Avery Turns 2

After our trip to Berlin (see previous post from this evening), I had to go on a business trip to Atyrau, Kazakhstan. Not much to do in the middle of nowhere KZ, but I did get to come home to prepare for Avery's 2nd birthday.

We had a great little party with our Dutch friends and our Polish friends. Pulled out the blow up bouncy we bought for Kaeli's 2nd birthday party. Had a fantastic cake that Grandma made before she flew home. It was a very nice little party and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Then, on her actual birthday, I took cupcakes to her class at day care. No, I didn't make these myself, but I wish I had, they were delicious!! Happy Birthday, Princess Avery!!!

Another month, finally a day to blog

I really can't believe it's been another month since I last posted on our blog. So much has happened and I have had many blog posts in my head, but they've never made it to the computer. I've either chosen to take a Sat or Sun afternoon nap over blogging, or Bryan was on the computer, or there were more important things to do (spend quality time with the girls and Bryan, do laundry, clean house, catch up on e-mail, househunt, and update my status on Facebook). Oh well, girls are now in bed, Bryan is at dinner with friends, and I just spent a little over an hour folding this week's laundry. Time to catch up...

Paris:

Bryan's parents came over for a couple of weeks around Easter during his Dad's Spring Break. It was a whirlwind two weeks. They arrived on Sunday and spent the first couple of nights with us, then left on Wednesday for two nights in Paris (last summer when they came to visit, they never left the Netherlands, so it was nice that they decided to venture out a little this time since it may be their last). On Saturday morning, Bryan and I woke up early and headed off for two nights in Paris ourselves. We didn't take the camera because we ran out of room in our two backpacks, but we did get a disposable camera and took some fun pictures. Unfortunately, Bryan's mom took off with the camera and now we have to wait to see them and they will likely not be digital. Sorry, friends, you will have to believe me when I write that we had a wonderful time! Who wouldn't enjoy Paris with the man (or woman) they love!? We walked alot and rode around on a double bus taking in all of the sights. We ate 2-hour French lunches (we even outlasted several French tables!). We got to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night from the roof of our hotel. And we got some much needed alone time, which included 11 hours of sleep both nights!! It was fantastic!

Berlin:

Anyway, got back to the Hague on Monday and on Tuesday morning we all got up, got dressed and packed and out the door for a nice long drive to Berlin, Germany. What should have taken 6 hours took 9 because we had to stop 3 times and each time took about an hour. Oh well, at least we didn't get stuck in the horrible traffic going the other way! We went to the Berlin Zoo (Avery's new favorite word is 'monkey' and she makes the cutest monkey sounds) and Legoland Discover Center (the highlight here was Mommy, Daddy, and Kaeli making Easter bunnies out of legos together). Bryan and his dad went on a walking tour while me and Avery took a nap and Grandma and Kaeli 'rested'. We spent each evening at the swimming pool at the hotel. Bryan complained that the water was too cold, but at least he was braver than his dad who never actually got in the water. Very difficult to do when you are watching two little fish who want to swim on their own! Here are some pictures...

Signs of Spring, Just Kidding!

Here's the second post of the evening...

I took these pictures earlier this week because the sun was out and the weather had warmed up a little (40 F!), these flowers popped up in our yard and I was starting to think Spring had sprung...

Got up this morning and looked outside the window to see MORE SNOW! Seriously. It was 28F yesterday morning when we went to church, and I'm sure it was at least that cold this morning. Here's what Avery looked like when we walked out to door to ride our bike to day care. Gotta love the Netherlands!

Cologne, Germany

Hello again, Friends! Apologies for the long radio silence. Too many things going on, and when I do have time to blog, Bryan is usually on the Mac and if I turn on my work computer to blog, I always end up working!

Anyway, we had another White Family Adventure together last month and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. Grandma White came into town to help Bryan with the girls while I went to Kazakhstan. My trip got cancelled at the last minute, but we got to enjoy a day trip to Cologne, Germany. Here are some pictures. The cathedral was beautiful!! We had the most fun at the hotel swimming pool, which we did not get pictures of.

Give me your eyes...

For the past year I have had the song in my head constantly. I had Bryan download it to the Mac. It's on the iPod that I occasionally listen to if I have to ride the tram or train. It's on the "Mommy & Daddy" CD we listen to on the few occasions when we are actually in the car. And yet as little as I listen to it, I can't get it out of my head. I keep wondering what it is that God is trying to tell me. What is it about this song that moves me so? Is there something I should be doing? What am I missing? Unfortunately, this post isn't about me finally figuring out the answers to these questions. I wish it were. As I lay here on my 33rd birthday (the age Christ died for me, as my husband pointed out to me last week when we celebrated his 33rd), I am hoping that just by writing down my thoughts, I will somehow figure it out. Maybe it's just His little reminder to me to STOP and look at the world around me. His little reminder for me to "Love People"!

Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missin'

Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me Your eyes so I can see