Time Flies

Hello everyone and welcome to spring in Holland. Wait, it doesn't look a whole lot different from winter in Holland. Oh well. There are a few more days where we see the sun and it is a LITTLE warmer, so I guess that's how we can tell. Tulips really do grow wild here and some of the hardier types have poked their heads out. Only to be frozen over, but I think we'll call that a good sign.

I have finally figured out that all these gray days really affect my mood. That and my waistline. I have this incredible urge to bake when it's cold and rainy out. Basically every day. I try to limit myself to healthy things with little or no sugar, but still, a dozen cookies eaten every day will still make a difference! I'm exaggerating....a little. Good thing I'm pregnant.

Speaking of pregnancy, only 6-7 weeks to go, depending on when the little bugger decides to come out! Everyone keep your fingers crossed that she won't be a week late like Miles. I think he gained a pound in that last week. Definitely would be easier if she didn't weigh close to 10 pounds like her big bro. I'm gonna give natural delivery a shot even after my cesarian section, so keep those fingers crossed tight! Think good thoughts.

Before I start to flatten cities with my giant belly, Aaron and I thought it would be fun to have one more family trip. Hmmm, where to go.......Paris! We found out that there is a high speed train that only takes 3 hours to get there. Perfect! Wait a second, there's a tiny reason why not tugging at my subconscious - oh right, that huge belly again. I can't even walk a block these days without getting short of breath (not doing so much yoga this time around) not to mention getting up and down the steps to the Metro. Let's wait on that trip. Paris will always be there.

So we decided to check out an all-n-one package - family resort with huge pool, amusement park, bowling, you name it, all in one place, with food included! Sign us up! We did decide not to go on Miles' school holiday to give him a fighting chance against bigger kids, but last weekend we took the plunge!

It's a place called Preston Palace in a town named Almelo. When we finally figured out how to say it so people could understand us, we bought train tickets and headed out. It started to snow on us by the time we finally got there and I felt so justified for blowing all this money on two nights on this indoor playground. Ha, let it snow I thought. So of course the next two days were so sunny and bright you had to wear sunglasses inside.......oh well. It was still fun.

This place had the biggest pool I've ever seen. It was more like a lagoon, complete with waterfalls, rain storms, even a fish tank IN the pool! Talk about swimming with the fishes! Miles really liked the pool and the mini golf and the bowling. Despite the fact that they only had 8 and 10 pound balls with no bumper lanes, he still managed to knock down some pins three times! Wow, I was impressed. Could Aaron and I have produced an athlete despite our slacker genes? Only time will tell. Another factor in the athlete theory: Miles can swim without water wings! Holds his breath, goes under, comes up, scares me to death, the whole shebang! I don't know where he gets it from, but he is the most physically adept child I've ever met........

So now our fun trip time is over. We're staying close to home for the rest of the time until Baby Sister is born. One new development though - Miles has taught himself to ride a bike without training wheels! I couldn't ride a bike until I was 8 and my 3-year-old is zooming away? Come on now, give me a break! But it's true! Crazy but true! Sure we're in a place that has more bikes than cars, so he has to be influenced by that. Plus we got him a balance bike with no pedals that he rode a lot, so I guess those things really work! For now we're just riding in the park where there are no cars allowed, but I guess he'll be able to ride to school pretty soon. God help us all.

Hope everyone in Texas is enjoying the spring weather that we don't have yet. Put some in a bottle and send it to me, would ya? Thanks, you're a pal.....:)

Love
Nicole

PS. The darker photos were taken by my Iphone with an App called Hipstamatic. Takes pics with old school lenses and film. I love it! Here's a little video of Miles on his bike today. I've never loaded a video on my blog so I hope it works.....Enjoy!