War Grenades

 Here is the best excuse I have ever gotten from a student who shows up late for math class:

Dear Mr. Cook.

I'll be a few minutes late because we've found old world war 2 grenades near our house. The EOD is going to blow them up so I have to leave the house for a few minutes.

kind regards,

Viggo

Speaking of school, had some conflict there this week with the other math teachers. We gave different tests to our students due to some miscommunication with the management, so now there are complaints from parents followed by the blame game. It will be hard to last for two more years when these situations continue, but things will probably just continue getting worse.

We had a really nice BBQ yesterday with some friends - the twin boys and their parents. It has been a long time since we have seen them. They had a rough time with schools being closed as she is a nurse and there was little understanding for her situation. Thankfully the weather is warming up and the kids had tons of fun playing together - for once Abigail and Amélie were not so shy.

We also got to celebrate Ron's birthday in Amsterdam last Sunday. We tried to drive through the center of the city because there weren't any tourists, but it was all blocked off due to continued protests over the lockdown. Still got to see some cool stuff though. 

Happy Birthday, Ron!

The table that I started and Ron finished.

Improvised wrist guards - Amélie lost hers.

Amélie lost her second tooth too!

Three Videos

 I have been working on updating my Dutch Domes website for the past half year or so, trying to model my designs for the house we want to build. Finally finished three of the five or six videos. It will take a lot more work to update the website completely, but this is a great start!

The girls had a lot of fun playing with friends this week and practicing a dance that they will perform for their class on Tuesday. They are also busy with swimming lessons - three sessions instead of two this coming week!

The weather has been terrible. Sure would have liked to spend a bit more time at the skate park, but oh well. At school we have a terribly organized test week. Causing lots of problems for lots of people, but instead of my lessons, I just have to show up for an hour of standing in a gym and watching kids take a test. Wish we could play basketball instead!

Special Easter dinner.

Special Easter cookies from Rijssen.

Instead of decorating Easter eggs...

Yes, it snowed. That doesn't happen in April!

Happy Easter

 It sure is disappointing to not be able to see Claire again this year! We also have a week of really crummy weather to look forward to after 70s earlier this week. The tomatoes are confused. Hopefully in a few weeks I can plant them because they are already outgrowing their pots.

The girls had a lot of fun on Friday playing with friends. They had the day off. I had to work though. Spent a bit too much time on the new business yesterday, so I will take it easy today. Managed to work in a trip to the skate park though. Amélie fell again and hurt herself. Maybe this afternoon it will go better!

Today we have lots of special food lined up. Naomi is trying to make a particularly tasty cookie from Rijssen, the town her family is from, for the first time. Hopefully it will work!

The tadpoles started hatching!

Finally figured out how to integrate my model with Google Earth.

Time Zones

 Time zones give me a headache. Especially when you add in daylight savings time. China got rid of it in the 80's. I learned that Arizona and Hawaii don't do it either - our new teacher is from Arizona. The time change just happened here this morning, but in the States it was a few weeks ago. 

The girls both sprained their left ankle this week. They both lost the same tooth first. They both have problems with the same new molar that came in. They are nothing alike, most people assume they aren't even related, and then all at the same time they are twins. They are off to a good start with swimming lessons though! Twice a week seems to be working. They also got their report cards and all is well at school. Amélie is average or above average for everything, and Abigail is off the charts for math and spelling.

The weather is finally supposed to warm up for the next few days. Got the table outside ready to go 6 weeks ago when the weather was nice, and now we finally will get to use it again! Just need to get past this cold, windy Sunday. The tomatoes will be happy to spend some time outside!

Naomi cooked a nice dinner.

Digital Living

 I have been getting a lot of headaches lately with all this screen time. Red-shifting everything has helped, but I am looking forward to a lifestyle that doesn't depend so heavily on screens. On the flip side, it is pretty interesting to do business with people on the other side of the world who I have never met in person. 

Yesterday the girls had some fun playing with friends. Abigail went over to a boy's house for the first time. She had a lot of fun. Nice to be able to connect with a new friend. Swimming lessons started up again yesterday, and the girls had some fun in the pool. Hopefully they can continue for a while!

It is kind of working to be back in school. The students really need it. I was shocked to see how much weight one of my students had put on in the last couple months. Sitting at home in front of a screen is really bad for some of them. Others are happy enough with it though.

Abigail lost her first tooth!

The frogs had their yearly party in the pond.

Craft time with Helene.

Abigail got to play with a new friend.

Hybrid Lessons

 I had to go back to school for the first time in about three months this week. It was nice to see people in person again and only half of each class was there at a time. The other half 'follows' the lessons on line. Those small groups that were there were enthusiastic and engaged, a rare treat! I will have to put a lot more time and energy into school now, but I am sure the enthusiasm will be short-lived.

I have been busy with trying to find more Chinese students and setting up our curriculum. Lots of work to do. Also making progress with the house designs. Too much time on the computer!

The girls went with Naomi to Amsterdam yesterday. Naomi tracked down somebody who started a business making nice blankets, scarves and things out of wool, but they went out of business, so Naomi bought up a little bit of the leftover inventory. Then they went to wish Auntie Edith a happy birthday, and had way too much cake. 

Abigail had a sick day, so we went for a walk in Apeldoorn.

Abigail's first loose tooth.

Fun in Amsterdam.

New Students

 Whew, just finished up locking in two new students for our teacher, Brittani. Can be a bit stressful and exciting, but we are making progress. Got one earlier this week as well, so we will send her a contract and officially hire her as our first teacher. One step at a time.

This was my last week of working from home, so that means my time and energy will take a bit hit. That is a bummer, because there is a lot more that I want to do! Still not ready to go back to school, but I guess I really can't complain. I am in the minority. 

We had a lot of fun at the skate park this week. Amazing how much the girls were able to improve their skills in the past few months without actually being at the skate park. Big changes to their balance and confidence. Maybe we can start going to the indoor one at some point!

Not happy about our car being used as a canvas...can it be buffed out or something?

Fun at the skate park.

Our neighbor was watering his garden. Bizzare.