New games

It's very exciting to watch Luke and Lydia starting to play together. These two videos are from the past weekend; both discovered this new game and both loved it. I especially like the synchronized head banging (they're headbanging to the music played by the truck, but you can't hear it on the video).

Big boy bike

I'm three!

Only three years old and already five birthday parties in less than one week: Birthday celebration with Luke's cousins and mamy&papy, birthday party at school, afternoon at the circus with dad, party with nonna, and party with friends. How will we keep this up through the years?

Early potty training?

She can't possibly be ready for potty training yet (can she?), but Lydia LOVES climbing and sitting in Luke's potty.

Helping Mom

Look mom, there are clothes in the washer! Let me take them out for you. What do you mean you just put them in?

Hungry lady

Lydia's been a strange eater recently. Last week she refused to be fed with a spoon and only wanted to feed herself finger foods. Quite frustrating for me, because only about 10% actually ends up in her mouth, the rest ends up on the floor. One of the few times in my life where I actually agreed with alex that we need a dog! Luckily this week she decided it was okay if I fed her with a spoon, as long as she also gets to hold something in both hands.

Hiking though the woods

The weather was really nice earlier this month, so we took advantage and went hiking through the woods. We saw lots of mushrooms, played with sticks, collected chestnuts and acorns, saw chipmunks, and went fishing for leaves in the stream. Luke is typically not a great walker, but he managed to walk most of the time. Lydia probably would've crawled the whole way if we had let her. All in all, great day!

Luke loved the mushrooms and poking them with his walking stick.


Lydia happy as can be on maman's back:


Looking for chestnuts and acorns:


The boys hiking together:

She's crawling

Lydia started crawling last week! Towards the end of the video, you'll also hear of Luke's own accomplishment.

First day of school (snif!)

Who knew that the first day of nursery school would be so traumatic? Luke was all decked out in his backpack and new sneakers, walked bravely into the school and started playing with his friend zoe, and then understood I was going to leave and cried and screamed his heart out. I hope tomorrow's drop-off will be easier!

New backpack, new shoes...


...and his "Bob the builder" jacket! I'm ready for school maman!


Bravely playing with his friend zoe, before he realized I was going to leave.


No, I did not get a picture of the screaming and wailing, I was too busy
trying not to cry myself. But here's me and my friends, recuperating from the drop-off over a strong cup of coffee.

London

Before the end of summer and beginning of school, Alex and I left the kids with the grandparents and took a train to London for a 4-day getaway. It was a great trip! It was nice to rediscover the freedom of being without kids: sleeping in late, leisurely breakfast (with the paper!), going to the movies and theater, eating wherever and whenever, and just generally "faffing" about (british slang for hanging out, not really doing anything). Nonetheless, we were eager to get back home to the kids. We did miss them a lot!

Summer fun!

We had a great trip to the US in July-August. New York --> Floyd, VA --> Washington DC --> New York. Both kids did great with all the traveling, so long as there was a playground or pool (or both) promised during the day. We took very few pictures with our own camera, but luckily our friends took pictures for us. Here are a few of my favorites:

On the plane:

Lydia cooling off on a hot day:


Luke eating watermelon:


Playing with grandad:

Happy fourth of July!

The American community in Brussels organized a very nice independence day celebration for all the US expats in Belgium. We ate popcorn and hotdogs, drank bud light and dr pepper, line danced and watched the slip-n-slide. Luke and Lydia loved the clown balloon artist.

Heat wave

Some pictures from two weeks ago, when we had a heat wave go through Belgium.

Cooling off in the kiddie pool at papy and mamy's house:


And using the neighbor's pool:


Lydia dealt with the heat as best she could, but mostly didn't like the high temperatures. But she remained smiley through it all!

June

It's only the middle of June, but already so much has happened!

First of all, Luke learned how to read a newspaper (by watching Sesame Street's Murray's "Word of the Day: Newspaper))".

After that, Luke decided to tame some wild horses at the Brussels Medieval Fair. They don't look it in the picture but they were fierce!

Next, it was hide-and-seek with the blankets in his crib. This game lasted for hours!


Soon thereafter, Luke decided he was too big to still be in a crib, so he built himself a big boy bed, with the help of daddy and Ikea. He was quite pleased with the results. Check out his tool belt (thanks liz and dave!).


Then Lydia suddenly (time creeps up on you when you're having fun!) turned 6 months old! She loves carrots, her brother, laughing, and anything that makes an interesting noise!

All of this activity was tiring of course, so Luke and his dad took a very well deserved nap on (Belgium's) father's day.

I wonder what the rest of the month will bring??

New dance moves

Luke's been perfecting his dance moves, much to the delight of his sister (and parents). Watch and learn...

So, how are you?

Luke really likes asking "So, how are you?", or the french equivalent "Alors, ca va?". Especially to his sister...

Check out this video.

Poney

Luke's first (succesful) poney outing: a 45minute ride through the Provence country side with his nonna and cousins. I'm so proud of him!



You can also see Luke and his cousins in action here.

Chilling on the couch

Luke really likes to kiss and hug Lydia, and give her toys (but does not want to share his "doudou")...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHd7hsFqgPI

blowing bubbles

Lydia's new favorite thing to do: blowing bubbles

Tenerife Sun

At the end of February, we took a quick 5-day getaway trip to Tenerife, part of the canary islands. These islands are similar to Hawaii, in that they are volcanic, in the middle of the ocean, and are blessed with good weather year round. We however had bad luck with the weather and had mostly overcast and slightly colder weather than usual. Not that you'd be able to tell with these pictures.

Carnaval

Here is Luke celebrating Carnaval (Mardi Gras) at his daycare. He loved the chocolate cake but hated the confetti! And in case you were wondering: he's wearing a dog costume...

2 months old

She's all smiles as of late, and talks non-stop if you'll let her!

Family Picture

This picture was taken last month, but I only just recently downloaded it from my camera. I really like it because (1) it shows all four of us, (2) Luke is sort of smiling, and (3) it shows Lydia staring at her brother, which she does ALL the time. She is in awe of her brother and can't keep her eyes off him when he is near. Very cute! PS: Lydia looks very tan but in fact she was born with a mild case of jaundice that took a while to go away.

Let it snow...

Most of Europe, including places far south like Provence and Spain, was "blessed" by record amounts of snow this past week! It's been fun to re-discover the joys of snow with Luke, who loves to throw snowballs but hates having snowballs thrown at him! Truth be told, I'm a bit tired of the snow now (week 3) - no one knows how to drive in the snow here, there are very few snowplows to clear and salt the roads, and people don't clear their sidewalks, making walking around the city a treacherous affair. I almost miss the rain!

Also this week: Lydia turned 1 month old! She's doing great, plumping up a bit more every day.

Winding up the throwing arm


Putting snow in my bucket


I'm 1 month old!

LYDIA!!

Most of you know already that Lydia Davina Melitha Tiersky was brought into this world on December 11, 2009 at 9:03am. The birth went superbly well, as well as the recovery afterwards. Lydia is now four weeks old and is an easy-going baby. We are thrilled to have her around! Big brother Luke is adjusting, sometimes nicely sometimes not, to having a little sister.

Here are a few of our favorite pictures:

Hanging out at the hospital


The proud papa, just minutes after the birth


Luke eating my lunch at the hospital, with Lydia happily snoozing in her crib


Day 3 - she's a good sleeper


US passport ID picture


Luke and Alex playing in the snow on our balcony. We've been getting record snowfall here!