Tag: christmas

Posted on

Day 148 – December 18

Wether or not we have got visitors does not really matter, the alarm clock still rings at 6.00AM. We all have to take a shower, get dressed and have some breakfast before we head towards school. The car is filled with two grandma’s and a granddad who will join us today.

Because Camy had school until 1.00PM, she only had two tests today, Bram and I had thought about what to do this morning and we came up with the idea to visit the village of Christmas.

First we went to McDonalds to have a cup of coffee and an egg muffin, once doen we drove off to Christmas.

visitors

We had visited this village only a week ago but we had not visited the open air museum, so that is just what we did today.

We also visited the museum about Floridian wars.

Next to the fort there were some houses of the 1700-1800’s. It is similar to the Pioneer House in Kissimmee.

At 1.00PM we picked Camy up from school and went to Winter Park. We first had lunch, a wonderful pita bread and falafel. Because we had the lunch on the go we sat down at the harbor of our boat tour.

And about 30 minutes our boat departed through the different canals of Winter Park and we made some stops at the different lakes as well. The weather was very good so we all enjoyed our tour.

Around the lake some real big villa’s were build and some of them belong to some famous people, like NBA-stars and other well-known people.

In the middle of the lake there was a tree holding christmas bells.

Around the lake you also saw trees with Spanish moss. It looked really good but, unfortunately, it does not really show in the picture.

Posted on

Day 142 – December 12

Today we had our minds set at a fun drive. First, after dropping Camy off at school, we visited a town called Christmas.

christmas

After visiting Christmas we headed towards Cape Canaveral but even though we saw the visitor center we did not enter, we have been here before so we kept driving to Cocoa Beach.

It was very quiet, very cold and a cold breeze at Cocoa Beach. To tell you the truth it was no fun being on the beach, either to lay down or even walk for a little.

There were however lots of shells and of course I had to look around to try to find some good looking ones.

For lunch we stopped at WaWa and put our sandwich together by using the computer. This is a gasstation where you are able to buy awesome sandwiches and more.

On the way back we ran into this large alligator, the largest gator in the world. This is the entrance of a Zoo but unfortunately there was no time to visit, we had to keep driving back to school to pick Camy up again.

After school we stayed because we were going to attend a live Christmas story told by teachers and volunteers. It was called “From everywhere to Bethlehem”and was set up through the entire school campus.

It was set up very well and real nice and you could tell time was spend to do it the right way so everybody had a good time. In different groups you walked by the different scenes and part of the story was told at every stop.

After the showing we went to church, some of Camy’s friends are in choir and schoolband and had to perform because of the event.

Here is Camy having fun with a couple of her friends.

Posted on

Day 136 – December 6

Today we visited the h*liday gift fair at Camy’s school. They seat up this gift fair with all different booths on the parking lot selling self made things. In the gym you were also able to buy different items.

gift fair

day136-02 day136-03

For lunch we stopped at McDonalds, Camy had her very first Big Mac. She does eat burgers but she had never ever tried a Big Mac before.

In the evening we went to a similar event in Oviedo as we did last night in Winter Park. In this town they switched on all the lights of the Christmas tree as well. You can compare all this with December 5th back home. You see all the anxiety of the kids, parents are most worried about having the best seat in the house (front row).

day136-04

The tree was a little smaller than the one yesterday but still high enough to see from here.

day136-05

And then after waiting for quite some time, here he is, Santa Claus arriving on top of the fire departments truck, all decorated as the sleigh but without the reindeer.

day136-06

Across the street we visited a Christmas town that was set up by the church and attracted quite some people.

day-07

So we walked around in ‘The Village Square’.

There were all different kinds of games you could play, especially for the younger ones, but Camy did not mind and loved playing the games.

day-08

This is the wild water ride with ice bears.

day-09

Shooting marshmallows.

day-10

Pinguïn bowling, strike!

day-11

In between we watched and listened to a Christmas story, a play played by the smaller kids.

day-12

After that we played some more games, this is Operation.

day-13

Donut eating.

day-14

Throwing rings.

day-15

On the way home we made a stop, there was this house with all kinds of lights, music and decoration in the front yard.

