Good News: all three kids had birthday parties to attend today.
Bad News: all three parties were in different parts of Holland.
I am thankful that the kids have all made good friends and were invited to celebrate good times together and were spoiled. I just wish they didn’t land on the same day and overlapping times and in three different cities . We spent at least 30 minutes coordinating logistics, and several hours driving! But it was all worth it.
If the kids are happy, mama’s happy!
Here I Am…
appreciating the fall weather in the Netherlands.
I went for a run with my dad this morning and the sun was shining. That’s a big deal here, and it set the tone for the rest of the day, inspiring us to Be outside.
As you look at the pictures, I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate what surrounds you and to say a prayer or think a positive thought for those who are struggling right now. I love you…and wish you peace and strength.
Today I got to play tennis again, with a great group of new women. Tennis is very different here than it is in the states. And the organization and process to find a court and to play is quite complicated, as I learned today. After I found out how complicated it was, I was especially thankful that Claire and Karin extended the invitation to me to join their Friday lesson.
You see, we played indoors since it was raining outside. There are limited amounts of indoor courts in Amstelveen and to reserve a court or to become a member of an indoor club takes some work too. And once you figure it out, all the forms and instructions are in Dutch – so add another layer of complexity. So that they would share their court with me was priceless. And that they sat and had a coffee with me afterwards to share and explain and to introduce me to more tennis players just made my day. I have to now find a partner to signup for tournament play that supposedly starts next month. Once you’re in the tournament, then you can play every other Friday. I sure hope I can find a partner this week. Wish me luck. I think tournaments are more like league play, and I’m not sure yet how the tournaments are judged, if they are judged at all. We’ll see… just have to get a court and partner!!
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Tonight Dorine and Nadja came over for dinner. I made my Thai Yellow Curry with chicken and vegetables, Jasmine rice, cucumber salad, kroeproek, and chicken satay with peanut sauce and brownies and petit little cream puffs for dessert. Yum! It’s really nice to have family come to visit and to spend time together. Seeing my kids give them big hugs before bed, just cemented that feeling. I keep hearing stories about how hard it is for expats after the honeymoon stage passes and that I should expect a dip in my positive feelings. I can believe this to be true, yet I’m hoping this doesn’t happen.
I think one of the keys to success might be to find what makes you happy and do it! Do what you love, love what you do. And that’s what I’m trying to do. And I know what makes me happy. Working out. Hanging out with girlfriends. Time spent with family. Playing on Facebook. Exploring new adventures. Writing my blog. Playing Words with Friends. Chatting with friends and family back home. Eating Dutch licorice. Cooking and entertaining. Having friends over and going over to their houses. Drinking coffee and wine. Helping Others. Eating Chocolate and cheese. Pretty simple, right? So IF and when the time comes, and you notice a dip in my positivity – please poke me and remind me that life is good, no matter where you are and even if it’s cold and wet, and to re-read and do the list above. Right? I sure hope it’s that simple. Bring on Day 38… and 68… and 98… Namaste.
It’s been a month ago today that we arrived in Holland. The best part of being here is the friends we’ve already made and the family with whom we’ve reconnected. I think that is what makes us feel at home. Of course, we miss our friends and family back at our first home, but we’re creating new bonds and making new friendships that make the days fun and memorable. Before we left, a couple friends that moved to our neighborhood had wished for me that I would meet someone in our new home town to make us feel welcome and a part of the community, as they had when they moved from France and Michigan to Sunnyvale. When you have someone that welcomes you, and shares tips and best practices, and invites you to coffee or dinner or a beer, you no longer feel like a stranger in a strange land. Well, those wishes came true. Thank you, Anouk and Megan for your well wishes. And thank you, Pauline for introducing me to Birgitta.
We were invited to Birgitta and Frank’s house for a BBQ tonight. They are local residents here where we live and invited my entire family over for dinner. Their kids are in college and so I felt even more honored that they included all of us, and made the little ones feel welcome too. The kids brought their bathing suits and went in the hot tub, in the rain. The dinner was fabulous and tasty and everyone enjoyed every bite. We all had such a good time, enjoying conversation, dessert, wine and coffee, that we didn’t leave until after 11 pm! I was so happy that the kids were good and behaved and that we could enjoy some adult time with new friends. Thank you Birgitta and Frank for your hospitality and making us feel so welcome, not only to your home but also to Holland.
