Planet Eijpen

Happy Birthday, Walt!!!

Walt turned 6 yesterday! We had lots of fun this past year. We watched the Grizzlies and the Racers play basketball, we watched the Titan on tv, we went to the Riverwalk, the Shell and Stax and had a few great dinners and lunches!

Harriet visited Walts school too and taught him and his friends about Holland, lots of wooden shoes prizes were given away.

Although we will only get to visit once this year, we still hope to make more of these memories this year!

Walt, hope you had a good party and birthday! We love you and hope to see you soon!!!

 

Happy 3rd birthday, Kellen!!

Today is a big day for our nephew, Kellen. It is his 3rd birthday, kind of a biggie, he is not a baby anymore. We spent a few days with him this fall and even shared our room with him. He is as lovable as he is fast!

Kellen, have a great day and an awesome party!! We love you!

 

Merry Christmas!!

 

Merry Christmas from us all! We all unwrapped our gifts tonight! Richard is reading his books (he is currently checking how many out of the 1000 things we have seen already), dogs are playing with their new toys (we will regret that little bell thing by sunday!) and Harriet........

She is just looking at the awesome basketball, signed by all the Racers!!

Thank you, Crouches and Spicklers!!

Happy Birthday, Collier!!

6 years old today!

 

(Collier here sprinting through the yard with Evie)

Collier,

Sorry we were not around this weekend to help you celebrate your birthday, we did sent you a gift and hope that will make it better. We love you a lot and cannot wait to see you and spent time with you again!

Love,

Richard aka mean old man, Harriet , Puppy and Wicky

 

Little victory dance after a nice goal at practice

Happy Birthday, Anouk

Seven years old today!! We will join her after her party with her friends ....

It is unreal how fast time flew by, but Anouk is still a sweet, social little girl. When we asked her what gift she wanted from us for her birthday, she didn't think twice, "tickets for speedskating races". So that is what will happen.... on march 5th the three of us will go to Heerenveen!

Happy Birthday to our favorite niece!!!!!!!!

Olympic Qualification Tournament dec 2009
 

Happy 1st birthday, Patrick

Happy birthday to our youngest nephew Patrick! Funny since my cousin Patrick is turning 37 later this month.

Last time I spent time with Patrick was in february and I cannot wait to see him again in a few weeks.

Dear sweet little Patrick happy 1st birthday and a big kiss from Amsterdam!!!!!

Love you!!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY THOM!!!!!!

"Why? Why? Why? Because I am three that is why! " Well that shirt can go in the box, because today Thom turns 4!!!

He is starting school after the summer, no more hanging out here on friday! I will miss those precious moments with my friend. I loved getting covered in kisses and hugs. I know, he can come after school or during lunch, but it is different. I can not wait until his first day off, so we can do our thing again. I asked him not to turn 4, but he told me that he really really wants too and he wants to go to school too. So I guess it is OK, but the little boy is turning into a big boy, why don't they have bonzai kids?

Well I am ready to party, so let's begin........

This picture was taken this spring, when Thom wanted to sleep in the tent, but it was too cold outside (oh yeah and  he was only 3). We put the tent on top of the guest bed, so he could camp! Too funny.

ORANGE ready for the World Cup

Although the start of the World Cup was three days ago, Holland plays its first game this afternoon. Our World Cup starts is 3 hours, and here is how we get ready!!!!

 
 

 
 
 

Queensday 2010!!!

After a tragedy in 2009, when a nut tried to drive his car into the royal bus and killed 9 people, this year was all about the queen and partying again!  The day started early for us, Anouk and Harriet were trying to find a good spot on the children's fleamarket. We found a great spot and started the sales at 8 am, funny since it didn't officially start until 10 am.

Of course at 10 am it started pouring, i know we were hoping for it. Anouk sold 3 trashbag raincoats. If she got a euro for everytime people said it was a great idea, she would be retiring! But we remain dutch and cheap, rather wet than spent 50 cents, lol!

Around 10.30 we were soaked and cold and went home. Anouk joined her parents for the rest of the day and we waited for the rain to stop.....

Around 2.oo pm the rain stopped and Richard and Harriet went back to the center to enjoy a little sunshine, music , heineken and queensday fun. We didn't buy much, but Puppy has her own Dutch soccer jersey and we had to get Wicky one too..

We are readdy for the World Cup and while the dogs are playing in the late afternoon sun....

...we are thinking about dinner and looking forward to a quiet evening together and the weekend.

HAPPY QUEENSDAY!!!!
 
 

 
 

Hoping it rains tomorrow.....

April 30th is Queensday in Holland, we celebrate the Queens birthday and you can compare it the the 4th of july in the States. Lots of music on stages around the cities, fleamarkets everywhere you look, if you don't wear orange or red, white and blue you better stay inside!

Kids have their own little markets, where they can sell their toys, crafts, cupcakes and show off the musical talent. Anouk has her own booth tomorrow. She is going to sell orange lemonade with a cookie or a piece of candy, her crafts, she has a bucket with presents hidden in woodchips and she is hoping sooo much for rain.

This is going to be the best seller as soon as it starts raining!!

Yes it is a garbage bag with holes for the head and arms cut out! The sign reads: Beautiful raincoat without sleeves, brand Komo color grey

All that for only 50 cents!

She is going to put hers on as soon as it starts to look like it is going to rain, it is too funny!

So 16,5 million dutch people hope for a warm and sunny day and one 6-year old is doing a rain dance. 

More later...........
 
 

Happy Birthday, Cheryl! Shani won some for you...

Busy day today, first and most important it is Cheryl's birthday today. My mom away from mom. We are wishing you a great day (UK won, so it should be good already) and many many more years filled with love, family and good health. Shani Davis won two world cups for you!!

This picture was taken today, when Richard, Anouk and I went to Heerenveen, to watch the final day of the World Cup Speedskating season. We saw most all of the olympic medalwinners and some really good races. Although the dutch didn't win anything today we did score a lot of 2nd and 3rd places. It was not a good skating season for the dutch so far, may be we can save some next weekend as Sven Kramer tries to defend his world championship, this was characteristic of the season...

Anouk really enjoyed herself. She had made a sign for Ireen Wust and held it up when she skated by. Ireen gave her a thumbs up and Anouk was so thrilled! We cheered on all the dutch guys and Anouk even scored an autograph from Gunda Niemann, the best women's skater in history!

Sven was not skating due to a throat virus, but Anouk was still supporting him.

True fan!

The world famous pepband, they have been invited to many big tournaments, they even played in the Olympic Oval in Vancouver, keeping everybody happy and sane during the Zamboni disaster.

One of my favorite pictures of the day, two dutch guys and Shani at the medal ceremony on the other side of the stadium, so we had to watch it on the tv in front of us.  Just above the tv the Russian, team pursuit-team wizzes by during the warmup laps. We had great seats.

Shani Davis had a good afternoon too, he is more loved in our country than in his own, and that is a shame. He is a great skater and a really really nice guy. After this picture he climbed into the stands and gave his flowers to his host mom. He trains in Heerenveen a lot and stays with a host family when he does. And that is a coincidence since my host mom had a special day too....