Day 65: Planning

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Jeff came home safely from Amsterdam and was able to stay awake until 7 pm. I made a pot of yellow Thai curry and we all enjoyed a family dinner together. The kids were very hyper today and overly excited I think, driving me a bit crazy!!

Jeff was showing them pictures of the new house. They began arguing over who would get each room and we all seemed to have different opinions. I began to make a list of things we might want to bring with us to the new house, hoping to leave as much behind as possible. I thought CJ would want to bring all his Legos, but instead he surprised me saying he didn’t really play with them anymore. When did that change and how did I miss it? I think the PS3 and Minecraft have replaced his Legos.

J said she’d bring the flag pendant from her room and maybe some art supplies, along with my old Miss America Barbie and the Dutch doll that sits on her shelf.

C will want to bring his cars and stuffed animals and all his sports gear, I’m sure.

And for me, I want to bring my Stella & Dot collection, my paddle board and my tennis racket, my Kindle and iPhone and Mac, along with my measuring cups and spoons and a few photo albums. I guess that tells you what I love.

Tomorrow I plan to confirm the taco truck guy for our going away party, and book Laser Quest for C’s birthday party. It’s all coming together, slowly but surely. So much to still do in 65 days and I want to do it all!

20May2012

Day 66: The Eclipse

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We had an impromptu block party with some thick, dark glass and another set of viewing tools: dark sunglasses and a welder’s mask to view the sun and see the Ring of Fire. We also tried the bucket of water trick to see the suns’ reflection in the water so we wouldn’t have to directly look at it, but it didn’t work that great. The kids all had fun taking turns catching a glimpse, and running around, playing with Nerf Guns and kicking a soccer ball around.

The Eclipse happened today – the Sun, Moon and Earth all lined up. It’s the first time in 18 years that an eclipse has been seen from the United States and we all got to see it and experience it. I guess the planets aligned for us!

And in Netherlands News, The Office, The House, and the School are all lined up. The Bank Account is open, the Company is established and we’re hanging out in the shadows – wrapping up things on the home front for another 66 days! Jeff comes home tomorrow. Few more days of school left. Tomorrow is a Furlough Day – so I get to enjoy the kids at home and they can go with me to the airport to pick up their Daddy. We all miss him and are ready for him to come home.

Did you see the Eclipse? What did you think? Hope your personal planets are aligning this week too! xo

19May2012

Day 67: A Broad Abroad

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At my Stella & Dot Trunk Show on Thursday, I met a woman who is an Expat from Canada and an Expat Consultant. How lucky was I? I joined Stella & Dot to meet new friends and now Marian and I are meeting for coffee next week. Lucky me!

After the party, she emailed me a list of moving companies, books, and websites to check out. Today I downloaded the book, A Broad Abroad – and have been reading it all day on my Kindle, while at the boys soccer and baseball games! It’s always nice to learn from others who have been there, done that, and I’ve already gotten so many great tips from the author. They say that a successful expat experience depends on the wife’s happiness and independence. So far, so good.

A highlight of my day was choosing to stay home with the kids tonight to cook and bake together. Since J isn’t playing sports this season due to her broken elbow, we decided baking could be her sport. So the boys had to come and watch her play, just like she came and watched them all day. She’s into fondant and baking cakes. The boys are having fun with her too, as active observers, cheering her on. They’re now anxiously waiting to bite in after the decorating is done. Much better than playdoh!

18May2012

Day 68: TGIF

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Don’t you love Fridays? It’s one of my favorite days of the week. Everyone is happy from finishing up the week and excited, anticipating the weekend.

Today I enjoyed C’s field trip to the Magic Garden. We walked and took the City Bus with 29 kids and several chaperones and his teacher. The kids had a great time touching and tasting and feeling and smelling all the wonders that surrounded them, including worms, nests, chickens, snails, nasturtiums, and fruiting mulberry bushes to name a few.

Looking up at the underbelly of the shade tree – so pretty!

Have you ever seen an Almond Tree?

These roses were beautiful climbing roses, but without much scent. The kids enjoyed walking through the gateway and into the magical garden. I liked it too.

Look… April and I actually got to hang out today! Thank goodness for field trips!! 🙂

From the city bus stop with the second graders, I walked half way back to school and then left the kids with the other chaperones so that I could run ahead to meet the school bus that was bringing J home from Science Camp. I was so excited to see her and have her back in my nest. I’m not ready to let her go, even though I know she’s growing up and I have to let out the leash a little more and more. It felt really good to reel her back in, close to me. We all missed her and our family dynamic was just not the same without her. Now we just have to wait for Jeff to get back from London to have us all back together. I’m happy for him though, that he gets to spend time with his brother before heading home again.

