hmmmm...

Let's just take a moment to evaluate what is the most disturbing thing about this product...

by the way, it is hair detangler.

A Dutch Day

We started the day knowing that it wouldn't be very exciting. Saturday has turned into our "get things done" day. All of the shops close up early here, so the things that we need either have to be bought while David is at work or on the weekends. It is really difficult to get things like kids shoes (they have to be there and not in school) and so we set out with a few errands to run. 1) a hotdog...we were starving. 2) Some new outdoor shoes for Parker (more on the complexity of outdoor/indoor/rainyoutdoor shoes) 3) Pick up our laundry so we could have clothes to wear and 4) We needed to get pictures of our friends homeschooling project, Spike the Alligator with something Hollandish. This list should have filled up our entire day.

Destiny intervened. I had planned on taking the doll and getting a picture with one of the innercity windmills near the laundry and shopping area. As we drove by, I noticed something...an odd flag that said OPEN...and there were people on top. Holy Moley! These particular windmills are never open. We were all bubbling with excitement and ready to go, but the voice of reason: DAVID...told us we had to do our things (eat) first. Sigh. So we did. We got our hotdogs in a hollowed out roll. They take a machine and hollow out bread rolls and shove the hotdog inside. I will ask David to write a post about his 'hotdog and Parker' experience. Then we found Parker something other than sandals. We bought him his very first pair of boots - Converse boots. He's so cool now.

FINALLY, we were able to go and soothe my aching curiosity that was flaring. We found out that it was the annual "MONUMENTAL DAY" where all of the local monuments are open and free to the public. In addition, it was also national "OPERA DAY" and inside some of these monuments would be people singing opera. Since it was the end of the day we meandered as much as we could with the maps provided, here are a few of the things we were able to experience because of our good fortune:

Our first windmill

There was a lot of going up and down very tiny stairs...

which sometimes made David a bit nervous when there were no rails.

We visited a second windmill...this one was working! It ground it's own flour...

This is my love, sharing his love for cogs and wheels and thingamajigs with his children.

Afterwards, we partook of the fruits of the windmills labors and had pannekoeken which is a pancake with powdered sugar. They made them fresh for us. YUM!

We went to wander around for awhile. We went through some art exhibits with people drinking wine, a church with people drinking wine...

We met this creepy lady who read our children a dutch story translated into English...it was pretty cute, she was very unsure of herself. The kids were patient and appreciative. Thank goodness it was a short story!

We got to see and listen to a music box...

see a firefighting boat

and listen to a small orchestra playing along the side of the banks as we made our way back to the car and ended our day. It was like walking in a dream...until Parker refused to get back in the car.

birthday surprises

Amongst expat children there is no greater moment than their birthday party. In Oman it was the social event of the year for everyone with each and every party. I remember dropping Angelina off at a party with a butler walking around with sushi for the parents and another with a circus (literally) in the backyard. In Doha they weren't quite as big, but still important. Bringing a gift was traditional at both places...or not. It didn't matter, you could bring one if you wanted or not worry about it at all. There was no pressure...really. Certainly for my own children's parties I just want kids to come, don't worry about the present, just show up for the party! I knew some dutch families in Oman. They told me that birthday parties here weren't so extravagant and that it was nice to have a cake, sing songs open presents and go play in the child's room. When I arrived, one of the first things I asked all of the other moms about were birthday traditions here. Mostly, because I knew that the invites would start rolling in soon and also, I have two November birthdays to consider and start planning for. YES - I KNOW - sometimes I get carried away...last year I did for sure with the pirate and princess party...but that isn't what this post is about. It's about PRESENTS and the expectations that go along with attending a party. In America, traditionally you open the presents in front of everyone in attendance. In Oman and Qatar you waited until everyone was gone because it was not required for people to bring them and this emphasized that fact.

This is MY personal take on the whole thing...I do not expect people to bring presents to my own child's party, I think it is nice if you do but not a big deal if you don't. We always bring presents to be on the safe side. I allow my children to help select something individually for the birthday boy/girl so that it is special and thoughtful. I truly do believe in the "it's the thought that counts" sentiment and as such a present is almost always preferred over giving the child a gift card. If money is insisted upon (which I think is rude...I DO!) then we can at least make it as personal as possible by finding a great card or rigging up some ingenious way of presenting the money.

Anyway, I was informed by some local moms that gifts within the range of 10-15 Euro is what is expected at birthday parties. This would purchase something small. I was prepared. Angelina was invited to a double birthday party (so was Parker earlier but we couldn't attend) with two classmates. I believe one is from China and one from India. We RSVP'd and the party is coming this Saturday. I received an e-mail this morning:

Dear all

As we know it's Child #1 and Child #2's birthday this Saturday , their parents will like us to contribute gift money
instead of individual gifts.

