Lieveheersbeestje (Ladybug)

Last Sunday was Vaderdag or Father's day. It's the first time that my husband received something from our daughter as a gift for vaderdag (father's day)... It's a stone painted as lieveheersbeestje or ladybug. Our daughter had painted it herself and she was so proud of her gift for her Papa... so sweet.

I've read in Wikipedia that in Dutch, the ladybug is called lieveheersbeestje, translating to "Our Dear Lord's little creature". It is also common to ask ladybugs to bring fair weather the next morning by saying "morgen mooi weer" upon encountering them...

Before I came here in Holland, I used to be afraid with so many insect like those ladybugs, but my husband told me that they are really sweet and will not bite you. I don't have a courage yet to put them in my hands but for our daughter that's not really a problem, she knows that they are indeed sweet and not biting:)

Belated Happy Father's day to my Papa and to my father-in-law
and belated Happy Father's day to all the fathers in the world!

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 :)

De Ketting (Necklace)

As early as 27th of April, I received already from our daughter her Mother's Day gift. In the Peuterspeelzaal or school where Mireille is going, she made this beautiful ketting (necklace)... As you can see in the photo above, it's made of macaroni pasta which she painted and used it as beads for the necklace, funny!... But I"m proud of her artwork.. I know she made it with all her heart and that she made it especially for me... Normally everytime she'll came home with her artwork, she'll always say that it's for Mama and Papa but then it would end up that she'll be playing with those artworks anyway.. But this necklace since the day she gave it to me, she never ask for it anymore to play with even when she'll see me wearing it... She will just say to me "Wat mooie ketting!" (What a beautiful necklace!)... Indeed it's beautiful and special :)


My husband surprised me too with a bath set mother's day gift.. sweet ha:)

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mama in the world, my Mama
en Fijne Moederdag aan mijn schoonmoeder Mama Gea

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers in the world

Lege Batterijen (Empty Batteries)

Lege batterijen? Lever ze in en WIN! (Empty batteries? Send them and Win!)... That's the campaign motto of Stichting Batterijen (Stibat).


Just put 10 empty batteries in a small plastic. Write your name, address and telephone number on a paper and put it there. Then send it to the nearest drop box near in your area. Then you'll have the chance to win the first prize of € 2,000 reischeques (travel check) and 50 VVV irischeques worth € 50. Every month you'll see the list of winners on their website. And for April 2010 VVV irischeque (€50) winners....

I won!!! Yes, today I received a letter from STIBAT together with the enclosed VVV irischeque (€50) as my prize... I'm so happy, thanks to Mama Gea (my mother-in-law) who told me that instead of throwing those empty batteries, I could keep them and send together to the contest of STIBAT... Last March (2010) I have at least 10 plastics with 10 emtpy batteries each and I drop them to the drop-box in the Lidl. I never thought I would win right away...

Thank you STIBAT and more power!

Bevrijdingsoptocht (Liberation Parade)

Yesterday (May 5) was the Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) here in Holland. But it's non-working holiday, only every 5th year like this year the 65th Bevrijdingsdag. We went to Oude Pekela to watch the Bevrijdingsoptocht or Liberation, Parade. We saw military vehicles, tractors of the farmers, antique cars and some Veterans as well. The parade was organized by 50 Pekelder associations and organizations in cooperation with the Stichting Oranje Bevrijdings Comité Pekela (OBCP).
It's the first time that I saw this kind of parade... I like it!

Kikkerdril (Frogspawn)

Most part of Holland is very flat and they say it often as lowland. With some land that is below sea level and almost half of the land is about a meter above sea level. It happens to be the perfect place for the frogs to increase their population.

Way back in Manila, I happened to be so scared of frogs and thoughts that they are so dirty. But I discovered here in Holland, they treat frogs as special animal. I came to know more how kids are interested with frogs. I saw the movie Kikkerdril (Frogspawn or frogs eggs) about the young boy who tried to have kikkerdril just to give it to his older brother.

Anyway, today we went to my father-in-law. There were some kikkerdril in his fishpond and my husband wanted to have some too. We brought it home in a flower vase. My husbands just wanted to show me how they grow each day from een egg into a frog. At first we tried to put them in our aquarium but the fishes seemed to be aggressive against the kikkerdril so it would not even be possible for them to reach their todpole stage... Anyway, we put them back in flower vase so we could really have a better look for the frogs life cycle.

Filipinos in Walk for life 2010 Groningen

Today we walked for life.....