Today I also joined Holland Homies – a Facebook Group for local Amstelveen/Amsterdam friends that are there to share ideas and resources. Inga told me about the group while we were at lunch on Friday. I posted a question about how to see American TV and heard back from several people. I have some places to look now without having to reinvent the wheel. Thanks, girlfriends! And I found a couple friends there that I had seen at school, but didn’t have their contact information. Now I do, and we’re going to get together next week. I love these type of connections.
For me, what defines home is my family and friends. That’s what I miss about home in Sunnyvale, home in Thousand Oaks, and that’s what I love about Holland. Here’s to home!
Rainy day today
Rainy day art made out of packing materials at home today!
Today was much better, thanks for asking! I don’t mind bad days because they are part of life and I don’t expect everything to always be a-ok. It’s normal, I get it. And I just have to wait it out (like I did) and wait for the sun to shine again (which it did!)
Early this morning, the truck arrived with our stuff. Now we didn’t ship all our stuff and the truck that brought our stuff was really big and understuffed, which is a good thing! You see there isn’t that much storage space in this big house. And I kind of was enjoying living with little, but I know our stuff will bring comfort. Like our rug and rocking chair and bean bag chair. Ahh… soft and cozy, and gezellig! I like comfy places and it’s getting there.
We had 63 boxes total – including 1 big orange bike, 2 chairs, a stool, a rug and other miscellaneous stuff that makes us feel comfy. That’s not that much for 5 people and an international move, right? We left our furniture at our old house as a guest house and hope our friends and family enjoy staying there from time to time. Now we just have to wait for our table and couch to be delivered – hopefully tomorrow and then we’ll be ready for you to come and visit!! 😉
Actually, while I was unpacking, Ruth came to visit. She is Simone’s sister-in-law, and lives in the area. 3 minutes away, in fact… how crazy is that? Simone, is Debbie’s Dutch friend, who I met before moving here. And today she asked Ruth to stop by to bring us flowers as a welcome. How cool is that?? I am so touched. I am all about relationships and can really give a crap about stuff. And seeing Ruth at my door, carrying a beautiful flower basket just touched my heart. And that she went out of her way to greet us… wow. Thank you. I love them and love that you both reached out to make us feel welcome. Thank you Ruth and Simone!!
Oh, and there’s a story about the wooden shoes too. You see Jeff and I came to Holland 14 years ago and these wooden shoes were made especially for me by Helma’s brother who runs a wooden shoe factory. We toured the factory and he shaped these to fit my feet. How cool is that? They have been sitting on my porch at home in Sunnyvale for the past 12 years so everyone would know I’m Dutch! And because I love them. So now they’re back on Dutch soil to great our guests at our front door. Doesn’t that make you want to come over for a cup of coffee. Just show up and I’ll make you a cup. 😉
We worked all day to unpack and to make our house feel more like a home until it was time to go meet the Petersons again. The kids really wanted to see each other to celebrate Ben’s birthday and to do a sleepover. We joined them for cake and ice cream and then brought their boys over here for one last sleepover before they leave Holland tomorrow. Happy Birthday Ben!! 
Are you what you are – or what?
(Thank you Edie Brickell… I used to sing this song on top of my lungs – did you too?)
I found this pillow today on our all day furniture shopping palooza with Anita and Kelsi. We bought everything we needed to finish furnishing our house today! All the beds and couches, tables and chairs, desks and dressers were ordered today. Can I hear a big shout out?!?! This is a HUGE accomplishment if you can only imagine trying to furnish a home in a day or two or three! Anita gave us another full day of Dutch translation and driving and organizing the details for our shopping trip while Kelsi tried to teach me a few dutch words here and there. We are so happy that our furniture will be delivered this weekend already, with the couch coming next week. When we ordered our couch in the states it took 6-8 weeks for delivery time. I was so excited when they said it would only take 9 days. I AM so happy and exhausted!
Kris and Scott decided to spend the night with us last night and our kids all still wanted to play together after breakfast. We were so lucky that they decided to keep our kids with them while we were on our never-ending shopping trip. They all went to the forest and explored Adventure Island again. I think they probably had more fun and were definitely less bored than they would have been shlepping around with us from shop to shop! Thank you Scott and Kris for entertaining our family and I’m sorry we were gone longer than expected. We loved seeing you and can’t wait to see you all again this week.
Hope you all are enjoying the last few weeks of summer. xo
Today was a perfect day filled with visits from friends and I Am Content!
I love having people around me and being together.
Pauline introduced me to her friend Birgitta who lives in our new home town. She came over for coffee today and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I could get used to this!
