de Jager boys

Ouch!

2012-01-27T21:16:00.000-08:00

Today Nik was at school at recess time when the bell rang. He ran off the field onto the asphalt, tripped and fell onto his face. After icing the bump for a while, the school called us to come and pick him up. He has a number of scrapes on his nose and forehead, but is otherwise doing well. After cleaning him up and monitoring him for a while, he went back to school after lunch. Ouch!

Wacky Hair Day!

2012-01-27T21:02:00.000-08:00

Today was wacky hair day at school, so we decided to streak the boys' hair with some temporary colour. Nik's hair had a red checkboard pattern on the sides and stripes around the front, top and back. Matt's hair was spiked, with green streaks and stripes in the back. Many of their classmates had crazy hair as well, and even Mrs. Illes got into the school spirit!

Reader's Theatre

2012-01-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

This afternoon parents were invited to the Ready to Read class for a Reader's Theatre presentation. Both boys are becoming very confident readers, and it was neat to see them reading with expression in front of an audience. Nik also had a chance to read his creative writing today. Well done, Nik and Matt!

Happy Birthday Jenson!

2012-01-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

This afternoon Matt and Nik went to Go Bananas to help Jenson celebrate his seventh birthday. After an hour of running through the indoor playground area, everyone enjoyed pizza and cupcakes together. Matt and Jenson have become really good friends during the last few months, and both boys were happy to be able to celebrate with him!

Chinese New Year

2012-01-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

Today is Chinese New Year, and Matt and Nik enjoyed several Lunar New Year activities at school to celebrate. They also put on their Chinese outfits that the Zhai family gave them last year. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Matt the Toothless Wonder!

2012-01-22T19:35:00.001-08:00

Tonight we were on the ferry, enjoying some dinner, when Matt bit into his hot dog. It made his bottom tooth really wiggly - in fact, the tooth was sitting flat! Matt wiggled it for a few minutes, and out it came. He's turning into a toothless wonder!

The Power of the Wind

2012-01-22T11:29:00.001-08:00

Today is a very windy day on the Sunshine Coast, so we headed down to the beach to check out the waves. It looked and sounded awesome!

Ahh... the cabin

2012-01-21T20:42:00.001-08:00

It's always nice to come to the cabin, but we especially enjoy it on a sunny day. Tonight we enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and everyone had a chance to relax. We're discovering that the cabin is a great place to be - any time of year!

Dakota Ridge

2012-01-21T20:00:00.001-08:00

Today we drove up to Dakota Ridge in Sechelt to do some sledding and explore the area. It's a 10 km drive up to the top of the 1200 m high recreation area, with lots of beautiful views along the way. When we got up to the top, we hiked through fresh snow with a 100 cm base to find some perfect sledding hills. All three boys had a great time sliding down several long hills, with Matt and Nik falling face first into fresh powder a few times. It was a difficult hike back up each time since the snow was deep and everyone kept sinking down into the snow, but it was great to explore together. After about an hour on the hill, we went into the hut to warm up before heading back to the cabin. So fun!

Another Missing Tooth!

2012-01-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

Matt was having trouble falling asleep tonight, so I went to check on him to see what he was doing. He was busy wiggling his front tooth since he really wanted it to come out. After managing to turn it completely around, he pulled it out himself. He is so proud!

New Sleds!

2012-01-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

The snow continues to fall, and we found new sleds for the boys since their other ones were too small for them, so it was time to head back to the hills after school to have more fun in the snow. This time, we went to the hills by the rugby field, and the new sleds flew nice and straight down the hill. There were a few of the boys' classmates there as well, and everyone had a great time playing in the snow for a few hours!

Enjoying the Snow!

2012-01-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we went to the hills beside the track at the South Surrey Athletic Park to do some sledding in the fresh snow. Matt and Nik trekked up and down the hill for almost an hour and a half before they reluctantly agreed to head home. It looks like winter has finally arrived!

A Visit from Travis Lulay

2012-01-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Matt and Nik are avid football fans, so Uncle Norm arranged a visit with Travis Lulay, the quarterback of the BC Lions and CFL MVP. He came to our house today, surprising the boys, and Nik recognized him right away. He brought signed footballs for the boys, took some time to play catch with them, and signed their jerseys. He stayed for about 45 minutes, chatting with the boys and talking about football, and it was an awesome surprise. Thanks Uncle Norm and Aunt Sandy for arranging this visit!

