:( If any of you see him soon, give him a ton of extra hugs from us!!!!


So, that's all i have for now. Maybe this weekend I'll get to the slideshow. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow.... remember that old commercial about procrastinating to get a college degree? Tomorrow..........
Over and out!

Dutch-bijen steek English-bee sting

Last week on Dutch word of the day.........
Jennifer said that they loved every minute of their Germany trip except that one. "What could it be?" you ask, Stay tuned for this weeks episode of "As My Face Swells". So, We go to Heiko and Barbara's Saturday morning before our trip to a little harbor town called "Great Seal" (not really how it's spelled, but how it sounds). Heiko says "Wanna see my bees?" (in German) so we go back to the bee boxes. Heiko raises bees and thay make honey to sell. Anyhow, we get back to the bee boxes and Heiko lifts off the top...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! LOUD AND STEADY BUZZ! Thousands of bees. So Matt says, "Jen, you should get a picture of that." Being the inteligent young lady that I am, I stick my head in there with the camera. Next thing I know, bees in my hair!!!! I do not want to appear foolish so, I simply take the picture and calmly say, "There are bees in my hair." Heiko says, while I am gently running my fingers through my hair, "They're not stinging you are..........." before he could finish his sentence a burning fire torch impaled my head and all hell broke loose!!!!! Jumping, Screaming, thrashing both hands through my hair OWWWWWWIE! Then, as quickly as it started, I calmed down. Somebody pulled the stinger out, Barbara the Medicine Woman ran to the weeds, picked some leaves, crushed them up and insisted that I put them on the sting until we could get back to Mutti's for some cream. Barbara also boiled Stinging Nettles into tea for Olivia to drink three times a day for what we thought might be a bladder infection, she was fine after two cups!!! I was impressed.


We spent a couple of hours in "Great Seal" and then Barbara called a friend who has an old windmill on his property that he and the Windmill association have had restored. He graciously welcomed us and not only let us in, but took us on a tour through it. A tour like you would get during a school field trip!!! It was fun and educational. It's not what you know it's who you know!!! Full day..... bee boxes, harbor town, windmills, pig roast, bonfire, beer tent. Thanks to the Schitthelm's for a lovely time.
The best part about the bee sting story is that my face swelled until I could have successfully landed a part on Planet of the Apes, just in time for our meeting at the town hall on Tuesday. At which, of course, we needed our photos taken for our residence permit!
I'll try the photo slideshow later, gotta run to the market. Olivia starts ice skating lessons after school so I need to get my errands done now. Check back later for some photos of the weekend.
Tot Ziens!!

Dutch-rood oog English-red eye

Here are the photos after the exorcism.......

Dutch-Geen Nederlandse heden English-No Dutch today

Too much to tell for a dutch lesson!!!! Okay, so... I only told you about one day of our long weekend. Friday we arrived at 5:30, in time for Tea with Valtraud, Matt's Mutti. (German for Mum which is Dutch for Mom). She asked if I wanted more I said "Kein, Danke." (German for "Geen, Dank U" which is Dutch for "No, thank you.") You see where I am giong with this? Man, talk about confusion!!! Actually, it was kind of funny. Funny like not knowing your head from your _ _ _!!!! Anyhow, tea time turned into witte wijn time (not a typo!) and we had a lovely visit in Valtraud's upstairs apartment. Mya came up to meet Olivia and cozied up between her Oma, Matt and Olivia for a look at a interesting fact book.


Soon, Heiko's wife, Barbara and their daughter Ena came over. Heiko is one of Matt's brothers. They live a stone throw away from the farm. Shortly thereafter Berent, another brother, showed up (there are three brothers). Berent lives in Hanover and only returns to Leezdorf, maybe, once a year. So, it was quite a treat that he came to see us! This is him with his Mutti.


Once they all arrived, Matt and Rolf returned from a pizza run and we all sat around the table together for a bite to eat.
Clockwise from Matt are: Rolf, Berent, Petra, Barbara and Valtraud.


All but the children that is, they were lucky enough to eat in the family room in front of the TV.... German TV, of course!
Right to left are; Mya, Rolf and Petra's daughter; Ena, Heiko and Barbara's daughter; Andre, R. and P's son (who, bythe way, has the BEST dimples I have EVER seen!!!); and our Olivia;)


Then it was off to bed!!!! Gute nacht? Goede nacht? Good night? Is that my head... or my _ _ _ ? ( Jen laughs out loud!) We brought along our tent and camping gear however, the germans insisted we sleep in the house. Rolf and Petra were gracious enough to offer us their room saying, "Nur das beste für den Gast." Which Matt tells me means "Only the best for the guest." For all I know it means,"Two Hundred Fifty Euro's per night!!!!!!" No seriously, they were incredible hosts to have us during such a busy weekend and we loved every minute of it!!!
Well, except that one part............
To be continued.

Dutch-familie bijeenkomst English-family reunion

Goede Middag!!! Here we are again about to embark on another weekend and I still need to tell you all about last weekend! It's a good thing we don't get paid to blog, I'd be scraping pennies. As some of you already know, Matt spent one year after graduating high school as an exchange student in Germany. He lived with the same family the whole year in a village called Leezdorf, in the Ostfriesland region of Germany. The family, Shittenhelm's (yup, it's pronounced the way it spells;)) own and operate a tree farm. Since Matt was there much has changed. Now, their oldest son, Rolf, and his wife Petra, run the business. Matt contacted Rolf by email a couple of weeks ago and he called us to invite us to the farm last weekend. This was the weekend that they have an "autumn festival" at the farm, kind of an open house for customers, friends and family. It was VERY impressive. They had a beer stand, a pig roast, live music (to which Rolf knew all the words to all of the songs, even though they were english, and he doesn't speak english!!!)




Mya won a pony at their "county fair", she was allowed to have it at the party and give pony rides. As you can imagine, Olivia was all about that!!!! The kids danced and played night games, language did not seem to be a barrier at this gathering! Olivia got some special attention from her "cousins" Eena and Mya. Daughters of Matt's host brothers, Heiko and Rolf.




Rolf has landscaped the front of the house into a beautiful display of different cozy gardens, pathways, ponds and streams, statues and trees. For the party he had installed lighting throughout the entire garden, complete with an intimate little bonfire away from the crowd. I have a few good photos I'd like to turn into a slide show. Then, you could see all of the family and the fun we had!!! I'll have to consult with Anne, VP of the Blog Know It All Club, sister of Sue whom I've mentioned before. (Who also happens to be President of the forementioned club!!!) Pehaps I can get a show going like hers, check out her blog at www.bakeryblog@blogspot.com or the Presidential site at www.susanlaustin@blogspot.com. OR if you're really blog savvy, go to my comment page, LEAVE A COMMENT and click on their names. You are sure to see them as they are my two most dedicated bl-isters (blog sisters) get it? Thanks Nicki, for the funny term! Anyhow, here we are TOGETHER in a foreign country earlier this year


Gotta go, more later. Love to all!!!!