Visiting The Hiding Place

Mar19

Day after New Year’s Day was very full and exciting! First we drive to Haarlem. We want to find Corrie Ten Boom’s house. We get lost. It’s is okay. Mom tries to practice her Dutch. Hah! very funny. We park and walk to the house. We are early. We eat lunch outside and take lots of photos. It is fun.

Then we start the tour. I know it all because I watch the movie at home in Montana.  I see Papa’s photo. I see I clim up the stairs. I go into The Hiding Place just like in the movie. I come out in the wall. It is very small cupboard. It was very sad and it was very happy. The six watches or Jewish friends are okay.

 

Then we go to the Art Museum. It is very funny. Well, it is many feelings, angry, sad, lonely, disappointed, happy. I have a worksheet: find the feeling and I do: I match the painting with the worksheet and then I write the feeling. I am very good at this because I write in my feelings notebook.

 

Morielle and I play ‘ feelings’ game in the Museum. Dad is still looking at paintings and Morielle is bored. So I take her photo and I say the feeling. Then she takes my photo and I have to show the feeling. ” Mathalia –don’t laugh — show sad!”

 

 

Then I go to the bowling with my most of Dutch family. It is very funny! I listen to Oula Exercise Music. I played bowling ball. I am very good. I am better than Mom because in Missoula I have bowling every Tuesday!

 

 

I go to Oma’s house. Ids made a very fancy cake. It is so pretty and so delicious. A very fun day #2 with matthan.

 

 

New Year’s Day Dive

Mar7

New Year’s Day 2015. Matthan was there! I was so excited. I took pictures of Matthan sleeping and eating. We were having so much fun that we were late for the big New Year’s Day Dive into the North Sea!

 

Morielle, Matthan and Dad wanted to do it. Mom said ‘no way!’ And stuck with Mom and my camera. Lots of cars and lots people driving to the beach. And then 2:00 p.m. everyone running into the North Sea.

 

Oh! It looked so cold. Well, it was cold. I was cold and I had all my clothes on and my hat and coat on.  I took lots of photos of shivering people.  And the lucky people in the hot tub.

Then it was all done. Dad, Morielle and Matthan wanted to go home to take a shower.  But we could not find the car. Dad lost the car. He was so excited to get into the ocean that he forgot where he parked. Silly Dad. We were looking and looking for the car and getting colder and colder.

 

Finally when the parking lot was almost empty, we found our car! Well, it is Oma’s car but we were using it.  Back at our cottage everyone took a warm shower. Than we sang Christmas songs together. We went to Tante Ellie’s house for talking, cooking and more photos.

 

We went to Tante Pien’s house for special Dutch New Year’s Dinner: mashed potatoes, meatballs, salad, dressing, dessert. Geluckig Nieuw Jahr is how you say it in Dutch. Which means Lucky New Year. We had lots of fun together. I set up snapchat with my cousins and my Mom tried to take a photo of all the grandchildren and then everyone . . . but we were missing Jilt because he was working.  Too bad.  Uncle Marc said he could `photoshop’ him in.  That’s good because I do not know how to photoshop people in. And I am sure that my Mom does not know how to do it either.  Anyway, lots of fun and photos with our lovely family in the Netherlands.

 

Matthan Comes!

Feb19

December 31st, New year’s Eve in The Netherlands. I eat breakfast in our little house. I walk to Oma’s house. I stop by the bakery for bread for 2 days because the bakery will be closed.

 

 

On New Year’s Eve we say ”Happy New Year” and in The Netherlands they say ”Fijne Jaar Wisseling.”  Which is ”Happy Year Exchange.” It was very funny! I go to cousin Lotte’s  house for making Olie bollen and appel flappen. I take pictures of cutting apples and the  dough. I take picture of mixing. We are cooking together and eating together. It is outside because the frying is dirty and stinky. But the apple flap pen and Olie bollen  are very yummy. It is tradition in The Netherlands for Year Exchange Night.

 

We went back to our cottage. Mom, Morielle and I watch Downton Abby. It is cold in the cottage. We snuggle up with a blanket and Morielle kept her coat on. Then Mom and I went to bed. Dad and Morielle went to the airport to get Matthan!