And to finish off the day, we had a quick visit and dinner with Michele and the kids. We were all so tired that we made it an early night. She had this great little gadget on her counter that made us laugh and smile and maybe you will too. In case you ever wonder, here’s a little Emergency Affirmation you can give yourself – when you press the smiley face, it plays a drum roll and tells you that you are amazing! Something everyone should hear at least once a day!! Go ahead, press it! You are Amazing!! xo

17May2012

Day 69 – Beautiful Things, Beautiful Women

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Feel so much better today, knowing that it was just PMS! Damn, hormones!!

I had a busy and full day and I feel so lucky. I started today by volunteering at the Nearly New Shop (a local thrift shop) with my PEO sisters. PEO is a philanthropic educational organization where women celebrate the advancement of women, educating women through scholarships, grants, awards, and loans and helps women achieve their highest aspirations. I spent three hours, organizing the displays, categorizing the books, toys, jewelry displays, helping customers and working the cash register. I love being here and knowing that we are raising money for an important cause and I was working side by side with women I love. I left there with a big smile on my face.

Afterwards, I went over to Stanford Mall to buy a present and return a couple of things. I took a ton of pictures of all the beautiful floral displays. Here are a few:

Aren’t they so pretty? And they’re all at the mall. Wouldn’t you love to be the gardner there?

Afterwards, I had more errands to run around downtown Palo Alto. I found an easy parking spot and enjoyed walking a few blocks, soaking in the sun and trying out a new yogurt place. Palo Alto has such a strong community feel – and it’s cozy and flat and has nice stores and restaurants, lots of trees and people young and old, outside walking all around. I love this feeling and think that is what Amstelveen and Amsterdam will feel like, with maybe a little less sunshine.

After picking up C from school, we had our afternoon snacks and did some homework. We SKYPED with Jeff and looked at all his pictures of our new little neighborhood, while Christine stopped by to drop off a nice little gift and pretty flowers in the bag she was returning. Wow. Thank you. And the tile guy came by to fix some grout, we cooked some TJ’s Orange Chicken, and got ready for the baseball game. I asked my new good friend, Allison, to give the boys a ride home from the game, because I had a Stella & Dot show tonight. Again, I’m so thankful that I have such good friends that support me and my family. Without the help, it’d be really hard to do all the things I’m doing.

And I’m thankful that my kids are old enough to stay home alone now for a couple of hours, even though that still feels really weird. I called two neighbors to let them know I’d be gone and to check in on them. They did great and are such good friends. Lucky me, let’s hope it lasts.

And to just close out a great day, Elizabeth hosted a Stella & Dot trunk show with me at her beautiful home. I sell S&D jewelry for several reasons. First, I love Jessica Herrin and the company she’s built. It’s local – right here in San Carlos and she went to Stanford and is a mother of 2 – she’s inspirational and loving and beautiful and smart and giving and is helping to promote women in business and creating a community – things that I love! I sell the jewelry as a hobby – to pay for my “habit” and to get out and meet new women. I love hearing their stories and seeing them try on jewelry and how they feel when they’re wearing it. I was never into jewelry and now love it and feel put together and cute when I’m wearing it. I love watching women admire me and want to be like me. That’s cool – I want women to feel powerful and beautiful and see their own beauty – whether they wear the jewelry or not.

The women I met tonight were fun and smart and cute and were enjoying each other’s company. It was fun to hear their stories and to see the connections – one woman brought her mom. Another woman was about to give birth. There was a spunky and fun lawyer who almost moved to France as expats and another who brought her new baby. One mom brought her 11 year old son and his homework. One came really late. One was the cute mom I used to admire at PELC and there she was again. One grew up in Sunnyvale, one was from my home town, One was from Canada and is an Expat Consultant. We’re gonna meet again for coffee. Several shared stories and now I’m bummed I’m moving but I know I’ll be back in a year! So they say…

I’ll be back to enjoy and admire all these wonderful people in my life – because in the end, it’s all about our relationships and the love we give and receive. I’ll be back… xo

16May2012

Day 70: Fake It ’til You Make It

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This is me smiling and faking it! I’m hoping if I sit and soak up the sun and smile long enough, I’ll feel like I look.

I’m having fun watching C play baseball, but today wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t bad but I just felt lethargic and tired. Getting up at 5 am makes for a long day. And I miss J and J!

I’ve started deep cleaning and decluttering and the tasks feel like they will never end. Hopefully though they will make the move a little easier.

I did get to play tennis and Skype with J and chat with my sisters, so it has still been a good day. But, is it bed time yet? 🙂

15May2012

Day 71 – Good Bones

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Mother’s Day Roses from my Mama

Well, it feels like things are coming together – at least the “bones” are in place. Jeff is in Amsterdam this week and is meeting with a lawyer to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. He’s securing the office space for the new company, and opening a bank account and obtaining a BSN – something like a Social Security Number here in the States. He’s going by to check out our new house and sign a lease – hopefully it’s as nice as it looks in pictures. He’s visiting with Tommy, his colleague and friend that lives in Haarlem. I’m sure he’ll have some fun and a couple of biertjes while he’s there too, and hopefully get some rest! He’s been going full-speed.

