Stills 8/52

Stills...following along with Beetleshack.

Huge rosehips mingling with blackberry vines starting to waken.

The sleeping game.

Organizing all the crafty bits.

Phylo, who doesn't enjoy having his picture taken but shamelessly expressing his desire to go for a walk already.

Drowning in kids artwork...I love it all, don't know what to part with, have to deal with, it grows daily, hourly!

Back massages.

The animal doctor (Tierartz) at work.

First mini-daffodils. Rays of happiness.

This week...oh this week - and last week for that matter. Sooo sick...bronchitis, pink eye, hacking away, energy-less, head throbbing, why doesn't it go away??...hoping to turn a healthy corner in a day or two or I'm off to the doctor. It really gets me thinking seriously about my health...quitting sugar for good? Enforcing earlier bedtime? I think I really need to do myself some favors.

xo Devon

Stills 7/52

Linking up with Beetleshack :)

My silly gem...Karneval is just around the corner and the Kindergarten is gearing up. I'm loving seeing new decorations added each day. The theme appears to be "more is more"!

Coming up with her owns ideas, plans, strategies and telling me exactly how I can participate in them. Love her.

My new favorite shop downtown. I've been looking into essential oils for home and personal use and just bought a diffuser and a nice handful of oils to start with.

Fearless heart attack giver.

Every year the kids and I paint their upcoming age on the same canvas...#3 is just around the corner for Griffy and the work in progress has begun.

Me. Perfectly imperfect and happy. Germany has made my hair nearly black, my skin much more pale. A different version, still me. The ample supply of chocolate and bakeries does me no favors. But knowing myself more as I get older is fabulous.

Making family recipe noodle soup with Daddy. Note certain someone climbing into the action.

xo
Devon

Stills 6/52

Following along with Stills with Em from Beetleshack.

Snowdrops: I'm amazed and a little alarmed watching Spring flowers popping up. The purple crocus at the park are gorgeous. Last year at this time we were really deep in winter snow. Is it going to come?? Will the flowers be buried? This is almost too much for me to think about being from much warmer places.

Mini skate park without bike/scooter/laufrad...just running up and down the slopes when the big kids are off doing other things momentarily. Next time we'll be back with wheels.

Our little 5 year old Bird bought her first antique! :) :) We were at Tongeren last Sunday and she bought this super pretty tin box covered in butterflies and gold & red details with her own money. When the seller said "merci beaucoup" Bird skipped off with her tin box saying "merci mowcoo!". Heart melt.

Little curiosity shelf is all glued up and sealed since this picture. Loved making it, every bit of it. Took some time but I'm already loving seeing all the little things living inside - Hello Kitty, a random penguin, mini rubber ducky, race car, shell from Spain, etc etc. I think it will be a place for good imaginary play. I got the idea (and many more ideas) from the Creative Family Home book.

A beautiful morning here today. 

Rambles: Jared sprained his ankle at basketball practice last night and hobbled to and from the kindergarten with me. We had a decent German class and off he went to work. I put on an extra shirt and scarf and think I'm potentially getting a cold. Phylo and I took a short walk & picked up Griffin...he's napping in the stroller (he regularly naps on Tuesday) and it's nearly time to pick up Bird. Hoping it's nice enough outside to play with water and possibly glitter. Sounds exciting at least...can you tell I'm tired?

Love & sunshine,
Devon xo

5/52

I've been doing stills along with Em from Beetleshack for over a month now! That's definitely some kind of record for me. I already love looking at past weeks, and my mama guilt feels pretty subdued since this feels like a decent recording of our little ones' early years.

Looking down as we walk along...so many treasures...tiniest mushrooms, seed pods, all glistening with frost.

More block printing this week. One of the things on my "to learn in 2014" list is putting together a semi-complex quilt made entirely with my own printed fabrics.

A bit of first-aid training/play at the kindergarten. At pick up she came running to me with a bandaged head and wrapped wrist - the huge smile let me know everything was fine.

Ice and salt and lots of colored water in the afternoon. We also turned it into a mini-volcano.

Sink bath after cleaning up poop in the leggings. Sorry for sharing that.

She thought my belt needed a daisy.

Early frosty morning balloon launch. It was exciting, especially when the rising balloon nearly took out the tree a few meters from me. *Walked away quickly*

Turning a battered drawer compartment into a curiosity cabinet.

