Een Jongen (A Boy)

Praise and Thank God for blessing us with a sweet baby boy. Thank you also for my family and friends for your prayers on God's blessing when I gave birth and thank you for the support.
Above is the photo album of our baby Ian Manuel

Elf november (Eleventh of November)

Elf november of 11th of November is one of the favorite days of the kids here in Holland. They don't have trick or treat here every halloween instead they celebrate the feest day of Sint-Maarten (St. Martin). They are doing something like trick or treat in a way that they will not really threat you instead they will sing one of the those Sint-Maarten songs. They are doing it in the evening by walking from house to house with their special lamp or what they called here lampion. Then they will receive candies, chocolates, fruits and sometimes small toys too.

The evening was a rainy one that's why our daughter together with her cousins Deniz, Tim and Jesse didn't have a chance to walk in the centrum as what we have planned. Anyway, they did walked and sang Sint-Maarten songs just in the neighbor, so they received candies and chocolates too.

Our daughter is lucky to receive a doll from our neighbor. It's not usual to give special toy on Sint Maarten but yes, she got one from Oma Lucy (our generous neighbor). She said for sure our daughter received so much candies and chocolates (which is true) so she gave a doll instead. Thank you Oma Lucy :)

Bloemenmeisje (Flower Girl)

Last Monday (September 6) was the first time for our daughter as Bloemenmeisje or flower girl for the wedding of Leo and Diana (dutch-filipina couple)... Weeks before the event i felt so excited already for our daughter... I let her watched the videos of flower girls who usually will throw the petals after the wedding ceremony so she will be familiarize on what she should do then...

I become excited too in looking for a dress and shoes she should wear then... But it's not so easy to look for a flower girl dress here that's why Diana (the bride) made the dress for our daughter. (Thanks you Diana for the lovely dress). Looking for a nice shoes is not so easy too unlike in Manila where you can find in the shopping malls more choices of different style and nice shoes for little girls...

The wedding party was such a nice one.. with Chinese, Thai and Filipino food we've definitely enjoyed eating as well :)

To Leo and Diana, Gefeliciteerd! God bless your family.

Zwembad (Swimming pool)

Since we came here in February 2008, today is the first time that we went to Zwembad (Swimming pool). My husband is not fond of swimming so we forgot to make a schedule for it... But this time, together with my 3 Filipina friends named Ate Josie, Ivy and Rhoda, we made some schedules for swimming. Actually, it was me who initiated in organizing it... I don't know how to swim but I like it.. And taking a swimming lesson is still in my agenda...

It's the first time that we brought our daughter to the zwembad or swimming pool so at first she was so afraid of the water. But I encouraged her by first just playing her feet with the water, then sitting in the water, and then walking till the water level reaches her neck. I'm happy to see how she finally enjoyed playing with the water. She was even crying when I said that we're going home, hehe! But I said that for sure there will be next time :)

Kleuter

Kleuter is a dutch word that means children with age between 3 to 6 yrs. old. Last 24th of January my daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday, that's why she's now considered kleuter. And last year when Mireille turned 2, she was then considered as peuter.

She had a simple birthday celebration but for sure a nice one... In the first photo above you'll see how shy she was to blow the candles although we did already have some practice, nights before her birthday on how she will blow her candles... Then on the 2nd photo, was in the morning of her birthday, her sisters Sharon en Nienke were not here but they gave a call to Mireille... And you'll see in the photo how she enjoy talking with them then :) Nice!

Mireille's 3rd birthday

Prettige Kerstdagen (Merry Christmas)

We celebrated the christmas with Papa Harry and Hanneke (my father-in-law and his girlfriend)... We did have a nice evening... Delicious food were prepared by Hanneke and her daughter Angela, "Dank je wel voor het lekker eten".... And my daughter and her cousin Deniz have the floor and enjoyed much the dancing... Gezellig! (nice and pleasant evening).

Merry Christmas!
Prettige Kerstdagen!
Maligayang Pasko!

Sinterklaas Party

We went to Ron's work today to attend the Sinterklaas party in their work... Especially for the kids... Last year, Mireille was so shy and just got busy eating candies... But this time she watched the program while sitting and eating pepernoten and candies... But the nicest moment for the kids was when they received their gift from Sinterklaas...

Zwarte Piet, the assistant of Sinterklaas gaved the gift for Mireille and he helped her openning the gift as well... that's why if you will ask Mireille from who is the gift? Instead of saying from Sinterklaas she will always answer from Zwarte Piet.. This year, she got a house toy with many functions like telephone, counting and puzzle... She likes it and started pretending that she's calling her Oma or her cousin Deniz in that telephone house :)

K2 zoekt K3 (K2 search K3)

For a few weeks we tried follow and watch every saturday night the Reality show "K2 Zoekt K3" (K2 search for K3).. K3 is a Belgian singing band that become famous in Holland for about 10 yrs... K3 came from the original name of 3 singers Karen, Kristel and Kathleen, their main audience were children... But last March, Kathleen (the old blond member of K3) quit the K3.. So the two old member Karen and Kristel (named as K2) tried to search for new member to become K3 again thru the Reality show "K3 zoekt K3"...

