The World Cup and other surprizes

Howdy everyone! By now most of you know that, yes, I actually had the baby and am, therefore, not an elephant (who carry their kids for a year!). It's a girl - Sophia Mavourneen Longnion! She's almost 8 weeks now and growing super fast! Sorry that I haven't posted before this - she's a mamma's girl and I hate typing one-handed....

It's a whole new ballgame with two kids now. Those of you with two or more kids are now laughing behind their hands (or just openly) at us as we struggle to rebalance our lives and our minds. Miles likes being the "big brother" but he also likes hugging her VERY tightly and yelling in her face when she's asleep Sigh.....Luckily, Sophia is a very mellow baby and sleeps a lot right now. God help us when she's more awake and demanding more attention...:)
I'm now coming out of hibernation with the baby to realize that the world goes on without us. Living in Europe has given me a whole new perspective on events like the World Cup. I've never seen a country that literally shuts down at game time to watch tv (okay, the Superbowl, but that's the only other thing). I've actually seen signs in shop windows "watching the game, back at 3:30." I think it said that; it was in Dutch, so I can't be too sure. The store was closed, okay, in the middle of the day - isn't that enough for you????


Anyway, during the first game, the entire country wore orange (national color), painted the flag on their faces and tooted obnoxiously on plastic horns that I would like to stuff down their throats......oh, sorry, went a little overboard there. I like their dedication, but I just can't get into a sport that only scores once or twice the whole time. I like basketball - 100 points in one game! That's real action for ya.....

In other news, the weather is finally cooperating and we've had some really lovely days after a LONG winter. I'm still shocked to see sunshine. Of course now it's light from 4 am to 11 pm, so the other side of the coin is insomnia.....

But we're outside a lot too - enjoying parks and beaches galore. Miles makes friends with everyone and his dog. There are no strangers around him. This is good and bad. Good that he's friendly; bad that he accepts snacks and candy from just about anyone. I've tried to tell him to at least make sure the person offering it has kids too...:( It does seem to be safer here and people don't seem to worry about things like taking candy from strangers.......

Kids go to school longer here - school is not out until July 2. Then they have six week summer holiday. I've never seen a country empty out so fast. First day school is out is like a starting gun: BANG - everyone is off traveling. We can't even have Miles' birthday party the day of (July 4) because there is no one left to attend! So now the party is June 30th. Oh well, at least there will be kids there!

Miles wants everything "for my birthday." A skateboard, a bigger bike, video games, water guns, you name it, he wants it. I now realize how advertising works on kids. Anything and everything he sees on tv, he wants. He believes tennis shoes can make you fly and candy rings give you super powers. He acts so mature for his age sometimes I forget that he's only three (almost 4). But he'll learn.

That's it for now. I'll try to post again with pics of Miles' birthday and my sister's upcoming visit on July 7!! woo hoo! Hope everyone survives the heat in Texas and come visit us!

Love
Nicole

PS - the photo of Miles in the little pool was taken only after a lot of work. Never buy a blow up pool if a) you don't have a pump and/or b) you don't have a hose. After I recovered from passing out on the living room floor after blowing the damn thing up, we had to fill it with pots and pans from the sink. Not a great idea. Especially since he was only in it for 20 minutes. argh!