I woke up at 2 am to see if the admissions officer from the school had responded yet. I had to get a couple more documents and reports before they could make their decision whether or not to accept our family. The good news was it was worth waking up for! We are in! All 3 kids will be at the same school with our friends from Palo Alto! This excites me and was worth waking up for!

So the bones and structure are now in place – now it’s time to start filling in the details! Still need to call a moving company, decide what to pack and leave behind, how to ship our car and how long will it take…plus lots of playing still to do!

I’m not busy – just really enjoying every fun-filled minute.

14May2012

Day 72: Coming and Going

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People are always coming and going and leaving and returning. I love when our paths cross.

I was so happy that my family came to visit me for Mother’s Day. And felt so sad when they left today to go home. I enjoyed their visit very much and was so happy to be together. And yet, I’m sure they were excited to go home today, back to their own beds and comforts and probably also a bit sad to leave, knowing that it won’t be as easy to see each other in a couple months as it was this weekend. Ying and Yang. The feelings are so intermixed.

Me and K right before she had to get in the car for the 6 hour car ride home. 😦

I guess I’m getting practice for the big move and savoring the moments, and learning to let go. Not forever, but still – you get what I mean.

Where are you going this week? Who’s coming over? Who’s leaving? Who’s returning? Hope you enjoy the ride!!

xoxo

13May2012

Day 73 – A Perfect Day

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My family came up from Southern California to spend Mother’s Day with me. It was the perfect day – with no big fanfare – just us, and church and April and Steve and S & J. The highlights of my day were many – my 2 year old niece singing Amen and the Our Father and Adele’s Someone Like You and smiling and laughing and just being so happy just being. She was my role model for the day. My kids were so happy to celebrate me with their home made cards and posters and hugs and kisses – loving me as their mama, my favorite role in life. And my dad and Jeff took care of the big kids and made us dinner. Happy Wife, Happy Life and the Mama’s Happy, so Everyone’s Happy!!

These signs were all over the walls in the halls, on the cabinets and on the mantle before he went to bed to surprise me when I woke up! How cute is that? J and C also made thoughtful and artistic cards for me and their Oma and Auntie.

Coffee on the couch with my girls and the Sunday paper, while the men are making us breakfast. Are we lucky or what? Thanks Dad and Jeff!

Letting the baby sleep, the mamas sat on the couch and relaxed and watched a movie together with a cup of coffee and some chocolate, while the guys took the big kids out to keep the house quiet and peaceful. It was so nice to actually relax – what’s that like?

The boys cooked a fabulous BBQ dinner for all of us and we had a Coldstone Ice Cream cake and homemade lemon bars for dessert. The kids had so much fun just running around the yard and watching Tangled. After dinner, we all settled down and enjoyed a quiet evening. We’re going to miss our cousin and Auntie and Oma and Opa when they go home tomorrow. Thanks for the best gift, Papa, Mama and Yaya- the gift of your time and love and just being together.

Happy cousins getting ready for bed.

Happy Mamas. Namaste.

12May2012

Day 74 – I Want You to Know What Love Is

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(picture taken at Savvy Cellar in Mountain View tonight – great little place to hang out with friends and the weather was gorgeous!)

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Good women are the epitome of love. They give love not only to their own children but to all children (and pets in some cases, and their own parents and friends and partners) and they are nurturing and giving and loving and make this world a better place. They support one another and take care of each other and they create community and build relationships. This is peace. This is love.

The new Time Magazine with the young woman breastfeeding her 4 year old child on the cover has a lot of people talking and stirring. The main problem I have with the cover is the question they pose which pits women against one another. “Are you Mom Enough?” – All women are enough because they have a choice – and the choice should be theirs and no one else’s. Whether we choose to work or stay at home, to have kids or not, to breastfeed or not or for how long, to dress up or dress down, to wear makeup or to go natural, to be skinny or not. Just be who YOU want to be. We shouldn’t judge one another by our choices and we should let each other just be happy. We don’t have to approve of each other’s choices but we also don’t have to make others feel insecure or judged by us. Let them be. And be ok being you. That’s love and that’s peace. To me.

So here’s to all the women in my life – that inspire me and love me and challenge me and support me. I love you – thank you for making this world a better place. Happy Mother’s Day to my Sisters, my Wife, my Friends, my Aunts and Cousins, Grandmothers, my Role Models, and my Neighbors and especially to my Beautiful Mama. Enjoy your day tomorrow and celebrate YOU!

My mom and sister are in town to celebrate Mother’s Day together with me tomorrow. So happy they are here, just wish Kimmy was here too! Happy Mother’s Day!! xo