Christmas 2010

Belgium had its coldest December in decades and set a national record for the most kilometers of traffic jams in a single day. I like playing in the snow.

Mmmm... these popcorn-cranberry chains taste great !

Decorating our Christmas tree with papa. 

In Belgium, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet come from Spain on a carrot-eating horse to give candies and presents to the good kids but not the naughty kids or kids going through their terrible twos. Papa says the kids on the naughty list are taken back to Spain in zwarte piet's bag... even if they aren't quite two yet...

Papa help !!! 

We had Christmas Eve dinner at Oma's house. Here she is with all her grandchildren. 

The whole family joined on Christmas day at Opa Pol's house.

Me with my younger cousin Finn.

On boxing day, Mama and Papa made their first turkey... 

... I've tasted worse.

My neighbours from Pakistan have never celebrated Christmas before. We invited them over so I could show little Zain what it is all about.

 

Of course the only bad part about Christmas are all the dirty dishes afterwards... 

Fall

Walking in the fall leaves with mama and my little blue booties. 

Snuggled up in my sleeping bag while mama pushes me around Horst Castle in the cool Autumn air. 

Here I am in my bear 'jammies with "Musti". I like to read Musti bed time stories before we go to sleep. 

A day at the zoo with the family. Ebe, Elian and Maren had their faces painted... .

My cousins take really good care of me. Ebe likes to push my cart, while Elian and Maren take my hand and show me the animals. 

Getting diry playing around a campfire. 

Mama, Oma, and me. 

All my Belgian cousins, arranged from youngest to oldest: Finn, me, Jona, Elian, Ebe, and Maren. 

Happy Halloween everyone !

Crete

Mama is pregnant now with my younger sibling and won't be able to fly to Canada for Christmas. Instead, mama and papa took me on a vacation to Crete! 

It was really hot and sunny so I needed a hat. I liked daddy's best of all!

Papa carried me on lots of great hikes along Crete's famous gorges and coastlines. All the sign posts in Crete are riddled with bullet holes from the gun-crazy Cretan locals! 

Daily beach time was an essential, and often exhausting, part of my Greek holiday. 

"Where's your ear ?" 

This is me in my Pakistani outfit. My friend Zain's relatives made it for me the last time they were on holiday in Pakistan. It's great in the hot weather and a big hit with the local Greek ladies! 

Me and Papa make one last check under the bed in case I hid something under there.

Greek food isn't bad, but there is nothing quite like Mama's dry cheerios... 

Papa with Raki. 

While mama and papa sampled the local restaurants, I played in the streets of Hania and Rethymno. 

Sunset with papa.

Summer time

Hanging out on the porch on a summer evening.

Summer time in Belgium is always full of lots of barbecues and family visits. Here I am with some of my friends! 

I like to have picnics with mama and papa when the weather is nice. 

I needed a bath after all those cherries! 

Playing hard in the sun... 

... and nap-time on papa's shoulder. ...