Matt's Weekend with Coon

2012-01-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

The boys' grade one teacher has introduced the class to "Coon," the class mascot. Every weekend Coon goes home with a different student, and the student writes about Coon's weekend in his journal. This weekend Coon watched Matt ice skate, played astronaut with him, went out for breakfast at Boundary Bay airport and explored the Vancouver Aquarium. Matt was very excited to have Coon join him on all his weekend activities, and loved sharing the journal with the class when he got back to school. It's a fun way to promote writing!

Six Year Photo Shoot

2012-01-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

We recently took the boys' six year photos with Nadine Inkster, our favourite photographer. While some of the poses are familiar since we've used them in previous years, she had a new brick background that she tried this year as well. We think those photos make them look so grown up!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

This year we started a new tradition for New Year's Eve. Matt and Nik stayed up until 9 pm to watch the ball drop on the New York celebration. We first spent a few hours playing games - their latest favourites are "Jenga" and "Crazy Eights." Then we rang in the New Year with New York before the boys headed off to bed. Happy New Year everyone!

A Playdate with Jenson

2011-12-30T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the Great Escape in Langley with our friend Jenson to enjoy a playdate together. The three boys enjoyed a game of Lazer Tag and made up spy games on the indoor playground for several hours. In the end, all three were hot and tired, which made for a perfect playdate!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning began right at 7 am, with the boys hurrying to our room to open the surprises had been left in their stockings and under our tiny tree. Both boys were spoiled again with lots of new toys. They also opened gifts from Opa and Oma, Ria, and Oom Arie and Uncle Steven. It was a very content day, and Nik spent the entire day building with Lego and Knex, and Matt worked on programming his new robot to deliver drinks and built a water and air pressure machine with Oom Arie. We also enjoyed a delicious dinner cooked by Opa, and sang more carols around the tree. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Today we arrived at the cabin to celebrate Christmas with the de Jager family. Ria gave the boys new sweaters that she had knitted for them, and they are beautiful and fit both boys well. We spent the evening enjoying good food and singing Christmas carols by our huge tree. Matt and Nik also opened a gift from Gammy - new ornaments for our tree.

Our Vacation through the Eyes of Matt

2011-12-23T21:51:00.000-08:00

Before we left on our trip, Matt and Nik were each given a new camera to help them record our vacation. Here is a sampling of over three hundred pictures taken with Matt's camera during the last week. We especially like the self portraits!

Nik's Camera Records our Vacation

2011-12-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

Nik's new camera saw lots of use on our trip to California, and provided him with lots of entertainment when we drove to all our destinations. We'll spare you the pictures of his belly button and ears, and instead share the ones that showed our trip from his perspective.

Gulfstream

2011-12-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

There is a great restaurant in Newport Beach called Gulfstream. It's a restaurant that always has a long wait, and it's difficult to get reservations, but we were patient and ate dinner here twice this week. The best part of the meal is the chocolate sundae for dessert, since it comes with its' own gravy boat full of melted chocolate. It's Matt's favorite - yum!

Laguna Beach

2011-12-22T20:51:00.000-08:00

We decided to drive down to Laguna Beach before dinner tonight, since it has a great beach area and we've always enjoyed playing there on previous visits. We arrived just at sunset, and walked down to the water to watch the waves and watch the sunset. Of course, as time went on, the boys all began to challenge the waves and get closer and closer to the water... until one large wave came and knocked Nik off his feet, soaking him up to his neck! He was upset, since wet jeans that are full of sand are pretty uncomfortable, but we all laughed since it was pretty funny to see him lying there in the water. Matt and Dad also got wet, but not as wet as Nik!

Back to the Science Center

2011-12-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

After lunch, we went back to the Science Center again. We found new areas to explore, including several "Discovery Kids" zones and large areas with hands-on materials for building. Nik spent about 45 minutes building a bridge out of Tinkertoys, complete with supports, and Matt made several domino paths and enjoyed watching how the chain reaction worked as they were knocked down. It's a very impressive place, and we enjoyed our afternoon there.

