A walk to the market turned out to be super fun

We

 

The kids and I walked into the center of our village this morning to get a few things from the market and to our surprise the rides and activities from Kings day (previous post) were still set up and running. This time there were way less people and the kids felt comfortable and were able to enjoy it. They asked to go on a ride, so of course I let them. It was a great morning and we picked up some veggies, fresh roasted nuts, fresh bread to go with dinner (home made spaghetti and meatballs) and some soy sauce and satay mix from an incredible Asian store we stumbled upon a few weeks ago. (finding the little things I love to cook with make me so happy!) I also included a picture from along out walk of the beautiful Vituskerk (catholic church) we pass on every walk into the center from our house.

Yard work fun

 

Yard work is fun...when you haven't had a yard in a couple months. Our kids love to help out, they love work outside so when we finally made it to a Nursery store, we picked up an old fashioned mover, (so that we can bring it back home with us!) some clippers, plants, seeds, a broom and a few other things to get the yard looking better. We are just renting, but we care about the yard and its a fun, relaxing activity that we all enjoy. The kids love to plant things and I love to try to grow things. I have more of a black thumb than a green one, but I try so its fun. I cleaned up the flower beds to make room for new plants and trimmed back various plants while the kids and hubs mowed the grass and did some sweeping and trimming around the yard. We planted strawberry plants, mint, and a tomato plant. We still have to plant the green onions, chives, flowers and peas. (see we try to grow easy things....ha!) I will post pictures of the flower beds later...I forgot to get a "before" picture of them, they look SO much better and despite that they yard is far from perfect, it feels good to have it looking better.

Here are pics of some of the plantings

Kings day

 

Our first Kings day! Its sort of like Mardi Gras...but with more clothing and kids everywhere all day and all night. The towns close down and celebrate with drinking, fair games, fair rides and streets lined with people selling things they don't want anymore...like at a garage sale.Amsterdam has the biggest celebration and is apparently crazy and wild. We decided to check out our little villages celebration. We had no idea what to expect..so we walked into town to enjoy the festivities and tried to wear all the orange and blue that we had. (festive colors for Kings day) Well, it was crowded, I mean streets PACKED with people smoking, drinking and dancing to loud music. There were various stages set up playing LOUD music and a lot of it was in Dutch. The oldest hates all things super loud, and hates big crowds...something we have recently learned from our travels...so he clung to us and just wanted to leave. There were rides and games and lots of food venders with yummy looking treats but the kids did not want to do anything except go home. That is not totally true, the little one wanted to just DANCE to the music... and she did, as we walked through it all. I am glad we walked through the chaos and got to see first hand what its like, and I am glad we went to a lower key celebration in a village instead of Amsterdam. (I cant imagine how the kids would have felt there.) We can say we saw it. We went home, did some yard work, played outside and enjoyed refreshing beverages in the quiet peaceful comfort of our house/street away from the center.   It was hard to take pictures, but I got a few to give you an idea. :)

race car

I forgot to post these pictures. A few weeks ago the hubs and son went for a walk and came across a really neat car...imagine that..a cool car in Europe?! There are SO many! This is an old race car and I would tell you more, but I cant remember all the details that I was told, so instead I will just share pictures. :)

I can build!

I built the shoe rack... With both kids watching (annoying, but such a good test of patience) and only one minor gash. It is ok, kinda a piece of teetering crap, but it sure cleans up the entry way floor. There is not much wall space in there, so something with multiple storage spaces is better than nothing. We will see what the hubs thinks when he gets home. I think this alone makes today a success. :)

Muderslot

Fun with friends today as we explored our first castle! Can't wait to go to another one. We got a museum pass so we plan to see many more wonderful places in the coming year. :)

Easter Monday

We colored eggs on Easter Monday. Better late than not at all, right? Its been busy....I wasn't even going to do it, but they asked, and I felt bad saying no. They have enough change going on, its the least I can do to keep some traditions going. The kids loved it. They were happy, so I am happy.

Easter

The eggs are here! The kids were so worried about not having them....seriously silly!

