Excuses & Celebrations!

Due to the high volumes of complaints I've received lately, I've decided to write another post before the witch hunters find me! Just kidding, I haven't received any hate mail for my slacking (yet!) but I'm sure there are some of you that would like an update! Just checking... is there anyone that still actually reads this blog?!

Anyway, I'm not really sure where to begin since it has been two whole weeks so I guess I will start with excuses reasons why it's been so long.

Rob and I both started work/ school at the beginning of January and our lives have been turned upside down ever since. The first couple of weeks Rob was flying nights were extremely chaotic. I would get up around 6.45am with the kids, take them to school, go to school myself, pick the kids up, and come home to an empty house that Rob had left 1/2 hour earlier. Since Rob didn't come home until 12-1am we literally spent 45 (conscious) minutes together for a whole week!

Thankfully all of his hard work paid off and on January 20th my baby became an instructor pilot! We are all very proud of him, his accomplishments, and the sacrifices that he has made to make this position in America possible!

Speaking of accomplishments, I'm not doing so bad myself in school. So far I haven't earned anything less than an "A" on my exams/ papers/ & speeches. My goal is to graduate next year with honors, so fingers crossed that the start of this semester is a good sign! Really I only want to wear a medal and a gold sash at my graduation, but I've heard graduating with honors is impressive too ;) 


The boys are also doing well. Max is excelling in writing and language at the moment, his math is pretty good too! He really enjoys school and we are so thankful that we enrolled him at WCA!

Lucas isn't walking yet, but he can stand unassisted since this weekend so it's getting close! He can now say "baba" (bye-bye) while waving, and he says "bawl" (ball) when he is playing with one. I can't believe this time last year I was holding a tiny baby and my other baby was only speaking Dutch... amazing how our boys have grown in the past year!

I'm sure you all are just wishing I would stop running my mouth and show you pictures! And since I spent 8 hours of my Sunday writing, I will gladly show you pictures now!

Saturday the 22nd we celebrated Rob's 32nd Birthday!

Max wrote his and Lucas's name on Papa's card

Papa was so proud of Max's writing!

Hooray! A waffle maker! Exactly what Mommy Papa had been wanting!

There is nothing better than a hug from Papa Bear!

Naturally Rob was served a birthday waffle for his breakfast!

(He kept giving me cheesy faces, so publicly humiliating him for his silliness is his punishment! ha!)

Max helped blow out the candle!

Although Rob thoroughly enjoyed his waffle maker, the surprises didn't stop there. MiMi and Opa decided to surprise both of us with a night at the Hilton in Destin, FL!

Did I mention they included a weekend of babysitting with their gift? We enjoyed an amazing weekend with amazing weather together! It was a much needed break from the chaos!

Thank you guys for such a creative and wonderful gift! Now I'm really looking forward to my birthday! hahaha! (Yes, this is more embarrassment for my silly husband. Maybe next time he will smile normally for the camera! )

Rub-a-Dub Max

Rub-a-dub dub

Max is in the tub!

Splish Splash

He's taking a bath!

Long on a Sunday night

Rub-a-Dub-Dub he was relaxin' in the tub

He was a movin' and a groovin' Splishin' and a Splashin'

And pretending to be Abe Lincoln!

Ok, so that didn't rhyme, and he doesn't even know who Abe Lincoln is, but that's who he reminds me of in this picture! I hope you all have a great week!

Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday (again!), and Happy New Year!

Hallelujah! We survived the most hectic month of the year! 2010 was a great year, but I am very thankful that December is over! 2011 has gotten off to a busy start and the Geenens are back in full swing!

We had a wonderful holiday season filled with Dutch, American, and new traditions that we would love to share with you all!

Our Christmas breakfast consisted of worstenbroodjes (the left lower corner). These are sausages made out of ground beef & rolled in homemade dough. We also had bolussen (top left) which are comparable to cinnamon rolls, and puddingbroodjes (right) which are dessert-like breads filled with homemade pudding! YUM! And a special thanks goes out to my husband who has turned into quite the baker around here!

The kids at the table on Christmas morning

After breakfast it was finally time to open gifts!

 Oma & Opa from Holland got him this awesome 5-way giant toy. The boys love playing together with it! Thanks Oma & Opa!

Max wasn't the only one that had fun opening presents! Lucas wanted in on the paper-shredding action too!

And big brother was always happy to lend Lucas a helping hand!

Max's favorite gift was a Lego train station for his train

And my sweet hubby was happy with his 5 in 1 warm beverage maker!

My favorite present was by far my Uggs! Excuse the fact that I am pale as a ghost here, I was a bit sick on Christmas!

