The End of the School Year is Always Crazy!

We leave Saturday for 5+ weeks away and we're trying not to freak out about it. We've been working really hard this past month to organize and square away our lives so that we can enjoy the long vacation without any lingering stress. Throw in lots of end of school events for Jude and Pete, a short visit from friends and the arrival of pal Gia today and things have been busy to say the least! The weather has turned gorgeous and Amsterdam is seeming like heaven on earth. Sunset is around 10pm and it isn't truly dark until well after 11pm. I've taken to biking as much as possible and something about the sunshine in your face, biking along the Amstel river, pumping endorphins... there's nothing like it!

Pete's crowning achievement of the past week- turning our fridge in the shed into a kegerator :) 

At the library. Children's book are great for learning Dutch!

Open day at the local firestation.

Last weekend's highlight was the Hedgehog class picnic in the Amsterdamsebos organized by another parent. Getting to watch Jude interact with his classmates is a real treat and getting to know the parents from around the world is great for us, too. It was a beautiful afternoon after a cloudy morning so we had the Grote kinderbad splash pool all to ourselves. I have felt pretty removed from Jude's class/ISA these past few months as Pete has been handling all of the drops offs and pick-ups, so it has been nice to reconnect at the various events this week.

Follow the leader

In the midst of the craziness, Pete and I were able to schedule a date day using his last personal day of the year on Monday. We had a voucher to do high wine at the Dylan hotel from Christmas. I vowed that when I was done nursing (I am! I think...), we would go! We started the day with a couple's massage, lingered over coffee at a cafe, completed some shopping for our upcoming trips and then the fabulous high wine. You are served 4 wines with food pairings and we enjoyed it in their secluded courtyard. A really lovely day with my guy.

Alone during the day in the city for the very first time.  

 

Maeve's current favorites are standing/cruising, eating and BIRDS. I knew she'd love a visit to the Broersepark- our favorite park by our old apartment with bird aviaries.

She loves to share her food now. Nintje biscuit mama?

She also loves cooking in the kitchen and putting things into bigger things

Two weeks ago, Pete sent me the picture below, which was a full size poster on the walls of ISA promoting the movie Jude's class made. There was a lot of anticipation and excitement for the premier last Wednesday. It was a 27 minute film with 6 chapters with each kid in at least 3. The teachers did an amazing job directing and producing it. It was all green screened so there were these great back drops and the kids in costumes. The best was when you could see the outline of the teacher's arms picking a child up to put them in the correct position. Jude was baby bear in Goldilocks, a monkey in the Animal Boogie, and a sleeping bunny with all the hedgehogs. A lot of effort went into making the premier really special for the kids. There was a red carpet and a teacher interviewed some of the kids. We were served popcorn and ice cream. The kids had a grand entrance on tricycles and scooters. The audience was packed with the heads of the lower school and other teachers in attendance. Jude's class has been paired with buddies from a 2nd grade class and all of the buddies were there. At the end of the show, each of the buddies gave the parents a letter they wrote about our LOs. Jude's buddy went on and on about how cute he was :) What parent doesn't love a letter like that!

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Interview on the red carpet. 

Jude's buddy presenting her letter 

Stardom is exhausting- refueling in the cafeteria

Hedgehog excitement continued with their end of year trip at the Elsenhove Farm the following day. I needed to leave early to take Maeve to montessori class so Pete came with and it was a fun family day.

  

They got white t-shirts with pictures of all of their classmates. And then they were given paint... 

Scavenger hunting

I didn't realize kids formed cliques at such a young age. Jude's crew is just the cutest. 

With all his besties

Thursday night we saw Jude Law in Obsession at the Carre theater. His acting and shirtless bod were phenomenal. Fun to see Jude's namesack in the "flesh." :) The theater is right on the Amstel. The contrast between this scenic location and that of crazy Times Square is remarkable. 

Pete cooked lunch with the Hedgehogs on Friday, the final Friday lunch of the year. It was a celebration with burgers and sweet potato fries. I met them there at the end of the day with Maeve so we could attend the faculty and staff end of year party. Jude and his classmates looked spent from the action packed week. Maybe a little too much fun and excitement all at once for 3 year olds! We had fond memories of last year's staff party in the courtyard, where we brought 3 week old, baby acne covered Maeve in her best party dress :) It was really nice to see so many of Pete's coworkers before the start of the summer.

16 baby burgers :)