Ski trip Austria new year 2012

New year's day; our car is on the train through the mountain for the last 15km to our destination Mallnitz, Austria.

Sleep well!

Fleur and Julie were having ski lessons every day from 9.30 till 15.00. They had lunch with all their friends in a special kids restaurant.

Ready for the slalom competition.

Robert at the middle station at 1.950m on the Ankogel mountain.

First price for Fleur! Party in the local disco.

First price for Julie aswell!

and medals of course...

In front of the hotel waiting for the ski bus.

On top of 'Kids mountain'.

Blowing storm at the middle station. Only afternoon we didn't ski.

Town square at night. Our hotel is in the back.

Julie and Fleur in front of our hotel.

A better day on top of the 'Ankogel' 2.940 m.

At 1.950 m the sun was shining.

You had to work before you could have lunch at this small cafe. Climb all the way down (or ski) and up after lunch.

Active "winter" weekend

Today, Sunday, we went to Snowworld in Landgraaf. The largest indoor skiing piste of Europe. Fleur told me this was the coolest day of her life going up the hill with the special ski-lift. They are learning quick! See the short movies at the bottom.

Saturday we went to the famous Christmas Market in Dusseldorf (Germany, about 40 minutes drive from our home). The whole city was decorated with lots of lights and X-mas decorations. In the stalls you could buy all the special winter treats like Lebkuchen, Stollen (kind of sweet bread with marsipan and raisens) Gluhwein, pancakes etc etc. There was even an ice skate ring!

So Julie and Fleur had to try on their special beginners iceskates. Double irons so you dont fall easily.

Dutch customs

Sinterklaas is comming to town. On his birthday, the 5th of December he is giving all the childeren presents. But only if you've been 'sweet' otherwise he takes you home to Spain.

Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain.

Of course he needs lots of help to deliver the presents and check if everybody has been nice, that help are his 'Piets'.

Julie and Fleur with Zoe and Matisse at the St. Martin's fire on the 11th of November. They ate a lot of Nonnevotten, like donuts/beignets.

In the Church they listen to the story of St Martin. After the play all the childeren walk with their ligths through town towards the place where the big fire will be lightened.

Julie and Fleur in front of the Munsterkerk in town.

Nice weather in Autumn; playing in te woods with Julie's friend Lois.

Fleur in the ropes of the play area.

Julie making a Jackal Lantern.

Kerstspecial Studio 237

Zondagmiddag hadden Julie en Fleur van ballet ook nog een Kerstspecial. Het was bij ons om de hoek in een hele leuke zaal met super licht special effects. De dames hebben enorm genoten van hun optreden en van de optredens van de andere dansers! Er was zelfs nog een surprise optreden van een lokale bekendheid. Alle meiden gillen! Er waren wel 500 mensen in de zaal! Alle optredens waren erg leuk en liepen zeer gesmeerd in elkaar over.

Afscheidsfeestje voor Julie en Fleur

Meer lol in het zwembad. Temilaloua, Julie en Lucy.

Julie en Edima. Kabelo is ook leuk, maar een beetje serieus, Edima is meer fun. Volgens Julie dus. Kabelo kon niet op het feestjekomen, hij was al op vakantie.

Uitleg van de race...

Meisjes tegen de jongens (Ariel en de jongen van Bus Rigolo), uiteraard de meisjes winnen!

Vanille of chocola, chocola of vanille?

Cake time!

Mauri en Alexis proberen vissen te vangen.

Julie en Reina (allebei met koortslip).

Fleur's Kerst show op school

Ook dit jaar was het weer een groot spectakel op de school van Fleur. Julie had speciaal vrij gekregen om ook te kunnen kijken. Fleur's klas voerde een Afrikaanse dans op en zong kerstliedejes (Franse...). Ook kwam de Kerstman langs, als een van de weinige was Fleur niet bang voor deze zwarte Kerstman. Ze zag dat het George was, de portier. Daarna was er natuurlijk groot buffet. Fleur en ik hadden hele lekkere pizza sterren gemaakt.

Julie's Holiday production

Vanavond had Julie haar lower school Holiday production (K3 tm grade 5). Samen met de K3 en K4 klassen deed Julie's K5 klas het nummer We are the world. Niet zo'n eenvoudige tekst..... Julie deed het, uiteraard, met volle overgave.