At the Close of 2012

Here we sit, at the close of another year, and I have some time to sit and think.  A year!  Where does it go?   Some of into memory, some of it forgotten.  I think these days I probably forget more than I remember, perhaps that's just part of getting old.  Or perhaps my brain cells are being used up in other ways?  I know some of you have noticed the sneaky addition I put on the sidebar two or three weeks ago - this may be a reason for lost brain cells.  Vander Deen Edition 2013 is due at the end of June, and we are looking forward to meeting our newest little blessing.  I thought maybe I even felt some little kicks the other night?  It was probably just my dinner but I can imagine it was Little One saying hello (and please stop coughing)
We are halfway through the Christmas break, and at a slower pace now.  We were gone for two nights to Hamilton, and the following three nights to Strathroy for family Christmas celebrations.  We returned home before our first big snowfall in quite some time (a few years) on Boxing Day evening.  It's been fantastic having Mike home for the break, especially because I've been sick for the last three weeks.  Yuck!  After getting a prescription for antibiotics on Christmas Day, I am happy to report that today I was able to taste (somewhat limited, but still taste!) my supper!  When you've been missing your taste buds for more than a week, especially at a time of year when delicious looking dinners and chocolates and desserts are available in plenitude, leftovers taste amazing!  I may or may not have sampled a few chocolates in the cupboard since supper time...
Again, I have to admit I've been somewhat pathetic in my picture-taking responsibilities.  We did receive a new set of rechargeable batteries for Christmas, so that might remedy some of the problem, but I have a feeling the lack of pictures really has more to do with me than dead batteries. 
Peter had an interesting Christmasy question for me the other day. 
"God put your baby in your tummy, right Mommy?  Jesus is God.  Who put Jesus in His mommy's tummy?  Did he put himself there?"
Aaron also had a somewhat shocking thing to ask his Daddy a few days ago, revealing his lack of understanding of life and death. 
"Daddy, can you kill Peter?  He's pesting me."

Aaron was very excited about the first snowfall, even if it was just a dusting.  

He was out there for an hour filling up his dump truck and making teeny piles. 

We went to visit Sinterklaas at the Dutch store.  The kids were a little less scared of him than last year - well, the youngest in particular.  Aaron didn't even mind being dropped off his lap and almost landing on his face. 

The Schotmans were eager to get their Christmas card out this year, 

and graced our cupboards for at least two weeks before anyone else joined them!

We gave our kids their gifts on Sinterklaas evening this year, and were happy about how that went.  Aaron is checking to see who rang the doorbell and left a bag of presents on the porch.  The chocolate letters in their shoes have not yet been noticed.

Walkie Talkies!  They would be a lot more fun if the boys would remember to push the button down while they talk.  The boys also received some warmer blankets for their beds.

 Nate was pretty thrilled by a toy bird, and spent a while running around the house making it fly. 

 These boys were pretty excited about Sinterklaas' visit!

 

 

Nate had a hearing test done in the middle of December after being referred by his speech pathologist.  I was expecting the results to be completely normal but as it turns out, he had fluid built up behind both his eardrums, which was the first test they did with a tympanometer.  The next test was done inside a sound-proof room with earphones and some games he had to play.  Their assessment showed he has a mild hearing loss in his left ear, and a moderate loss in his right, with him being unable to hear upper and lower frequencies that would be normal at his age.  We had an appointment lined up already with an ENT (Ear Nose Throat Specialist) this coming week to check out his adenoids and tonsils, so it will be interesting to see where this assessment leads. 

Opa enjoying his four grandsons

 All eight grandsons on the Vander Deen side

 A fun drift off the roof seen from Nate's room.  That's a lot of snow!

 That's right, boys, keep shovelling!

 Mike did a trial run making olibollen this week.  They turned out well!  

(at least I was told so, I still couldn't taste anything at the time)

 Aaron asked me, a little concerned, "Mommy, is that oliebollen alive?"