We had a great Easter, playing, egg hunting, kids riding their bikes and enjoying the 18degree weather (more than 70 F) it was great. I didn't get much unpacking done, but who cares. There is always tomorrow, right? We enjoyed the company of new friends in the afternoon and it was just what we needed. It feels great to meet nice people to visit with and and that the kids play well with. Its just what we all needed. It makes it feel good, makes you feel like you belong and you are where you are supposed to be. It made me feel less alone, less sad about being so far from our family and friends on the special holiday. I am grateful, so grateful that we are finding our way and making friends and getting on with things pretty well.

move in day

Last Friday we moved it! It was a day we have been waiting for. We have been on a long road to get to this big moment. Out of our house, into temp housing (twice) in Ptown, then temp housing over here and now at long last into the place we hope to stay until we leave the Netherlands. (A girl can plan a little, right?)

The mover thankfully worked on Good Friday. ( most places are closed!) I met them at the house and stood as they unloaded each item. The read off the box number, I marked it off the list and told them which room it went to. It was good. The new washer, dryer, vacuum cleaner and coffee pot (major necessity!) got delivered too. I also learned the FUNNIEST mistake I have been doing since we got here. I have been using FABRIC SOFTENER, not laundry detergent to wash our clothes for the past month! Who knew? Not me, I don't speak dutch, the clothes seemed fine...so oops! I only found out because I asked the guy installing the washer if I could use the kind I had been using...he looked at me and said "well, yes, but that goes in the middle compartment because its softener, it makes your clothes soft." I had a good laugh! (and stopped at the store to get real laundry soap! Of course, I asked for help to make sure I was buying the right one this time. :)

Here is the neat "elevator" lift that they use to get things to the second floor. Dutch stairs are crazy steep...novel solution! We could never get the beds upstairs if it wasn't for this lift.

 

So far there has been only once broken item...a dining room chair. :( Not all the boxes are unpacked yet though, so we shall see.

selfie time

While we wait for our bikes, we walk a lot to explore and check things out. Its fun, and when you take selfies with your kids it distracts them from complaining and makes it that much more fun. See, don't you want to walk with us? Some parents offer candy, treats, bribes...I offer selfies. :) First one to wash up for dinner gets to help set the table around here too...you should see how fast that gets the kids to move. Its a race every time...luckily there is always enough to do for everyone to pitch in.

out and about

goofy elevator rides

Just another day of silliness around here. :)

paying to use the toilet?

My sister in law told me that this was how it was in many places over here...you pay to use the toilet. I thought it seemed unreal, and while it seems unreal...its real! I thought I would refuse to pay, but when a kid says they need to go, you pay for them to go! :)

Le Fournil de Sébastien - heavenly bread and treats

The little french bakery up the road from our new place (that we move into soon! - hooray!) was just the treat I needed...puff pastry with caramelized sugar! It melts in your mouth.

We also enjoyed a strawberry tart (like below, but quite a bit larger, to share). The crust was like a sugar cookie, not a pie crust, it was sweet and perfect with the vanilla pastry cream and fresh berries. Mmmm.

We have also had a traditional baguette from here with dinner and every bite was gone, even the kids devoured the crusty bread.

Its a great find!

Beach day

We ventured to Egmond aan zee today to check out the beach. It was windy and a bit chilly but the sun made us a little warmer and we had a great time.There was a neat light house from 1834 that made for neat pictures.

Along the drive we saw the MOST incredible fields of flowers. It was just what I dreamed it would be. Amazing and such a sight. We pulled over and one of the fields to take a picture. I needed to remember it. :)

Thatched roofs

Some of the houses here have these incredible thatched roofs. I would love to see one put on. Aren't they neat?

beautiful tree

This is near where our new place is. I just love some of the incredible beauty you see here. I wonder how old this tree is.

it happened...bad day

I am writing this post not to really just vent, but to document that its not all rosy and wonderful to move here. There are tough times as well and I want to look back and read about them to see how far we have come.

Well, it happened, I had a terrible day and cried at least three times. Ugh. Its inevitable, I know. The kids have had a series of melt downs so I knew my own was coming, but I thought I was really holding it together and getting my feet on the ground. The reason doesnt even make direct sense, its just the culmination of many events and my overall emotions that led to small things having a huge impact on me and making me cry.

