Our First Snow Day!

Well, not totally. The kids were sent home early due to the amount of snow that fell today. We woke up to a lot on the ground, but it continued to fall all day long. We had 6 inches fall. It was wet and heavy. The Dutch are not used to this, so they are not very prepared. Ironically, they use their snow plows to clear the bike paths before the roads. I attempted to ride my bike to the store, but after slipping twice I thought it would be smart to walk the bike home. I still had to go out a few times for small errands and at times it was blizzard like conditions. I will admit that once everyone is home safe and you are warm inside, it is very beautiful to see out the window.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last year's Thanksgiving was very depressing for me. Jason was out of the country and the kids and I ate leftovers for dinner. So this year, I vowed to make it a good one. A few weeks back I ordered my turkey. They are hard to come by here in the Netherlands, so my turkey was coming from France. It was a little pricey, but they took out the breast bone, stuffed, and baked it for me. We hit a little snag because the turkey was not ready to be picked up at the scheduled time. So my side dishes were ready and we didn't have the turkey. No worries though, I put the sides in the oven to keep warm until the turkey arrived. We had sweet potato souffle, green beans with shiitake mushrooms, turkey with stuffing, applesauce, and rolls. With the turkey came a sparkler, a Dutch tradition for holiday meals. Not too bad for my first Thanksgiving. We even had pumpkin pie for dessert courtesy of my lovely neighbor. We had the fire going and finished the night quietly (once the kids went to bed) with some coffee and Baileys. We missed our family, but it was a nice evening.

Halloween

Our second Halloween here in the Netherlands was similar to the first. We went out with friends, and the night started out beautiful. Unfortunately, it didn't last. The rain came and our night ended quickly. Luckily, the kids are still at the age where any candy is enough candy. However, once the kids were in bed, Jason and I finished off the night with a visit from our neighbors, a couple bottles of wine,and a fire in the fireplace. It was a nice evening.

Volendam

Yesterday we spent a few hours in Volendam. This is a Roman Catholic fishing village right on the IJsselmeer in North Holland. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. We had a very windy and rainy day along the water. This kept our trip short, but we did pick up a few souvenirs. One of which is a picture of us dressed in traditional Dutch clothes. I also bought a pair of wooden shoes! We had coffee, hot chocolates and lunch in the harbor before heading back home. It was a nice day out, just wish the sun would have come out!

Zuiderzee Museum

October break is upon us. Since we are not going away on holiday, we decided to day trip up north. We drove to Enkhuizen, where we hopped on a ferry over to the Zuiderzee Museum. This is an outdoor museum of a typical Dutch fishing town from many years ago. As you stroll through the town you can go into a shoe maker shop, see how brooms were made, walk through a fisherman's shipyard, and even stop off at the town school for a writing lesson. The town church wasvery simple and looked more like a town hall then a church. There were cows and sheep wondering about. Many boats on the sea to see as well as boats on the canals that ran through the town. We had a beautiful day as the sun was shining the entire time. The kids loved it! It was a nice get away for the day.

London Baby!

Last weekend I was able to get away for 4 days with my neighbor Melissa. We took the train from Holland to Brussels, then under the water over to London. It was a nice change from flying. Our first night there was a little rainy, but that didn't stop us (we are used to living in the Netherlands). We went to see the Houses of Parliment, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. We also had fish and chips at a near by English Pub for dinner. Then on Saturday we got up bright and early for our 12 hour Harry Potter tour. We started our tour at Stonehenge. The sun was out and we were one of the first groups in. We then went to Lacock, Oxford, and ended back in London. Our tour guide was great and full of information. Sunday we got some great pictures with sun and clear sky's. We went to Buckingham Palace, saw the Horse Guard parade, and toured the Tower of London. Then we walked along the river to Covent Garden. We ended our day with a traditional Sunday roast in another pub. We had a great time. London is one of my favorite cities I have seen so far while living over here.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Yesterday was a busy day and the clean up continues today. It rained so hard and for almost the entire day. The water in front of our garage door was half way to my knee. I knew the garage would be flooded but at that point there was nothing I could do. Around dinner time the rain slowed and the water went down so I was able to begin the clean up. I had to empty the garage and sweep out as much water as I could. It's impossible to get it entirely dry, so for now I am waiting for a sunny day to come along to finish the process.

Unfortunately, the garage was not the only place to flood. We have a small storage area in the house under the stairs. We call this our "Harry Potter room". Well, this flooded also. So today I am trying to dry that area out. Luckily, we don't store much in this area so nothing was ruined. It's just work for me. Another rain like yesterday and I will be back to square one! Ahhh, the Netherlands.

