March 2025

Could it be, an entire month with no travel?! Indeed! But with 2 birthdays, a 1/2 marathon, and a beautiful start to Spring, we still stayed plenty busy.

Jenn hosted a lovely brunch

We had a great time at Loreen's beer fest, complete with pretzel necklaces. 

Sunday at the Ballet (Jewels)

So much sunshine! 

Jacque was back in town visiting

Jude had a fun day out at Tikibad and Duinrell

Biked with neighbors to KEK brewery

Along the Amstel... 

Finally! At 8 years and 10 months, she lost the first of her front teeth (tooth #3 for her)

A night out at Pata Negra with Pete to celebrate his birthday. 

Followed by a return visit to Mulligans, literally 5 years to the day that Pete's band the Nelly Wilsons had played a final show before COVID shut the world down. At the time, we wondered if being in a crowded bar was such a good idea... now we don't give it any thought. A great Irish duo performed to kick of St. Patty's day weekend. 

Brunch with the fam at Staring at Jacobs on Pete's birthday morning

A cozy, chill birthday at home, while Pete rested up for his first half-marathon the next day.

Gorgeous weather for the Amstelveen 1/2 marathon. Sophie, Lance, and Pete were ready! 

I biked the kids into the bos to get a spot to cheer him on.

It's hard to find people you know in the crowd! Thankfully, he spotted us! 

We waited for a few other friends to go by and then I raced to another location to try to see him again, but he was too fast so we headed to the finish line. 

Instagram... 

Reality ;) He crushed his first race, coming in at 1:28! His goal was under 90 minutes and we were really proud of him! 

Go Sophie! 

Go Lance!

Dominos and Champagne to celebrate at Fred and Sophie's!

Maeve and Monte performed for Grade 1 for their Magical Music unit.

Front tooth #2 bites the dust! 

Couldn't get up to help with the dinner dishes... 

Maeve and Derin

Teaching some of the North American kids in Maeve's grade about The Rocky Mountains as part of their landforms unit

Joined a Let's Amsterdam event to tour the Canal House museum followed by lunch on a sunny terrace

When we traveled to the Black Forest, we read about how the region was logged to provide the wooden piles that support all of the buildings in Amsterdam. It said that if you turned the Amsterdam City Center upside down, it would look like the Black Forest. Case in point! 

Enjoyed more of the sunny weather later that night along the Amstel with wine and charcuterie with Pete before meeting friends for dinner. We were treated to a show of Starling birds flying in and out of group formations, known as murmurations, which happens every evening around dusk, apparently.

Dinner at Moche followed by drinks next door

Magnolia tree time! It's growing back a bit from being pruned last year thankfully.

Enjoying the cherry blossoms and a walk with Rose and Tobey before peak bloom and crowd madness. 

Light pollution or the Northern lights that were peaking again... 

Maeve made a poster to advertise her class play, using the flags from the home countries of her classmates.

Latest embroidery project for Easter.

Back to the Blossom park after a walk with Dakota. I had the rest of the day free so I brought a good book and my Crazy Creek and really savored the weather. 

Took advantage of parent teacher conferences to visit the music room so the kids could show us what they have been learning on the marimbas

And then it was Jude's 11th birthday! We booked brunch at Loop51, Staring at Jacob's sister restaurant in de Pijp. On our way in, a man stopped us to point out the partial solar eclipse and let us use his eclipse glasses to check it out. Really cool! Then, I used my circular gold pendant necklace to reflect the eclipse onto Jude's sweatshirt in the restaurant! 

Around the corner from the Expat store so we had to stock up! 

Jude decided to spend his birthday with friends at Tikibad/Duinrell, our first time there. It was a great day other than the (likely) mild concussion that Pete sustained on one of the water slides! They played in the water park for 4 hours, stopping for lunch and then we headed outside for the amusement park rides. Could have spent many more hours there, but a 10am-6:30pm birthday party is enough! 

We are definitely entering tween territory, but are so proud of Jude and his continued empathy and compassion for those around him. Outbursts are always followed by sincere, unsolicited apologies and we hope that lasts forever!