tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61218922008-08-23T08:01:41.284-04:00Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comBlogger497125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-70421725454156172522008-08-17T13:51:00.004-04:002008-08-17T13:58:22.788-04:00

I mentioned that Mariska pronounces her name "slightly" different from what it should be. Although it is in Dutch, here is the proof:

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-72466470195359167202008-08-14T15:16:00.002-04:002008-08-14T15:29:47.398-04:00

Mariska is taking over the internet. Well, her face is now appearing on a new website that is not maintained by her pappa. As a result of the photo contest, Mariska's face can now also be seen on www.oakville.ca. Here is a screenshot or check the website out yourself:

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-38109405216666128882008-08-11T15:48:00.009-04:002008-08-11T16:19:10.397-04:00

Did you that - we had a good time at Springridge farm. - Mariska especially liked the pony ride. - tears were flowing when she had to get off her pony as the photo's in the pictures section showed. - we went to the Toronto Islands last weekend - it started to drizzle as soon as we had set foot on the Islands - we still spend a few hours on the island and I am happy that we went despite the

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-64483731062006815972008-07-30T16:07:00.004-04:002008-07-30T21:26:33.332-04:00

Did you know that - we reached the end of July but that I don't have the feeling that summer has started yet. - this might come because of the strange weather we are having - we are having the wettest summer on record in Toronto - I don't mind all the rain all the much - this must be a Dutch thing... - Mariska has decided that she doesn't want to be in the high chair anymore - she even doesn't

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-90951162341051597232008-07-20T12:16:00.003-04:002008-07-20T12:28:56.994-04:00

As many know, I enjoy taking pictures. A couple of months ago I got an e-mail from the Oakville Camera Club about a contest organised by the city of Oakville. They were looking for a cover picture for their parks, recreation and culture brochure. Catherine had seen it too in the newspaper and she suggested one particular picture for it. So I submitted it and a few weeks ago I was told I won that

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-29528096189906105572008-07-14T07:42:00.013-04:002008-07-14T08:57:46.108-04:00

When Pappa is not around and you only hear his voice when he calls, well then you need to kiss the cell phone if you want to kiss him... (no idea how to get rid of that second picture....)

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-78643107080504809072008-07-10T19:13:00.006-04:002008-07-13T14:58:42.014-04:00

It's been awhile since I have given an update in this corner of the internet but because of hyves.nl and facebook.com, it is not that I had disappeared completely from the face of the earth. In fact, I think I have never been more in touch with so many people. I think it's really neat to stay up to date with people through these web sites. And I am not even as addicted to these web sites as my

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-87405256710171670962008-06-22T13:45:00.003-04:002008-06-22T14:18:27.534-04:00

Did you that... - it really hurts to be a fan of the Dutch soccer team - that the Russian team was just better - two hours before the start of the game Betty's, the Dutch hang-out, was already full - there was also a line-up for the back-up place - I therefore had to watch the game from another bar also full with Dutch people, which people looking through the windows from the patio. - they

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-79214887576624866752008-06-14T12:41:00.002-04:002008-06-14T12:50:55.523-04:00

I don't get easily embarrassed but yesterday I really was. Yesterday morning I quickly got my orange shirt out of the dryer and put it in a plastic bag to take it with me to work. In afternoon I said to a female colleague "look what I have" and grabbed the plastic bag. I took the orange shirt out and unfolded it. And then there felt a piece of Catherine's underwear on the ground.... I couldn't

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-81863291445635988102008-06-13T12:34:00.008-04:002008-06-13T13:03:09.393-04:00

Did you know that.... ... Kaylee was baptized on Sunday (photos to follow) ... parents went back to the Netherlands again on Monday ... last week was a nice relaxing week at home ... my dad did a lot of work on the house while he was here which is greatly appreciated ... I am not going to mow the lawn 4 times per week as my dad did ... we visited Niagara Falls last week ... I took about 600

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-38744091867133486462008-06-03T17:33:00.003-04:002008-06-03T19:05:53.295-04:00

Did I forget to mention that I needed to buy a new frame for my glasses because Mariska broke it when she took it off my head.... Anyway, today she did it. She had been telling us that she had to poop and we had been putting her on the potty but the potty stayed empty (unless you count the time that Opa put some water in it after Mariska was 'done'). Well today she stayed on it for quite some

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-36976324311562188222008-06-02T13:28:00.007-04:002008-06-02T13:47:13.274-04:00

