The middle of July in Amsterdam has been especially beautiful. Ben and I have enjoyed time at the park and the pool - with friends or just by ourselves. Feels like a small way to get us ready for some Midwest summer heat when we travel back to the States on July 25th.
Our playtime at Westerpark below. They have a playground with slide and sandbox, but Ben always asks to go play in the grass instead. He loves finding leaves, rocks, flowers, sticks - anything that he can then throw in the pond. :) And, we like to kick around a ball and blow bubbles. Ben asks for "big bubbles". Do you know how hard it is to blow a big bubble from those tiny bubble wands on a windy day? Loved the wildlife we saw this day and all the beautiful summer colors in bloom...
Our time with friends at Vondelpark Pool. Ben loves splashing in the water, and I love that I got to share some time with some of my favorite gals and babes. It's always amazing though if anyone actually gets to finish a complete thought...we're always so busy chasing after those little ones!
Our time relaxin' at home. After so much sunshine in the mornings, we usually take it easy inside after Ben's naptime while I make dinner. One afternoon, Ben was watching Thomas the Train, and I went to change the laundry. I came back out, and Ben had found himself a rather comfy, and completely unsafe, place to relax on the couch. Poor kid, I almost hated to ask him to get down because he just looked so "zen".
July wasn't all sunshine though. We did have to say goodbye to some very dear friends, the Tusts. They are moving back to the States on August 17th, and we don't return from our 3 week visit to the States until August 19th. So, on July 24th, the night before we flew to IL, we had Meghan, Rob, and little Kaia over for a goodbye dinner. It will be hard not having them here once we get back to Amsterdam, but we feel so lucky to have gotten to know them over the past 15 months. The ex-pat experience bonds people together like no other experience, and Kaia was Ben's first little "crush", so they will always have a special place in our hearts. My favorite photos are the last 2...Kaia giving one last WWF move to her buddy, and then a very serious Kaia and a very wacky Benjamin with their mommies. :) We'll miss you guys!!
Our time relaxin' at home. After so much sunshine in the mornings, we usually take it easy inside after Ben's naptime while I make dinner. One afternoon, Ben was watching Thomas the Train, and I went to change the laundry. I came back out, and Ben had found himself a rather comfy, and completely unsafe, place to relax on the couch. Poor kid, I almost hated to ask him to get down because he just looked so "zen".July wasn't all sunshine though. We did have to say goodbye to some very dear friends, the Tusts. They are moving back to the States on August 17th, and we don't return from our 3 week visit to the States until August 19th. So, on July 24th, the night before we flew to IL, we had Meghan, Rob, and little Kaia over for a goodbye dinner. It will be hard not having them here once we get back to Amsterdam, but we feel so lucky to have gotten to know them over the past 15 months. The ex-pat experience bonds people together like no other experience, and Kaia was Ben's first little "crush", so they will always have a special place in our hearts. My favorite photos are the last 2...Kaia giving one last WWF move to her buddy, and then a very serious Kaia and a very wacky Benjamin with their mommies. :) We'll miss you guys!! And now it is time for 3 weeks in the States to visit family, attend weddings, and enjoy some Midwest summer. We can't wait!! (Except, of course, for that 9 hour flight...with an exhausted hubby who has been traveling for the previous 5 days for work, an exhausted wife who has been packing and cleaning all week and is pregnant, and a toddler who can't sit still. Oh, and don't even get me started on the jet lag...)
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