The Showroom

First week

Everyone survived it pretty well. Well except for the weather. Pouring rain in the middle of August (which in my mind = summer month) is rather depressing. Calling my mum to hear that the swimming pool shows a water temperature of 29 is even more depressing....

I did much less that I had planned to this week. Instead I caught up with friends and tried to think of the 5 weeks ahead leading to THE move.

So many things must happen, I'm kind of getting overwhelmed somehow. I really need to chin up and start packing, and start throwing (ugh) and really get organized. Instead I'm editing pictures of the sumer...

 

 

 
 

It's been very quiet at my house today....

I caught the kids just before they hopped in the car on their first day at school. I did miss them but 3 o'clock came sooner than I expected to pick them up again. The big change is that Manouk will stay 3 day/week at school for lunch. And the boys are getting even more homework.

And me? I went to town with a friend grabbing lunch, coffee and a bit of shopping.

 

Countdown has begun....

5 days till school starts again..How did that happen? I have the feeling the kids just left for the summer a few days ago.

We're back, haven't edited anything yet, but missing the weather, the food, the running and all the fun we had. It's always taking me a while to adjust back. But in renovation hell, this break was exactly what we needed.

I'm getting back into it, Manouk keeping me company whilst the boys are having fun at hockey camp with lots of friends!

 

Great sailing week...

The first 2 days were HOT, above the 33. With a little wind. The rest of the week was cooler and more wind. They both liked it a lot. Maxim got his diploma (incl. theory + practice). Nathan got 8 certificates out of the 10 for practice. And 3 out of the 4 for theory. They were both happy, and diploma or not, the goal here was to have fun and learn sailing. And they did, both. So mission accomplished. They'll definitely go back next summer or even before. We'll see.

This is their instructor handing out diploma/certificate. Bad picture but had to take one!

 

Winner!

Look at that smile! I think he couldn't believe it himself. Shame I only had my mobile that carries a bad camera (I'm usually too late or just not cropping correctly, which is exactly what happened here! lol). No matter what, his face says it all. The boys were at tennis camp the whole week from 9-5. Pretty intensive and they were beat every night. The last day was tournament day. The parents could come and watch from the 1/4 final but Manouk was very sick (stomach bug) so I decided to only show up for the finals.

Each category (they were 5 in total, Maxim was in 4) had their own tournament. When I turned up he ran to me to say he was in the final with a big grin. I was so happy I would see him play afterall; did not expect it as he was in a pretty strong group). I did not see much of the match, far too nerve wracking. Nathan sat next to me telling me what was happening! LOL!

 

When the going gets tough....

they are always there to make me laugh!

 

Last week was.....trying....to say the least. I woke up every morning, after a long night with little sleep, every limb in pain from the stress. This renovation is big lesson in mankind. It is amazing to see how many people will just work against us rather than with us. And sometimes just for the sake of... Of what actually? I would not even be able to tell you. I guess some people need the drama, the fighting, the confrontation to feel powerful and alive? Not sure. Our relationship with our architects (well the wife part of the team) hit a bottom low. I hope to have seen the worse of it. There were days last week when I would have sold the house at the first chance. Then again there were days when I received emails and other messages from  people being just so nice and normal, days where I heard the husband of a friend had an heart attack and is lying in hospital.... Watching the series of pictures I made of my 3 kids, pulled me back up and filled my heart with lots of blessings.

But today, Maxim sent me an email that touched me deep inside he would never even imagine. Not for a long time anyway. It hit me so hard that I started to cry and could not stop for 2 minutes long. As a joke, he wrote an mail, as written by the architect. It was so true it took me a few seconds to realize what was happening, and it was so sad that he, at 9 years of age, had to carry my building worries on his shoulders. That he was so grown up about it. And me, the adult, had not been able to shelter him from all these problems.

To a very special kid.....

 

 

Hockey!

Boys are at hockey camp this week. What's better than playing hockey the whole day with your friends. Right! Absolutely nothing. And when mum agrees to have your friends stay overnight, then you start to wonder: what's up with mum? Is that a hint to NOT forget to buy a present for mothers-day??

It is so fun, rewarding, peace-giving, not sure of the word, to see them growing up and being part of a group. They have great friends and it feels great to let them go everyday a little bit more.

I photographed Maxim's class on Thursday and one of his friends lost his mother last November. Watching him laugh (I got great pictures of him), I hoped he could sometimes feel the bliss of just being a child again. I was thinking about his mother and how hard and painful it must have been to have to say good bye to her 3 kids. How do you do that, how do you let go when it is forever?

This was this morning, on their way to the last day of their 3-day camp. Happy as it should be!

 

Orange!