Back to School

It's that time of year! Now I have all 3 kids in school everyday, all day. After they get on the bus in the morning, I do a little happy dance back to the house. I have the whole day to myself! Sure I still have my household chores and grocery shopping that needs to be done, but it's quiet. Nobody is asking me or this or that, and when I clean it stays clean for awhile. I am taking advantage of this time to do things for me. I am taking a Pilates class, a Tex/Mex cooking class, and a few day trips here and there. I have also scheduled a long weekend away to London.

The kids are also very happy. They are ready to run out the door 15 minutes before the bus comes. B loves 2nd grade and is making new friends. The boys are in separate classes and love to see eachother on the playground for recess. Things are working out well.
It's going to be a great year!

Date Night (What an Adventure!)

Jason and I took a train into Amsterdam last night for a date. This is the first time he and I have gone by ourselves to Amsterdam since before we moved here. We had dinner at Casa Di David, Jason's favorite Italian restaurant in Amsterdam. We shared a bottle of wine, had appetizers, dinner, and dessert (of course). It was perfect! After dinner we strolled along the canals back to the train station. We got there earlier than expected, so we checked the schedules to get on an earlier train. We found one that listed our destination, so we hopped on. As we were sitting there waiting to go, a voice came over the intercom explaining something in Dutch. We watched as a bunch of people jumped out of their seats and got off the train. We assumed they were on the wrong train but knew that our destination was listed so thought we were fine. Again, the voice came over the intercom. This time stressing (still in Dutch) what they had said earlier. At this point I turned and asked a fellow traveler what the message was. "This train is only going as far as Harlaam" they respond. Well, that was not our destination. So we jumped up to get off the train. The doors closed just as we got off.

So then we were running to a different platform in order to catch the another train heading to our destination. We made that train with time to spare because it was running 5 minutes late. Jason was falling asleep on the train as it was a very quiet ride (after all it was late). For some reason, again they announced why in Dutch, the train stopped for awhile. This is the problem with taking public transportation. There is a ripple affect. If your train is late you might be late for your next connection, the bus in our case. So when we finally made it to the bus station, we ran to catch our bus. Luckily, the bus was also running late so we made it on. However, this was merely a bus we needed to take for a connection to the bus which would ultimately get us home. We were the last people to get off the bus, somewhere we had never been, in the middle of nowhere. We then needed to find the right bus stop for our final leg of the journey. When we made it to the stop, we were so proud of ourselves for navigating our way through all the train and bus schedules that finally brought us to this point. With smiles on our faces we see our bus approaching. Than we watch it drive right past us!

We were at the right stop. We were standing up with our tickets in hand. We have no idea why the driver did not stop. So we checked the schedule and the next bus would not be by for an hour. We were in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, so we began walking. As a side note for those of you who have never been here, nothing (not even a gas station) is open at this time of night. We saw a sign that said our town was 4 km (~2.5miles) away. We figured that wasn't to bad of a walk, it was a nice night. Unfortunately, after we had been walking for a while (in heels and dress shoes) we came to another sign that said our town was now 6 km (4 miles) away. We knew we were walking in the right direction because we had driven this way before. At this point we tried to get a hold of our neighbor to see if he would come pick us up. We were walking on a bike path along side a street surrounded by nothing but fields. Not really where you want to be in the middle of the night, but I guess it's better than downtown in a big city. Well, we couldn't get a hold of our neighbor, so we tried calling 3 different taxi companies (all as we are still walking). No luck there either. After walking for an hour, we came to another bus stop. The bus would be there in 6 minutes. Ironically, it was the same bus line we would have been on if we would had sat for an hour at the first stop. But then we wouldn't have gotten all that exercise!

For some reason, Jason and I laughed through this entire journey. Sure our feet were killing us (and I probably won't be able to put a pair of shoes on for a few days) but it was an adventure. Just another experience for us while we live abroad.

Summer Back in the States

The kids and I spent most of our summer back in the States. The last week of June we flew back and spent a few days in Dayton. The weather was hot so we enjoyed a day at the pool and a went to the Newport Aquarium another day. We were in Cleveland for the 4th of July. It was nice to see the fireworks since we missed them last year due to moving. Jason flew back to Holland and the kids and I stayed with my parents for the next 3 weeks. We had playdates with old friends and spent many evenings up at the pool. I was able to go out a few times with good friends! The last week of July, Jason flew in so we could all drive to Hilton Head. We spent a week there with my parents, my brother and his family, and the Dones family. This was our first time there and it was HOT! Never the less, we did some bike riding, rented a boat, took the kids to ride ponys, went out to dinner, and the older boys even got in some golf. At the end of the week, we drove back to Cleveland just in time to attend Foleyfest (something else we missed last year due to the move). Then we ended our long summer vacation in Dayton. I had a day out with a great friend which included pedicures, good food, shopping, and a movie. The day before we left, we went to a dinner theater to see "Cinderella" with the kids and Jason's parents. All in all, we had a full summer. To top it all off, we had an uneventful flight home in which the kids slept the majority of the time.

