Around Lake Tahoe

It's snowing this morning. Wet and heavy snow flakes are pouring down.
After one day of skiing my bruised tailbone hurts even more than before. Have I already mentioned that I badly bruised my tailbone a couple of weeks ago?

The boys are also tired so we use the bad weather as an excuse and drive down to Lake Tahoe's southern shore.

We have been living in California for more than three years but we haven't visited Tahoe yet!
Well, last winter we saw its never ending blue surface from atop the Heavenly runs.
And two years ago we were planning on going camping at Emerald Bay, but then they had to close the park to the public for safety reasons due to wildfires in the area.


I guess, every Tahoe visitor heads to see Emerald Bay.
What a place! We stroll down to Vikingsholm.
The weather is pleasant and it's even nice and warm down here, compared to the strong wind and snow at the vista point above the bay.


Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian style mansion from the 1920's was originally used as a summer home.
This place is amazing!
The setting is remarkably peaceful during our visit, but considering Emerald Bay's popularity, it will probably be very different during the summer months.


After lunch we get in the car and take an easygoing drive around the lake. It's only 72 miles.
The Bear Crossing Warning signs along Nevada's Highway 50 immediately get Maarten's attention.
Don't worry, the bears are sleeping for the winter. Just like little Alfie Bear...

After the Rain Comes the Sunshine

Our little cabin is even more cozier with all those colorful balloons and streamers. Maarten screams in excitement. Finally his 'little party' is here!



Everybody is happy since this morning we wake up with the sun.
And I mean not only that early...yeah yeah...after the rain comes the sunshine!

There is another surprise at the ski rentals.
In the French Alps we are used to renting only the skis.
Not here! They don't want to be responsible for someone using his or her own ski boots in combination with the rental bindings of course!
Rob is pretty disappointed. This was the last straw...
He is definitely going to buy new skis.

About Maarten's skiing:
For the first time I can tell he is really able to manage his skis.
He understands how to manoeuvre them by using the 'snow plow' or the 'wedge' technique, if you prefer. He can control his skis and stop where he wants to.
I should have highlighted the pronoun 'he' though...

The biggest fun is determining his own route downhill to escape his mom and dad as fast as possible.



He seems to enjoy skiing. You can tell just by looking at him. Continuous laughing and singing.
Aloud!

"Krokus Kindje"

Today it's Maarten's birthday.
I expected him to have a party this year and I was ready for that.
I had some ideas and I even tried to convince him. It would be nice to invite his friends...
But our birthday boy didn't even want to hear about it.

Right, this is his big day, so let it be his way. Maybe next year...

Usually we decorate the house with streamers and balloons to surprise him in the morning, but today we pretend this is just a ordinary Monday. (Even though this is pretty hard to pretend. At least for me.)
An ordinary Monday...except for the muffin celebration at school and going skiing afterwards.

What a shame we couldn't get the cabin one day earlier.
This is why we need to postpone the celebration for one day.

I'm happy to see the heavy rain while driving through the Sacramento Valley. Just imagine how much snow it's gonna be up the mountain!
We are driving past Emigrant Gap and Yuba Pass, but even at Soda Springs it's still raining. Pouring actually. I know I always wish for rain...but not while heading out skiing.


The romantic idea of a snow covered cabin, snow heavy trees... all this my imagination disappears of a sudden.
The only thing I don't have to worry about is how to put on tire chains.

The boys just manage to build a snowman from the snow rests on the deck.
They stubbornly try to keep their tradition.
They always build a snowman on the deck!
Will he still be there in the morning?

King's Crown

It has been raining for the past couple of days (or weeks?) already so I'm not surprised Maarten's hair is wet when I pick him up from school.
He is quiet and kind of down which is not typical behaviour for him.
A quick glance in the mirror and I see there is more then just wet hair. Maarten is busy getting the glue from his hair.

What happened to your hair?
I truly wish he doesn't say some child did this to him.

