"Mama, Can We Stay Here Forever?"

„Mama, can we stay here forever?“

This is the question posed by Lukas on our last visit to Germany.

Now, there's little doubt in my mind that we're making the right decision. Obviously, he feels at home there. And I have no doubt that Alex will feel the same. Already, he gets so excited when he sees Oma, Opa, Uncle Steffen, and Aunt Melanie.

But moves with young children always involve a multitude of emotions. Will they miss their friends? When we leave, will they understand that contact with those children, who they've spent years getting to know, will change drastically? It weighs on your conscience, and you end up feeling your emotions, plus the emotions that your children might have, if they were old enough to fully comprehend.

Do they know that the next time we're here we'll be visiting, and we'll likely only see this wonderful old farm house from the outside? And the big question is, will I be able to hold it together, and avoid breaking down like some emotional basket case?

This week we went for our last bicycle ride here in Zeeland. Our bikes will be transported down to Germany on Monday. It was a beautiful ride, with the sun casting long shadows of baren trees onto the fields and meadows. The kids enjoyed it. And we stopped for a visit with our friends Peter and Julia along the way. The dog was there, and – this time – didn't need much persuasion to return home with us.

Are there other moments worthy of mention? Well, Alexander said his first German word today (in addition to the slang “Hoopla“ – which he began saying last week). It was „pferd“... which is so fitting, given his obsession with horses.

Alex also got on ice skates for the first time, which he seemed to enjoy. Lukas, on the other hand, (pictured below without skates) was more skeptical.

Lukas is the thinker of two, and he's getting closer and closer to being able to read. He's begun sounding things out, and is showing a real interest in words and sentences. He also adores the new Leap Frog „Sing Along, Read Along“ that Santa brought him for Christmas, which is great. He continues to compensate for Alexander's recklessness through his über-cautiousness. Today he refused to go down a slide at an indoor play area, but when I took Alex down it, he giggled and smiled from ear to ear. I'm amazed that they're so different at this young age! Alex is a real risk taker, and Lukas will only take the most calculated risks. (Sounds like someone else I know... and I'm not referring to myself!)

In less than two weeks Lukas will turn four; his last birthday here on the „boerderij“. We'll take lots of pictures, don't worry. But no amount of photos will capture what I feel for this place, much less what it has meant to my family and I to be able to live here for these incredible two and a half years. And words? Unfortunately, they're no better. It's beyond that.

The Krafts Say Goodbye to 2009, and More

As 2009 comes to a close, I have a few cute memories to record of the boys, and our adventures here in Holland as a family.

For starters, my sister Melissa is visiting, or as Alexander says, "Siss-see"! We've all been very busy passing around various illnesses, so I'm afraid I've been a terrible tour guide. Fortunately for us, the primary purpose of her trip was to spend time with me, Tobi, and the boys, and that's something we can do from home... sick or not.


Right around the time that Melissa arrived, we taught Alexander a cute little trick. "Go get your diaper", we'd say, and 16-month old Alex would run into the other room, grab a diaper, and return dutifully with his prize. Then he'd climb up onto the couch and wait for us to change his diaper.

Lukas is his typical easy-going self... with the exception of his "NO! I am NOT doing THAT!" phase. Fortunately, we're usually able to address this experimental stubborness with a brief bout of tickling; a simple remedy in most settings.

This year we celebrated Christmas early with Tobi's parents (in Franconia, Germany - photo to the left), allowing us to spend Christmas itself here in Zeeland. On Christmas day we were visited by a couple of friends from the village (Ilonka, who wanted to show us the sweet little twins in their new Christmas dress, and Peter, who we presented with a special photo album of our time here on the farm). Later, we went on a walk through the orchard at sunset, returning home to a South-African style ostrich stew. On the "second" Christmas day we celebrated with other "expats", indulging in a big ham and turkey, homemade cranberry sauce and roasted butternut squash (both made by my sister), sweet potato casserole (my creation), and freshly baked American-style chocolate chip cookies (courtesy of our guests). It was a wonderful evening, and our kids so enjoyed the company of their little American friends.

Earlier this week, just after Christmas, the boys enjoyed an afternoon at the "Winter Efteling" here in The Netherlands, which reminded me of my childhood trips to Disney at Christmastime. There was even a ride that resembled a somewhat primitive version of "It's a Small World" ("Carnaval Festival"), which the boys enjoyed. We went with our friend Angie, and her two sweet little girls, Veerle and Fabienne.

On the last day of 2009 - in the most grotesque moment of the year - the dog barfed up the insides of a hare on the kitchen floor. Later, we tried to extinguish those images through mild intoxication (innefective), as we ushered in 2010 here in town with friends. That involved a small amount of professional-grade pyrotechnics (which anyone can buy in both Germany or The Netherlands). Needless to say, those responsible for any non-slumbering children watched the fireworks from the inside, while others (the men) wrought chaos as close-as-humanly-possible to the windows. There was fondue and champagne, beer and wine. For the kids there were french fries and sausages, a kid-sized table, plenty of toys, and sparklers.

At the stroke of midnight I almost got emotional as I gave the conventional three kisses to each of our friends here in the village, with less than a month left until our final departure.

My resolution for 2010 - to finally live somewhere for long enough that we don't have to worry about the end. To know that the house we're setting up will not have to be packed up next year. And not to have to worry about the last Spring flowers, the last beautiful sunset, the last fall foliage of that place... not to mention final farewells to friends we've made.

Here's to the New Year... let's see if we can pull it off!