Now we are adjusting to the time difference and getting back into the swing of things. We are all very excited for the start of school!

It's Soccer Time!

It only comes around every 4 years and I have to say I am very excited to be in the Netherlands to enjoy it. The World Cup is a big deal here. Before the games even started, houses and stores were decorated to the max. Streamers with orange flags cross over streets from house to house. Orange hats, boas and shirts dress all the mannequins in store windows. To say the Dutch are excited is an understatement. Today I walked into town an hour and a half before the game was to start. There was orange everywhere! Kids had their hair colored orange. Men and women wore orange hats, scarves, and shirts. The candy store was selling soccer ball candies and chocolate soccer players. I wouldn't be surprised if the stores closed during the game. Everyone was hustling around to get their errands done in order to be in front of a TV at the start of the game. I must admit, those 90 minutes fly by. I enjoy watching the games and find myself cheering more for Holland than for the USA. The kids even sit and watch it. If we stay here much longer we will definitely be a soccer family.

One Year Down

We have now lived in the Netherlands for one year. Time has gone by fast and we have had many great experiences as a family. So far we have toured many cities in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. We have also visited France, Austria, and Malta. With in the next year we plan on adding a few more countries to our list. We have enjoyed having visitors from the States and have made many new friends. The kids had a great 1st year of school here and have made friends from all over the world. They have learned many new traditions from different cultures. What an experience it has been. We are looking forward to our next year here and all it has to offer!

Malta

It's not everyday that you have a chance to take a long weekend trip on a Mediterranean Island. Jason and the kids had last Tursday and Friday off, so we decided to go to Malta. It is less than a 3 hour plane ride and well worth it to be in warmer and less rainy weather. Our hotel, The Westin, was beautiful and had both an outdoor and indoor pool. We took the kids to Popeye's Village where the 1980 Robin William's movie was filmed. They had actors walking around town interacting with guests and singing. It was a highlight for all of us. We also took a ferry to Gozo, the second largest of the three islands that make up Malta. There we saw the Azure Window, got lost on roads that the GPS surprisingly recognized, and had lunch (and ice cream). On our last day, Jason and I left the kids at the Westin's Kid's Club so we could sight see on our own. We took a small boat tour to the Blue Grotto. The water colors were amazing. Every night after dinner we spent time in the pool and everyone was ready for bed by 8:00. Our days were filled.

Our trip back was slightly delayed due to the Volcanic Ash from Iceland. Amsterdam's airport was closed, so our 8 am flight didn't leave until 1:30. Than we had to take the train and a bus because we had missed our taxi (and we were with out a cell phone due to Jason getting a little too close to the water on one of our excursions). The kids did great though, and we made it home only 5 1/2 hours later than scheduled. All in all, a great get away!

A Happy Mother's Day

I woke up to coffee and muffins in bed. Then the children showered me with the gifts they made in school. Necklaces from the boys and a key chain and poem from Brooklyn. Then as I showered and dressed for the day, the kids made me another card. Jason had bought flowers and chocolates for me the day before, but went out on a limb and also bought me pants and a sweatshirt to go walking in. He did a good job.

After lunch we went to Keukenhof, a flower park in Lisse. We had been there during my parent's visit in the beginning of April but not much was in bloom then. Brooklyn had also missed that visit due to being in school and she really wanted to go. Everything was beautiful this time and we had a gorgeous day for it.

For dinner we ordered pizza, atleast I didn't have to cook or do any dishes. Then I ended my day with a long walk. My neighbor and I do this almost every night and it's a great way to end every day.

Spring Break Pics

Saltmine tour in Hallein, Austria.