 

In the morning on New Year’s Day, there was Matthan sleeping on the floor. I took a photo! I was so excited. We at breakfast together and lots of talking. Then we got ready for the New Year’s Day Dive into The North Sea!

 

Morielle Comes!

Feb12

I go to the airport in Amsterdam again. I wait for Morielle. I look for her red coat. I hear lots of speaking Turkish. Her airplane is coming from Istanbul. But really she was coming from China! I have not seen her for a year. Last year I visited her in the Taklamaken Desert.

 

Anyway Mom and I were watching and then . . . she poked us! She was there–we hadn’t seen her red coat!  She wanted lots of hugs.  Just like Matthan, she said, `squeeze Mathalia!’ Lots of selfie’s too.

 

We took her to the little cottage. She loved it.  We hung out.  She brought Chinese Downton Abbey which was fun for me and Mom.  And she brought Yoga on her computer. And she brought lots of love and joy, of course!

 

morielle comes07

So happy with Oma!

We hung out at Oma’s house.  We did puzzles and internet.

 

We went to another North Sea Beach  It was very windy and cold. I take picture of the ocean.  I take picture of the sand. I walked on the beach. I saw lots of sand.  Some sand was dangerous.  Mom said it was `quicksand.’ I walked on the safe sand with Mom, Dad, and Morielle. Morielle danced with me because it was so cold. It was fun.

 

We hung out at Tante Pien’s house and ate yummy dinner. I took of photos of food, fun, and fancy things. I take picture of cat and cows.  I like Christmas decorations at Tante Pien’s house. I ate meatballs, mashed potatoes, salad, tomatoes, dressing at Tante Pien’s house.  I take picture of good food.

 

 

Days of Jet Lag

Feb4

My trip to The Netherlands was very fun! Today I worked very hard at home. No log-in slips at The Writing Center today so I balanced my checkbook and went to the Bank with Mom.  I saw lots of friends at  the University and I heard Oula Dance Exercise Music in the U-C.  After lunch there was more paperwork to do and then tons of laundry!  I was so quick because I wanted to look at photos and write a blog post.  Yeah!  I got it all done!

I was a little sleepy at Oma’s house after the airplane trip. We ate a nice Dutch lunch which means lots of cheese, meat and chocolate sprinkles on bread. Oma and Tante Ellie wanted to go to the Monastery to look at Nativities.  Oma thought I might want to take a nap.  `No way!  I want to go too!’

My Mom said it is best for jet-lag to skip the nap and just try to push through and then go to bed early.  And that is what we did. We looked at candles, pottery and lots of Marys and Joseph’s and Baby-Jesus-in-the-mangers, angels and donkeys.  It was fun. I took lots of photos.

We ate supper at Oma’s house and then Downton Abbey came on the television at Oma’s house!  My Mom was so delighted! It was funny because they were talking English and the words at the bottom were in Dutch.  So Mom was listening and Oma was reading.  Interesting.

Then we went to our little cottage. I had a little bed and I was so tired.  In the morning we made our own breakfast and unpacked our stuff. I wrote in my Feelings book; I looked at photos on the computer and took silly pictures of Dad and my socks.

Then Tante Pien and Tante Petra came over with Oma.  They brought a Christmas Tree for our little cottage and then we went for a walk on the beach.  I was hiking in the sand with the dogs.  Tante Ellie was not there. It was cold and windy but there were lots of people on the beach because the sun was shining.

After that we went grocery shopping and had dinner at Oma’s house with cousins Jente, Jilt and Ids.  It was fun and delicious!

 

Christmas Travels

Jan21

Christmas Eve morning I did not wrap presents or make candy. I packed my bags and drove to Seattle with my Mom and Dad. I made pot holders in the car. I took pictures of winter. I even ate lunch in the car.

 

After the hotel, I go to the restaurant. I eat dinner with Mom and Dad: chicken salad. I missed Christmas Eve service at church. I was disappointed. I listen to Christmas Eve Service in the car on the radio with Mom. It was better than nothing.

 

Christmas morning we went to the airport. I eat breakfast really fast in the hotel. I wait for airplane. I make a new friend. She made me a present right in the airport on Christmas morning: a Frozen Necklace. Thank you! Very pretty. I eat Christmas dinner at the Philadelphia airport.

