April Round Up

Time to catch up. It has been a busy time! At the beginning of the month, I took a quick trip to California. Eli was down on a visit during his spring break so it was a good chance for me to see all the kids in one state! Spring in California looks different than Spring in Holland but definitely has its own beauty.

Aidan flew down to Long Beach, too!

Isabel has a new hamster, named "Ted". 

He is so cute and really liked the bag I brought from Alkmaar.

The day after Eli flew home, Zack made a quick trip down for his weekend!

Happy for the bonus time, we enjoyed visiting the aquarium together.

Mother/daughter and matching earrings (from Kauai)❤️

I was able to fly into LAX and out of SFO,

 so it worked out really nicely to spend time in both spots.

 I love seeing whatever the kids want to show me--and just hanging out, of course!

Golden Gate Park is incredible and we also took a beautiful little day trip down to Half Moon Bay.

At Pigeon Point Lighthouse, we watched a baby seal come in for some rest in the sun.

 Our favorite Ramen Shop-just down the street from Zack & Aidan's apartment. Zo lekker!

So thankful for this special time together and...

 that my kids are four of my favorite people to hang out with in all the world!

~~~~

Then I came home to Spring in full swing.

Baby geese everywhere, which makes me so happy.

We're busy with the Airbnb which is fully booked

 & I really enjoy adding special touches for our guest's visits!

Han's parents live about 20 minutes away in the town of Limmen. 

Each year they have Mosaic Day where people make displays from hyacinths.

The patience that this must take!

This garden is also located nearby. It is a "gene bank" for tulips and has an incredible variety.

 A special evening at a typical Dutch family restaurant in a nearby small town.

We bought a little electric boat and I'm learning to sail it!

Giving a helping hand.

Celebrating Han's 56th Birthday!

His Birthday is also King's Day, the most festive day of the year in The Netherlands!

A full and beautiful month!

For (even) more photos, click here! ;)

Our Sacred Memorial Day

 How can it be a whole year already?

It feels utterly surreal for that to be true.

Missing Mom more than can be expressed.

Carrying her in our hearts with every beat,

striving to honor her 

and move through life in ways that we know would make her happy.

That is the best we can do.

To that end, I’m happy to share that the Legacy Bench, which so many of you generously contributed to is being installed this very week. This has been in the works for many months, so the timing feels remarkable! While we had originally planned on having one at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, they didn’t put plaques on the benches-which felt important.

So after much deliberation, we decided on a bench at the: Mercer Slough Nature Park

Mom would love this spot. Only 15 minutes from home and in an area that she would really visit. The bench is overlooking the water (slough) on the Heritage Loop Trail. Depending on where you park, it can be a short or long walk to get to it. Or you can even canoe up to it as there is a little boat dock nearby. You can see the location marked in red in the photo below.

Just as I was posting this blogpost, photos arrived! The Bellevue Parks Department were so wonderful to work with and unbelievably, it turns out my cousin’s partner was one of the people who installed it!  For that to happen and to have it “unveiled” today for the first time feels extra meaningful and special!

We’re so grateful that those who love her made this possible. What a comfort to think of friends and family visiting here. I can’t wait to see your photos and to visit myself. I will be bringing some heart rocks with me when I do!

What a gift to have this happen on this poignant day.

It turned out just as we’d hoped!

Mom would love it….and it feels so good to know that.

❤️

We’ve already had our first visitor.

Our cousin Erin sent these photos. 

She said before she left, 

that a Canadian Goose flew overhead.

❤️❤️❤️

Amsterdam

I just returned from a week long Dutch (language) immersion class in Amsterdam.

I'd been very nervous to attend in the time leading up to it but luckily, it turned out to be all that I'd hoped. The class was limited to 8, with students coming from Spain, England, Columbia & the U.S. 

As an added bonus it was held in the heart of Amsterdam. 

Loved attending the class in one of the buildings behind the black ship.

It was seven hours a day for seven days, so very intense.

 The teacher was very passionate and playful about the language which made it a lot of fun.

 

He used stuffed animals as props and lots of jokes to help us remember. He taught us what Dutch people really say, not just what the formal Dutch language books go over.

 It was the ideal class for me.

I decided to rent a room nearby, to totally immerse myself, which was a real treat.

 Although we'd been to the city on many occasions before, 

staying there and feeling like a real local helped me to truly fall in love with it for the first time.

You can tell when a baby has just been born, as it's common to decorate the house with a stork.

It was so fun to discover little streets and to be there at night to see the city all lit up.

Han was able to join me for a couple nights at the beginning and then on my last night to celebrate, 

which made it extra special.

We had fun at the famous Noodermaarkt and I had the most beautiful yogurt/granola/fruit breakfast ever.

It was a beautiful week.

I learned soooo much, mijn hoofd is vol.

Ik ben heel blij met deze grote stap en dankbaar voor deze mooie week in Amsterdam!

The number of bikes parked at the train station here is mind blowing!

Alkmaar is a 43 minute train ride away from Amsterdam.

❤️