D. Family Christmastime in Chapel Hill

Our bags loaded with presents, we were off on Jude's 31st flight headed back to the States to spend Christmas with our families. We had a layover at London Heathrow, where the 3 hours passed in a flash going through the extensive security (thank you London for looking out for the US!) and then playing in the sweet indoor playground for families. 

We employed our new favorite airline travel tip (well for the next 4 months anyway) and split ourselves up in the plane, taking shifts playing with Jude and resting. The flight attendants were impressed with our setup and spread the word to share the tip with other families. 

Pete took Jude for a really long stretch in the middle of the flight and kept him happily entertained :) 

8 1/2 hour later we were in Raleigh, NC greeted by Oma and Opa and whisked off to Uncle Matt and Aunt Krista's house. We spent the first few days home adjusting to jet lag, finishing Christmas preparations and spending time together. 

Shameless advertising- If you are in Chicago, go to Pete's uncle's restaurant in Libertyville :)

Jude was so excited about the backyard and "Outside!" Poor, neglected city-living child. 

On Saturday, friends Tom, Girija and Esha came over for dinner. Born just two weeks apart, it has been fun to see them grow up together. 

Yummy Thanksgiving feast of turkey and all the fixings. 

Hosts with the most.

On Sunday, we celebrated our early Christmas as we would be spending the actual day down in Florida with Nana and Pops. Jude was up early thanks to jet lag and was so excited to see all of the presents under the tree. It was a bit challenging to distract him until a reasonable hour for others to wake! He started to "help" unwrap a few while waiting. 

Happy Oma.

Hugs for baby Addy.

Uncle Matt teaching fire safety.

Helping Opa feed George his treats.

Jude was definitely into presents this year. Mostly opening them, but also modeling them. 

All ready for school!

Pete asked for matching PJs with Jude. I made Jude's from the sleeves of the matching button down PJ shirt that came with the pants for Pete. 

Anything Peppa Pig related was a big hit this Christmas! Enjoying his new book with Opa and Oma. 

Trying out his new piggy back board with our stroller. Preparing for walks with baby sister in a few months!

New hat. 

On Monday, we got spiffed up and took family photos as a belated 40th wedding anniversary gift for Opa and Oma. Addy kills me in that dress! So stinking cute!

All dressed up, had to have somewhere to go, so we walked through Chapel Hill and chowed on some yummy burgers and shakes. We REALLY miss good burgers in the Netherlands. Dutch hamburgers are the consistency of sausage patties and just don't cut it. 

Monday night was a real treat. Opa and Oma babysat and we had a parents' night out. We met up with Tom and Girija who had arranged a private tour of Ponysaurus, a new brewery in Durham. Friend Gia was home for the holidays and joined us with bro Britton. So nice to see some friends on this trip home! Afterwards, we all went for Ramen in downtown Durham and had fun catching up. 

Tuesday, a babysitter came over to watch the kiddos while all of the adults saw the new Star Wars! Then is was more neighborhood walks, playtime with cousin Addy and all around good family time. 

Can't wait to see this happy girl again! Her personality has changed so much since we fist met her. Hard to imagine the changes until the next visit!

Back in the Bike Saddle Again

After a wonderful 2+ weeks home in the states (posts to follow) we are back in Amsterdam and back to our old routines with some serious jetlag thrown in. How odd it felt to plop Jude on the bike and take him to day care this morning after spending so much time with him at home. We were both understandably sad. The cold, grey weather after a week in the Miami sunshine did not help.

We survived the journey home at least. Yes, survival is what transatlantic red-eyes with a toddler while pregnant with a stomach bug is what I am referring to it as these days. 8.5 hour flight to Dusseldorf with Jude sleeping across my protruding belly, 2 hour wait at the airport, and then a 2 hour train ride to Amsterdam. I reserved a family compartment on the train so we had peace and quiet to sleep. I woke to a fellow passenger tapping on our glass door saying, "this is Amsterdam. Time to get off." We were home.

Emerging from Central Station and seeing the canal houses, Christmas lights and throngs of tourists was very surreal. Or maybe it was the sleep deprivation. In any case, Pete and I looked at each other and were like, "this is weird." I suppose it will always feel that way to come back to a foreign land that you call home. We are looking forward to getting sleep, seeing friends, planning travel for 2016 and settling back into our regular lives. 2016 is going to bring wonderful things and we are ready to start celebrating!

Last day in Prague

On day 4, in our remaining hours before our flight back to Amsterdam, we watched the Astronomical clock tower show. Then we got some very authentic Czech breakfast drinks and treats at Starbucks :) I was so happy to get a virgin gluhwein there!

Then we "climbed" the clock tower to take in views of the city. Pete took the winding staircase up to read the history boards and Jude and I rode the elevator to the top :) What a treat to ride an elevator in a European tower! Although, the reason this was possible was because the tower was destroyed by Nazi bombs and had to be rebuilt.

Dreamy

The colors!

On our way back to the apartment, we took in one more street performance, while Jude jived along. 

Back at the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Jude made a fast friend and held hands almost all the way to baggage claim :)

Crisscrossing the Charles Bridge

Day 3 in Prague was all about the Karluv Most (Charles Bridge). We walked it in the morning, taking in the statues and street performers. On the other side of the river was a playground under the bridge where Jude goofed around for a bit in the cold. We made it back to the apartment in time for lunch and naptime, but Jude woke after just 30 minutes and was running a fever. So we holed up watching Love Actually before setting off to walk the bridge again to explore Mala Strana on the other side of the river. 

One of the bridge gates. 

Rubbing the doggie for good luck? 

After dinner at the Three Roses Brewery, I got a momma's night out and went to the historic Municipal House to see the Czech National Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Concert. The 2+ hour performance was holiday music from the movies. Highlights were the pieces accompanied by a gospel choir, especially All I want for Christmas is You! The Czech Children's choir was also very sweet singing the songs from Home Alone and The Polar Express. The show ended with 3 encores. My first classical concert with an encore, let alone 3!