Day 2 dawned early for those of us who had had a few beers and/or screwdrivers the night before (Fiona recommends screwdrivers in Holland - apparently they use top notch OJ). But we were happy to get up because we were invited to go along with my Ome Ad and Tante Jose and their whole family to a fancy breakfast to celebrate Ome Ad's birthday.
We went to one of their favorite places in a neighboring Belgian town called Hoogstraten. Breakfast was fabulous and very Dutch - lots of really great bread with meats and cheeses and toppings of all kinds. Pim and his wife Sandra were there (she was feeling a little under the weather and was not able to make it the night before) and their darling little kids Dennis and Femke. Barbara and Emile were also there, looking none the worse for wear after the night before.
After breakfast it was back to the house and little relaxation - for those over 5 years of age anyway. The kids had latched on to the cardboard box that one of Ome Ad's birthday presents came in and proceeded to demonstrate that it was perhaps the greatest toy ever invented. The played in it, filled it with toys, emptied it again and colored every inch of it. They are really great kids - Dennis is little dynamo and Femke is a sweetheart. When everyone left for naps, Fiona and I did another walk about in the cold, crisp Dutch air to clear our heads.
That evening there was a gathering of family to celebrate Ome Ad's birthday. For those who don't already know, my mom is one of 12 kids, so a family gathering is always a grand affair. We got to see and catch up with quite a few aunts and uncles. It was nice to be with so much family. It's a little bittersweet in that you realize how much we've missed by living so far away for so long....
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