Spring Break Pics

Spring Break Pics

Spring Break Pics

Spring Break Pics

Spring Break 2010

We just finished our Spring Break 2010 trip of touring Germany and Austria. We started off in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. This is a medieval, walled city that was founded in 1170. We stayed in a quaint hotel a stones throw from the square and enjoyed walking through the town as well as on the stone wall that surrounded it. We enjoyed a little bit of shopping, enough for me to find the perfect Hummel. The next day we drove down through Fussen to the Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle was the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. It was started in 1869 and they stopped building (unfinished due to King Ludwig's death) in 1892. Then we drove to Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany. We ate dinner in a Bavarian restaurant and enjoyed the sights of the Alps every where we looked. The 1936 Winter Olympic games were held here. The next morning after breakfast we finally arrived in Salzburg, Austria (the original reason for this trip). We spent two nights in Salzburg. The first day we did a lot of exploring and found a great playground for the kids near the Mirabell Gardens. The next day we went on a 4 hour Sound of Music Bus tour. This took us to many places where scenes were shot as well as sights of the mountains and lakes surrounding Salzburg. One of our stops, which included the church where the wedding scene took place, we took a break and had some wonderful apple strudel with warm vanilla sauce and vanilla ice cream. The next morning we left Salzburg and drove a half an hour south to Hallein for a salt mine tour. These mines are among the oldest mines in the world. The tour included a "train" ride deep into the Durrnburg Mountain, walking through the tunnels, sliding down deeper into the mines, a boat ride across a brine lake, then taking the "train" back out again. The kids loved it! After the salt mine tour, we headed out of Austria to Nuremberg, Germany. We walked through the town and ate dinner at a place on the square. By this time we were all exhausted. So after breakfast the next morning, we headed home.

We took many pictures so hopefully the kids will remember this trip. It was a lot of walking and sight seeing, but we tried to mix in some fun too for the kids. I am ready for our next vacation to be a relaxing one on a beach!

Keeping Busy On A Sunny Day!

We went to a park, then Brooklyn learned to ride her bike. It took her about 2 minutes to get the hang of it. She even practiced her signaling!

Gouda

Last Saturday, we decided to get out of the house for a while so we drove to Gouda. When you hear the name Gouda, the first thing most people think of is the cheese. Of course there is plenty of cheese available (like in most Dutch cities) but Gouda had a lot more to offer. The first thing we noticed as we got closer to town square was that there were people on bikes everywhere. This was our first trip to a "medieval" city. When you think of a typical Dutch city you picture bikes and canals, mix that with gargoyles and old gothic architecture, you have Gouda. When we arrived we sat down to have lunch. The kids and I had Toasties and Poffertjes, while J enjoyed an eutsmijder (open faced egg, ham and cheese on toasted bread). Then we walked to town square where they had their market day set up. You can buy just about anything during market day. There are vendors selling fish, bread, cheese, fruits & vegetables, Stroop Waffles, nuts, and any other food you could think of. Then there are also vendors selling purses & bags, clothes and linens. The only disadvantage I found being there on market day was that I could not get a good picture of the Town Hall.

As we walked away from the city square along the canals, there were various shops and cafes. You find old churches and buildings dated back to the 1400's. Gouda has one of the oldest gothic city halls built between 1448 and 1450. Gouda also holds St. Jans Kerk, the Netherlands' largest cross-shaped church. There are gardens to walk around, which being late winter, added to the gothic feel of the city. We had a very enjoyable day, and the drive is less than 30 minutes from our house. This will be a new destination to show anyone who wishes to visit us.

International Day

This past Friday, Brooklyn's school celebrated International Day "Colors of the World". They do this every year, but this year seemed extra exciting because of the Olympics beginning. The elementary school kids (with the help of some of the older students) started their day with "Opening Ceremonies". The children gathered in the sport hall and sat with the country they identified most with. Everyone was dressed in traditional clothing from their country. It was amazing to see. Once everyone was seated they did an introduction and roll call of all the countries, there were approximately 50 countries represented by students. Then different groups performed representing their particular country. We saw traditional and contemporary Indian dance, Korean students performed with traditional instruments, Scandinavian students performed rhythmic gymnastics, there was Irish dancing as well as Israeli folk dance. The opening ceremonies concluded with a parade of countries led by the middle school marching band. Then for the rest of the day, the students visited each classroom which represented a country. Each child had a "passport" which was stamped as they went to each room. Brooklyn visited The Netherlands, USA, South Korea, Turkey, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, India, Germany, Israel, Japan and the UK. The high school students had international booths set up in the cafeteria and the mezzanine for parents/visitors. These booths had traditional foods from these countries as well as lots of information. What an exciting day for these kids!. Such an opportunity to learn about places and people around the world.

Happy Birthday to my Babies!

In the past week and a half I have baked 3 cakes and 48 cupcakes. Just in the nick of time too, our grocey store now has signs up saying that Duncan Hines products are temporarily out of stock. Brooklyn has turned 7 and the boys are now 4. My how time flies! While baking was my job, Jason did a great job decorating the cakes to the kids specifications. He has always had a hidden artistic talent!

It is difficult to have all the birthdays right after the holidays. (Who planned that anyway?!) We are over run with new toys and clothes. It's hard to get rid of the holiday weight when a new cake magically appears as soon as one is finished. Then there are all the special dinners, blowing up balloons, and throwing birthday partys to keep us busy. It is all over now. Next week, I think I will relax... if only just for a day!