Last Saturday, was the Final show where among thousands who auditioned, 3 candidates were left to the final episode named Josje, Noa and Madelon.... It was reported that about 2.4 million televiewers in Holland watched it and we are one of them...

And the winner is Josje Huisman, the blond girl you see in the photo above.... If Karen and Kristel were Belgian, this time they have a dutch member now with Josje.. She deserves it, she's good in singing, good in dancing and with charisma too... Gefeliciteerd Josje!

Now Mireille and I will be watching K3 TV shows and i hope in the future we'll have a chance to watched their concert as well... I see my daughter is encourage to sing and dance everytime she watches them on TV... Mooi zo!

De Jurk (The Dress)

Last Saturday, my filipina friend Cathy who is living in Schiedam (about 3 hours drive away from us) came to our house with her Dutch parnter, to bring some pasalubong... She just came back from Holland after her 2 weeks vacation in Philippines... And my family in Manila sends some small things for us here especially for Mireille... It made me proud that now, Mireille have her first jurk (dress) made by my Mama (as you can see in the photo)...

My mother is a dressmaker eversince and we grew up wearing clothes made by her, all our school uniforms from kindergarden to college level. And even on our teenage days when wearing casual dress or bestida (in tagalog) is not usual, she never get tired making clothes for us... not to mention all the dresses she made for me and my younger sister on special occassions like birthday, graduation day, recognition day or if we are going to attend special occassion.. And one of the special dress she made for me was my Wedding Dress...

As of now she still likes to make clothes and this time those are for her grand children like my nieces, Red and Steph... And the jurk (dress) for me daughter could just be one but for sure it's a VERY SPECIAL ONE... My daughter didn't realize yet that it was made by her Lola Berta but to see how proud she is when she wears it, could mean that for her it's also her special dress...

Mireille sings and dances as K3

Few weeks ago, I took a video of Mireille as she sings and dances to the tune of "Frans Liedje" song of K3 - the singing group composed of 3 female singers from Belgium named Karen, Kristel and Kathleen. Eventhough they came from Belgium they are famous here in Holland especially for the kids. It's just sad that after they stay together for 10 yrs in music industry, last March 2009, Kathleen (the blond singer) decided to leave K3... I hope there will be a new singer to replace her and K3 will still go on because for me, I like the group and their songs as well.

Mireille likes K3 too. I remember, one time I tried to sing a Tagalog lullaby "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan"... ahh she don't like it because she is so sensitive with mellow music. She can easily get emotional with teary eyes, everytime I will sing any song with mellow music... Anyway, lately whenever I will sing "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan", she will always say "Nee, K3" - "Nee" in english "No" and with K3, she wants me to sing any K3 song instead. Of course I didn't sing K3 for lullaby or else she will not sleep, she will be more awake and will be eager to sing and dance as you see in the video ha... hehe!

Familiepark Nienoord

Last Sunday (26 April) we went to Familiepark Nienoord in Leek, Groningen. It's nice there especially for all the kids because of the very big playground. But every now and then we have to go on separate playing station because the interest of Sharon and Nienke are different from Mireille. Of couse Mireille want's to try to play everywhere but that is not possible because she's too small with some playing station. I remember in the climbing balloon, as you can see in the 2nd photo Mireille can reach as far as the half of that mountain (balloon). I have to say to her to stop or else I have to climb too to get her. Ahh, I have fear of height that's why I cannot assist her in climbing, hehe! but she know's how it works after climbing, she's letting herself slide down. Good ha?
I know for sure the kids have fun!

MYMP "Make Your Mama Proud"

Last week, I received photos from Manila, the graduation day of my niece Red. I'm happy to see those photos.. When I saw the first photo, in which my sister-in-law walks with Red going to the stage... I remember one of my favorite acoustic bands way back in Philippines the MYMP... When I saw the first photo I saw the true meaning of MYMP which is "Make Your Mama Proud", see how happy my sister-in-law then while walking with Red? My sister in law named "Happy" is really happy then... I like that photo...

Red just graduated from Kinder school (Mother Sheperd Academy). She graduated with 2nd Honor and got the First Place award in Reading and Spelling bee contest last October 2008...

Congratulations! Red
Congrats too to your Papa and Mama too.

May God continue to bless you to be a bright girl for always...

I guess I could say it MYFP too - "Make Your Family Proud"... See the smile of my brother in the 4th photo?... for sure the whole family is proud of you Red, especially your Lolo's and Lola's as well... Keep up the good work!

Mini Playback show

We've attended the Mini Playback show in the school of Sharon and Nienke (daughters of Ron)... It's nice, kids did the lipsinging... Sharon as Amy Macdonald and lipsings "This is the life". And Nienke as Grabrielle Cilmi and lipsings "Sweet about me". I've enjoyed the night... I've enjoyed watching kids doing the lipsinging of their favorite singers...