40th Birthday Celebrations!

Lordy lordy, I am 40!

I didn't approach this milestone with any dread. There are no guarantees in life and I am just so happy to be at this moment, healthy, and with my loving family. There were no big birthday celebrations the last two Januarys due to COVID so I was ready to party!

I started my day with pilates and then Sharon, who was back in Amsterdam for a visit, and Christie took me to lunch at Tanuki followed by some shopping at the Stadshart. 

For dinner, we hired the Holy Moly pizza truck to come to the house to cook us pizza. The chef had a fold-out cover and sang along to the Italian songs blaring from the radio, not seeming to mind the terrible weather at all. 

Presenting us with dinner

Approved by Maeve

We were in the midst of packing up our house for our kitchen renovation, so it was all a bit chaotic, but fun nonetheless! 

I told Pete that all I wanted for my birthday was a dance party with friends. We asked a lot of friends for a lot of favors and pulled off an epic party! Special thanks to Pete, Bobbie, Ray, Christie, Sara, and Nathan! 

Before the party, we went for pizza at a spot around the corner from our temporary apartment in the city

Then we dropped these silly heads off for a double sleepover

Pete had been hard at work setting up the party in the office space of our friends. 

I wanted to play flip-cup, dance, and eat mozzarella sticks. Done, done, and done. 50 friends came to help me celebrate and I think we set a record for the "largest game of expat flip cup played in Amsterdam." Most people had never partaken in this US college drinking game, so I sent a "how to play flip cup" youtube video in advance so people could prepare. It was hilarious watching everyone practice after they got their cups. 

The blue team won the first two games, but we got a win in the end! 

It really would have been fun just playing that all night, but I had dancing to do, so I turned up the playlist I spent the week compiling and got everyone to the dance floor. I hope there are many more occasions to dance with friends this year! It is very good for the soul. 

Chef Pete turning out the mini pizzas and motz sticks! 

Around 1am I declared that I was tired and that the party was over. Then I got in the bakfiets with a plate of mozzarella sticks and enjoyed the ride home. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate! It was a birthday to remember! 

New Year's in Miami

We flew back to Miami for the last leg of our trip. It was the warm, sunny, and relaxing end to the trip that we were hoping for. 

Less dining alfresco this year. Maeve had a cold, but thankfully no COVID disrupting things this year! 

The millennial bush in bloom again!

Learning how to use the new 3D pen

We had a quiet New Year's Eve at home. Maeve had a fever and was down for the count. We scoured the stores looking for children's fever-reducing medication (something we always buy in the US and bring back to the NL). We didn't realize the severity of the shortage. We found an adult dissolvable berry powder and cut the dose for her to provide some relief. 

New Year's calls for sparkles and mojitos! 

Catan is serious business

Nana and Jude made homemade gyoza to have with our ramen

Jude wanted to stay up until midnight and he made it! 

Banging pots and pans and watching the neighborhood fireworks

The kids only wanted to swim in the pool. They didn't want to go to the beach! So Pete and I got to go on our own.

Party in the city where the heat is on

Kielbasa and my childhood game of Life

The requisite trip to Target. They were denied these trophies. Trophies have to be earned. We let them buy Valentine's day treats though.

2 years on, the grandparents still read Jude bedtime stories through Facetime. It is extra special when they can do it in person!

We had a lovely lunchtime visit with Pete's aunt Heidi and uncle Rob who were down from Canada. 

Followed by 9 holes of golf. 

Finished just in time! 

Followed by dinner out at Zitz Sum. 

Final relaxing day! 

Thank you Nana and Pops for a fun visit and end to our trip! We sure miss that sunshine!