Check-out these funny named creatures at the Ugly Dolls website...

You can buy them in various sizes, but I like smaller ones best. Each one has a specific character and some relationship with the other ones. Great presents with an attitude.

Uglydog likes to help. He helps Jeero operate the rope tow and helps OX help himself to different types of snack foods. He thinks you could use some help. Isn’t that sweet? Bowow? Uglydog is the ultimate pet too. He won’t fetch the paper for you, but he’ll make your day feel like a front-page story! Uglydog doesn’t really like to sit or fetch or roll over and all that stuff. Beg? No thanks. What he really likes to do is stand on his tail and live out his big dream…to be just like you!!! Except for the waking up early part. But wait, where’s his collar? Hint hint!

I got Uggly Dog, we also bought Poe and Bop 'N Beep...

Tags: Games, Toys, Dolls

Last week Lieke played a part in the schoolplay.

A story assembled around a combination of songs from an old TV series. A group of kids ranging from 8 to 12 year played a group of kids with their grandfather.

They practiced 10 weeks together at school after the classes finished. Every time Lieke came home with stories about new songs she learned and the dances they rehearsed.

Now the much anticipated evening. Every kid wore pants, a white shirt with suspenders and some kind of hat. The play was funny, but the excitement and pleasure radiating from the children was the best.

After much excitement the night ended late as the kids needed some time to cool down. Luckily the weekend followed. They had the chance to sleep longer on the following day.

Tags: School, Creativity

Lieke posing with her latest medal after finishing the second course. No longer a beginner now capable of more than the basics and making linked turns.

She wanted the picture with snowboard and helmet. And of course the medal she got..

She seems to like to ride very much and is telling about her experiences at school with a lot of enthusiasm. Seems to give her more confidence too.

Soon we will be hitting the slopes in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. We will be staying in at Sunny Brook Cottages just south of Conway at route 16.

Tags: Sport, Snowboarding

A collection of pictures of Lieke. The photo’s were taken at The Pirate, after school day-care center...

Here you can find the collection.

Tags: De Piraat, NSO

Every year Sinterklaas visits The Netherlands from Spain. He celebrates his birthday on December 5th giving presents to the children.

He arrives in November with the old steamboat. He takes his white horse with him and is accompanied by a lot of helpers called Zwarte Piet. In the weeks before the celebrations the children are allowed to place their shoes near the fireplace or the door to the garden. They put a carrot, an orange and a letter with wishes in the shoe. They hope to get a small present by singing a song for Sinterklaas.

The older children make surprises for each other with a present wrapped inside and a small poem. The poem is traditionally about some topic, something that happened the previous year or about the kid receiving the gift.

This year Lieke made an iglo with the present inside. The poem was about the polar bear getting in trouble with the climate changes and running the risk of getting extinct. She build a nice iglo for him and his friends to live and play.

Tags: Sinterklaas, Holidays

As part of a school project the children designed their fantasy creature.

First the kids made a design on paper. A imaginary creature combining parts of existing animals. No restrictions. Next the design was transferred on a block of soft cement. The figure was carved out and painted in bright colors. Finally the boundaries are accentuated with black paint.

The animals are finished with varnish for protection.

Tags: Creativity, Animals, Paint

Lieke likes to make things. Last Saturday she asked her mother to help her. She wanted to make a dress for her huggable black bear.

She found very soft velvet fabric. First she drew the design on paper and cut the pattern. Next sticking the parts on the fabric with needles. After carefully cutting the pieces of fabric she started construction.

With the sowing machine she put the pieces together. At the end of the day bear had a great dress.

Tags: Clothing, Sowing, Creativity

Last weekend Lieke finished her snowboard course.

Another sports event happened on Wednesday. Lieke participated in a gymnastics competition. Very exciting and you can understand her happiness after wining 3rd price in her age category.

Afterwards coming home she phoned me straight away. Couldn't wait for me to come home...

This week the local newspaper featured an article with a picture of her team about their achievement.

Tags: Sport, Gymnastics

Recently we bought a GPS receiver, the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx.

After reading various reviews I decide to buy this model. Garmin is the leading brand with regard to handheld GPS receivers. The GPSmap 60CSx model is widely known and a very much appreciated model. This GPS stores maps on microSD cards and can be used for guidance during hiking, biking and driving.

The GPS has a compass and altimeter on board. A very complete model with a lot of options e.g. Search & Go (mark a point in a certain direction and at a certain distance), store a large number of WayPoints, etc.

You can find a lot of website of Garmin users or about GPS tracking explaining the usage of the receiver. Some websites offer downloadable hikes with the WayPoints. A lot of outdoor stores organize practical field trips to learn to use your GPS.

Garmin software was limited to Windows OS until the beginning of 2008. I was happy to find Garmin is providing several software options to convert maps for usage on Apple computers.

The MapSource application has an equivalent solution called RoadTrip for browsing the maps and planning trips. With MapInstall you can install the maps on your GPS (or microSD card). I even found the first maps compatible with OS X. For more details visit the MAC software download page on the Garmin website.

We bought the GPS as we hike a lot and like to abandon the known paths. In addition we discovered the possibility of GeoCaching e.g. treasure hunting. For more details about this option you should visit the GeoCaching website. Last weekend we found our first treasure and our daughter enjoyed the hike even more than usual.

Tags: Geocaching, GPS, Garmin, GPSmap 60CSx, MapInstall, MapManager, RoadTrip, OS X

Last spring our toolshed fell apart. A few weekends ago the weather was nice and we had a good day for some construction work.

The girls took the tools and screws. Mama prepared the work and drilled some small holes for the screws. Lieke used the electric screwdriver to fit the screws.

Now the shed is ready again to withstand the coming weather conditions.

Tags: Tools, Building