 

The new hotel was fun and relaxing: I eat nice breakfast at hotel; I work on blog post about being so sick and going to Symphony with Uncle Jeff; I hang out in lobby taking photos of Christmas decorations. It was fun.

 

Finally it was time to go to airport. I eat dinner at McDonald’s. I wait for airplane. We got a seat. On this airplane they gave us food!  I love airplane food! They gave us dinner and then I take a nap.  After the nap, they gave us breakfast and then we were there. Tante Petra and Tante Pien picked us up: The Netherlands!

Feeling Better Now!

Dec26

I liked Thanksgiving 2014 very much but I was getting a little sick. I even had to stop playing games and lie down and rest at Grandma’s house.  I am thankful that I felt good enough to eat turkey and mashed potatoes but after that I was not good.

On Saturday I found out I had pneumonia. I had to take lots of medicine and I had to skip work and all my fun activities.  I was disappointed.  I took the week off.  I wanted to stay up and do fun things but my Mom wanted me to rest.  Sometimes I got to walk around the block.  I walked to my friend’s house. I took photos of her Christmas decorations.  I listen to Emma. I fall asleep.

 

Grandma gave me a new puzzle.  I fall asleep. My Mom finished the puzzle.  Silly Mathalia.

My friend Rona came to visit. I want to talk. I fall a sleep.  My Mom took lots of pictures of me falling asleep.  I wanted to do my fun activities. My Mom thought my falling asleep was funny.  Sometimes the camera woke me up and sometimes I sleep more.

 

I want get better.  My Mom says, `please rest.’  Take a nap.  I do not want nap but sometimes nap happened anyway.

After one whole week of being sick, my Mom asked me, `Do you want to go to the Symphony with Uncle Jeff?’  Of course I want to go to the Symphony with Uncle Jeff.  `Do you feel better?’   Of course, I feel better.  I want Symphony!

She said, `Okay.  But you have to take a nap.’  I took a nap and I got to go to the Holiday Pops! Concert with Uncle Jeff.  It was very fun!

 

Then on Monday she said that since I was sick, I might as well as get even more sick at the dentist.  Get it all done in one very bad week!  So I had to skip work again.  I was very disappointed.  I went in to see my job coach, Chelcey, and tell her `I feel better.’  And `I have to go to the dentist.’  She said I was very brave.

 

At the dentist I got some very cool glasses.  And I was very brave.  My mouth felt funny and I was eating only applesauce and noodles.  It was soft and delicious.  Now my mouth feels all better.

 

I was very thankful when I went back to work.  I see my friends. I go bowling. I go swimming. I go to Oula Class. I go to Pilates Class. I go to Bean & Boutique. I go to The Writing Center. I go to Prudential.  I go to the Mall Recital.  I go to the Christmas Recital.  I feel better!

Matthan Goes Away–fixed

Dec3

Matthan is not here. I miss Matthan. Sometimes I get a snap chat from Matthan. Now my Snap Chat is stuck and I can’t get it unstuck.  This is not good.  I need Matthan to fix it. My Mom does not have a clue.

Anyway I had a lots of fun with Matthan this summer. He graduated from USC and then came home to get ready for his new job.

We had the most fun in the kitchen. We make breakfast pizza. We chop potatoes. We chop peppers.

We make casserole and meatloaf. We eat gluten-free and rice. Matthan washes the dishes and cleans the kitchen. I set table.

Matthan made coconut milk ice cream. I mix the ice cream. It hard. It is frozen.

Matthan went hiking and swimming and lots of fun Montana things. I take photos of Matthan.  Silly photos. Cooking photos.  Sleeping photos. Matthan turns on the music at our house:   Messiah Christmas music, church music. It is loud. It funny. I like it!  Mom comes home and then the music is not so loud.

 

We make pancakes together. Matthan makes the best gluten-free-blueberry-banana pancakes.

In October we had a practice `goodbye’ at the airport. It was a Sunday and I had my church dress on. Matthan had just bought his camera so we were having fun taking pictures of each other.

