Christmas and New Year's in Wijster, NL - 2009

We got to spend a great almost two weeks with my family in Holland over the Christmas/ New Year break. For once we decided not to race all over the country to see places and do touristy things, but instead just enjoyed a relaxing time at my parents house, having fun with family, and making a few small outings. We must have brought the snow back from Wyoming, because for the first time in forever there was a white Christmas in the Netherlands, which made everything look so beautiful. I forgot how cold the Dutch winters can get though! Even though the thermometer doesn't indicate something too threatening, all that moisture just makes for a wet cold that goes straight to your bones...BRRR!
The first week we visited my sister at her place in Wageningen one afternoon, where she is kicking butt working on her Master's degree (a place regarded the largest food & nutrition research development area in the world). We had fun walking around town and along the 'uiterwaarden' of the river Rhine, but it was just a little too chilly to be out too long. We also went to see my brother and his wife and their kids in Heerde, where I got to meet my youngest nephew Tesse for the first time! It was so fun to watch the three cousins play together, the boys very willing to share their toys with Andi, and before we knew it she was surrounded, almost coverd with all their cars and trucks :).
On Christmas day, my brother and his fam, and my sister and boyfriend Dennis all came over and we enjoyed a fantastic 7 course dinner prepared by my parents...Yum! We had fun unwrapping Christmas presents, and just hanging out.
The next week, my mom and sister and I had a chance to go to the city of Zwolle for a day, and go shopping together: Always good times! On New Year's, everyone except my brother (who was back at sea for work) was at my parents' again, and we got to ring in the new year with some fantastic fireworks courtesy of Dennis. Other than that, we just relaxed, played a game, chatted, went for some walks in the area, my sister and I got to go on two runs together (she kicked my butt...she is fast!), and enjoyed fantastic food prepared by the best cook, my dad. Of course Oma and Opa also got plenty of snuggle time with Andi :)
Andi did pretty good on her first plane ride... no major cry fests or painful ears. She didn't fall asleep easy though, so she'd get overly tired and then a little bit fussy, but eventually did manage to get some naps in our lap. Then after naps and food she'd be back to her happy smiling self, and flirt with everyone in the cabin :) I took some pictures of her first plane ride, but for some reason they are not on my camera, so who knows ...
Here are a few shots from our vacation:

The best place for an after travel nap: in the hammock by the fireplace.

With dad in the hammock

Sleepy on mommy's shoulder

Ready to taste some of Opa's cooking!

Tesse and Andi by the tree

Ivan and Andi by the tree

From her sweet aunt Liselotte, a late traditional Sinterklaas present: her first initial in chocolate (for mommy to eat of course ... yay!)

Ivan in the apron I made him

Mmmm eating a Dutch pancake at a pancake house.

Playing bilingual Scrabble with Dennis and Liselotte. As you can see, my sister and I take it very seriously :) She won.

Our bilingual board...quite interesting to play it that way...we even turned Dutch words into English ones, and vice versa :) Of course Ben was at a slight disadvantage only knowing one of the languages

Ah, the boys just can't help it. Killing things on the PS3

Sitting on Oma's lap

The whole fam. (clockwise from top: Dennis, Opa, Oma, Bastian, Ben, me, Andi, Erika, Tesse, Ivan, and Liselotte)

My brother and I and the kids

The three cousins playing together

Playing on the floor with Opa

With great grandpa Mooiweer

Playing with uncle Bastian

Playing with uncle Dennis

Excited about food!

Sittin' on the rocking horse.

My sister and I deepfrying Oliebollen for New Year's eve.

Ben with Andi, and my brother with his youngest, Tesse.

Auntie Liselotte playing with Andi.

My beautiful sister and my little doll :)

My parents' thatched roof house


Going back home - Early morning at Schiphol airport, watching the planes with daddy.


Back home in Laramie ... exhausted and too cute :)