Emma 8 years old!

Yesterday, Emma turned 8! As Christmas break starts late this year (end of this week), Emma could celebrate her birthday while still in school. For her kids party, we took Emma and her friends to a climbing hall, where they had a great time. Emma was ever so proud that she mastered all the walls and reached the top of every wall she tried.

Tree of treats (becoming a tradition of sorts ...)

All ready to go ... up!

Our little monkey on her way up

And more snow ...

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ... Even though it's pretty white outside right now, rumor has it that it will all be gone by the end of the week. We keep our fingers crossed that the snow will stay longer than expected and that we will indeed have a white Christmas!

The river Gender in the snow

Our back yard (and my bike ... ) covered in snow
Boelie loves running around in the snow, but sat down patiently for me to take this picture

Yesterday, we celebrated Emma's birthday (a little bit). Oom Kees and Oma drove through the snow from Hoogerheide, to bring Emma her gifts. As it started to snow again just when they left, it took them two hours and fifteen minutes to get home (under normal conditions, it's an hour and fifteen minutes drive)

Eagerly unwrapping a gift

Sisters :-)

More ice skating

With an ice rink one block down, it's inevitable that the girls want to go skating. So, Janne went skating with some friends, while Emma's class had genuine ice skating instruction during 'School Skating'.

Silly first graders ...

Skating instruction for third graders

Schaatsen op de Plaatse

Under the name 'Schaatsen op de Plaatse' of 'Echt Veldhovenz On Ice', the city of Veldhoven, together with some local business owners, put up an ice skating rink on a square (De Plaatse) one block from our house. So, Pieter took them skating this morning. A fun way to start a busy Sunday!

Janne started off a bit wobbly, but learned very quickly

Confident enough to act funny :-) She skated more than 100 laps, which is about 5K!

Another local business offered people the opportunity to take a ride up in the air dangling from a 60 m tall crane! In a 'basket' and wearing a safety harness, that is ... It was rather cold up that high, but we had a spectacular view of Veldhoven.

Getting ready to go up

The ice skating rink; Pieter is the little person on the right, next to the rink

Veldhoven Dorp from the air

Our house is in this picture; can you find it?

Christmas tree

Almost a tradition; decorating the Christmas tree. This year, we're early rather than late. Usually, we don't get around to buying and/or putting up a Christmas tree until a week before Christmas. This year, we bought one two days after Sinterklaas! Let's hope it'll keep its needles until the end of December ...

Utmost concentration; trying not to fall into the tree

It can also be done with a smile

Opa Pieter!

Monday, November 29th, Pieter's sixth grandchild was born. His name is Faes, which is a very old Dutch name, derived from Servaes.
One very little new person, just four days old

One very proud opa

And a very proud aunt!

Happy Birthday Oma!

Today, Oma turns 80; a very happy birthday to Oma and many returns! My sister, nieces and I treated Oma to high tea at Dickens & Jones in Breda today and there will be a celebration dinner with family and friends in January.