A busy but great weekend (although we lost again..)

Last week dad had the opportunity to visit a major factory of lorries and was asked to improve the safety of some of their machinery. Huge presses with huge hydraulic systems, great stuff for someone like me! On friday dad took a day off to continue the pole shed and he also had to bring his car to the garage for maintenance. The grass had to be cut and some other small things had to be done.. So friday started busy and saturday was not different (busy wise..) Nils had to play in Tilburg and therefor we had to be up at 6.30! Click here for the playlist of last saturdays match. The good part is that since I have to rise early for Nils's hockey matches, I don't suffer from migraines anymore.. Well, at least not for three weeks and that's a long time.. I always thougth is was because of sleeping late (8 o'clock and later) and not because of coffee or so. But I am not planning to start with coffee again. Anyway, we all assembled in Drunen and drove of to meet our competitors in Tilburg. This time we lost again 12-5 and I could see by Nils's face that he does not like losing.. He is, however taking it well, not crying or bursting into a rage. Let's just hope they figure out how to win a game, they play well but small mistakes are used by the opponents to score goals.. In the afternoon we went to see my dad in Hulst and we stayed the night togehter with Maaike, Jaap and their daughters Maartje and Guusje who joined us later in the evening for dinner in a restaurant near dad's place. The food was very good but the service sometimes forgot we had ordered something. Since we are used to that a bit, we didn't take it too hard and just enjoyed the evening together. Sunday, in the beginning of the fternoon we went to Naaldwijk to attend the birthday party of the youngest son of Lisette's Niece. We also got to see Lisette's aunt who had been ill a month ago but recovered almost fully. This time dad did not make too many photographs because, well, he just forgot I guess.. I'll try next time..

Hockey and pole shed

Friday afternoon dad took up the paintbrush for the last time to paint the outside woodwork of Ingmar's room. Just in time for it started to rain shortly after.. Anyway, now the right colour is on it as Lisette pointed out to me.. Saturday Nils had to play a game of hockey against a team from Oisterwijk but lost again.. Although they lost, they still enjoyed the game. Who knows, maybe next time. The movies can be found on youtube. In the mean time mom picked up more dad ordered for the pole shed so dad can start making some walls. Well, only one wall was finished because we drove off to see grandma and granddad on the camp site near Chaam. The camp site was huge with app. 10 playgrounds! We were able to scout 3 of them but there was just too much to do for the kids.. Sunday morning dad took Wende, Nils and a friend of them Wendy to the swimmingpool. After the swimming, dad continued on the shed and in the end there were 3 walls finished. Nils, Wende and Wendy took over after dad pulled a piece of plastic over it to cover it from the rain. Nils pulled out a couple of books and mgazines, dad brought them some drinks and cookies and then we didn't hear from them for at least an hour..

Team J3F2 MHCD

Nils is now playing competition in a hockey team called J3F2. There are 9 boys divided over 2 tams with 2 coaches. I am one of them.. They could not find a second coach so two other parents decided that they will take up the coaching part time. Saturday was their first real game and some of the boys never played hockey ever.. So.. we lost.. dearely.. 9-2 was the score in the end but Nils managed to score one of the two goals for his team, how great! Here's one proud dad! Despite having lost, the kids had a great time. They even were given a real diploma from the royal dutch hoeckey society for playing there real first game. That was saterday morning, in the afternoon we went for a bycicle trip to Giessen were the yearly street market took place and during the week, there are also things to do like a fun park, we call it a "kermis". Ingmar loved the ride in the carrousel and after two ride he could not understand why he could not stay in it but we had to go home sometime.. Mom and Nils rode a very fast ride and Wende loved riding horse in the carrousel. Dad too Ingmar for a ridein a less fast ride, loving the smile on Ingmar's face.. When we went home on our bikes, Wende tok a dive for the asphalt and was wounded in het face (not too bad luckily) but she will never go to the kermis again! At least not on the bike that is.. She's managed to ride home without a hitch and we are relieved that she made it home.





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Hulst festivities and nils's shed

Saturday dad got some more wood for Nil's shed and slowly work is progressing. Up to now, the framework is about ready and next item is wooden boards to make up the walls. I'm trying to find the cheapest of wood but it is difficult, second hand websites. anyone any ideas? Sunday we went to see my dad and there were festivities in the centre of Hulst. We had to do some shopping for dinner anyway so all went for a stroll to the city center. Lots of people but not too much to see, maybe it was also because the weather wasn't too good either.. Anyway, it is always nice to see dad again and this time I had a look at the book I ordered written bij one of our ancestors around 1650. It was a original book with the translation of the bible from hebrew into dutch..

Nils's birthday party for friends

Jongens, wacht nou even..

Nils invited a couple of friends over to celebrate his birthday and we took them to de warande, a fun / swimpark with lots of things to do. We gambled on good weather and we were lucky.. It was not so very warm but warm enough to change into swimsuits and enjoy the water. Ingmar was with us too and when he was getting tired, we settled him into the cart where he was kept warm with a couple of towels. Looked a bit like gadaffi.. The kids haf a great time and although this swimming parc is not too far away, none of them actually had been there before.. In the evening, we made a lot of pancakes because a girlfriend of Nils stayed for dinner. She could not join the swimming fun because she had to go to school. Another girlfriend was to join us for dinner as well but she fell ill but she did have her sister bring a present for him, how nice. Saterday we had an easy going day. First lisette did some shopping for essentials and I satyed at home with the kids. In the afternoon we went to our local beach where lots of friends of Nils and Wende were there as well and at night dad fired up the bbq and made delicious chicken sate. Sunday morning dad went to the boat to put the rudder back into place because they plan to put the boat back into the water this friday. The damage they did to the hull was still not repaired.. I'll have to have a little chat with them on friday..