For Spring Break 2016 we went to Amsterdam. We had originally planned to go to Brussels and Bruges in Belgium, but the day before our flight was the day of the terrorist attacks at the airport there. So we lost some money on the hotels that didn't give us a refund, but thankfully were nowhere near the tragedy.
Ashley had reserved a houseboat for us on the Amstel River. Here are Isaac and Georgie standing on the bridge that took us over another houseboat to ours.
The first morning we went to a bakery for breakfast, where we ate large amounts of apple pie with whipped cream, and then found a small city park to play in for a few minutes.
This is on the Prinsengracht (Princess Canal) looking towards the Westerkerk bell tower and the Anne Frank house.
Walking through the Jordaan neighborhood with Westerkerk in the distance.
Juliet looking out over the Leliegracht.
Juliet fell in love while window shopping. Not sure if this was a pet store or a random dog in a store. Look at how well his coloring matches her jacket!
Amsterdam is bicycle heaven, as everyone knows, and while walking around we found this four-seater bike. Just need one more seat to make it our official family vehicle.
This is on the Herengracht with Westerkerk in the background again.
After exploring the Jordaan neighborhood we went to the Rijksmuseum. It had the best kid activity ever: a sketch pad on which the kids could draw their own pictures inspired by the artwork around them.
Lemons.
After the museum we visited the Bardsleys, friends of Cary and Kregg Rogers. Donna and Mark lived in Moraga when Cary and Kregg lived in Bob and Laurie's basement and became very close friends. They have lived in Amsterdam for about five years and their three kids are fluent in Dutch, although they still struggle. Too many people in Amsterdam speak English perfectly. We had a great night getting to know each other and sharing stories about Cary and Kregg. I was at the end of Moustache March and therefore looked like a creepy pedophile.
The next morning we toured the Anne Frank House. It is a ridiculously popular tourist attraction. The line was two hours long 45 minutes before it even opened. You can buy tickets online and walk right in, but you have to buy them at least one month in advance and we missed the window. Still, it was a fascinating tour through the actual annex where they lived for two years in hiding.
Not sure where this is, just another random lovely street in the city.
After Anne Frank we caught the bus to Zaanse Schans, a living diorama of what the Netherlands used to look like before fossil fuels. There are several restored/rebuilt windmills along the water that perform various functions.
This is the windmill that is used to crush chalk for making paint.
The large wheels spin and crush the chalk. In the floor above you can see the gears that turn the horizontal spinning into vertical spinning.
On the windmill platform. Those blades come by so fast it is scary.
It was a little bit windy.
This is the windmill that saws trees into logs. It was fascinating. The thinly spaced blades cut the tree into boards and the widely spaced blades cut the boards into the right width. All fossil fuel-free. Except the construction.
A close-up of the saws in action.
This was Ashley's favorite, of course.
The view of the other windmills from the lumber mill.
What a childhood.
The old fashioned houses.
And of course, the wooden shoes.
Klompenmakerij - what a word.
They still like each other. Wonder how long it will last?
Too cute.
Lest you think those were the only over-sized novelty wooden shoes...
I love this sequence of pictures because of Georgie's hair.
And still it continues.
Isaac managed to keep a good smile the whole time.
There we go, much better. Except something happened to Isaac.
The saddest part was that these shoes weren't even wooden! The were plastic! Or metal, can't remember.
The next morning, our final day, we decided to rent bikes, since that would be only proper in the cycling capital of Europe.
We rode south of Amsterdam along the Amstel river to a small town called Ouder Amstel. It was only about 45 minutes or so and had great views of old windmills, beautiful homes and gardens, and the Ajax football stadium.
George in action.
We ate at this small pub there that had excellent apple pie.
Georgie cannot believe her own childhood.
We decided against a tandem bike for Juliet and went with the basket instead. A good call, except that I was a little unsteady at first on the busy streets.
One more shot of the windmill.
The final activity. These enormous letters that spelled "I amsterdam" were in front of the Rijksmuseum at first, but on our final day they moved them in front of the Opera House which was right by our house boat. This was a parting shot. We had a great time and were sad to miss out on Belgium, but we ate chocolate, fries, and waffles in Amsterdam to make up for it, not to mention many, many stroop waffles.
When Joey took up blogging our trips I stopped blogging anything at all. Shame on me because there are a lot of memories I have with the kids or otherwise that deserve to make our memory book.
Above is a view from of Lago Santa Croce and Monte Pizzoc. This view is a short drive and a hike from the street we live on.
The hike to get to that view isn't so shabby either.
Here's Georgie's last day of 3rd grade with Ms Henderson. Georgie has always loved her teachers. Ms. Henderson is no exception.
We grew peas again in the garden this spring. None of them made it to the table or near a steamer. We ate them all straight off the vine. I loved looking out the back window at the girls running around in our springing back yard eating peas straight from the pod.
Early June/ late May is cherry season in Italy. ANd It. Is Glorious! There are wild cherry trees everywhere and big, deep red, juicy sweet ones abound from the local markets. There's a wild sour cherry tree up the road from our house. The kids and I went up there one Saturday morning with a basket and had homemade cherry pie by dinner time. For me, this is a real sweet memory.
Our good friends the Stuarts left us this summer but we did our best to soak up our last weeks with them by taking many trips to the water hole in Andreis.
We love this place!
In early July our dearest friends, The Joneses had baby #5!! Kate! She was born on her big sister Samanthas birthday! What a present for Samantha! The big kids stayed at our house while their parents were at the hospital so we got to make the birthday cake and really be a part of the new baby. We felt really lucky. Isaac even cried when he met baby Kate. He's such a softie!!
Fourth of July party!
This is Calla, one of Juliets favorite people in all the world. Calla has her first sleep over at our house and Juliet was in Heaven! (but she didnt' actually make it through the night;)
The Ropes course at Piancavallo for Samanthas' birthday
We went hiking at Piancavallo and e
Soccer Golf! We got rained on for a little bit but it was still so fun!
Georgie's first day of American School. Writing this 8 months later I'm thinking "WOW! She's already grown so much!!!"
Natalie was in her class last year and is again! Georgie is in Mr. Englands class. A VW camper driving, Birkenstock wearing, Vegetarian hippie from Washington state who speaks fluent Italian and has made Italy his home for 12 years. Yea. We like him.
Juliet played soccer for the first time the season and felt like she "ruled the field". Her outfit was given to her by Aunt J and Mimi!
These two, on their first day of school.
OOOO, I just love 'em!
Juliet with her friend Katie.
Goof ball!
This first day of school was pretty huge for me. I balled my eyes out the night before because Juliet is 5. That means all day and real school. Even though in Italy it's still preschool, it felt momentous to me. I have loved being a mommy!
For her first day of school Juliet wore the same outfit Georgie wore on her first day. This apple dress and pink crocs. I had to capture the sister cycle!
Isaac had a great soccer season on base. He ended with a legendary game of 4 goals! Go buddy!!
Bring on Halloween! We finally did the family thing this year. I had everyone on board and was super pumped about it! Guess what our theme was?
Yup! Little Red Riding Hood!! And No Georgie!
Actually, Georgie baled on us last minute for Athena. She was supposed to be a Rabbit but decided Athena felt more "her". We were totally cool with it. We like that she marches to her own beat.