The Natural History Museum

2011-12-22T20:11:00.000-08:00

This morning we went to visit the LA Natural History Museum. They have a new dinosaur exhibit, and we spent several hours exploring all three floors in the beautiful building. We enjoyed the dinosaur encounter show, complete with a visit from a T-Rex, and both Matt and Nik were active participants in all the hands-on displays. It was interesting to see which exhibits held their interest - Matt really enjoyed seeing all the microscopes and spent a long time looking at different insects under the lens, while Nik was more interested in the various sizes of T-Rex skeletons and wondered how they had been put together. It was an interesting morning!

Matt's Loose Tooth

2011-12-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

Matt's front tooth has been loose for a while, and he is able to move it with his tongue. We'll see how long it takes for it to come out!

Back to Disneyland

2011-12-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

Today we went back to Disneyland to enjoy our favourite rides and explore some new rides in California Adventure. Because it was so warm, we decided to try to river rafting ride "Grrr" and ended up soaked - especially Nik - but with lots of smiles at the end. Matt and Nik played in the sunshine to dry off before we headed onto Goofy's Sky School - a new roller coaster with lots of dips and fast corners. The boys were just tall enough to ride it, and it was a hit!

For dinner we headed into downtown Disney and ate on an outdoor patio while watching the lights and people below us. It was a relaxing day with lots of smiles!

Elfie

2011-12-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Elf, Elfie, followed us to California and Matt and Nik always made sure that they found him every morning. This morning, he was on the railing and Matt took a few minutes to whisper something to him, and then challenged Elfie to a staring contest. Matt is sure that he won, because "Elfie's eyes moved to the side!"

Sunshine and Fountains

2011-12-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

The Science Center is located at Exhibition Park, a large park that contains the aquatic center, natrual history museum, and a large stadium that was used for the 1984 Olympics. In the center, there is a rose garden with a thousands of rose bushes and a large fountain. We ate our lunch outside at one of the picnic tables, then walked through the garden and played in the fountain for a while. Nik was fascinated by Matt's loose front tooth, and worked hard to try to pull it out. It was over 20 degrees today, and it felt great!

LA Science Center

2011-12-20T07:26:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the LA Science Center. It is a huge place with lots of interactive activities. Matt and Nik loved lifting Uncle Norm's truck up with a big lever, and we all enjoyed the aquarium area with the large tubes to walk through that allows you to look up at the various sea creatures. The best part - it's free - and it wasn't busy, so we could walk around and enjoy all the displays without battling large crowds. Another fun day!

Ahh... Starbucks

2011-12-20T07:03:00.000-08:00

Since we always had to drive to our daily activities, we stopped at Starbucks along the way for a drink and a snack. It was so nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine every day!

Playing at Legoland Again!

2011-12-19T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today we enjoyed another day in Legoland. It was a nice relaxing day, and the boys went back to their favourite rides, built with Duplo while waiting in line, and even enjoyed the lighting of the large Lego Christmas tree before the park closed. Once they got back to our rental house, they discovered that the Lego bags from their new Lego worked really well for sack races!

Off to Disneyland!

2011-12-18T20:52:00.000-08:00

Today we spent the day in Disneyland. After riding the monorail to get us into Disneyland, we enjoyed several different rides, including Autopia, the Nemo submarine ride, the paddlewheeler, and running around on Pirate's Lair Island. Later in the afternoon, Matt and Nik insisted on visiting Santa after seeing his reindeer. They were convinced that this Santa was real, especially after he told them that Rudolph wasn't there because he didn't want his nose to be dim before Christmas. He was very patient as he answered all their questions and listened to their requests. They have never asked to see Santa before, so it was cute to see them sitting on his lap, enjoying the magic of Christmas!

Relaxing at the Rental House

2011-12-18T20:08:00.000-08:00

The best part about holidays is the relaxing pace of the mornings... this morning Matt stayed in bed and read his new chapter book while Nik chose to put together the Lego that he bought in Legoland yesterday. No rushing this morning!

Legoland

2011-12-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

Today we spent our day in Legoland, enjoying the sunshine, the rides, and even some snow. Matt and Nik were excited to be old enough to drive the vehicles at the Volvo driving school this year, and made their own driver's licenses at the end of the ride. There was also an area full of snow - complete with a large snowman and hills for sledding. Both Matt and Nik loved playing there, and we couldn't believe that we had to go to California to have a white Christmas! Another hit of the day was the "Fun Town Fire Show." The boys have seen this show several times, and always ask to see it again. Their favourite character is Vern, and he had them giggling throughout the entire show. It was a great start to our holiday!