I made another king's crown!
I'm relieved.


I recall the funny view from a week ago. All the children carried their self-made paper crowns in hand, but Maarten proudly wore his atop his head exclaiming that he is the king!

I would probably be able to wash the glue out of his hair, but Maarten laid down with a fever tonight.

Rob is in Las Vegas for business and my little king is ill!
As if my day couldn't end up any better...

Vintage Skier

I was so proud to make my own money, never mind burning my hands in a bakery and bending down to pick potatoes turned up by the tractor. Many students did the same at that time.

For the very first paycheck I bought ski boots, the latest model.
My best friend bought a similar pair. You may guess, there was not much choice in my home country in those days.
Our boots were highly criticised by fellow skiers. The new cord technology won't last long.

However even now, more than twenty years later, I'm still very happy with my choice.

Also Rob finally decided to buy ski boots instead of renting. There were many reasons. An example is waiting forever in line at the ski rentals...

I was really surprised that Rob found a suitable pair he could wear (do you know his feet?).
Then he acquired a taste and started to look at the skis as well.
I gave up trying on the earflap hats (which I love) and went to listen to the expert's advice.
That was first time in years I had a close look at the modern skis and I was surprised about their width.
I tried the carving skis some years ago in France, but I was not really impressed.

Sometimes I wonder what I would I buy if my skis get dammaged at last.
You better not ask the age of my Blizzards!

I told the friendly shop assistant about my ski style and asked him what he would recommend for me.

No, he shook his head, I have nothing for you.

Wish Me Luck......

Last Friday at 4:35 I received this short message from Rob:
Kan meteen een beenmerg biopsie doen. Zal pijn doen. Wish me luck......

Suddenly, even though I tried very hard I couldn't pay attention to Maartens babbling...
===

I always wanted to be a mother, but for a long time it seemed this wish would stay unfulfilled.
The longing for a baby was so bad that I even exclaimed once I'd give ten years of my life for a baby!
Does this sound too foolish?

I became a mother after all. My beautiful son is most precious to me.
And naturally I forgot about my 'blasphemous' remark from before until...

Last summer we were required to take a preventive medical examination.
Only an annoying routine, I thought then.

As expected Maarten was all right. Great!

Rob and I had to have additional tests, just to be sure.
And then another one...

After a couple of exams we were pretty relieved that Rob's kidneys aren't in as bad condition as the result suggested. If you knew my father-in-law you would probably understand why.
There was only something wrong with Rob's blood. Nothing to worry about.

My liver seemed to be in bad condition. More exams followed and finally the liver ultrasound was done to confirm or exclude cancer.
Suddenly I recalled my 'blasphemy' and was extremely relieved to hear my liver is healthy.
The result brought me even some comfort. At last I know why I get so easily tired.

But for Rob it was not over yet.
He went from one exam to another. They kept excluding all kinds of disorders untill finally there was one scary possibility left.



Only a reminder: It was me who wanted to pay for the baby!!!

Donner Lake (26-30 January)

My body hurts all over but I feel content.

Maarten finally understands the 'wedge' technique, he does some turning now and then and he agrees that learning to stop may be useful occasionally. One can call this a huge step forwards. Last year speed was all that mattered.


Even now he still gets upset if I try to control his speed but there is some awareness rising in our little man, even it is still a very slight one. Besides that he likes to impress girls with his ski style and he definitely hates to fall when they're watching!

PS: Please turn off the PC - speaker!!!

Let's Keep Hope Alive

Today is the inauguration of the U.S. president, Barack H. Obama.
We are all full of hope and even though we do not officially belong to this country, U.S. policy always has a huge influence internationally, no matter which country you belong to.
Obama is also the first elected black president. Or was it John Hanson? That doesn't really matter right now.

I was not aware that some may still have a problem with the president's skin colour.
Anyhow just a day before the inauguration the whole country celebrated the achievements of racial unity and harmony in America accomplished by Martin Luther King Jr.

