Family visit Holland

we had a lovely visit from Chris' parents recently. It was so nice to show our new house and life over here, they had a great time and Naomi was so excited! As always she got very spoiled and the girls enjoyed lots of cuddles. We didn't do any typicly dutch cycling but I don't think they minded! Shopping in Utrecht, not to be missed, was enjoyed instead.

Proud parents


Visit to a lovely castle nearby

Naomi's 3rd birthday!

Bouncy castle at the back of the garden was big success!

nieces

Nieces Anna and Naomi love dancing and playing together posing in front of the new little house!

Trotse oranje Oma (proud grandma)

Hup Holland Hup :(

Well it's been a amazing entertaining month of football and we have certainly been in the best place! Obviously we are totally gutted we didn't win but its has been an big orange celebration anyway to be part of. Our social life will be very quiet suddenly although with my large family there is always a birthday to attend somewhere and I'll never tire of seeing my family (....yet...joke)
We have managed to leave our camera in chris' parents car so I will update the blog with some pictures as soon as it's arrived back. We had a great time with them here and it was lovely showing them where we live and our new life here. I think they left with a reassured feeling that we are ok here, apart from cycling without a helmet! We are looking forward to many more family and friends visits!
We have finally got a finished house since a few weeks, well no pavement yet at the front, and are really loving the open plan space and garden. Life is good and seems a lot more relaxing and going by the less need for early nights and naps for Chris I think he agrees!
Life's pace is a bit slower here now as people are on holiday, the builders even take a customary long summer break (unfortunately for our pavement) and the rest has a generally 3 week holiday abroad. We are getting to grips with the dutch organisation and efficiency here, Eshter has almost monthly weigh, measure and jabs here by skilled medical/nursing team. It's the small things I miss here from England like the supermarket trolleys for baby's and the cereal choices!
Anyway, we are integrating well altough I caught myself speaking English to someone and wondering why I wasn't getting a response, suppose that's what 15 years in England does to you.

Devon family holiday

We had a great time at the Blake family holiday we have every two years. Lovely to see family again as we have missed them lots and Naomi loved spending time with her cousins and nana and grandad. England is so beautiful, I do miss the hills!
It was strange driving home to Holland and not Manchester. We stocked up on baked beans and crunchy nut although we don't seem to miss anything else food wise (yet!)

Update

We are doing well and really settling in as you can see on the pictures I think. It certainly felt good to be cycling together today to a near lake with 'beach' enjoying the sunshine and realising this is our life now, having great parks, waters, playgrounds, sports facilities and others recreational and cultural activities right on our doorstep! Another benefit of living in a new build town is that it really makes life easier with a brand new building housing Gp's, dentists, health visitors, midwives, pharmacy, poli-clinic and many more helpful services under one roof and round the corner from us! Everything seems very efficient here and that is a very positive but also been a slightly frustrating thing here!
Chris is settling in well at work and making some new friends whilst I need to develop this still. The days of neighbours knocking on your door with a cake have gone I think and I am the one who will have to win people over with an apple cake replacement! No serious, we are all new in our street and with the garden not finished yet it enabled a nice chat today with my neighbour. I am very happy to get into the coffee culture here, offering hospitality with a good cup of dutch fresh coffee.
Naomi and Esther are doing great. Naomi is really happy and has never been to the play ground so much! She started pre-school and has settled in well. It's giving her some much needed stimulation and interaction and me some time for myself and Esther. Esther is finally sleeping better at night after a few nights and hours of lung sound practice, bless her. We are all looking forward very much to a holiday in Devon soon with the extended Blake family, we are ready for a little break from ongoing jobs to do and longing to meet with the family. Just hope Chris will want to come back...

New bikes!

Well, we are a real dutch citizens now. Not just because we are officially registered at the town hall but also because we have joined the common and vital method of transportation, cycling! And we are not just owners of any bike, no we now have a bakfiets (bike with carrier) and a moederfiets (mother bike)!
Think the pictures speak for itself! In the bakfiets you can carry up to four children on these benches with straps or a carseat and child like we are with space for the pram base and bit of shopping too! Pretty cool we think and the only way to be able to cycle with Esther until she can sit in the front seat of the moederfiets. Everyone has these bikes, specially designed for mums carrying their children. We bought them of ebay and we had great fun cycling together. Naomi loves sitting in both bikes and the bakfiets sends Esther mainly off to sleep even though its quite a bumpy ride at times. It will be our exercise too as Chris is planning to cycle to work and I'll be taking Naomi to pre-school three times a week in the bakfiets. In case you are wondering where the helmets are it's just not done here! There are very safe cycle lanes everywhere. So grandparents don't worry!