The Warmth of Huntington Beach

2011-12-16T21:34:00.000-08:00

Today we flew to California for a week long family vacation. This year, we rented a house in Huntington Beach, and we headed for the beach as soon as we arrived. We were just in time for the sunset, and we enjoyed the warmth and beauty as we walked toward the main part of town for dinner. So nice!

Christmas Sing Along

2011-12-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

Today the boys' school had a Christmas sing along. Matt and Nik were part of the junior choir, and they learned the words to about eight different Christmas songs, including "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Jingle Bells," and the silly song "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." There was also a visit from the new mascot, Talon, who was dressed as Santa. It was a nice afternoon and a great way to get everyone into the Christmas mood!

Celebrating Christmas with the Vaandrager family

2011-12-11T21:27:00.000-08:00

Today we had an early Christmas celebration with the Vaandrager family. We had lots of yummy finger foods for lunch, then the cousins exchanged gifts and everyone opened up their stockings from Grandma and Grandpa. Matt and Nik enjoyed the time with their cousins, and it was a relaxing family time together.

Riley's Second Birthday

2011-12-10T20:22:00.000-08:00

Today was our friend Riley's second birthday, so we attended a sports party at his mom's school to celebrate with him. Matt and Nik loved being the oldest kids at the party, and had a great time playing with a gym full of equipment. Happy birthday Riley!

Decorating Cookies

2011-12-09T21:19:00.000-08:00

Matt and Nik love making sugar cookies, so we make them for every holiday throughout the year. Today we baked and started decorating the Christmas cookies - a few to eat, and lots to share with friends and family.

Skating Lessons

2011-12-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

For the last six weeks, the boys have been taking skating lessons. Their balance and speed has greatly improved, and they are looking forward to another set of lessons in January. Today was the last set of lessons, and they spent their time playing games, pushing each other around on chairs, and maneuvering around traffic cones. Well done, boys!

Field Trip to Elgin Secondary

2011-12-07T15:51:00.000-08:00

Today the boys' class went on a field trip to the local high school to decorate cupcakes with the grade nine home economics class. Each child got to decorate three cupcakes with Santa faces, and the grade nine students were very kind to all the younger students. Both Matt and Nik were excited to be at the high school, and it was a very fun morning.

Celebrating Sinterklaas at the Cabin

2011-12-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we were up at the cabin to celebrate Sinterklaas with the de Jager family and Chris and Mila. When we arrived, the boys were first given more birthday presents - harbour Playmobil from Opa and Oma and Lego and Playmobil from Oom Arie and Uncle Steven.

After a relaxing day, it was time to celebrate Sinterklaas. After singing a few Dutch songs and dressing up, Matt and Nik discovered a basket just outside the door. They were excited to open up all the new packages. Then we had dinner and a fun evening together to round out the day.

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

There are certain activities that have become Christmas traditions in our house, and they begin today as we prepare for Christmas. Each year, the boys open an Advent calendar and this year their calendar is a Playmobil Knights set. They are very excited to open up a box every morning.

The other activity that started today was the arrival of our own "Elf on the Shelf." Each day, Elfie watches the boys' activities from his newest perch, and he flies to the North Pole at night to report to Santa. Both Matt and Nik love finding Elfie every morning - but they are careful not to touch him, because otherwise he might lose his magic!

Getting ready for Christmas is exciting when you have young children!

The Grey Cup!

2011-11-27T15:14:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the Grey Cup game in Vancouver - BC Lions vs. Winnipeg Bluebombers. We were in the box with Uncle Norm, Aunt Sandy, Gail, Lisa and Jeff, and it was a very fun afternoon. BC Lions won 34 to 23, and we celebrated loudly with the team. Nik was especially fond of the pompoms that he had been given, and watched the cheerleaders and copied all their moves. Matt loved dancing with Nickelback at the halftime show, and both boys loved being at the game. Go Lions, go!

A Visit with Gammy

2011-11-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

Today Gammy and Oma came for coffee to celebrate the boys' birthday with them. Gammy had a surprise for the boys and she spoiled them again. They were given a huge bag of craft items, which will keep them busy creating, cutting and gluing for a long time. Gammy is very special to us, and we always love spending time with her!

