4th of July weekend

We had a wonderful, relaxing 4th of July weekend!
The parade in Melba was on Saturday morning. Tys went with his pake and beppe to the parade, while Rudi, Nieko and me went to the farmers market in Nampa (fun!).

That afternoon we just relaxed, Rudi had to work a little bit. Then we barbecued and sat in the hot tub, it was so much fun! Rudi went to the fireworks in Melba with a friend. I watched the fireworks from a distance, they were really cool!
The weather was perfect. Most years it gets close to 100F on the fourth, but this year it only got to about 75F!

On Sunday we went to church. We were planning to go to a water park after church with the whole family, but we decided it was a little to cool. So instead we all went out to lunch.
Later that day we went fishing at celebration park in Melba, it was so beautiful. We had a great time, even though we didn't catch any fish.

The family at the parade in Melba

trying on some pretty dorky shades!

on Sunday, on the way to celebration park to try and catch some fish!

see "our spot"?

Tys had a good time!

didn't catch anything!

Holland supporters

Of course we're changing to Stars & Stripes for the weekend, but today we're celebrating that Holland won!

First Birthday's ~ compare

Nieko on his 1st Birthday

Tys on his 1st Birthday

Nieko's first Birthday

Nieko is ONE today!
It all started in church last year, I remember it so well, it does not seem like that long ago. We even went out for lunch after church, and then we went home. Rudi worked for a little bit while Tys took a nap. Then Rudi's parents came to pick up Tys and Rudi and me headed to the birthing center at 5pm. It seemed like the contractions had slowed way down. And I wasn't in that much pain. But at 6.30 I started to feel pressure. 15 minutes later I was holding a beautiful, tiny, slippery little boy, Nieko.

What blessing he has been this past year. He was and still is such a sweet baby! And now he's one. He just learned how to crawl and he's starting to "talk". He plays so sweet with Tys, they truly are friends.

We had a fun party to celebrate his birthday on Sunday (yesterday). We kept it small, just family. It was really fun and relaxing. The "big" boys played so sweet and they even got to go into the hottub! They had a blast!

This is a beautiful banner, made by Miriam!

Nieko = the birthday boy!

the "big" boys in the hottub!

Nieko got to have his own cake!

he enjoyed it!

and shared with Tys

yum!

Moriah also enjoyed some birthday cake. She turned one on June 22nd!

rain rain!!!

It was the coldest may since 1912 in Holland. So when we returned home I expected some nice spring weather...

but no,

It's been raining a lot here! it's crazy!!!
I don't like to complain, but it's time for some real nice weather!
We've been busy here on the dairy. The guys have been harvesting in between the rain showers! And Rudi and me have been working on our yard. We are putting in bricks. and then we need to put in sprinklers before we can put in grass. quite a project. It's been a year without a real yard, so it's about time. We bought a sand box for Tys, that we need to put together. He loves playing with all his trucks, tractors and loaders in the dirt.
Nieko is turning one this month, can you believe it!???

Here are a few more NL pics

By all the beautiful tulips

our family

Tys and Nieko and 2 of their cousins in the zoo by the elephants!

My mom and dad put their house up for sale.
Mixed feelings about that, since it's the house I was born and grew up in...

Tys "helping" pake Jacob putting up the sign!

Some more pictures of our trip

Tys and Nieko by a "bloemen-mosaiek". People make these things by pinning tiny flowers petals in foam! Amazing!

My mom bought these beautiful bouquet at a stand by the road for 1 euro each!!!

Nieko in his cousins dress

playing outside

Girls night out!

acting like we are mannequins

On Koninginnedag (when we celebrate the queens birthday) we're all dressed in orange!

My mom gave Tys and Nieko a bath in her laundry baskets on the kitchen floor!

Tys and his cousin Dirk

Me and my younger sister Elbrich by the beautiful tulips!

Home

My family

We are home!
On wednesday night at 7.30 pm we arrived at Boise airport.
We had such a good time in Holland. The time flew by of course!
It's good to be home again. Tys loved seeing his cousins again. And he played with all of his toys right away.
The boys are doing extremely well with the whole time change, it's amazing! I guess kids adjust really quick. None of us seem to have jetlags.
All the bags and suitcases are unpacked, and I did about 7 loads of laundry...!

I will post some more pictures soon.