We spent Christmas vacation mostly at home, having a traditional Christmas day and then getting almost everything crossed off our to-do list during the week that Ivo was home. And, we actually had a white Christmas – it snowed even more in the few days before Christmas. Here’s Liam and me exploring the snow behind our house.
Note the jacket that won’t close – it’s been a problem this winter 🙂 Normally it’s not so cold here, but I’ve been making do.
I also got a few shots of snow in the centre, though there wasn’t nearly as much there. The closed up cart is an olieballen cart – they appear around the city in December selling deep-fried bread goodies.
And the Oudegracht.
Christmas morning
Liam got right into the whole present thing, and was very excited by everything is his stocking. He loves socks, and little books and all the little presents.
And he helped us with our presents too.
This one’s actually a leftover birthday present, but that didn’t bother him.
In the afternoon, Ivo’s family came for more presents and dinner. Liam is showing them one of his favourite presents, the squishy ball with spines and a flashing light inside. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long (remainder of Christmas Day photos from Leo’s camera).
Leo and Marijke opening a present.
Evian and Cyrille mugging for the camera.
Awww, thanks.
Us.
Liam.
Eating dinner. I even managed to find Christmas crackers, complete with tiny gifts, bad jokes (and in English – try explaining horrid English puns!) and crowns, the most important part! The menu was chestnut feast (chestnut loaf with mushroom ragout wrapped in puff pastry), stuffing, green bean casserole, creamy sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, honey roasted parsnips, cranberry sauce and two kinds of gravy.
Liam having fun with the lawn chairs (we didn’t have enough chairs for everyone).
And dessert: pumpkin pie and cranberry torte.
A very nice Christmas day, full of love and laughter. And presents and too much food. Perfect.
The rest of the vacation
What? They are stockings!
Relaxing on the couch with the cats. Note how together they’re pretty much my height.
At the midwife. She’s very good with Liam and always lets him play with the stethoscope and BP monitor and such.
Liam moved to a bed from his crib, in preparation for the baby’s arrival. Here he is just after we’ve got it all together for the first time. He really likes it, and is pointing out all the animals on his pillow.
And testing it out.
He also wanted to help put his new shelf together.
We finally put together the cat shelf I’ve been wanting to do forever, including moving their drinking fountain over to the same area, instead of hiding it behind a lawn chair in the other corning. The cats took to it immediately.
And framed and hung a print of one of my favourite paintings by my papa.
And, finally, finally, finally, got window coverings for the downstairs. Ivo hanging the blinds.
But we did have an issue with the first set of curtains we bought. Luckily we hung them to take a look before we hemmed them.
Yup, don’t exactly match do they?
On the last day of vacation, Ivo and I took a scenic drive through the countryside to pick up a couple things we’d bought off of Marktplaats (the Dutch ebay/craigslist combo) on our way to Ivo’s parents’ for dinner. Although it hadn’t snowed in Utrecht, it was quite deep in the this area, and quite pretty.
Liam had gone down to his grandparents’ the day before – he absolutely adores spending time with them, and they reciprocate the feeling. Leo took many pictures.
Simple toys are great!
Hey, come here often?
Bathing in the sink, happy pinkness.
Jammies on.
Story time.
Exhausted.
Good morning! Not sure what this face is, but he likes to make it.
They also got a lot of snow.
And Y is for Yukon where the Northern Lights glow, and Z for Zamboni, cleaning the ice. Really, Canadian ABC book.
And his cousins came over to play.
And Oma let them “make tea”
Eating melon.
And watching a DVD.
While the adults chat
And play with dinner!
Monday morning real life starts again, and the countdown to the baby’s arrival. But we feel good about what we’ve accomplished over the holiday.