Have an excellent week :o)
xoxo Devon

Stills 4/52

 

Last bit of sun on a gorgeous winter day, perched up high with friends.

Starting to move in to freezing temps at night and yesterday we even had snow (for all of 5 minutes then it was slushy rain...I had forgotten how annoying that is to be in).

Enjoying Gaia Zoo again - this time we made it to the Dino Dome before they closed. The kids (and me of course) climbed all over spider webs of nets, houses and tunnels above the life size brontosaurus, after of course pulling our dugout canoe over the treacherous creature filled lagoon - multiple times. The Dutch really know how to do play parks.

Jared home and wiped out from his week in Taiwan and the 26 hours it took to get back.

Tulips from Aldi...at 1.99 euro a bunch I'll have to buy them much more often.

Have a beautiful week friends,

xo Devon

Stills 3/52

 

   

My parents visited over the weekend (MLKjr Day in the States so my mom has the day off as she works for the US gov). They brought random fun things to play with (thank you to the military base thrift shop) including a bubble machine.

Griffy was elated to show off for Gigi on his laufrad. He didn't disappoint and hit every hill with fierce abandon. I'm praying he has really strong bones. Just fearless. It tries my patience with every outing that involves sidewalks and streets but I'm working on a trust & reward system and secretly I am thrilled with his determination.

Watching the rope walker at the park take a rest and hoping he'll make another go of it.

Griffy with his pine needle 'hair brush'. Handsome boy.

And beautiful girl Bird making a new friend at the Spielplatz (playground). "Wie alt bis du? Ich bin funf!" (How old are you? I am five!). She likes to play with her helmet on :) And wow we have had many very mild days of winter through December and now January.

My daily path.

Gorgeous snowy owl at the Gaia Zoo. She was at eye level and didn't even flinch as Griffy came bounding toward her, hoping to get a reaction. Magical beautiful creature. The beavers were also so fun to watch as they kept swimming into their lodge to check if dinner was coming for them. We've started going to Gaia more often as it is very natural and open for the animals, really pleasant for visitors, and open all year round.

Dreamy morning sky in the neighborhood.

Jared is in Taiwan this week and my parents left today to resume work (mom) and retired "work" (dad). Kiddos and I and Phylo have entered the rhythm of a regular week. Kindergarten in the mornings, pool outing, German classes, Gaia Zoo, park walks, creating, playing, cleaning, cooking, etc. We are also working on potty training with Griffy and he is currently in throes of the terrible 2's...I am working on staying calm but firm with the antics. He has such a strong personality but is so sensitive as well. Bird helps me tremendously - she and him are really best of friends and their bond rescues many situations. She is a remarkable little girl. Today she pushed herself at the pool a bit more, trying to get past her fear of water in her face. She actually floated a moment on her back as I held her (until realizing there was water flowing into her ears, then that was that!).

Have a lovely week xoxo
Devon

Stills 2/52

A day in Maastricht. We go occasionally to an English speaking church in Maastricht. It's wonderful but a bit long (2.5 hours nearly!). So nice to wander around the city afterward.

Bird is looking so big. Love this age (5.5yrs).

Origami 6-pocket books I made using a Creativebug tutorial. Such fun.

Our weather has been truly unbelievable since December. I know Winter will come eventually but until then we will enjoy enjoy enjoy.

Phylo dog pre-bath. What a baby.

Have a lovely lovely week!
hugs, Devon 

Stills 1/52

Joining Emily at The Beetleshack for Stills this year. Hoping I'll be able to keep up with it. It's wonderful to look back at my old blog posts - always grateful I took the time for them.

A rare family picture with 3 out of 4 smiling faces. Scrambled portrait on the stage in between the St. Nikolaus train rides.

Our little beauty: Bird, 5yrs 6mths

The view from my parents dock in Florida. I spent 5 lovely days visiting my brother and his wife and their brand new 1st baby. It was a great experience to travel on my own for the first time since Bird was 2. I was able to focus on being Auntie and check all the boxes on my list - haircut, pedicure, clothes shopping, beach visit.

Sketching little ladies and curious seagulls on Palm Beach Island.

Back in Europe! We had a great time at a huge playground/park in Leuven, Belgium.

Packing it away till next year.

Hardly the winter weather we had this time last year. These warm days (11c today) are to be savored!

Much love & a very Happy New Year to you!
xo, Devon