It started in the am. The oldest was invited to a party, a four hour party afterschool.(Crazy!) I dont even know the  family or the birthday girl, I dont even know there parents and yet I am supposed to drop him off and pick him up 4 hours later...I think not.Of course, my child wanted to go and had a very convincing reason...to get to to know the kids in his class more and hang out with them. My heart strings def pulled me to try to figure something out. I said I would try to talk to the mom and see if it would be possible to just come for a couple of hours and I would stay and hangout as well. That made me comfortable and it seemed totally understandable. I an not just leaving him, I am not doing it yet, I dont even think he wanted me to. Anyway, I asked her and she said NO, that would not really work. He wouldn't get to finish the craft and kept asking me why he just couldn't stay...and she said I really couldn't stay. Why? I dont get it. Awkward. Ugh. I dont get it, I was trying to make my child happy by letting him go and hangout a bit and I was trying to at least be comfortable with it all. But how was I supposed to argue with this women, obviously she didnt get and it just made me feel like both myself and my child was unwelcome. After school I had to explain it to him and I told him the whole story. What else could I do? I didnt get it either. He had the most interesting comment. "I dont get it, why wont she even let me just come and hang out with the other kids, even if I dont have time to do the craft?" Yes, my child, why wont she?....sad moment, tough reality check that not everyone does what you hope they will do.

So after that start....next came more feeling of loneliness....

With a permanent place to live almost set, I figured I should venture out and do some looking at couches. Its the one big thing that we didnt bring (besides a washer/dryer) that we need to get. I have been asking around and many people told me about a whole road of places down in Utrecht. It was a drive, but what better time to go than just after I drop the kids at school. I went, I even went to a place someone told me about. Most places make the furniture when you order it, so waiting 10-14 weeks is normal, but some places have a few in stock (certain colors only of course) and some will sell you the floor models. I knew this, I went knowing it and asked to see what I could get within a couple of weeks. I knew the selection would be less, but I thought there would be SOME choices. The first place I went too, everything was just not my style and NO one came to ask if I wanted help. I asked which items were available within a couple weeks and they just told me to go look "upstairs," I did, but didnt see anything indicating that it was ready any sooner than any others. Terrible customer service around here! Next, I went to a place I had heard about from a friend, and fellow expat. She got a couch in just a few weeks. I thought it had huge promise. I walked in, walked around for what seemed like forever and then finally saw someone that looked like they worked there. I said hello, and asked if I could as a question. he looked at me, sorta put off and said "yes." I got a really bad vibe, he seemed so bothered that a customer would ASK anything. I asked him if they had any couches that would be available within a few weeks, he just looked at me and said "no, no, no." that was it. I was so frustrated, felt so alone and so lost. Here I was trying to figure this crap out, on my own, in a new place and no one, not even the people that worked there seemed the tiniest bit helpful. Thankfully I marched on, determined to figure something out. I need to find something, and its a huge pain to go looking with the kids in tow, so this was my chance. I went to another shop, where thank the Lord someone greeted me, was kind, helpful and restored my faith in the morning excursion. so I found a few, but nothing wonderful and nothing worth driving back with the entire family in tow to checkout again.

I picked up the littles from school, went and had some down time together and then we headed back to get the oldest from school. All seemed ok, until we were loading up to leave and my seat belt wouldn't stap in....i couldn't be late and have my child waiting for me and wondering where I was...so I decided to just drive, carefully. Well that sucked. The cr literally beeped the ENTIRE 20 min drive and I couldn't see the speed I was going because some message kept flashing on my speed indicator. Then, some jerk started honking at me and yelling at me in Dutch. I don't even think I was doing anything wrong. I wanted my seat belt to snap in, but it wouldn't and I didn't have time to deal with it. It was insane, annoying, and the beeping was driving my insane. To top it off my little one would not stop asking me why it was beeping, and why i just wouldn't buckle up. Ha! I can laugh now. As soon as we arrived at school I called the hubs, bawling. It seems so ridiculous now, but I was just so sad. What a crappy day. Interestingly enough while I was talking to him I somehow got the buckle to work. I don't know what happened and I feel bad for calling him in the middle of the workday and crying so hard on the phone about something that seems so silly, but I am glad I was able to call him. He is my rock and without his love and support I would not be able to get through these tough moments. He can calm be down and just bring me back. You see, when I first moved away to college in Massachusetts I was alone, no rock, no one to help me. It was hard, but this is much harder. He makes this whole moving across the world adventure doable because we are together and we have each other, neither of us is alone.