A Birthday Party with our Friends

2011-11-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we celebrated Matt and Nik's birthday with a party at Excellent Ice. We rented an ice rink for an hour, and Dad was on the ice with all the kids to skate and play hockey. Several of Matt and Nik's friends play on a hockey team, so they came equipped in all their gear, and everyone had a great time on the ice together.

After skating, we headed up to the restaurant upstairs for pizza, cake and a pinata. Everyone was hot and sweaty, so they were hungry and ate well. The party was over after a few hours, and we brought the gifts home to unwrap there. The boys had a great time celebrating with their friends, and were very spoiled on their birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday!

2011-11-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

Today Matt and Nik turn six years old... where does the time go? We began the day with presents for both boys from Mom, Dad, and from each other. There were lots of surprises in the wrapped packages, and the boys were reluctant to leave their new things and head off to school. Happy Birthday Matt and Nik! We love you very much!

Celebrating with our Cousins

2011-11-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

Birthday celebrations for Matt and Nik have started - today we celebrated with the Vaandrager family. Matt and Nik were so excited to have their cousins come, and we enjoyed relaxing together. Both boys received some neat gifts, including John Deere tractors and Nerf guns from Grandma and Grandpa, and Beyblades, Lego, and spy gear from their cousins. Happy 6th birthday Nik and Matt!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-11-17T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today was Dad's birthday, and we were excited to celebrate with him. We gave him a remote control helicopter, and Dad had to try it out right away. We also took him out for dinner, and enjoyed some birthday cake for dessert. Happy birthday, Dad! We love you!

de Jager Birthday Weekend

2011-11-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had an early birthday celebration for Dad, Matt, and Nik at the cabin with Opa and Oma. Uncle Steven was supposed to be part of the celebration, but didn't come because he wasn't feeling well. It was still a nice reason to relax and enjoy some cake.

An Authentic Chinese Dinner

2011-11-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

Today we were invited to the Zhai's house for an authentic Chinese dinner. Jack and Abby were there with their parents as well, and everyone had an enjoyable visit. We love how well all the kids play together, and we even managed to get them to stop long enough for a quick picture!

A New Cabin Tradition

2011-11-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend Dad started a new tradition at the cabin - making homemade french fries! He set up the deep fryer in the newly finished garage, and made both french fries and chips. Lekker!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

Both Matt and Nik have enjoyed a fun Halloween weekend. On Saturday, we decorated pumpkins and the boys added coloured pegs to make faces on their pumpkins. Dad also helped carve a few scary faces to add to our Halloween display. Today the boys wore their costumes to school and participated in the costume parade and Thriller dance. Then tonight they went trick or treating all through the neighbourhood, ending at Uncle Norm and Aunt Sandy's house. It was a thrilling time for them, and they enjoyed participating in all the fun activities!

A Halloween Party

2011-10-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today we had a Halloween party at our house with a bunch of our friends. Everyone came over after school this afternoon, and we enjoyed trick or treating inside the house and a pizza dinner together, plus lots of time to play. Matt and Nik were also surprised to receive a few early birthday presents from Logan, Darcy, Jules and Adelaide. It was a fun evening, and both Matt and Nik are now ready for Halloween!

Pumpkins At School

2011-10-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Mom comes to help in the classroom every week, and this week all the grade one students were painting their pumpkins. All week they have been doing different activities with their pumpkins - rolling them, measuring them, putting them in water to see if they float or sink, and today was decorating day. By the end of the activity, there were 24 brightly coloured pumpkins dripping with paint!

A Working Weekend

2011-10-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend we enjoyed a long weekend up at the cabin with Uncle Norm and Aunt Sandy. Dad and Uncle Norm cut down some more trees, and we had a big fire going for most of the weekend. By the end of the weekend, we had done a lot of yard cleanup and we could see lots of improvement in the yard. It's always lots of work, but we love seeing the progress. Thanks to Uncle Norm and Aunt Sandy for all their help!

Happy 90th Birthday Gammy!

2011-10-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Aunt Lena/ Gammy is a special person in our lives, and today Mom got to celebrate her 90th birthday with a brunch at her house. Matt and Nik were sad that they couldn't be there, but Gammy sent home some cupcakes and goodie bags for both of them so that they could be part of the celebration too. Happy birthday to a very special friend!