Posted on

Day 135 – December 5

Yesterday was the original launch planned at Cape Canaveral but because of a technical deficiency it was postponed to today. At 6.45AM we turned on the tv and watched the news. At 7.00AM the shuttle was launched and we were able to see it just before we left for school.

cape canaveral

After it was launched we ran outside and onto the street and after about 30 seconds we see the rocket. Too bad it was cloudy but we were still able to see the rocket in air!

day135-02

After we took Camy to school we went geocaching today, it was on our to do list from the beginning but as of yet we were unable to cross it off our list.

day135-03

This is our first cache.

day135-04 day135-05 day135-06

Bram goes into the bushes trying to find it, I remain on a safe distance, I’m so scared of spiders…

day135-07

The second cache we were looking for was a little harder to find.

day135-08

We also saw someone from Holland, how’about this license plate.

day135-09

The third and final cache of today was a real brainer. We finally found it near the electricbox of which you needed a code. We had to test our brain but we figured it out! This was one of the better caches, different from all the others.

day135-10 After school we stayed in the neighborhood because in Winter Park the Christmastree was going to be lit. This is a real happening with lots of people coming over to see all the lights turned on.

day135-11

Also the entire park was decorated.

day135-12 day135-13 day135-14

You were even able to ice-skate, which we did not do, I think we can do so next month when we are returning home.

day135-15 day135-16

Later that evening we got our seats and watched a movie in the park, the had set up a big screen so everybody was able to join the movie in the outside. In the end it got a little cold but we had our covers.

Posted on

Day 133 – December 3

Today Camy had a performance with all 6th, 7th and 8th graders in chapel. They had to sing all kinds of songs because of advent. Advent is the season that lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6. (Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year).

day133-01 day133-02 day133-03 day133-04

day133-05 day133-06

The church was already decorated for Christmas and there were three trees.

day133-07

All decoration was made of foam and beads.

The performance was outstanding, she did very well and all was learned by heart. After chapel was over and all students returned to their class we drove towards the Altamonte Mall and had lunch at Tijuana Flats which was new to us. Tijuana is a Mexican Food restaurant which is better than Taco Bell and that we already love.

day133-08 day133-09

And it was set up real nice from the inside.

day133-10

This is the ceiling.

day133-11

All kinds of sauces mild to very very hot!

day133-12 day133-13

And when we were all done they asked us wether or not we wanted to take the chips with us. Well that happened to be a refill since we got a new back of potato chips to take home. Just superb service!

At 4.00PM we picked Camy up from school and had some fun in Winterpark, we did not go home since Camy had to be back at school for another performance. So we got back to school at 5.00PM for dinner and at 6.30PM the next show started. So she had two performances today. Tonight she had to perform for parents and grandparents and other relatives that were unable to attend earlier today.

day133-14

Dinner was set up at the gym for all parents and pretty convenient for us since it takes us an hour to get home and then another hour to get back to school again. And guess what, we had sauerkraut for dinner, that’s been a long time…delicious!

day133-15

The advent was done by 8.00PM and we headed home right away. My mother happen to see the show live because it was streamed live. We informed her ahead of time so she was able to sign in from the other side of the world and see Camy perform. She loved it, that is todays technology!

Posted on

Day 130 – November 30

Today we drove around and visited a market we have wanted to visit for quite some time now but never had the opportunity to do so. It seemed like a fun place but since we always drove by fast we actually did not know. Today we will stop by and find out.

market

day130-02

It was a market where they also sold animals and it looked more like a market in Africa, how much “trash” can you sell.

day130-03

Can you tell how much fun they are having, they just love it here, NOT!

