Tomorrow marks Torsten's 100th day. I almost feel as though I ought to make some cupcakes or something, but it doesn't seem fair since he cannot eat them yet. Maybe I'll wear a party hat tomorrow whenever I nurse him. (That's a joke.)
I can't quite put it into words, but it simultaneously seems like yesterday that he was born, but also like he's always been with us.
Aldus is also doing and saying new things all the time, too. One new thing? Somersaults!
Have you seen the cuteness lately? I go back to work next week (blargh) and am not really looking forward to missing all this cuteness on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The kids are back in school and the temps are starting to drop. I was talking with someone the other day about how much longer Charles and I would live here. I mentioned that our contract was extended until at least May of next year, at which time we'll find out whether or not there's another project for us. My acquaintance mentioned that we would get another Dutch spring, which is nice. He then tried to tell me that autumn in the Netherlands is also nice.
My humble opinion? He's wrong. Fall in the Netherlands is one thing: a depressing harbinger of Dutch winter, which itself is dark and useless. It doesn't even usually bother to get cold enough to be called proper winter.
Even if I agreed with this person that fall in the Netherlands is nice, it would still have nothing on autumn in Michigan. The leaves in peak color, the air, the light, the football, the cider mills.
Charles and I combined two of our favorite things from home last Saturday: Michigan football on the Slingbox/Replay combo (thanks again, Erik & Julie!) and doughnuts. HOMEMADE CIDER DOUGHNUTS. I didn't get my hopes up because, really, we don't have that much experience with our deep fryer. But the result? TASTY TASTY DOUGHNUTS.
Did I mention the tasty? You are jealous.
Halmeoni just left after a great two-week visit. Halabeoji was also here for the first week. Just in time to see Torsten really start to smile!
I think it's been a LONG time since Charles's father spent a week doing next to nothing. I think he enjoyed it.
Last Saturday was the annual harvest festival in Lhee. Aldus's favorite part? Trekkers!
Aldus also liked watching at all the old hay-baling equipment.
And Halmeoni enjoyed trying the nieuwe haring.
Charles took these photos on the playground a week ago. Torsten looks so sweet, and Aldus looks so determined - whatever it is he's doing with the sand.