Going for a Bike Ride

2011-10-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

This afternoon it was nice and sunny, so we went for a bike ride at Serpentine Park. We covered several kilometres of trails, and stopped for snacks and drinks at the various lookout stations. While we were packing up our bikes, we found a woodpecker in one of the trees. Matt was especially fascinated by it, and watched it work for quite a while. It's so nice to be able to enjoy a bike ride as a family!

New Skates!

2011-10-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

The boys start skating lessons in a few weeks, so we decided to buy them some skates this year. Today they had to try them out - they're pretty excited to get on the ice again!

When Opa Comes to Babysit....

2011-10-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight Mom and Dad went to the football game, and Opa came over to look after Matt and Nik for the evening. When we got home, we had a hard time finding our bedroom door because Opa and the boys had covered it with balloons that they had decorated themselves. Matt was a bit concerned that we wouldn't be able to find our room, so he left us a note that said "Go in this is your room. Love Matt." We had lots of fun the next day when all the balloons came down too!

A Pumpkin Patch Birthday Party

2011-10-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

It has become a tradition to visit Willowview Farms on Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate our friend Jules' birthday - and this year was no exception. It was a dry day, and both Matt and Nik enjoyed playing with their friends, exploring the farm, going on a hayride and choosing a pumpkin. Happy Birthday Jules!

The Carrot Harvest

2011-10-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were working in our yard, when Matt decided to check on the carrots to see if they were ready for harvesting. They were - he found a huge carrot - and the boys happily spent the next hour or so digging them all up. Yum!

Thursdays At Our House

2011-09-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

This year, I've starting sharing after-school care with two other moms, which means that on Thursdays, we have five kids at our house after school. Bonnie, Abby and Jack come home with us and enjoy a snack before Bonnie, Matt and Nik head over to Ready to Read. On Mondays, the boys can go to Bonnie's house, and on Tuesdays they can go to Jack and Abby's house when Oma is busy. It's working out well, and the kids have a great time playing together!

Terry Fox Run

2011-09-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Today the boys participated in the Terry Fox Run held at their school. It was a beautiful day, and the kindergarten and grade one students ran laps around the field for about 30 minutes before heading back inside for lunch. After each lap, the students were given a stamp on their arm - by the end of the run, their arms were covered in stamps!

Sleeping Boys

2011-09-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

Matt and Nik are growing up so quickly, especially now that they are in school for the full day. Yet, when I see them sleep, they still look like my little boys. Today Matt had a fall at school during fitness break and landed on the asphalt - you can see the scrapes on his face and on his shoulder. It's a good thing that he's tough! He still likes to snuggle with Turtley and his blankie every night to help him sleep. Nik likes to be warm, and always sleeps all bundled up in his blankets and his ABC blanket that Grandma made him when he was a baby. Sweet dreams, boys!

Crab Feast

2011-09-26T08:57:00.001-07:00

Oom Arie decided to organize a crab feast for Saturday night's dinner. Nik really enjoys helping out in the kitchen and was Oom Arie's designated sous-chef for the evening. The rest of us got to enjoy the fruits of their labour... except for Opa who is a little squeamish about seafood.

Boat ride with Opa

2011-09-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

Mom was at school this weekend as part of her Masters program so we had a boys weekend at the cabin. One of our important tasks was to teach Opa how to use the outboard motor for his boat (he tried it last week but forgot to open the fuel switch so he spent a lot of time rowing). Both Matt and Nik have their "sea legs" and had a great time on the water.

Happy Birthday Logan!

2011-09-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we also celebrated Logan's sixth birthday with a Lego party at his house. It was nice for Matt and Nik to see a few of their friends again, and we were excited to celebrate with Logan. Happy Birthday Logan!

Happy Birthday Cameron!

2011-09-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Today we enjoyed lunch at Cameron's house to celebrate his 11th birthday. As usual, the cousins had a great time playing together!

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

2011-09-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today I received a call from the boys' school just after recess, asking me to bring "a complete change of clothes for Matt - from head to toe." I arrived at the school to find Matt and two of his friends playing in the front hallway, and picking mud off their clothes as it was drying. Apparently the students had been told to stay out of the mud puddles at recess... and Matt and his friends didn't listen. After getting him changed, he had to apologize to both his teacher and the principal, and I made him clean up the mess of dried-up mud in the front hallway. My first instinct was to laugh, but I had to remain "stern" to let him know that he needs to listen to instructions and that there are consequences for his actions. I didn't expect one of my boys to end up having to deal with the principal during the first few weeks of grade one! Lesson learned, I hope!