It has been quiet in this corner of the internet but not in this corner of the world. Two weeks ago my parents arrived and they have kept us busy. Well, they kept themselves busy too and they have kept the kids busy. We are not sure if my parents are going to leave on the 9th... On the right, you see that Mariska found a weak spot of Opa. This week I am also at home to spend some time with

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-75900385455273429022008-05-04T19:50:00.001-04:002008-05-04T19:53:17.511-04:00

Here is Kaylee's official birth announcement card (click on it for a bigger version):

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-33237098050807849682008-05-03T17:38:00.002-04:002008-05-03T17:42:34.891-04:00

I put the photo collage that we give to my mother-in-law under the scanner and here are some scans:

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-80365654207147471842008-04-27T12:38:00.006-04:002008-04-27T13:03:50.733-04:00

Not the typical Friday. Instead of going to downtown Toronto I went to Guelph to attend a business contingency session. So I was expecting a tour and some presentations. Turns out that all they wanted you to do was to verify you could do your work from there. Well in my case that means checking my e-mail. So basically the whole day I was 'working from home' but now in Guelph. Well at least there

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-17906133938345423512008-04-13T10:08:00.002-04:002008-04-13T10:18:35.121-04:00

Another week came and went. After 4-5 years I finally visited my dentist again. I am not necessarily scared of the dentist but I am blessed with good teeth so don't necessarily see the need to go every 6 months. But maybe 5 years is maybe a little bit too much. Nevertheless there wasn't much work for the dentist. No cavities and the person who was cleaning my teeth couldn't believe how well my

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-86912574272092154022008-04-06T21:57:00.004-04:002008-04-06T22:21:06.328-04:00

Finally some time to catch up. My work situation has changed. First we moved a few weeks ago to a different building. Not a huge change but now the whole group sits together and so are the people who I deal with the most. It makes my life a lot easier and I don't care what other people think but having all the people you work with close to each other makes a huge deal. I have seen it in the past

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-74620592787798007262008-03-22T16:52:00.005-04:002008-03-22T16:57:36.350-04:00

Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. Also on behalf of the 2 Easter Bunnies in Catherine's family:

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-48153771931104616652008-03-16T14:51:00.004-04:002008-03-16T16:41:41.619-04:00

According to my wife I got 2 babies last week. She refers to the iPod touch that I bought last week. I had been thinking about buying it for awhile since I think it would be ideal for my GO train ride. I try to read or do other stuff in the train but somehow I have problems with keeping my eyes open. Despite that I can't really sleep on the train, since I am too freaky tall for the chairs, I am

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-87151597314456215132008-03-13T14:02:00.002-04:002008-03-13T14:05:31.942-04:00

The previous night she kept us up for a couple of hours, but last night she slept a la Mariska. In the meantime I can't stop taking pictures of her and you can find the best of them here: http://braeken.com/tools/gallery/kaylee_s_birth

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-5278752770560676092008-03-12T10:42:00.002-04:002008-03-12T10:44:45.199-04:00

Kaylee has tiny little bit of jaundice so we put her in the sun for a few minutes and daddy was happy for an opportunity to take some pictures:

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-14802470336254573892008-03-10T17:34:00.004-04:002008-03-10T17:41:29.556-04:00

Both Catherine and Kaylee are at home. I am happy to report that Catherine is feeling well and that Kaylee has no problem with drinking from the breast.

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-3373755015580258132008-03-09T13:51:00.004-04:002008-03-10T17:42:47.837-04:00

Because of the diabetes that Catherine developed during the pregnancy, she has to stay at the hospital for an additional day. On the good side both mom and kid are doing well and Catherine is eager to come home.

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-13687584796023356142008-03-08T21:21:00.006-05:002008-03-10T17:43:15.169-04:00

Catherine and I are proud to announce the birth of Kaylee Wynter Amby Braeken Kaylee was born today at 14:37 at Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in Oakville. She weighed 6 pounds and 15.5 ounces (or 3.16 kg) and she was 20.5 inches (52 cm) tall. Contrary to Mariska's arrival, Kaylee gave us less trouble. Catherine was induced this morning at 8:50 and received an epidural at 11:00. She made

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121892.post-73306175497732837492008-03-07T18:04:00.002-05:002008-03-07T18:15:19.224-05:00

"The day before" picture: And Mariska doesn't know that her life is going to change too:

Richard Braekenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08948765696518944676noreply@blogger.com