And then in November, we had the real goodbye. Matthan packs his stuff.  What a mess! Piles everywhere. And then only piles in the living room.  And then only luggage in the living room.  And then he is ready to go.

”Do you want to get up 4:30 to take Matthan to the airport?’

`No. I sleep in.’

”Okay say ‘good bye’ tonight. Give Matthan a hug.’

In the morning I checked and no Matthan in the bed. I took a photo. My Mom thought it was sad. It’s not sad. It is happy. Matthan is an adult. Matthan is independent. He is doing what he wants to do. We are giving thanks.

 

I am an adult.  I learn independence. I am doing what I want to do.  My Mom says that I am figuring it out. We are giving thanks.

Thanksgiving 2014

Dec1

I talk to Morielle on the computer before breakfast. I eat little snack of breakfast. I am excited about Thanksgiving Day Dinner. I want hungry.

thanksgivinga3

Morielle’s Thanksgiving is all done!

 

I go to the Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I take photos of Grandma cooking.  I make her crazy in the kitchen.

 

I ate mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, gluten-free apple crisp with dairy-free ice-cream. Yum!

I play Dutch Blitz with Mom, Grandma, Grandpa and Mathalia. Grandpa won. Good job Grandpa. I take a bathroom break. A long bathroom break.

`Hurry up Mathalia!  Don’t you want to talk to Matthan!’  I hurry up.

 

thanksgivinga8

Talking to Matthan.

 

I talk to Matthan on iPad. It was funny. He was ready for bed and it was just afternoon for us.

 

I lie down and rest on the sofa. I need a power nap.

thanksgivinga9

Resting . . . more to come!

 

I talk to Uncle Jeff on the iPad. It was funny. I hear his voice but I don’t see him. Mom push buttons then I see Uncle Jeff.

 

 

 

We eat very little supper together. I see Olivia’s piano playing on the iPad. I go home. I am tired. I take quick bath.

 

On Friday, I go to the doctor. And then I go to the hospital. It was crazy.  I have blood test. I was so brave. I have body poking. I was tough.

 

Now I lie down and rest at home and eat lots and lots of turkey soup. It is good. I take the week off. I want feel better.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

November Craft Fair Weekend

Nov20

Friday morning the Transition Conference was all done.  Afternoon was time to relax.  I wanted blog post about the Conference. No internet at home.  So my Mom and I went to the University Center.  I write blog post and I see friends on Campus. It is fun afternoon. Thank you friends to tell me links do not work.  Here is another try:

Assistive Technology

On Campus Activities without being a student

Show me the Money!

My Feelings pages in Health Care Transition Workshop.

 

Then my Mom said, `Okay, let’s go upstairs and find your table for the Craft Fair tomorrow.’

My table is #50. We found it!  My Mom said, `Okay, Mathalia, you have to remember! It will look a lot different.  After breakfast you come by yourself and you find Mom and Marilyn.’

 

And I did! Saturday morning I packed my lunch and pot holder bag and walked to the U-C and found my Mom and my friend Marilyn. Our booth was all set up and ready to go. `Thank you Mom!’

Marilyn sells Adult hats and Child-size hats. We had a fun day together. I saw lots of friends and sold lots of pot holders.

 

Grandma and Grandpa took us out for dinner at the restaurant! It was Chinese. It was delicious and a little bit spicy.

Mom was so tired. She said, ”Let’s skip Symphony and stay home.”

I said, ”No way! I want Symphony.”

 

I went by myself. Mom dropped me off. I gave my ticket. I found my seat by myself. I read the program by myself. I liked the music: Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the  Beast. I saw my friend, Gingy. I said `Hi Gingy!’

After the Symphony, I called Matthan:

”This is Mathalia.”

`Hi Mathalia.  What do you want?’

`I want please pick up.’

`Okay, where are you?’

`I am at Symphony.’

`Okay, I will be right there. You watch for me from the window.’

Matthan brought me home.  Mom was sound asleep in bed.  So she got her sleep and I got my Symphony!  Thanks Matthan for the ride.

Sunday, I played games with Grandma and Grandpa.

Monday morning there was snow on the ground! It was crazy and I did not feel very good.  My Mom thought it was because I stayed up late to go to the Symphony.  Silly Mom it was not the Symphony it was the snow!