Down Under with Jan Mikaela Nora and Ella

And so it was, on a hot New Year's Eve at a picnic ground in the Adelaide Hills - more than 10 years after we first met in Spain - that we finally tied the knot. In a very simple but beautiful ceremony, just witnessed by some close family members, we made formal what was already there all those years: our love and commitment to each other.    Happy New Year everyone !

What a wonderful way to start the holidays. Daddy’s sisters Aukje and Janneke came over all the way from Holland to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Australia. After a late night welcome by Mum, Dad and Morfar (who already arrived the week before) the Aunties had their first encounter with their nieces the next morning. Completely jet-lagged they woke up to Ella shouting ‘Koala, Koala’. And sure enough, on their very first morning in Australia we had a Koala in the garden!  The girls warmed up very quickly to their Aunties. They showed them around at Nora’s Kindy, Ella’s childcare and of course the Kangaroo’s across the road. Next day the senior Bijlsma sisters went for a walk at Morialta (more koala’s), after which the junior Bijlsma sisters joined them for a stroll in Hahndorf, to visit Mum’s candle shop. And then of course it was Christmas! Lots of presents from Santa, even more Swedish guests and lots of traditional Swedish food. Good thing we could swim some of it ...

What an excitement. Nora had her first transition day at her new school, Aldgate primary. She came well prepared with a complete school uniform, a hat and a new bag.  It was just one morning to meet all the other kids in her reception class, most of whom she knows quite well through Kindy.  Now she can’t wait to start for real ….. ‘ I’m not a Kindy girl anymore! ’ You’ll have to wait until after Christmas Nora! And here's the moment of Nora's official graduation from Kindy ...

Christmas season has started for our family with the annual Stirling Christmas pageant. Nora has been counting down to this event for weeks, as it was the first time she would join. Aldgate Kindy chose the theme ‘Toy World’ for their float, so lots of Toy Story figures. Nora however had decided long ago that she would be a dressed up as a Ballerina, no matter what the theme was. From the word go she was marching ahead of the banner with three of her Kindy friends, right behind the marching band. Thousands of people watched over 40 floats come by before the last one with Santa himself. But of course our Nora was the star of the show. Well, at least of her own show ;-)

Whats that in the backyard, up in the gums? Not one, not two, but THREE koala's ! Two males fighting over a female .... yes, that time of year ;-)

Poor little Ella: 6 weeks of casts on both her feet. Why? Because she is still tip-toe walking like a little ballerina. A habit hard to break, so we had to take some more drastic measures… The good news is that she can walk on the casts. With a pair of big croc-shoes (toes and heel cut off) she is even running and climbing like it’s perfectly normal. Miss Groovy shoes they call her at Childcare, and apart from a few grumpy moments she is happy as ever! Only 5 weeks to go!

Hip hip Hurray: 35 today. Happy birthday Mum !!!