On Sunday night, I watched the movie Crash confronting me with racial prejudice in Los Angeles' neighbourhoods. I didn't choose this particular movie on purpose, bearing in mind this week's events. My sister recently recommended it to me as a 'thrilling movie' and they had it at the local library. Only a coincidence. That's it.

I was shocked and sad at the same time.
I know it's only a movie but there is probably some truth behind it.
Every place has its dark heart, even California. Though till now this state has appeared to me as a paradise for every nationality or race, who lives next to each other in peace and respect.
Just have a look at Maarten's preschool!

There may be some truth about the remark I got a couple of months ago.
Do we really live here in a kind of golden cage not seeing the 'real American life'?

Racism is everywhere.
I don't see it as an American-only problem.
Unfortunately.

School Slippers

It's pretty common and, as I remember, even mandatory to change into slippers at Czech schools.
Not only at school but most of the Czechs wear slippers at home as well.
I noticed this seemed to be kind of a strange habit for the Dutch, there was not much difference in Belgium, nor here in the U.S.

Till Maarten brought this note home from his teachers.
He should bring slippers to school to wear during class-time.
What a step towards comfort and hygiene! It can be a long day wearing shoes.

After school Maarten is used to going barefoot as often as the weather allows.
But he is going to start an extended day program beginning in March and the slippers may really be useful.

Any suggestions where to get them?!

Na Nový rok o slepičí krok, o zaječí skok.

OK, I guess I should finally write something.
I don't know where to start, even though we did so much during the holidays.
Maybe that's the reason.

There was no school and Rob was home from work too.
You may ask why Rob gets so many days off (51 for this year to be exact!) while this is not common in the U.S.
Well, he still works for the Belgium sector and therefore, he gets the Belgian employee benefits.
The problem is when he actually wants to use them. It may, by de facto , not be a possibility to take all his days off.
And no, there is not the option of getting the unused days paid out as we used to in Europe.
So, he does his best to use them all.
And naturally it's a pleasure to plan vacations...

As I mentioned in my last post it was pretty cold before Christmas but we had some warm days as well.
Like during our climb to Las Trampas Ridge; it was not only the elevation that made us sweat.

On our way down I taughed Maarten how to 'válet sudy', the Czech way of rolling down hills. Those who know Maarten will understand that he had a blast. Never mind all the cow pies.


There was not much action at Año Nuevo this year. At least not during our visit. It was cold, but sunny and this would be the reason why the bulls were laying down flat, scattered around the sandy dunes. The nice weather would be the reason for the male's laziness. We should have called before to check the local weather, since rain, wind and cold means the most action, according to Bob, the guide.
It wouldn't be so special to spot a coyote in this country (they wake me up during the night pretty often) but we'd never seen them before sneaking around the elephant seals trying to get their newborn pups. One of the coyotes was lucky, feeding on a poor baby seal right in front of our eyes.


I was saving the tickets (Thank you Maria!) for a rainy day. Although this particular rainy day just hasn't come and it would be a shame to let the tickets expire of course.
I didn't have any expectations of the Lawrence Hall of Science but it is a place to return to. Especially the boys were excited. To be honest I was in bad pain, therefore rambling from one exhibit or lab to another was pretty tiring. We spent almost the whole day there by exploring, building, weighing, racing, lifting, pressing...should I go on?
We will sure be back.

After becoming parents our 'Silvestr' (New Years Eve) is almost like any other evening, except for a special dinner then. Knowing that Maarten would wake us up before six anyway, sleeping through it is the most practical and enjoyable way.


I shouldn't forget to mention that after some-years pause Rob made his own oliebollen. Those fried dough balls are a Dutch pastry traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve.


And with the new year finally came some rain. Even though only for a day.


There are no New Years resolutions for us only a wish for health. You may know, that under the circumstances there is a true reason for that...