At 8:00 yesterday the boys and DH went to set up camp with some other friends. Despite the wind, the rain, they stayed put, selling for 60 euro of books, old toys and other things that we had reserved for this day. When you sell each piece about 25 cent, that's a lot of pieces you've been selling to get to 60 euro. I'm very proud of how they just stayed motivated for 7 hours, just enjoying their customers. Funny also to see how Maxim is the most commercial of the 2 and how Nathan would not let go of the wallet....We also had to remind him a few times to give the change back...He would just forget (he says..). It was a fun day and let me say it feels good to have some space again in the basement.

Manouk has discovered her passion: rollerskating....She has not taken these out the WHOLE day yesterday!! These are Maxim's and way too big, so we bought her a pink pair today with the money she made yesterday. While she is happily skating around the house, I'm having visions of B movies where waitresses are rolling around serving customers, miniskirt and all. Well let's hope not!! lol

Today was the same, and I'm amazed at how she masters these things already!

 
 

 

La vie en rouge....

With our upcoming move, we are trying to get rid of the many many things that are cluttering our garage. Although our new house will be much bigger, storage space will be less, ha ha. Yes not a joke. So it is time for drastic measures.

We spent some of our Sunday going through our organised storage unit mess, sorting what could be sold/given/thrown. When we came this Step2 jungle climber that I got the boys when they were about 2 yrs. Well kids have grown, got a sister, and these 3 are definitely too big for this! It did not stop them having fun with it whilst DH and I were working hard...

 

On another note, this is why I just love my 35mm 1.4. These are sooc, check the colors, and it is so sharp too. Probably one of 2 of my favorite lenses.
 

The Olympics and more....

I have to admit it...

It has been a time (and for a very long time) when watching the Olympics was everything to me. I always, read ALWAYS, loved sport. To me the ultimate sport performance of someone that has put aside so many things to reach that moment reaching the top at that particular time and getting onto the podium (because gold is not the only thing) is nothing short of amazing.

Because talent is one big advantage, but without drive, character, motivation and the love for your sport, talent has no value.

Watching all of them in Vancouver, fighting to achieve their dreams, even when all seems lost, pushing themselves just that little bit further, watching them looking at the result board and watching their emotions is again nothing short of amazing.

Watching someone who has put his life aside for 4 years, made all the sacrifices, trained in the early hours before going to work, and trained again harder when the results were not good enough, and managed to ignore all the bad press before an important race is also amazing.

Seeing the pain of those who did not win but who are strong enough to congratulate the winner. 

The boys grew into the Olympics this year. They are now really into it but do not still completely grasp the above yet. I still cry when the national anthems are played, even if they're not mine. How crazy is that? LOL. They certainly don't get that. Of course I have favorites but the performance is really all I care about.

I am already sad to think it's over in less tan 5 days. And I feel for Sven. And his coach too.

The boys watching the Men SUPER G yesterday evening.

Now for the other news.

Kids are on vacation. Most people went skiing which means it's QUIET! How do I love that. THe whole year we live by playdates and rushing from one thing to another. Well, there is nothing of that this week. We live by the minute, what a bliss. A few playdates but in own terms and just a few too.

Manouk normally swims on Saturday morning, but for the little ones they have organised an extra 3 lessons this week. Small groups (5) so lots of attention. Manouk loves swimming but since in "group 2" hates going, comes out crying and is lost as to what she needs to do. Her teacher is just a "@£$%!" (sorry but just true) and I am hoping she will get to "group 3" asap. Manouk is just so easy going and a water rat, I'm in awe of someone who can turn that around in such a short time and to such an extent.. I will leave it at that. I am hoping the extra lessons will help her regain some self-confidence and help her in getting to that extra level. It also gives us some structure in our vacation week.

 

 

Yesterday DH took a day off and we had a really nice day out: museum and cinema. We went to the Kunsthal to see an exhibition "Made in Holland" about all innovations coming from the Netherlands. Was fun to see. But of course popcorn + film is what the kids had waited for and enjoyed a LOT!

M. had his tennis training yesterday too (so was a busy day!). It has been such a white winter that most of his hockey and tennis trainings have been cancelled since before Christmas. So yesterday (as an attempt to catch up) he got an extra private hour. DH had not seen him play for a long while and was surprised at how good he has become. His trainer said that he's doing really well for an 8 year old. Shame that his agenda is already so full that it is virtually impossible for him to play any competition. Maybe in a couple of years. But with hockey I just can't see it happening any time soon. 

And for the rest, lots of reading, building some knex aeroplanes, preparing for the next piano recital, and a well needed haircut for N.

  

 

 

And... Oh no, I have another computer addict at home...