Travel Therapy

Some people have retail therapy, I have travel therapy. Or to be more accurate, "travel booking therapy." Last week's tax verdict blew, so I took to the interwebs to plan out some trips for us to look forward to. The timing was great because the cheap airlines had just released their spring/early summer fares and I was ready to pounce! Of course Pete has suggested that to counter the effects of losing our tax benefit, we could travel less, but where would be the fun in that?? And at prices like these, I don't feel like we need to quite yet!

Airfare for a family of four:

Fall Break to Bordeaux: $274

Source: France Voyage

February Break to Lisbon: $350

Source: Venturists

Easter Break to Naples: $350

Source: MyLittleAdventure

May weekend in Krakow: $260

Source: Trip101

Early Summer to Mallorca: $308

Source: Holidayguru.ie

Ahhh... I'm feeling better already!

The Tax Change Verdict Is In....

... and it is not good news 😞

We waited anxiously last Tuesday until around 3:15pm to hear the verdict of the proposed tax changes. We were hopeful that the government would come around and agree to grandfather us into their changes to the 30% ruling (some background from my first post here). But they did not and as things stand, we will lose our benefit at the end of July this coming year. Really disappointed, though not really surprised. Over the summer, the tax changes were debated and it seemed clear then that they were not backing down on their plan to screw a lot of us over. Many friends felt more certain that they would not go through with their plans and were quite shocked last week. But it ain't over til the tall Dutch man sings. The changes have to pass through both houses of government, which will take until mid December. We hear that there is some hope that they could add in the grandfather clause, as they did back in 2012. The United Expats of the Netherlands group is also going full steam ahead looking into the legality of this change. At the time of blogging, 41,000 euro (of an 18,000 euro goal) has been raised to pay a law firm to write a legal opinion on the matter. And we still don't know if or how Pete's school would help families like ours if the law takes effect and there is no legal case. So it boils down to more waiting, which drives me crazy. Simple life decisions are that much harder when our future is uncertain. We still plan to stay at least one more year to see what it is like living here without the tax benefit. Sink or swim. As unfair as all of this is, we are willing to shell out more taxes because we see what such a system does for quality of life. What I'm most upset about is the kid's tuition at ISA being taxed prematurely and our foreign assets being taxed, which thankfully for us are not too great.

We talked to so many people this summer about all of this and I wanted to share an update. Thank you for all of your support! Seems it will be a few months still until the final verdict is in. I will continue to keep you posted! And in the meantime, VOTE!, because we may be coming back sooner than we'd hoped.

Yearly Apple Picking Outing

We picked a few apples on Sunday at our yearly outing to Olmenhorst. Memories from 2015, 2016, 2017! We met Jill, Matt, Malin and Elodie and their friends again on the beautiful fall day. The season just began on Saturday so it was a bit of a scene, and the bounce house was an ER visit waiting to happen. The kids loved picking the apples (and picking, and picking). We'll be enjoying them for a while! 

Serious apple picker

Goofy

Jude has been so great with Maeve lately. At home, when she's being 2 and we are firm with her, he comes to her defense and tells us that we are being mean to her :) So it was no surprise that he wanted to help her with the apples.

 

 

 

Pear shape to another level

Took a few turns around for her to stop crying and enjoy it :( I think she was upset about the color of her chair. 

'Til next year, Tot Ziens!

Used Car Shopping in the Netherlands

We ended our car-free existence a few weeks ago, buying another used Volvo to replace the car we lost in May. There were moments in the last few months when we thought we'd be fine living without a car, but thoughts of cold, rainy school drop offs and warm, sunny beach days made us realize how much we wanted one. It helps immensely that as a perk of being an entrepreneur, the car expenses become business expenses. The catch is that at the end of each tax year, you have to account for personal use of the car. For cars newer than 15 years old, this equates to paying 35% of the value of the car off the lot- ouch! For cars older than 15 years, you have to pay 35% of the current value of the car. We had this set up with our old 1998 Volvo and it led to big savings (as it lowered my profit and therefore tax liability). 

So from the outset we knew we needed a car from 2003 or earlier. Buying a used car in general can be an anxiety provoking experience, throw in doing it in another country/culture and I was seriously stressed out. There are plenty of used car websites here along with the Dutch Craigslist, Marktplaats. And if we'd had another car and plenty of time, I'm sure we could have scoured the sources for a real deal. But we wanted something quick and easy so we made an appointment at the Volvo dealership to see the used cars on their lot. Pete's coworker and his wife came through big time, lending us their car and staying to babysit the kids while we went out. The few cars we had seen on the dealership website were really dumpy, but another car had just been dropped off that morning (or so they say..) and hadn't yet been posted. A 2002 V70 with a lot of kms, a banged up driver side door, but a good price. 

A young sales guy, rather green, assisted us. We wanted to get the car up to highway speeds, but there weren't any nearby highways so he assured us that there were no speed cameras on the local road. He had to go to his manager at many points during the transaction. In very Dutch fashion, the manager says to us something along the lines of "You take this car today for close to nothing, then anything that goes wrong is your problem. Maybe you get lucky, maybe you don't." Blunt and to the point! Time being of the essence, we made the quick decision that we wanted to take the chance, called our former insurance company, filled our paperwork, and paid (PIN of course). Then she was ours and I was once again behind the wheel in the Netherlands, driving our new baby ever so cautiously home. Jude had told us that he wanted a blue car, but was happy with how big this one was. 

Four days after we bought the car, Pete left on his grade level trip, which meant that I was to do all of the drop offs and pick ups. That morning the skies opened up and it rained and rained and I was so so happy to have a car!! 

