Fun with friends

The week before Ilianna's birthday, I took some really nice pictures. Helena's best friend, Joke, was here after school, playing with Helena. We had some real fun trying to get everyone to simultaneously look at the camera and without goofy looks on faces or stuffed animals in the way!

The next morning when the girls came, I had to take a picture! Ilianna is really learning to play with other children, and enjoying it! What a difference a year can make!! We are really thankful that she is doing so well!

More birthday fun

Birthdays are always celebrated in school here, and the birthday boy or girl always brings a treat for all of the kids in their class. Ilianna's birthday was celebrated in the last half hour of her school day on Thursday. I was also invited and when I arrived, her group and another group were playing outside. When I was taking a picture of Ilianna, alot of the other kids ran over and wanted to have their picture taken as well!

Once inside, we had a drink and a cupcake, and Ilianna was given a couple of presents from her classmates and leaders of the group. The first present was two cars, so once she had opened that, she didn't want to open the second present, but a few minutes later she did. It was a puzzle with different animals.

Above, in the beginning of this blog, is a picture of the poster that was hanging on the door to the classroom. It has a picture of a sheep in the balloon, which is Ilianna's symbol. Every child has an animal symbol that is repeated within the group; on their chair, their personal cupboard, and their coathook. The poster is telling people that they are celebrating Ilianna's birthday today, a fact that all the children in her group had been told throughout the day.

When we came home that afternoon, Ilianna opened up her last presents from the day before, which were from her Pake and Beppe here in Holland. It was an ironing board and an iron. Right away she got to work ironing her pyjama's!

In the weekend we had more company; Omme Germ and Tante Esther, Grytsje and Miriam, Omme Klaas, Tante Sigrid, Femke, Frerik and Tjisse, all on Saturday afternoon.

Friends of ours, Marc and Geke with their boys Jesper and Matthijs came on Sunday afternoon, along with Sybo and Jantine and their kids Ryanne, Sigrid and Robert. Ilianna played nicely with all of the kids and opened the presents almost quicker than we could grab the camera! She's getting the hang of it now!! Christmas should be a breeze this year!

A Piglet-filled birthday for Ilianna

September 17, 2008: Ilianna's 4th birthday!

We had a quiet day, with a few presents, and Ilianna seemed to understand that she was turning 4 and that all the decorations were for her.

The first of the company, Johanna and her mom, Sjoukje, arrived just after 3 in the afternoon.

Followed by Hendrika, Grytsje and their mom, Bertha.

A few minutes later, Gerjella, Justina, Helena, with their mom, Sofia and Beppe Gerda arrived. They of course were also bearing gifts for Ilianna.

Later on Pake and Beppe arrived, and then Omme Sjouke and Tante Janneke, but by then Ilianna was so busy playing with her new toys and the other kids that she didn't want to open the presents that they brought. Oh well, no pressure, tomorrow is another day...

New pics of Ilianna; post summer holidays

Here are a few post holiday pictures. First, with her cousins, Grytsje, and Miriam.

Here she is, watching her favourite movie: The Sound of Music.

And finally, a couple of really nice pictures of Ilianna. No explanation required.

One more week...

These pictures are the last of the ones we took while my parents were here. While they were here they celebrated their 40th anniversary. My brothers and I treated them to a very unexpected surprise, a plane ride in a 4-seater over the Frisian countryside. Here is a picture of the town where we live (Kollumerzwaag):

My parents really enjoyed themselves, and since I got to go along, so did I!

The weekend before my parents left, we enjoyed a day out with my Mom's family. We went to a town nearby and visited a museum and then a windmill there. Everyone seemed to have a good time, despite the warm weather. Even Ilianna had fun!
In the evening we went out for dinner with everyone and everything was nicely decorated for the couple in the spotlight.

But then it was time to say bye-bye (da da). The evening before Pake and Beppe left, Ilianna spent some quality time with them.

Then came the big day, and goodbyes in the airport.

We had a good time with my parents and we all really enjoyed spending time with each other.