After school we just went home and hung out trying to forget that we were missing the birthday party. (still SO strange!) Then, after dinner we went to get ice cream.

Tomorrow I am having coffee with two mom friends that I met ....I can not even tell you how happy I am to know that I will be enjoying the company of nice, friendly people tomorrow morning. I need it. Furniture shopping can wait.

Zaanse Schans _ Windmills, wooden clogs, cheese, clocks and chocolate!

Sunday...they said it would rain, but it wasnt raining...so of course we had to get outside, despite the grey sky. We are quite used to that, so even some misting would not keep us from getting out and doing more exploring. Its always fun to find things that the kids are entertained with and that we can get some exercise doing, its win win for everyone. Our thigns are still not here, so we have time to explore. The housework will come and we will be plenty busy with it once it starts. We are trying to enjoy this time before all of the real settling in begins.

I did some research about places close by (within a 45 min drive) and came up with Zaanse Schans. I cant really tell you all the history about it, but I can tell you its just north of Amsterdam, and in a fun village area (although I think the name of the village might be something different, but anyway...) where you can visit lots of small, mostly free museums that show you in real life how wooden clogs are made, how dutch clocks have evolved (seriously there were some from the 1700's), how chocolate is made (then you can taste it!), a cheese factory, and they even have working windmills. The windmills either, cut wood into lumber, or they power old fashion grinding stones that grind up spices, dyes, flour (the smell of the grinding spices is insane and wonderful), they also had a windmill that crushes peanuts to sell peanut oil. It was fascinating!

My favorite part was watching a piece of wood transform into a wooden clog. They used to be carved by hand and take hours to make, but now they have machines that use a "model" they take far less time. Fresh, "wet" wood is used so that carving is possible. The first machine creates the outer shape, the next hollows out the inside. Then by hand they trim the edges, set the shoe to dry for a few weeks, and then sand it smooth. Its not the old way of doing it, but its incredible to see a chunk of wood turn into a shoe.

It was quite a fun outing, the kids loved it and we have yet another sight in Holland marked off our list to see.

Here are a few pictures. (quick blog post today, sorry for not proofing it...hope it all made sense.)

Exploring hilversum, lage vuursche and the forest

It's the best when the weather forecast is rain all weekend...and it doesn't really rain. As Oregonians we just take it in stride and enjoy every moment outside rain free. Today was no exception. We started out exploring downtown Hilversum and the stores and market, the made a stop over in Lage vuursche, famous for Dutch pancakes. They were an amazing. ( I had speck, bacon in English in mine and it was savory but prefect with powdered sugar and syrup on it) Better than last time, although the syrup was thicker and richer this time. We now know where to take visitors for a tasty treat!

After pancakes we had energy to burn... What better adventure than a search for cows in the forest. Our kids walk a lot, and they were champs today walking for over an hour to explore. We did see five cues and they were do excited about it! It was a great Saturday, and despite the tantrums that ended the day, I call it a success. :)

Here are a few pics. Enjoy!

a brighter day

The kids have been dealing with the transition very well, they have had ups and downs and fits to let it all out. (we all have, honestly) We are getting used to things and figuring them out, thanks to nice locals, lots of trail and error and the help of people we have been connected with. Yesterday life (especially in the eyes of the kids) got even better when they saw that we were really telling them the truth, their things were going to meet us here. They were so surprised, and the littlest squealed with pure joy when she saw her dollhouse unpacked. It was priceless. They have been very busy EVERY WAKING MOMENT since, enjoying toys that they haven't seen in almost 6 weeks. Last night they ate macaroni and cheese like I have NEVER seen them eat it. I have not found any think like it over here, and while that is just fine, its also nice to let them have a little comfort food from home once and a while too. :)

Loenen

 

Yesterday morning we explored the village of Loenen. We got fresh bread from the bakery called Best of Both. Its traditional to go to different shops for each thing you need, such as bread, meat, or cheese, its the way it works around here. No one stop shopping and no Target. You can find what you need, you just have to go to various places. Its fine, I am sure things are fresher that way, right?

While walking around Loenen we found this neat bridge and in the background you might be able to see a huge windmill..