for opa

For opa. I remember those cold winters. When it it was freezing so hard 

that we could walk across the canals of Damme. On Sundays you liked to
take us to places with one of your fancy cars. Then we drove to the nearest
lake, where you always swam -in summer and in winter-. 

Except this day, the ice was too thick to make a hole in it. So we walked 

over it.

I miss you.

(All pictures by M. Van Waerebeke)

slaapwel

Jonas' new favorite book; The Big Book of Slumber. After he put his
pyjamas on, I tell him how the animals sleep. I love the illustrations
of this book! Jonas never complains when I put him to bed.
My last words "slaapwel, tot morgen", are exactly the same my mum
used to say after she turned out the light of my bedroom.
Last picture by Marcel Van Waerebeke

josse's rabbits

Yesterday we went to visit Sarah, Josse and Krikke. A lovely afternoon! 

Jonas really loved to watch the rabbits! 

Picture below: Tom, Sarah and I when we were little. We often went to 

the petting farm, petting the little goats, feeding the chickens and the 

rabbits,... Sweet memories.

33 years in between

Behind my dad's house, there is a huge playground. Jonas loved
the rocking animals. Looking at the pictures I thought about the
time that I used to sit on them.
Pictures below by M. Van Waerebeke, with 33 years in between.

zoo #2 (when I was little)

Pictures by my dad, from my cousins and me in the zoo.

oh happy day

Photo's above, from yesterday. 

Photo's under (by M. Van Waerebeke), my birthday circa 27 years ago.

Making an ice castle with my friends was one of the top activity's 

on my birthday. I always loved to wear my grandma's high-heeled 

shoes, even during outdoor events.

rain

Yesterday evening it started raining and it didn't stop until now. 

All the meadows become lakes and the lanes become rivers. 

Now I'm really looking forward to make a walk with my rain boots, 

tomorrow.

I love the feeling and the sound of wading through water.

Pictures under, made by M. Van Waerebeke, when I was little.

sinterklaas

Sammy and I with Sinterklaas en Zwarte Piet.
I remember us, laying in our beds, listening if we heard something
on the roof or in the house. "You think they're already inside?" we
asked each other.
One night we didn't sleep at all. I think it was 4 am when we
were getting out our bed to sneak to the living room to see what
Sint and Zwarte Piet had brought. Chocolate, speculoos, mandarin
oranges,  and so many toys... it was pure happiness!
And the day after we celebrated your birthday. So we will this
evening! Happy birthday Sammy!

for simon

For my cousin Simon, with who I spent many weekends and holidays

as a child.

On the first picture you see us on the doorstep of our grandparents 

house. I always think I remember this moment, but I wonder if that's 

possible because I'm wearing diapers. 

What I do remember is a stormy night in the Michelvanhammestraat, 

laying each in a big bed and hearing scary noises.  

And of course we have a special bond since we watched a Bruce Lee

movie and I wanted to teach you judo and you got me in the hospital ;). 

No worries, it wasn't your fault, I was a bad teacher.

I wish we could see each other more often these days. Being both busy

it's difficult to . But you know that "out of sight, out of mind"

doesn't hold true!

Happy birthday Simon!

(pictures by Marcel Van Waerebeke)

for anne

A golden present, for a golden lady. My aunt Anne... who is always 

there when I need her, who is like a second mum for me, with who 

I share beautiful travel memories, who's the most hospitable

person I know,... 

Happy birthday and thanks for everything!!!

seaside (when I was little)

(3 pictures by M. Van Waerebeke)

When I was little, my grandfather had a little cabin on the beach. We 

went there during summer weekends and during the holidays. The 

cabin was a storage for parasols, deck chairs, towels, an inflatable 

boat, plastic toys,...

And we did what children do on the beach; building sandcastles, 

selling paper flowers, jumping over the waves, searching shells, 

kiting,...

Last week I saw nothing has really changed; children are still playing 

the same games on the beach. Probably they will still be doing so in 

a 100 years...

for sarah

For Sarah, camomile flowers. When I see them, I always think of you
and the summer times when we went to the pasture to pick the flowers. You
washed your hair with them, to lighten it.
And I, as a little girl, looked at you full of admiration. My older cousin
who knew everything, who was the coolest girl I knew.
When we became older, the age difference became less apparent. I'm happy
that we are not only nieces, but also true friends.
Happy birthday Sarah!

being a mom

It's still difficult to get used to the fact that I will be a mom in three
months. Besides all the positive comments, people also warn me;
"your life will change", "you will be tired", "you will no longer have any
time for yourself",...
Sometimes I feel insecure: "how will I manage?", but in the end I
know I'll do fine.
Pictures above are slides taken by my dad, from when I was little
while giving my doll the bottle.

when i was little

When I was little I had two guinea pigs, Mona and Lisa.
I begged my mum for a dog, but she never gave in. In my imagination my
teddy dog was a real one.
I also wanted a cat, but only looking at one made me sneeze. So from time
to time we played that Sammy, my nephew, was my cat :)