It was so nice to find out the best grocery store in town, a referral for a doctor and dentist, as well as the local urgent care number and non-emergency police number. She also told me where to go to get a hair cut and the best gym in town. Plus, she’s super sweet and friendly and I just loved hanging out with her all morning.
Thanks Pauline for sharing your friend with me! She’s wonderful!
After Birgitta left, we had a late lunch and Alycia came over with her kids. She’s my friend from Palo Alto who shared the same Dutch tutor as me. We met in Mountain View before she moved to our new home town in April and we now live a couple blocks from each other. How cool is that? The kids had so much fun playing together and didn’t want to leave each other. It will be so nice for them to have familiar faces at their new school when they start in a couple weeks.
After Alycia left, Margalith wanted to take the kids to adventure island in the Bos. She said we should just go for 15 minutes and have the kids run around. I was resistant since the Peterson’s were on their way over for dinner and it was 4:30 already and they were going to be here by 6 at the latest! How was I going to make everything work? Well, I’m in this mode of stepping out of my comfort zone and living in the moment and so we did. We enjoyed running around like Tom Sawyer through the forest and we can’t wait to go back again.
As we were driving home and getting ready to park, the Peterson’s drove up at the same time! Perfect timing!! The Peterson’s are traveling around the world for a year and will be in Holland for 10 days. We were so happy that they chose to come and hang out with us for dinner and a instant sleepover. How cool is that? Life is good.
Today was an open day meaning we didn’t have much of a schedule. I checked our to do lists and everything we need to do for this move is almost done. There are a few things left but I can finish these on Monday and Tuesday. So I got to relax and enjoy the morning with friend’s dropping by unexpectedly.
Yesterday when we were at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, I was looking out at the ocean and thinking about how I could bring my paddle board out one more time. Could it be possible??? How could I do it without my van and racks to carry my board to the beach?
When we came home, I eyed my dad’s truck with his kayaks on top…. And of course my brain started dreaming…
I love when dreams come true! My dad found a way to add my board to his kayaks and we had time to go play. I love that my parents are so cool and are still spoiling me and my kids! We had an awesome late afternoon in Santa Cruz. I Am Happy!
When I found out we were moving, I decided I was going to do everything I’ve been wanting to do before we actually left. That has been the biggest gift of all – to actually enjoy every minute of where I am right now. And I have and I AM and I still have 12 more days to soak it all in before our next adventure begins. What are you doing with your minutes?
Today was full and fun and I even got some work done! Michele and I took the kids to Sausalito to enjoy lunch on the boat, and to play with the kids on the beach. They loved finding and catching little sea creatures and moon jelly fish. Michele brought her paddle board and let me try it out. She has a Surftech board that is very stable and glides through the water. I liked trying another board and think the next board I get will be one that moves quickly through the water.
After our time on the beach, we went into town for coffee and Lappert’s ice cream. It was beautiful and sunny in Sausalito yet foggy and cold crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. I never tire of seeing the beauty of the bridge. We didn’t have a plan or schedule and the day just flowed.
Afterward, we drove back to Michele’s and she took C to a Palo Alto Play and let the kids swim after dark. I was lucky enough to drive over to Redwood City to check out the awesome new fall jewelry line from Stella & Dot. I don’t know how Blythe and team keep creating new designs that are so artistic and cool! I want them all! I loved running into friends – Vickie, Debbie and Kristen. Vickie gave me a gift, which is one of the new layering pieces just because! How lucky AM I? Thanks, Vickie!! I’m going to miss you… Debbie and Kristen too!
And to top of the minutes, Jeff was having a meeting right down the road. We were able to meet up for a quick dinner date! That never happens!! We enjoyed the break and I was able to still get back to pick up C by 8:30 pm but he was still swimming! Guess he’s enjoying every minute too. Michele and I looked over the new Stella and Dot Look Book and I just ordered my new samples! Wanna come see them? Stop by next week… They should be here by Monday!!
Life is good… Enjoy your minutes and make them count!!
“One of these days my luck is bound to change but for now I’ll savor the moment and the chocolate gelato.” – Emily Dodson, FB status 7/3/12
This is how I feel lately – just incredibly lucky and I know it won’t last forever, but for now the ride is so good, I want to savor every moment and don’t want to stop!
My doctor said I need to exercise at least 15 minutes a day to help with stress and to stay healthy. So I listened today and played volleyball with my friends for two hours. Does that mean I’m done for the week? J.k. I don’t know what I loved the most, being outside in the sunshine and not packing or cleaning, actually playing grass volleyball while watching my kids run around the park, or just hanging out with my girlfriends? I guess it was just an awesome triple play of goodness!!
here i am 