Chatting with Grandma

Sorry this is sideways...

Holland part 1

This has been a big week. Alan has been in Beirut, Lebanon for school. I shipped Logan home on Wednesday and my mom arrived. So, we took advantage of our pastor's car (which he wasn't using) and made a road trip to Holland to go to the tulip festival. It was absolutely amazing! I love the Netherlands....the fresh air, the nice people, fields and fields of flowers. On thursday we went to the Keukenhof gardens in Lisse. There were gazillions of tulips and hyacinths carpeting the place. I took over 130 pictures, so here are just a few. You can click on them to get a closer look.

Happy Birthday Logan

Logan doesn't turn 11 until mid May, but we celebrated this weekend since she is scheduled to depart for America this Wednesday. Alan cooked her up some dog bone shaped pancakes for the event!

yikes, good thing my arm stretches longer!

When you can't fall asleep....

Daddy will sing you a lullaby

or turn it into a sing-a-long

He is Risen Indeed!

Joyeuses Pâques
It's too bad she can't eat chocolate yet! That Easter bunny should know that.

No smiles were to be had after a long, event filled day, but I thought the picture was cute anyways.

We were invited for Easter dinner as our pastor, Brian, and his wife, Denise's, house. Brian's parents were in town as well, visiting from NC. The dinner and company were a delicious trip back to the South for an afternoon.....Sweet tea and all! The Kirby's daughter kept Eloise entertained quite well.

More from the sunny day

You could just eat her up, huh?

Friend or Foe?

So, Logan has been learning that Eloise does come with some perks.....Logan has become a permanent fixture beneath Eloise's high chair awaiting the scraps of food that get flung overboard. "Eloise = friend? definitely!"

Logan is, however, learning that there is a small price to pay as this little tyke pokes her in the eyes when she pets her or tugs on her ears. "Friend? hmmmm"

After Eloise continues to poke, prod and pull at her jowls, Logan proceeds with plenty of squinty- eyed hesitation. "Still trying hard to remember why I like this baby?"

Now Logan just sits there waiting, embracing the repeated beating to her head. poor Logan.

Eloise wins, but Logan is too lazy to get up and move away from her. She spends the remainder of our time at the park with her neck craned so that she can be as far from the little bruiser as possible. "Yeah, we're not friends anymore! Eloise = Foe"

At the park

When Eloise and I babysit all day on Tuesdays we have the great privilege of going to a tiny amusement park for the morning, weather permitting. It's just a short walk from Flavia's apartment. There are tons of playgrounds, horses to ride, a waterpark, a petting zoo, amusement park rides and games, junk food etc etc. Last week was the first time Eloise experienced sand. She loved to sit and rake her hands through it and tried to eat it too, of course.

This turkey just roams around freely and tends to follow a little too close for my comfort. I end up picking both kids up just to avoid any run-ins that I'd have to explain to Flavia's mom. Below is a terrible picture, but I had to capture what my day looks like and yes, those are llamas behind us.

After we spent a ridiculous amount of money on rides, Flavia kept asking to go to the "balançoires." I had no clue what that meant (remember she only speaks French and Italian at 2 years old). I tried asking other French people nearby if they spoke English to see if they could translate for me. Flavia would then clam up and I just looked bizarre asking some stranger what "my kid" was saying. Finally, we happened upon the swings/balançoires...victory! I'm pretty sure I won't forget that word now, yet I might have to create the opportunities to use it!

Hey Good Lookin'

Eloise's Dedication at Church

We had Eloise dedicated at church a couple of weeks ago. Alan and I chose a passage of scripture to encourage her, and our family in general, in our pursuit of faith in Christ and our daily journey with Him as we parent this precious little one that God has entrusted to us.
Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Eloise worn the same dress, socks and shoes that I wore for my infant baptism. My parents scanned in some old pictures of me wearing the outfit.....and yep, as everyone says, she looks nothing like me. Actually, two little french grannies stopped me and Eloise on the way to the market yesterday and said exactly that. "She's beautiful....she must look just like her father!" I tried not to read too much into that one, but it isn't the first time at all that strangers that have never even seen Alan have told me Eloise must look like her father.

A wonderful family from church, the Heintzelmans, threw a party for Eloise the following week. We had a DELICIOUS meal and a great lazy afternoon at their house hanging out with friends (and watching some March madness!). The little guest of honor pretty much napped through the entire thing.