A Weekend with Opa and Oma

2011-09-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Dad was away fishing, so we headed over to the cabin to spend the weekend with Opa and Oma. Nik loves having Opa at the cabin since they make pannenkoek together every morning and he loves to help. Oma brought up some of her Playmobil for the boys, and they happily played for several hours on Saturday. On Sunday morning, we went to the float plane terminal in Sechelt and picked Dad up so that he could spend a few hours at the cabin too. The boys were very excited to watch his plane come in, and we were allowed to be on the dock as he arrived. We love the cabin!

Bonnie's Birthday Party

2011-09-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated Bonnie's birthday with her and attended a party at her house. They had invited a magician named Tricky Ricky to entertain the kids, and he was hilarious. Everyone was full of giggles at his antics. Every child ended up with a balloon creation at the end - both Matt and Nik had space guns - and Bonnie was happy to be able to celebrate with so many of her friends. Happy Birthday Bonnie!

BC Lions Game

2011-09-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today Matt and Nik went to the last BC Lions game at Empire Stadium with Dad while Mom was at school. They had a great time in the box with Uncle Norm, Aunt Sandy, and a new friend named Camilito. Nik got a Felions calendar, signed by several of the Felions, and both boys came home with new, signed caps. They even enjoyed a visit with Leo the Lion. Best of all, the Lions won!

First Day of Grade One

2011-09-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today was the boys' first full day of grade one since yesterday they only attended for one hour. It's going to be an adjustment for them to attend school for the whole day, but they are ready. How can they be old enough for grade one already??

Dad's Injury at the Cabin

2011-09-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

This morning, we were all working at the cabin when Dad came walking up the trail, blood running down his leg. He had been cleaning up some small trees and branches with his ax, and cut through a tree, right into his shin. Mom took him to the hospital in Sechelt for stitches, and the doctor noticed that he had chipped his shin bone as well. We came home shortly after lunch, and both Matt and Nik were very concerned and were looking for ways to take care of Dad. They made him some felt coverings to protect his wound while he heals. At least we know that the Sechelt Hospital is a good hospital, and Dad received great care while he was there.

Getting our Sea Legs

2011-09-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we rented a boat and headed out for a couple of hours on the water. It was a gorgeous, warm day, and we had a relaxing afternoon. We were able to see our cabin clearly from the water, now that the trees have been opened up a bit, and we took a trip all the way around Thormanby Island. Both Matt and Nik took a turn steering the boat, which meant that we travelled in circles for a while, and they both really enjoyed their time on the water.

Improving the View

2011-09-02T07:17:00.000-07:00

Today we had a tree service company working at the cabin, delimbing some trees and opening up the view. Matt and Nik were on the deck, looking for the orange vest as he climbed up the trees. This afternoon we're heading out on a boat to see if we can spot the cabin a bit easier from the water now.

A Visit from the Ice Cream Truck

2011-08-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we were biking in the cul de sac when the ice cream truck came for a visit. Of course, we had to get a treat!

First Tooth Out!

2011-08-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Last night, Matt's first tooth came out! While he was very excited when it happened, he also started to cry because it "felt funny" and he asked me if it could be put back into his mouth. Nik was very jealous, since he doesn't have any wiggly teeth yet, but we know it will happen to him sometime soon too. Matt didn't want to put his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy - he'd much rather keep it instead of having the tooth fairy take it away. Funny kids!

Another Fun Family Day

2011-08-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today the entire Vaandrager family got together for one last time before everyone left - Grandma Vis is heading back to California, Grandpa's cousins are going back to Holland, our Alberta cousins are heading home, and Uncle Dave and Aunt Mary are going back to Wisconsin. We brought our waterslide along, and everyone enjoyed getting wet, including Uncle Gord and Uncle Jeremy. It was a very hot day again, but we all had another great day together.

The Fair at the PNE

2011-08-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today we had a relaxing family day at the PNE. It was interesting to watch Matt and Nik take in the sights and sounds - they were most intrigued by the displays by the Army, Navy and Air force. We spent quite a while talking to the various personnel working there, and both boys asked some great questions and learned quite a bit. We also watched the Superdog show and took in a few rides before the day was done. It was hot and busy, but fun!