Just for the information of the new parents... Sometimes it's a better
idea to collect gift money instead of individual gifts so that the
birthday child can have a gift of his / her choice .

But this is optional you can contribute if you want to . Anything
between 10 to 15 euros per child is reasonable enough. You can find
me at the playground after school, or you can send the money school in
a closed envelope with your name on it. Ask your child to hand over
the envelope to their teacher.... I will collect it from him by the end
of the day.

If you have any query pls contact me.

Thank you

Parent's name
(some other child's mom)

Of course, I changed a few things up....to protect their identity.

SO! What's up with this?!?!?! really, do I send the money? What are they planning on doing with it? Putting it in an envelope from "all of the class"? Or purchasing a gift card of some type? Why do we need to send in the money ahead of time? Why can't we just give it to them at the party. And why does this feel more like a cover charge than a gift? Am I just totally off base here? Or is this pretty rude and sad for the kids. I mean, I read this really cool article about creative ways of gifting money. Some of them were totally cool! I honestly, can't wait to try some of them out. But what? These poor birthday girls get an envelope with money in it? No cards from their classmates with the money inside? Nothing that personally states their name and well wishes for a great birthday? This seems sooooo impersonal. And it isn't what I was told was traditional for this area. That is why I'm scratching my head so much...WHAT do they intend to do with that money? Are we funding the party?

I DID send out an "i'm confused" e-mail in response...it was very nicely worded, but I haven't gotten a response back. I think this may be a year for a family only birthday party...I really don't wish to be a part of this kind of "give me money ahead of time" thing.

Perhaps someone could shed some light...

Chateau-in it!

We met some wonderful friends in Lille, France where we ended the trip pretty quick because of all of the congestion. After making our ways through some of the crowds that were so tight we held on to each others shoulders and just went with the flow of traffic, we decided it was far too difficult with families. Next year I intend to go with some ladies and bring back some real treasures. If you can, Lille, France has the BIGGEST Antique and Flea market in all of Europe the first weekend of September. I discovered as we were leaving that we weren't even in the good part. My heart ached as I saw some fabulous stuff that we didn't even get anywhere near because we just didn't know where to go. Next year though - I'M READY!

Afterwards we bought a camera and we looked for a restaurant nearby. We found a Buffalo Grill in our GPS and decided to check it out. We couldn't resist. It was as cheesy as cheesy gets! It was fabulous! It was in this barn and totally kitted out with Cowboy and Indian motifs. The entrance had a totem pole.

Not pictured is a totally awesome multilevel Teepee playground...we figured after a day of street shopping that the kids had earned this treat!

At the table they served us popcorn and bread before even ordering. And of course we got headresses for our heads!

It needs to be said, I can't resist : One unhappy little Indian!

However, that changed when they brought out dessert...cotton candy!

If you think this place is only for the kids you are wrong. They had a very sophisticated menu. David ordered the filet mignon which was really good and I got skewers of buffalo meat. The buff was excellent as well! There are a few of these in France, so if you need a break from the norm this might be a great place to stop.

The next morning we got up, spent some time trying to get a hotel for that evening and were on our way to Chantilly by noonish.

Chantilly is a really great location because there is enough to do in Chantilly, but it isn't too far to Paris. If you are looking for something outside of the city, but close Chantilly is a great alternative. You could actually spend a lot of time in Chantilly.

Of course, on our way we stopped for some pastries and wandered around a bit through a nearby town. We ended up staying at the Chateau de la Tour and were so happy. They upgraded one of our rooms and the grounds were amazing! For more information http://www.lechateaudelatour.fr/home.html

This is the girls hotel room...pretty pink.

This was for David and I. Parker had a couchbed on the other side of the room. Very nice!

This was my bathroom. Large and extravagent...but not a lot of hot water.

Yes, that's right. There was a fake garden beside the tub.

Once we got settled we went downstairs and played some ping pong.

We discovered this board map.

And we set off....

First we found a tower...we were told by the children that there were chains and things in there when they looked in the window. Yikes!

Then we followed the trail to this beautiful area and played for awhile.

We rolled down a hill.

This is the backside of the Chateau.

We all got to relax a bit and enjoy the beautiful green and good weather.

We discovered this "prickly pear"...we are still not sure what this really is.

We found some on the ground and dissected them.

This is what was inside. Looks like a hazelnut...

This was the tiny dead one that Parker found.

Hunting for some more...

A love break...

A daddy attack...

The kids won...

After spending some time on the hotel grounds we still had awhile before our fancy french dinner so we went to a neighboring town and explored the church grounds.

Someone had a wedding that day so we used their remnants and had our own party.

We went to bed in our lovely Chateau and woke up the next morning refreshed and ready to go visit the Chantilly castle!!!!!!!!!!