This morning we spoke with Opa and Oma, who just came back from a camping trip with Ettie & Gerben, and then we left to the Frying Pan Farm.

Nora was looking forward to it and remembered her previous visits. She knew where the turkeys where, and the pigs, and we both wanted to see the horse ("aan het nadenken") but the horse was somewhere else this time.

We had a good time. Nora even touched a calf ("aaien!"). She was very impressed by the sheep shearing and wasn't sure what to make of it.

We spent maybe an hour on the farm but it tired her. When we were on our way back we passed the poultry barn and I asked: "wil je de kalkoenen weer zien?" (would you like to see the turkeys again) and she said that no, she'd prefer to go home. Then she said: "en de kalkoenen gaan naar huis." -- she projects her own situation on others. When Nora gets tired, she will start talking about how other things "start to sleep". So she'll see kids and then say: "de kindertjes gaan slapen" -- a sure sign that she is tired.

The street behind our house, 13th Street, was part of a 5k course this morning. It was the Girls on the Run 5k, which is part of a running program for girls.

We were ready at 10.00 am with coffee and our chairs, and cheered for the runners that passed by. It was a lot of fun. Nora was very enthusiastic about clapping and making noise with her ratchet.

A policeman who drove by at the end of the race said: "That's the life! All you need is some coffee!" -- and we pointed out our coffee mugs. It was a good morning.

Ready for the runners.

There they are!

Waving and clapping.

This morning we went to the Truck Day at the Central Library ("vrachtwagendag"). Several trucks and cars were on display for children (and adults) to enjoy.

Nora has a cold and she didn't sleep very well but she enjoyed her visit. The cement trucks were a little too scary -- their horns made too much noise -- but she was very interested in the garbage truck and the fire truck.

We visited the library and later went for a walk. Nora was so tired that she skipped lunch, pretty rare for her.

Sasha and Nora in front of the police motor.

The garbage truck.

An ART bus.

Fire trucks are big...

...but fire trucks are fun.

Many different trucks and cars on display.

The best truck of all!

A few weeks ago with Easter, we colored eggs. Nora really enjoyed peeling the eggs, one tiny piece of shell at the time. She is so patient.

Last Thursday I went to Jersey City. I traveled with three co-workers and we took the 6.00 am train from Union Station. Never mind the early hour, we had a good time in the train and talked a lot. In Jersey City we met with several co-workers, local and from Menlo Park.

We had dinner in a restaurant near the office. It was nice to catch up with everybody. The next day I took the 4.15 pm train home and the trip was smoothly. I met Sasha and Nora at Hayes Park; it was great to see them. At night I worked on a SAN migration.

Today I made a one-day trip. Again on the 6.00 am train, returning with the 5.15 pm -- from which I'm writing this update.

Our front-yard had a few patches where there wasn't much grass. The yard closest to the house doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight.

I bought a "lawn repair kit", which is a mixture of grass seeds and fertilizer, mixed through paper pulp. It looks a little weird, but now a week later there are tiny sprouts of grass showing, so it seems to work.

It is nice to work on the yard, and take care of things like this.

We bought a couple of Sesame Street DVDs this weekend and tonight we watched on my laptop for a few minutes.

When I told Nora that she should go play now, she started pointing to the underside of the laptop. At first I didn't pay much attention but she was very persistent. She said: "knoopje, knoopje" (button, button). She does have a loose button on her clothes so I was thinking that perhaps she had put something in the laptop, but the grills at the underside of the laptop looked too small for that.

She kept insisting, but I told her that it's impossible to put anything in through those vents. Then, it dawned on me, and I opened the DVD player: "Wil je de DVD hebben?" (Do you want the DVD?)

And she answered: "Oooooh!" (which means, "yes", in her language).

Then she said that the DVD was a "zing-knoopje!" (a "button for singing"). Our little poet.

Today we received a wonderful present from Oma: a handmade Nijntje. It is an exact replica of the Nijntje Oma made for me 30 years ago and it is beautiful.

We told Nora Nijntje arrived by plane and we showed her Jaap's photo to explain.

This morning we went to the flea market at the Dutch school in Bethesda. It's King's Day today.

We bought a big pile of books and a couple of DVDs and CDs. It's a luxury to be able to buy them and not having to pay for international shipping!

On Saturday we painted several eggs in beautiful colors. On Sunday morning we went outside, and met Ginny at the taverne. The kids were driving their scooters on the street and we drew with chalk on the street. The weather was gorgeous.

For lunch I made a chicken stuffed with lemon and garlic, with potatoes and carrots on the side. Came out very nicely. We spent the rest of the day on the deck.