Hooray! We got Benco from Holland! (Bedankt!!) 

Unfortunately Mommy wasn't the only one sick on Christmas Day. During our trip to North Carolina we noticed that Lucas began getting chapped lips, we kept putting chap-stick on him and didn't think much of it. On Christmas day he had developed several blisters around and in his mouth; he was so miserable. After a call to the doctor we ended up in the Emergency Room (the only place open on Christmas) only to find out that his lips weren't chapped, but that he had a very contagious virus called stomatitis. With the help of some medicine he was back to his sweet self within a couple of days!

Most families enjoy a whole week of rest after Christmas, but not us! On Monday the 27th we took down the Christmas decorations & put up the birthday decorations again because our Max was turning 4! Not many of Max's friends could come to his party because several people were on vacation, but we made do and had a great time!

Presents, Presents, Presents! We could open a toy-store in our home by now!

The Birthday Boy!

Dude checking out the goods!

Camille, Max, & Blake painting wooden trains & airplanes!

The artist at work

Even though it was too chilly to play outside, the kids enjoyed getting some of their energy out hitting a piñata 

After many hits, there was still no candy. Thankfully Blake's mom knew that if all else fails you just have to pull the strings!

These kids were like vultures on roadkill with this candy!

Max's Thomas cake. I am super disappointed about the mouth, but finishing it only 5 minutes before the party started didn't allow me time to fix it!

Yes! Die-cast metal airplanes that hurt like crazy when you step on them with bare feet!

Cheese :)

After the craziness of Max's party, it was time to bring in the New Year Dutch style. My personal baker made these delicious oliebollen 

And this little monster couldn't wait to get his hands on them!

New Years Eve we headed over to MiMi and Opa's house for a party

Max loved the fireworks! (And all of the attention he got from the other guests!)

We had a great time that evening, but the next morning was another story! ;)

We hope all of you have a happy & healthy 2011! 

Lots of love from our family to yours!

The Geenens

Happy Birthday Max!

Dear Max,

4 years ago today I received the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for. 

Your stubbornness shone through at 36 weeks in my pregnancy when you refused to wiggle your way into the right position which resulted in a planned c-section for January 11th. 

Apparently you didn't want to wait until 2007! Early in the morning of December 27th you made it very clear that you were done with the scenery inside of my belly, and after the midwife came by the house and gave the OK, we were on our way to the hospital to meet our first baby boy.

Within a couple hours I heard the most beautiful cry in the world, and finally got to meet you- my little Max.

I had dreamed for months of what you would look like, but I definitely didn't expect Papa to yell, "HE'S BLOND!" after you were born! After you were all cleaned up, it was easy to see that we were the proud parents of a little ginger!

You were the most beautiful and perfect creature that I had ever seen. You were probably also one of the easiest babies in the world! By 6 weeks you were sleeping through the night and your patience never ceased to amaze me. 

On your 6 week old birthday we packed you and what seems like the rest of our house up and headed for your first transcontinental flight to Ft.Hood, TX. You were amazing on your first flight, and also on the 35 flights have since followed!

You have always made the funniest faces! Now when I ask you to smile for the camera, I get the CHEESIEST "cheese" ever!

It seems like yesterday that you sat in your high chair for the first time (june 07), and I can't believe you now can sit in your chair at school and write your name!

Happy 1st Birthday baby!

Papa has had to go on several deployments since your birth, but you two have always been best buds!

In the past 4 years we've gone 4 times to Ft. Hood. During these trips mommy has taught you how to swim, and you've become quite the little fish! By 3 1/2 you were swimming without wings!

You are such a comedian, and we love hearing your stories and jokes!

Happy 2nd Birthday Maxje!

I don't think there are words to describe how beautiful I think you are. 

I know you will do great things one day.

Have I mentioned that your personality always seems to shine through in some way or another...? :)

In April 2009 we told you that you would be a big brother. You were so excited and couldn't wait to meet your baby brother/ sister!

You love to be on the beach or in the water as much as possible! This trip we made to Scheveningen in June 09 with Rebecca and Brian was a fun day!

You are so carefree. I hope your life is full of moments like this!

Finally, after 9 long months of waiting you were able to meet your little brother, Lucas. He couldn't have asked for a better big brother! 

Happy 3rd birthday Max!

Maybe one day you will be a pilot like Papa, but right now I am loving watching you grow and develop into MAX!

Skip, hop, jump! You are always on the go!

Did I mention what a great big brother and amazing little boy you are?

My sweet sweet Max, you amaze me every day and I am so proud to be your mommy. No matter how old you get, you will always be my baby and I will always love you! Happy 4th birthday sweetheart!

Love,

Mommy