Monday, January 11, 2010

HAPPY 2010!!

OK, maybe a little late but I wish everybody a really great New Year!! A much better year than last year if yours wasn't that wonderful. I can feel it this will be a good year for a lot of people!!

We are back into our ritme of school since today, so I have time to blog, am over my jet lag... I was in 3 continents and 4 countries these last 2 weeks, so for now I stay put for a short while :-) However, people who know me know that this won't be for long!!

We were in the Netherlands visiting our families for Xmas and some good friends for New Years. We really had a good time, celebrating my cousin's Jesse 9th Bday bash on the 24th, celebrating Xmas and my father's Bday on the 25th, celebrating and having a feast of a dinner with Dirk's sister on the 26th and on the 27th a big Bday bash for my dad and some of his friends and colleagues because he turned 70! So a lot of food, meeting friends and family, last minute shopping in Holland, celebrating for the first time in 11 years Xmas in the Netherlands!! Fun, but COLD, WINDY, RAINY, so... probably it will take another decade before we return to Holland to celebrate Xmas... rather go in spring or summer....

Funny, they say the Dutch are rude or blunt, direct and open and normally I don't notice that so much, since I am Dutch myself... but I guess I've changed and adapted a bit to more different ways because I was pretty surprised myself about the directness of the Dutch people this time around. I've sent about 120 Xmas cards to all over the world, which I do every year. It is my only contact in paper form that I keep up as my tradition, and normally I get nice comments about my cards or Thank You's from people that I knew from the past and are still in my contact list but they are surprised they are still there. Most people really enjoy a real card these days... which I do myself as well... so I make an effort to create a funky card every year. Not the usual Xmas scene, too normal for me :-) so I start thinking about this around August, theme, colors etc.. etc..

Well, you have seen my card and you know what I am talking about... so here are some comments of Dutch people... no need to mention names, just sharing their comments: "I don't like the card, a bit creepy with that 3rd eye"..... and: "You are exploiting your children too much!" Not a Thank You for the card, although I prefer a much simpler theme, more Xmassy... NO, just a blunt/rude comment, not even a side comment, nothing else, just that! On top of that, these people didn't send us a card... I guess this is the last year that I will send them one too!

How many people send a Xmas card with a picture of their children?? Is it that mine is just a bit more out of the box theme, or are all people exploiting their children when they send a Xmas card with their children/dog/cat on it?? Dutch people can be so negative or jealous that they are not able to create a unique card, I don't know what it is... but things like this makes me happy that I moved away!! Some people can never be happy for anybody else, always negative... I learned by living in the USA that: If you have nothing positive to say, don't say anything at all!! The Dutch people could learn a lesson from this!!

But enough about Xmas cards, it's a new year with new challenges, adventures, fun times ahead of us and I am looking forward to create a great year, have fun galore, travel to new places and some old but much loved places, like Thailand!!
Did I tell you that while the soccer season is going on here in June/July and Dirk is totally excited to go to 10 games, YES, he has tickets to 10 games. Which would mean I would sit alone, be stuck in traffic and have to deal with all the craziness I decided to go to Thailand with the girls for 8 weeks! Koh Samui and Bangkok here we come!! WHOA!!
The girls have 10 weeks summer (here winter) break and it is cold here, boring because everybody goes home so we are relaxing on a beach in Koh Samui. The girls will go to Thai school in the morning, so hopefully they will absorb some Thai language and culture, how nice is that??!!

Pictures I can't upload yet, I have a new Mac Book Pro and haven't installed the camera's on here yet... so you have to wait for that a bit more. I need Dirk's help for that, but he is traveling....

Glad to be back behind my computer again, I just read some of your blogs and updated on most of you again!
Have a great week!
Mireille

9 comments:

Ellie said...

Funny that you JUST posted about this! I was coming to visit your blog to tell you Thank You for sending us a card! :) LOL! We were tickled that you thought of us! And your card is GORGEOUS! You are so very creative and clever! You have a gift in photography! And not to mention, you have two beautiful subjects!!! Gorgeous!!!

rosemary said...

Of course, I loved the pics when you displayed them on here but I just received the xmas card a few days ago and it is much more adorable in person!! You have a fantastic eye for photography design. I love the peacock look you came up with - very unique and elegant.

When are you going to Thailand and how long has it been since you've all been back? How exciting!!

Wendy said...

WELCOME BACK! I missed your posts! How awesome that you'll get to take the girls to Thailand this summer. I'm truly jealous. We'll probably take Lily back in a couple of years, too. Can't wait to see all your photos from your travels.

blablablavanannet said...

Ze zijn 'gewoon'jaloers ...... ha ha ha.......en hun gedachten zijn bekrompen door hun 'kleine wereldje waar ze in leven ........ je meiden en de kaart zijn prachtig .... laat je niet in de war brengen xxxxxxxxx

blablablavanannet said...

Oscar dat ben ik annette.....dhuh....

Mama Gringa said...

Welcome back, and glad to hear you had a great holiday. As for the ruckus about your card -- ignore it! Your card says a lot about your creativity and the love for your girls. It's fabulous and keep on doing it! :) I had 4 personalised cards sent to my husband and I this year and I have to say they are my favourites. Good on you for being original. :)

Maci Miller said...

Hey, Mireille! Glad to see you back to blogging and I LOVE the Christmas cards you sent this year and last! The girls are beautiful and why wouldn't any proud Mom want to send their picture card out? I did, too, and am already thinking of next year's theme (as I told you about). I see nothing wrong with being proud of your kids and furthermore, there is nothing wrong with being creative! I LOVE you fab ideas. You have become my creative role model so don't mind if I steal a few ideas now and then! :-)

Annie said...

Hi Mireille! Welcome back, I missed you! First of all, I thank you and I absolutely loved the beautiful card you sent of the girls! It's our family's favorite card! Secondly, I was on a budget this year and sent out E Cards- didn't feel right and next year I'm going back to mailing real cards! Thirdly, EVERYONE puts their kids on the Christmas card, it's our moment to touch base with family and friends we don't get to see very often and let them get a glimpse of our little sweeties! And finally some people feel grumpy and unhappy and have to think of something negative! I think you rock and I can see all the creative hard work you put into the things you do.

Unknown said...

You have a great blog here. I like reading unique blogs like yours. I have a site myself which provides information on popular vacation destinations. I want my site to be a place where anyone from around the world can come and have that vacation spirit or "vacation feeling" as you can tell from my domain name.

I'd like to exchange links with you to help spread some traffic around between each other. Please let me know if this is possible.

Jason
ThatVACATIONfeeling.com

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