Krees goes Dutch Kiwi!

Aldus birthday recap: part 3 (the cupcake)

Of course Aldus had to have his own (first!) birthday cupcake at his party.


We decided to strip him down, cover the floor with a shower curtain and let him go at it.  


Yeah...I think he liked it.


The cupcake was followed by a change of clothes and a little dancing with his friend Elize.


By the way, this was a great excuse to bake up some of Cook's Illustrated's yellow cupcakes with chocolate ganache frosting. They are SOOOO tasty, especially when they're really fresh! But they were also so easy to make, that I don't think you even need an excuse to make them. Just whip up a batch! Let me know if you want the recipe.

Aldus birthday recap: part 2 (tol)

We held Aldus's birthday party and tol a week early. My parents and Charles's mom were here, as well as some friends from work. We did a trial run of tol before anyone arrived and before trying to put his hanbok on. He was not particularly amused.

Until he discovered the bowl full of rice and money to play with.

It was the same story when we tried dressing him in the hanbok Charles wore for his own tol. Again, not amused. Especially with the hat.



 





And finally, in the hanbok bought by his fourth uncle in Korea. Same story again.



All in all, tol was pretty fun.Who knows whether or not it will have said anything about his prospects for the future. He chose in the following order:

1. cell phone left on table (it was removed)
2. then the toy car that he really likes
3. then money (he *really* liked the money)
4. then the rice/ssal, which he proceeded to throw around and then try to eat

I like to think it means that he'll grow up to be very communicative, take after his father's love of cars (or good design), that he'll be successful and that he'll always be as playful and good-natured as he is now. A mother can hope, right?

Aldus birthday recap: part 1 (out and about)

We're all still recovering from a great two weeks of celebration and visits from grandparents. Aldus himself was unusually tired and cranky yesterday morning. Could it be that he grew accustomed to being held and fawned over every waking moment (and many sleeping ones) by adoring grandparents?

My parents arrived May 10, and one of the first things we did was visit the zoo in Emmen. Aldus was only vaguely interested in the animals.



One morning we went to the local bakery for coffee and pastries and apple pie and whatnot. Aldus enjoyed wandering around the patio with my dad.

After Charles's mom arrived, I took Aldus and the three visiting grandparents to Keukenhof. Unfortunately, it was one of the last days of the season that the gardens were open. It was drizzly and a bit disappointing that almost all the tulips were gone. But I think they enjoyed walking around, seeing the few tulips that were there and the gigantic lily exhibit. And spending time with Aldus, of course.

Happy Birthday, Aldus!

Today is Aldus's first birthday. It's hard to believe that it has already (and yet only?) been a year since he arrived.

Who knew that he would bring so much joy and love and LAUGHTER into our lives? I suppose most anyone who's a parent knows what I'm talking about, but I feel especially lucky that 1) we have him at all, and that 2) he's been such an incredibly easy baby.


More photos and updates from his tol and grandparents' visit to come!

Daily Aldus: I don't want to work...

"...I just want to bang on the drum all day!"

Daily Aldus

Daily Aldus: Them there eyes, part 3

"...You’ve got a certain li'l cute way of flirtin’ with them there eyes..."

Daily Aldus: Them there eyes, part 2

"...You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle
They bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble..."

Daily Aldus: Them there eyes

In the words of Louis Prima, "I fell in love with you the first time I looked into them there eyes..."