Together with my 2 pinay and pinoy (Filipino) friends named Aileen,Lea and Kim, we joined the "Walk For Life 2010" in Groningen. It's a walk for a cause against cancer. Especially for UMCG Kanker Researchfonds.. And you can choose where to join to. There is Recreative Run, Wandelen (Walking), Nordic Walking (Ski Walking) and Kids Run. For us, we joined the Wandelen 10.8 km. We are all first timer in joining this kind of activity here in Holland that's why at first we didn't know what to expect... Like we didn't know that we can bring food and stop along the lake side to eat, anyway we did take a break in one of the restaurant on the way, hehe! Before the walking, we thought that maybe 10 km is a long walk, we're afraid if we can really do it, but then we said to ourselves "okay we'll just stop if we can't walk anymore till the finish line"... The funny thing is, with walking and talking we didn't noticed that we are walking near to the Finish line already. We found that 10.8 km is so easy, we walked for about 2-1/2 hrs (i think)...

So now we are planning that next year, we'll be joining the wandelen for 28 km... :)

I did have a nice day today with Aileen, Lea and Kim in Walk for Life... This is what I always wanted to do joining a sort of Fun Run though we just walk... The last 3 years in Philippines before I came here in Holland, I did became part of Fun Run activities 2005, 2006, 2007 in the Parish we're I'm active with in Parish of the Holy Family in Valenzuela City. It's a fun for a cause especially for the Construction of the parish church... But I never have a chance to really join and run because for 3 yrs. i was always in-charge in Registration Area, they thought my knowledge in Excel program in computer is a big help to have a fast and well organized registration records... So I always stay behind with all my pleasure of course :)

I'm thinking maybe here in Holland is MY MOMENT TO RUN, hehe! Calling Pinays here in Groningen, please check the website of Ladies Run 2010 (www.ladiesrungroningen.nl). Het lijkt me leuk! (sounds cool!)

De Band Nuchter 1st single cd "Missing You"

A year ago I wrote over The Winner of Popcircus Award 2008. And the winner is De Band Nuchter (where my husband is a lead singer). The prize is CD recording for their first single.

Today they released their first single in cd and digital format. It has two songs, 1st is "Missing You" which is the title of their single in cd, the song let them won the Popcircus Award 2008. It is in english language which was composed by my husband (Ron Mulder) and of course dedicated to me. The 2nd song is "Manana" which is in Gronings dialect and was composed by Fred Jager Sr. (the father of their guitarist Fred Jager).

By the way the cd cover was designed by my brother Jon Debulos (www.jondebulos.com), who's at the same time maintaining the website of the band www.debandnuchter.nl. Dont'ask me anymore who's the girl in silhouette...ahh she happens to be my younger sister, hehe!

To everyone who's interested to buy their single... You can buy it in legal download with this link http://www.legaldownload.net/Nuchter .

Congratulations to the nuchter boys Ron Mulder, Fred Jager, Dick van Huit and Harm ten Hoove. God bless your music.

Again thank you to the supporters of the De Band Nuchter.

Egg-hunting or Toy-hunting

Today is the 2nd Easter or Easter Monday. Here in Holland today is official holiday so considered also as non-working holiday.. Our daughter receives baskets of egg chocolates with chocolate hen from our neighbor... She don't need to search for it anymore... But then in the afternoon we went the house of my classmate Michael Najar (from USA), together with my classmates Tithirat (from Thailand) and Ahua (from China), we were invited to eat dinner there with our husbands and kids. Michael prepared some toy-hunting for Mireille and Eddy (baby of Ahua).. That's why in the 2nd photos, you'll see Mireille and Ahua (for her baby) searching toys at the backyard of Michael..

We did have a nice Eater Monday at Michael's house. Thank you Michael also for delicious dinner and drinks you prepared..

HAPPY EASTER!!! to everyone

Autorace (Car Race)

That was the first time I've watched the Autorace or Car Race live... They call it here Oval racing.. De Band Nuchter (where my husband is lead singer) sponsors the RACE TEAM HIGLANDER (the nice black and red car)... And the race car driver is Gerardus Zuur, who is also the co-worker of my husband. We came there, De Band Nuchter boys Fred, Dick, Ron (my husband) and I to give support to Race Team Highlander... The most thing I like was when I have the chance to sit in his race car too... More Power Gerardus Zuur and Race Team Highlander!

For more information over the schedules, you can visit the www.ovalracing-terapel.nl