Back in Brooklyn: The End!

Our flight home to Amsterdam was on Monday evening from JFK and we decided to have a final weekend in Brooklyn to see friends that we missed on our first time through NYC. As soon as we got to Brooklyn, Pete and I both said to one another how excited we were to be there, which gave us the final push of energy to end the trip! We left the planning of the final weekend to the last minute, which left us in a pinch and no place to stay that Saturday night. Kevin and Jess offered to squeeze us into their 2 bedroom and we were so grateful! We had just seen them on their brief visit to Amsterdam, but had yet to meet Sam! We went to the playground together in Prospect Park and then to the zoo and a ride on the carousel.  It was so easy to picture ourselves doing all of those things routinely with Jude (and now Maeve) if we had stayed in Brooklyn. Jude was so cute with Sam, insisting that they hold hands as they walked through the zoo. We had never been to that zoo before and thought it was great!  

"Hold hands, Sam!"

Peacock was dying to get inside to see the monkeys

We were tempted to do an easy NY pizza dinner with the kids, but were swayed by the offer to go to a place more akin to those restaurants we would go to as DINKS living the life in Brooklyn. Krupa Grocery did not disappoint and they kids held it together long enough for us to eat our meal and peace out for bed time.

A little pre-dinner peek-a-boo! 

I love this adorable toddler phase! 

Sunday morning we were back to the park to meet up with our "Wesleyan crew" (friends made through Uncle Matt who went there). It was great to meet Dylan and Rosa and see "little Charlie" not so little anymore. And wonderful to give the newly weds Mike and Eva big congratulatory hugs! While we were waiting for our friends to arrive, I overheard a little girl speaking Dutch to her father and chatted them up. They were tourists staying in Park Slope! Earlier this week, I met a family at Jude's Little Gym who are here (in Amsterdam) on vacation from Park Slope. So many connections all over the place!

Maeve loved being held by Mike and gave him her full flirt routine! 

We had some time post get-together before we could check in to our Park Slope AirBnB. The kids crashed hard so we did what we do when we get both kids sleeping at the same time- went to a new brewery Pete wanted to check out. We messaged Tom and Emma to see if they had plans that afternoon and they were already in Park Slope so they stopped by to hang out for an hour and brought us some yummy tacos! We started to walk up our old block to show Jude where he lived as a newborn and I saw my former patient, Jonah and his parents coming towards us! Normally, I would never mention seeing a patient, let alone their name (HIPPA and all that), but Jonah and his family are friends. He has Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS 3C) and his mother is so close to finding him a cure through her organization, Jonah's Just Begun. You've seen me talk about this on social media before, but it doesn't hurt to ask again. Can you help them?? It was Jonah's 9th birthday (we met when he was not even 2 years old) and he is doing great! This chance run in made my heart so happy!

Grand Army Plaza

Strong Rope Brewery

With Jonah, Jill and Jeremy on Garfield Place

My favorite pizza place wasn't open on Sundays, but we found a replacement that worked in a pinch. 

And then we were 4! It was our first night alone in 6 weeks if you can believe it! I was expecting to feel down, but our rental had the game of LIFE so we had a lovely little family game night after Maeve was asleep. Then I ventured out for a run on hard-to-find US OTC medications at CVS and a final mint chocolate chip ice cream cone at Uncle Louie G's. Except when I got to Uncle Louie G's, they said they were all out of mint chocolate chip!! As a worker was scooping my consolation cookies and cream, I lamented to another worker how I live in a country where they don't make that ice cream and was leaving the next day. The worker then said "Wait a minute! I forgot. I set aside a pint of mint chocolate chip before we ran out. Do you want the pint?" Me: "I only have enough money for the cone." The worker: "Don't worry, you can just have it!" Oh man, that exchange on top of an already fantastic Brooklyn day just made me so happy! Then I was tasked with finishing a pint in the next 20 hours. That pint saved me sitting in the backseat of the car with fussy Maeve on the way to JFK. I just kept giving her tiny licks and she was happy. 

A farewell to Brooklyn sunset on 9th Street

We left the next afternoon, but not before fitting two more visits in. The first with my former boss, Dr. David who lives in the neighborhood. She hadn't seen Jude since he was 4 months old. She still works at the hospital and filled me in on the latest developments.

And finally, we met up with Laurel and Brian for lunch at the Tuscan Gun, celebratory chef Gabriele Corco and wife Debbi Mazar's breakfast and lunch only restaurant. We'd last seen Laurel and Brian in Belgium and then Amsterdam just after we'd moved there! They are so good with the kiddos and we are thrilled they'll be welcoming their own this Fall!

And it would not have been a Park Slope experience without witnessing a film shoot. We saw Martin Freeman (Watson in Sherlock Holmes, The Hobbit) and an actress shoot a scene on the stoop where his character ("Charlie") falls backward off the steps (played by a believable stunt double!). The project name was listed as "TPOU," but so far I haven't found any reference to what it is online. Will be curious to find out!

We drove to JFK where Oma and Opa had taken the train in to meet us and drive their car the 4 hours home. Amazing, right!? It was a last chance to say goodbye and thank you. We held our emotions in check, but after they had walked away, Jude broke down sobbing and was inconsolable with sadness the entire time in the security line. It broke our hearts to see him so sad. I think the realization that the trip was over and we were going home was a lot for him to process in that moment. We look forward to our next visit with Oma and Opa at Christmas here in Amsterdam!

Tot Ziens, America! You have left our hearts (and bellies) so full! We are beyond grateful for the past month of wonderful visits, hugs and laughter with 190 of our dearest friends and family!! We will miss you, but are excited to go "home." Until we see you again, America, please take care of yourself! Times are a bit scary and we need you to look out for our loved ones until we see them again. And to everyone who said they would still like to come visit, please do! Our home is always open to you. It's the least we can do to repay all of this hospitality!