All in all it was not much and certainly not what we expected, half of all the stands were closed and all the stand that were open had nothing but trash.

day130-04

Afterwards we headed towards the golfclucb of Kissimmee. The golf club is located right besides a small airport, Kissimmee Airport. About every 30 minutes a plane took off or landed, all in the private plane variety.

day130-05 day130-06 day130-07

Camy wanted to drive the golf cart, so we explained how to and since she is a quick learner she took over the wheel.

day130-08 day130-09 day130-10

Bram in action.

day130-11

Oh, how good is life when there is a little sun every single day.

day130-12 day130-13

On th parking lot there were some cranes picking seeds, we counted 12, never seen this many hanging out togheter.

day130-14

When we got home again there was still a little sun so we enjoyed that by sitting outside and having a cup of tea and a peanutbutter snickers bar with that.

day130-15

Later that evening Camy and I started to decorate the Christmas tree, the lights are in it already. Maybe a little early but everybody is getting ready for the holiday season, and you know the do not celebrate December 5th like we do. So we can enjoy it for a month long.

Posted on

Day 124 – November 24

We did not do any grocery shopping this weekend because we had a lazy weekend. Because of this we also ran out of breakfast and treated ourselves for an IHOP. We shared a French toast with strawberries, banana and whipped cream as well as bacon and eggs.

ihop

day124-02 day124-03

Oh, this was just superb!

day124-04 day124-05

We have seen different places that sell Christmas trees already so today we stopped and walked in, just to see and smell them. It felt a little strange since it just does not feel like Christmas at all. We still walk around in our shorts and that just does not match the feeling of Christmas.

Posted on

Day 105 – November 5

Camy had forgotten her belt today, so she asked her homeroom teacher wether or not she had a spare one available. She has to ask one or else she gets a lunch detention meaning that she can not have lunch in the cafeteria but in a classroom without talking….. yep, that is how they do it here! Lucky for her she got a real nice pink belt, really matching her uniform.

detention

We went to Winterpark right away, we wanted some fresh air and wanted to play some golf.

day105-02 day105-03

See that small house in the background, nice or what and so close to the golf course.

day105-04

Take a little break and wait so we can continue playing our round.

day105-05

Sometimes birds get in our way, some kind of raptor, here about 2 meter from us and about 45cm tall.

day105-06See all those yellow flowers in the background, large yellow daisies, nice match with the flagpole.

day105-07

day105-08

I just had to take this picture.

day105-09

For lunch we had falafel, we had done that before here but this time we ordered it and took it with us. We had to be back at school in time to pick Camy up.

day105-10

When we arrived home I enjoyed the sun out in the front yard for some time. The sun was not available in the back yard any longer so that is why I sat my chair in the front, more than enough sun for me to enjoy.

day105-11

Across the street they are working the christmas decoration and lighting, it does look good to tell you the truth. I will take picture later in the week, when they are all done and light it up when it is dark.

day105-12

Oh and we found those mega “apples” from the pine tree. Hope to get some more later this week.

Posted on

Christmas – Florida

What better place to explore than the town where it’s Christmas year-round? About 20 miles from Orlando a city called Christmas is located along Highway 50.  A small, post office is on your right right after seeing the green “Christmas” sign that marks the entrance to the town. It is decorated for the holidays year round with a holiday wreath on the outside and a tree in the lobby. During summer it is a quiet place, but prior to the holidays, they line up for the post office to mail their holiday cards and letters with the unique postmark of “Christmas, FL.”.

FortChristmas-01The city has been named after Fort Christmas a 25-acre park that features a traditional Florida “Cracker” house, a school house and lunchroom, seven pioneer homes, a sugar cane mill and historical farming equipment. Visitors will uncover a wealth of historical information. The historical park also includes several picnic pavilions, a unique themed children’s playground, a baseball diamond, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.

LargestGator-01Also located in the area is Jungle Adventures Nature Park. The larger-than-life alligator marks the entrance to the park where a number of exotic animals call home. Besides the animal displays, the park advertises jungle adventure shows, a jungle cruise and more. They are open everyday of the year from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm rain or shine.

Besides the small X-mas gift shop, there really isn’t too much to do but it is always fun, especially in during the holiday season, to bring a visit to the city of Christmas.