Friday was a bit more of a relaxing day.  First I did a bit of shopping and looking around Vroomshoop with Maddi when she had woken from her first sleep. 

A cheese van

When we got back, Oma, Maddi and I visited Tante Geke.  Oom Roel and Tante Geke have quite a big house right next to the canal.  They have a good view of the canal from their bedroom balcony.  She said it's really nice to sit our there in summer and watch all the boats coming past (a favourite pastime of many dutch is to go "varing" on the canals/other waterbodies with their boats).  Their house also has a big open area (suitable for a shop) attached.  Oom Roel said he specially bought this house so there was room for the following night's Botter family BBQ (hahaha).  Tante Geke had some yummy meatballs that we ate with...mayo of course!  This time the flavour was American and it tasted just like a Mac Donald's burger.
After Tante Geke's, Oma looked after Maddi while she slept at her house and I went to the library where I did some more work on my blog.
When I came back, Maddi was just awake so we went to the Bezeraar (where heaps of the Bolks side of the family still live).  We visited Tante Alie (she was married to Oom Jaap, Oma's brother, now passed away)

and Oom Jan (Oma's brother who was married to Tante Geertje, now passed away).

Maddi playing with Tante Alie's shawl

I got to drive Oma's car 3 times on Friday, which was fun, although I kept reaching for the gearstick and the indicators on the wrong side!
Oma and I had a quiet dinner together of patat (chips) and frikandels with lots of mayo!!!!

On Saturday I had a really nice day all by myself!  Oom Roel and Tante Geke came and picked Maddi up for the day and I walked to the train station and caught a train to Almelo.  I had a good look around the markt (market), though I did ask someone if I had missed something, or where was the big markt because I couldn't believe it was so "small".  Of course I probably only went once or twice when I was 8 years old and it looked big to me then!  It was nice walking aroung all by myself for a change - I have been around lots of people the last few weeks!  Of course I had to try some more food at the markt : I had a bami schijf (a deep fried noodle ball) with peanut sauce, patat oorlog (chips with mayo, raw onion and peanut sauce) and a boerenbrok (a flat rectangular spiced pork meatball).  Yes, I didn't have to eat for quite a few hours after that!  I'm telling you, Steve and kids, you need to look out for someone really fat if you meet me at the airport!!
One observation I've made about Holland is that a lot more people seem to smoke here, even in public.  In Australia, I think most people are nearly ashamed to smoke in public, whereas here they smoke right until they get to the shop or church doors.  I think I mentioned before that they had an ashtray right near the church doors at most churches I went to.  The packets don't seem to have warnings on them and they are available at nearly all checkouts.  You can also buy fake smokes made of chocolate for kids (I'm pretty sure that was outlawed in Australia ages ago).
On Saturday night it was the Botter family BBQ.  It was at Oom Roel and Tante Geke's in the old shop, which had plenty of room for a large family gathering.  It was really "gezellig"and nice to see nearly the whole Botter family. 

Oma with many of her great grand children

Danielle with her family

Tante Geke, Oom Henk and Oma

Heidi (Oom Henk's daughter) and her family

John (Oom Roel) and Esther (coming
to Australia in January)

Gerjan (Oom Henk) and his family

Gea (Oom Henk) and her family

Trijnie (Oom Henk) and Lars

Today (Sunday) everyone came to Oma's after church in the morning.  They do this basically every Sunday and I think it's a really nice way to keep the family close together.



Oom Eg playing the organ in church.  I'm
pretty sure that he's been playing for 40 years
already.



Sanne and Ramon

Oom Roel, me, Oom Eg and Arjan

In the afternoon Sanne and Ramon "helped" me babysit Maddi at Arjan and Helma's.

  When Maddi was in bed I let them use my camera to take some photos of the teddies and other things...



After church we stayed at Arjan and Helma's for dinner to celebrate their 12 1/2 year wedding anniversary.  It was "gezellig" and also too tasty!

Finally, I'd like to share with you a sign that I haven't seen in Australia...in Holland they have special places you can walk your dog and they are allowed to do their business, probably because most of the people in the "dorp" have pretty small backyards.