January "highlights"

A recap of the year, er, month of January:

Recovery from jetlag was going well. The kids had play dates and we enjoyed back-to-back dinner with friends. A nice welcome back home... 

... and then this. 

I woke up in the night in a sweat and just knew. We had self tested both days prior before seeing friends as a precaution coming off our flight from the states. So it came on so quickly and exactly 3 days after our flights home. I tested negative on PCR a few hours before our flight home so we're guessing I got Omricon on the flight. There was a hacking toddler in the row behind me on the long haul from Chicago, though we'll never know who I got it from. 

The irony was that I was scheduled to be boosted the day I tested positive. I had wanted to be boosted in the US, but per CDC guidelines at the time, I had to wait 6 months from last dose, which would have been one of the last days of the trip. We were able to get appointments so quickly after getting back that we figured it would just be easier to get them here and have them registered properly in the Dutch app. 

Pete and the kids were meant to go back to school, but of course, had to stay home for the week. Sadly, the two sets of friends that we saw also had to stay home for a week as well as close contacts. Sader still, one of our friends tested positive on day 5 and their family had to stay home ANOTHER week (this already coming off our 3 week winter break). I know this is everywhere and unavoidable, but I still felt extremely guilty for inconveniencing our friends. 

If it hadn't been for that, my isolation was rather enjoyable thanks to Pete who took care of everything so that I could stay upstairs and away from everyone. The kids and Pete stayed healthy thankfully! My work has been off to a slow start this year, which was a blessing those first few weeks of January. 

It was a COVID birthday for me. I was so glad we had celebrated the week before in Miami. Pete and the kids still made the day special and I enjoyed catching up with friends throughout the day. 

She popped in quickly to show me how she wore flowers for my birthday because I like flowers. Love her. 

Poke bowl lunch delivery

After I was feeling better, I was super productive upstairs, organizing and clearing out all of the junk that accumulates up there! I also watched a TON of TV. 

Pete kept the kids entertained

I was allowed out after a little over a week. That first walk around our neighborhood felt so good! I continued to be a bit fatigued with "foggy brain"/groggy wakeups for another week and a half, but am relieved to report that I am 100% now. 

After recovery, I felt invincible. Like I could do anything and see anyone without the worry about getting COVID. It was the first full relief I've felt in 2 years. 

I was so glad to be released from quarantine in time to see the Amsterdam Light Festival. Tour boats were still banned so Hannah and I did the walk all over the city to see the best installments of the last 10 years. 

This one was stunning. It billowed in the wind and the colors were constantly changing

Found some signs of spring during a walk with a friend. 

Lockdown restrictions were slowly lifted. Maeve was able to start gymnastics, swimming lessons resumed, indoor birthday parties were allowed again, museums reopened. By the end of the month, restaurants and bars were allowed to open until 8pm. We booked 4 straight nights out to eat between Pete and I. The atmosphere out was lively and it really felt like things were going back to "normal."  

Final Days in Miami

In our final days home, we got to see some former Amsterdam friends, shop for all of our American delicacies to bring back, have a day date, and have some quiet time with Nana and Pops after all of the visitors had gone. 

Reunion with Jude's former classmate Max and his mom at Mattheson Hammock Park

The Keatings came for a 2-night visit from Naples where they were visiting family. It had been 4 years since our families were together! Fun to see the kids reconnect and to have a night out with my parents babysitting. 

After getting Maeve's shot done! 

Lunch out in Coconut Grove. We hadn't been back to that area since our wedding night! 

While we'd been out, Nana and Pops made me a birthday cake with the kids and surprised me after dinner. Given what happened for my actual birthday a week later, I was very grateful to have this early celebration! 

We found out on January 3rd that schools would reopen as planned (though the National lockdown continued a week beyond that date). So we kept our original plans to return on the 6th. We had to have a negative PCR test within 48 hours or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours, so we booked our PCR test for the morning of the 5th, assuming results would come in the following morning (as they had for all of the relatives who had been tested there over the break). Of course it wasn't that easy! The morning of our flight, results still weren't back so we went with plan B, stopping at the testing site again (without an appointment) and getting a rapid antigen test on our way to the airport. The negative result came through after we arrived at the airport. Nothing like some good travel stress. 

Thank you for your hospitality and flexibility Nana and Pops. Goodbyes are never easy. 

When we all stood for 40 minutes in the Dutch winter cold to get PCR tested 3 days later, I kept thinking back to this warm, sunny line in Miami. 

We had a layover in Chicago and then a red-eye home. We were able to spread out. The kids fell asleep and Pete and I synched our screens to watch the new Bond movie over dinner and wine. We flew United this trip and had really lovely service both ways. And then, it was back to winter and reality... 

The Gang's all Here: Our Entire Family in Miami!

This Christmas was extra special because both of our siblings came to see us and even overlapped for a few days. The first time our kids had been with both of their cousins at the same time. My nieces are the same age so it was also fun to watch their bond form. 

First Leslie came down with Peyton. Again, there was a COVID scare with my niece being a close contact just before their trip down. So more masking, playing COVID police, and trying to keep our distance to make sure we didn't catch anything. 

More Christmas elves for round 2 of outdoor gift exchanges

Annual height check

More beautiful weather to enjoy outdoor time

Attempting to keep the magnets 6 feet apart ;) 

Aunt Leslie brought gingerbread decorating kits

Oma and Opa were still in the isolation cottage (Leslie and Peyton checked into a hotel), so our outdoor dining set up got one more socially distanced table. 

Cousin shenanigans

We had a lot of great beach days on Key Biscanye. 

Maeve became obsessed with "Remember Me" from Coco

The European Medical Associated had approved COVID vaccines for kids 5-11 before we left for our trip, but the Netherlands had not started offering them yet. In the US, the vaccines are spaced 3 weeks apart, which was longer than our trip home. So we planned to just wait until the vaccines started in the NL so that the kids could be properly registered here with the health system. Then, over the break, articles came out that it was better to space apart the vaccines for better immunity. Other European countries were giving them 8 weeks apart, so we decided to get one dose in. Cousin Peyton had completed her vaccine course and wanted to go with our kids to offer moral support. And Aunt Leslie bribed the kids with a toy from CVS. We had to wait a while for the doses to be prepared and that just heightened Maeve's anxiety. Jude was a champ, not a complaint from him. Maeve on the other hand... Have you ever had the pleasure of chasing a screaming child around a CVS for nearly 20 minutes? Our attempts to restrain her in the chair were met with screams about us hurting her. We just couldn't do it so we gave up. I figured we'd arrange to go with some of her classmates here in the NL and hope for a better outcome. Well, 3 days later, Maeve woke up and said she wanted to get her vaccine so she'd be safe to see her friends. Great! Show up again at CVS, cue a repeat of the previous day. It took considerable restraint, but we got it done and immediately she declared, "that didn't hurt!" Oy Vey!  

We got to meet Leslie's new boyfriend, over beers in downtown Coral Gables and then at one of the home outdoor movie nights. 

Next, Matt, Krista and cousin Addy came from NC. Fun in the pool and two great beach days. 

Leslie ordered a movie projector for Nana and Pops so we had two outdoor movie nights where everyone could enjoy it together. 

Raya

Round 3 of Christmas elves.

New Year's Eve day spent at the beach. 

The gang's all here (minus Leslie who was working from the hotel)

New Year's Eve at home. Some celebrations with the kids and then a lot of prosecco and Euchre with Matt and Krista!

Starting the New Year right, back at the beach with Shake Shack. 

Opa, recovered from COVID and Oma who, amazingly, didn't get it! Happy grandparents finally getting some good squeezes on the kids before their journey home.