First Day of School 2018

Big day for the Durneys! Both kiddos starting their first days at ISA, Maeve in the nursery program ("Hedgehogs") and Jude in pre-K ("Dragonflies"). It is a bit of a misnomer as the first day is really "first 90 minutes" for Maeve and "first half-day" for Jude. Still, an exciting day. Pete and I both rode our bikes in with a kid each on the back. Dutch!

Clap your hands, school starts today! 

Pete teaches the 1st period of every day again so we left him at his classroom to prepare for his first day. We went to Jude's classroom first and found his cubby. He was off playing and not at all phased about it being a new space. The hardest part was (and continues to be!) getting Maeve to leave his classroom to go to her own. She just wants to stay there are play! We waited with Jude 10 minutes or so, but he was good to go so I walked Maeve down to her classroom. She was a bit apprehensive to enter, but was happy immediately playing with me by her side. Maeve has all the same teachers as Jude (just one new one) so we have complete confidence that she'll have a great year.

Daddy was able to sneak away to spend time with Maeve on her first day

We had one week of 90 minute sessions, introducing her to the specialty areas, getting to know her special teacher, Pipi, exploring the classroom and rest time areas. It is a very slow start and the week feels very long, but I understand that it is for the benefit of the kids settling in well. After that week, she had two half days when I practiced our morning routine of dropping her off and leaving her :( Then her first full day was Monday and some tears were shed at drop off (hers, not mine). The reports are that she is doing great though, so we are thrilled to have her settled.

In the outdoor kitchen

Loves gym time, 2 days a week

On the first day of school, I decided to bring Jude home with me and Maeve at noon, instead of sending him to the creche, wanting to be there at the end of his half day to hear how it went and knowing he'd be tired from the week. They both wanted to ride in the stroller as we walked to the metro (still without a car at this point). Get to the metro and see that is an inexplicable 28 minute wait for the next one to come! So we walk back to school and wait for an uber to take us home! Then we all get in our beds and pass out!

Jude was tired and Maeve wasn't having it. Reminded me of when I would take the two of them home two years ago, with baby Maeve in the infant car seat attachment, Jude's head in her lap asleep until she would pull his hair!  

With new library books

Many days, when Maeve ended around 10, we'd stay to play and eat lunch before heading home. During that time, we got to see Jude during one of his 3 outside times per day. So great to see him so happy.

We love the international environment at school!

Have you seen anything cuter walking the halls??

Cheers to great a school year for all of the kiddos in our lives! 

End of Summer

We were back from America on the 14th of August and Pete was back to work on the 16th. We squeezed every last ounce of fun out of this summer between 10 days in Greece and 5 weeks in America! We are very fortunate that Pete's school provides childcare for the children of faculty and staff on days when school is not in session so Jude was back in "creche" with Pete in the week leading up to the first day of school. Children need to be 3 to attend the creche however, so that gave me one final week home with Maeve, savoring time with my little girl before she is off to school.

Zoo visits with Joey and Audra 

Zoo again with the whole family for their Saturday summer evenings

Attending a pop-up music class in the park

Back to school afternoon. Maeve got to see her classroom again to prepare for the first day of school. 

After a week of creche, Jude was excited to begin classes with his old friends. His group from last year was split up so we have some old and a lot of new friends this year. And as much as I love my time alone with Maeve, she seems very ready for a school environment and to learn and be challenged with new things. In truth, she was very restless at home with just me after an entire summer with her brother and dad so the timing seems good. Still, nothing quite prepares you for your little one's first day of school...

Goodbye to Jacaranda Tree Montessori

When Jude stopped attending Montessori classes, it hit me really hard because the program had been such a big part of his life. When Maeve stopped attending classes in July it hit me even harder because the program had been become such a big part of MY life. My Amsterdam identity has been tied to being a mostly stay at home mom and the highs and lows that come with that life choice. And what got me through the past 4 years was having activities to attend, play dates and friends in the same boat. Nearly every Thursday morning for close to 4 years, I was at Jacaranda Tree with Simone and an ebbing and flowing group of parents and babies/toddlers who became friends. 

Here's a look at Maeve through her Montessori time. Cue the mommy tears!

One of first classes at 8 months old. Those cheeks and necks! Miss them!

The bam bam pony :) 

 

Lanterns made for Saint Martin

"Come and make a circle"

Maeve could most often be found in the snack corner :) 

I learned a lot of Dutch through songs and books

I loved passing this roundabout every February on my way to class to see the crocuses in bloom 

So great when snack time became more communal! And super cute, too. 

Maeve loved to help make the crackers

A few photos from Maeve's last class, which our whole family attended as a last hurrah! 

I first joined the parent-baby montessori playgroup with Jude as a way to meet people when we were new to Amsterdam. I had no idea then how much that choice would influence my parenting and as a result, our family and life. Everything I have learned over the years from Simone has helped make me a more patient, empathetic, and observant parent. Being a toddler is hard! Anything we can do to help them make sense of their world and become independent in their environment will pay dividends! We are not hard core montessori parents, I think of myself more as a fair-weather follower of the principals.

The biggest compliments I have received in the past 4 years are related to my parenting skills (which are still a work in progress like everyone else!). So I want to give Simone a huge shout out for her incredible work. Are you thinking, "Gosh, I wish I lived in Amsterdam so I could meet Simone and be influenced by her wisdom?" Well, you are certainly in luck as she published a beautiful book last year through a kickstarter campaign: The Montessori Toddler. And no, I am not turning my blog into a profit-maker by advertising. I just want to share this with all of my parent (or even grandparent, auntie/uncle) friends! You will thank me!

You can get a copy here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonedavies/the-montessori-toddler-by-simone-davies

At the book launch party this past winter (this post is a long time coming!)

We will all certainly miss "Mone's class," perhaps me the most! Thank you Simone for taking us on this wonderful ride.