Back in Brooklyn: The End!

Our flight home to Amsterdam was on Monday evening from JFK and we decided to have a final weekend in Brooklyn to see friends that we missed on our first time through NYC. As soon as we got to Brooklyn, Pete and I both said to one another how excited we were to be there, which gave us the final push of energy to end the trip! We left the planning of the final weekend to the last minute, which left us in a pinch and no place to stay that Saturday night. Kevin and Jess offered to squeeze us into their 2 bedroom and we were so grateful! We had just seen them on their brief visit to Amsterdam, but had yet to meet Sam! We went to the playground together in Prospect Park and then to the zoo and a ride on the carousel.  It was so easy to picture ourselves doing all of those things routinely with Jude (and now Maeve) if we had stayed in Brooklyn. Jude was so cute with Sam, insisting that they hold hands as they walked through the zoo. We had never been to that zoo before and thought it was great!  

"Hold hands, Sam!"

Peacock was dying to get inside to see the monkeys

We were tempted to do an easy NY pizza dinner with the kids, but were swayed by the offer to go to a place more akin to those restaurants we would go to as DINKS living the life in Brooklyn. Krupa Grocery did not disappoint and they kids held it together long enough for us to eat our meal and peace out for bed time.

A little pre-dinner peek-a-boo! 

I love this adorable toddler phase! 

Sunday morning we were back to the park to meet up with our "Wesleyan crew" (friends made through Uncle Matt who went there). It was great to meet Dylan and Rosa and see "little Charlie" not so little anymore. And wonderful to give the newly weds Mike and Eva big congratulatory hugs! While we were waiting for our friends to arrive, I overheard a little girl speaking Dutch to her father and chatted them up. They were tourists staying in Park Slope! Earlier this week, I met a family at Jude's Little Gym who are here (in Amsterdam) on vacation from Park Slope. So many connections all over the place!

Maeve loved being held by Mike and gave him her full flirt routine! 

We had some time post get-together before we could check in to our Park Slope AirBnB. The kids crashed hard so we did what we do when we get both kids sleeping at the same time- went to a new brewery Pete wanted to check out. We messaged Tom and Emma to see if they had plans that afternoon and they were already in Park Slope so they stopped by to hang out for an hour and brought us some yummy tacos! We started to walk up our old block to show Jude where he lived as a newborn and I saw my former patient, Jonah and his parents coming towards us! Normally, I would never mention seeing a patient, let alone their name (HIPPA and all that), but Jonah and his family are friends. He has Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS 3C) and his mother is so close to finding him a cure through her organization, Jonah's Just Begun. You've seen me talk about this on social media before, but it doesn't hurt to ask again. Can you help them?? It was Jonah's 9th birthday (we met when he was not even 2 years old) and he is doing great! This chance run in made my heart so happy!

Grand Army Plaza

Strong Rope Brewery

With Jonah, Jill and Jeremy on Garfield Place

My favorite pizza place wasn't open on Sundays, but we found a replacement that worked in a pinch. 

And then we were 4! It was our first night alone in 6 weeks if you can believe it! I was expecting to feel down, but our rental had the game of LIFE so we had a lovely little family game night after Maeve was asleep. Then I ventured out for a run on hard-to-find US OTC medications at CVS and a final mint chocolate chip ice cream cone at Uncle Louie G's. Except when I got to Uncle Louie G's, they said they were all out of mint chocolate chip!! As a worker was scooping my consolation cookies and cream, I lamented to another worker how I live in a country where they don't make that ice cream and was leaving the next day. The worker then said "Wait a minute! I forgot. I set aside a pint of mint chocolate chip before we ran out. Do you want the pint?" Me: "I only have enough money for the cone." The worker: "Don't worry, you can just have it!" Oh man, that exchange on top of an already fantastic Brooklyn day just made me so happy! Then I was tasked with finishing a pint in the next 20 hours. That pint saved me sitting in the backseat of the car with fussy Maeve on the way to JFK. I just kept giving her tiny licks and she was happy. 

A farewell to Brooklyn sunset on 9th Street

We left the next afternoon, but not before fitting two more visits in. The first with my former boss, Dr. David who lives in the neighborhood. She hadn't seen Jude since he was 4 months old. She still works at the hospital and filled me in on the latest developments.

And finally, we met up with Laurel and Brian for lunch at the Tuscan Gun, celebratory chef Gabriele Corco and wife Debbi Mazar's breakfast and lunch only restaurant. We'd last seen Laurel and Brian in Belgium and then Amsterdam just after we'd moved there! They are so good with the kiddos and we are thrilled they'll be welcoming their own this Fall!

And it would not have been a Park Slope experience without witnessing a film shoot. We saw Martin Freeman (Watson in Sherlock Holmes, The Hobbit) and an actress shoot a scene on the stoop where his character ("Charlie") falls backward off the steps (played by a believable stunt double!). The project name was listed as "TPOU," but so far I haven't found any reference to what it is online. Will be curious to find out!

We drove to JFK where Oma and Opa had taken the train in to meet us and drive their car the 4 hours home. Amazing, right!? It was a last chance to say goodbye and thank you. We held our emotions in check, but after they had walked away, Jude broke down sobbing and was inconsolable with sadness the entire time in the security line. It broke our hearts to see him so sad. I think the realization that the trip was over and we were going home was a lot for him to process in that moment. We look forward to our next visit with Oma and Opa at Christmas here in Amsterdam!

Tot Ziens, America! You have left our hearts (and bellies) so full! We are beyond grateful for the past month of wonderful visits, hugs and laughter with 190 of our dearest friends and family!! We will miss you, but are excited to go "home." Until we see you again, America, please take care of yourself! Times are a bit scary and we need you to look out for our loved ones until we see them again. And to everyone who said they would still like to come visit, please do! Our home is always open to you. It's the least we can do to repay all of this hospitality! 

Girls' Trip to Martha's Vineyard: Part 7

Sarah invited us out to her house on Martha's Vineyard and while we decided it would too much extra travel with the kids, I really didn't want to pass up the invite, being so close in Boston. Pete was gracious enough to let me go and stay back with the kids. My first solo trip since mommy hood! I was so excited! The forecast wasn't great, but I really didn't care. When I first checked the dates with Sarah, she told me that Laura and Chelsea would be there then, too! So a legit girls' trip was underway. Funny enough, we had run into Chelsea at the DC airport. She was on the same flight with us to Boston two days prior, en route to the Vineyard, flying solo with sweet Owen. Such a gorgeous home and spot to spend a few, quiet "me" days! Thank you, Sarah! 

Waiting out the rain with these two cuties. I loved meeting both Owen and Alfie! 

High school friends (not mine!)

The following day, not deterred by the weather, we set out for a walk along Lucy Vincent beach before lunch at the General Store. After dropping Chelsea and Owen at the airport, we took a driving tour of the island, stopping in Edgartown for shopping and at Larsen's to pick up some fresh lobster for our lobster pasta dinner-yummy!

Edgartown

Menemsha Basin

Enjoying drinks and apps on the deck with charming company. This is the life!

Hey cutie! 

Laura and I took a walk to a nearby overlook while the kids were being put to bed. So pretty!

Beautiful sunshine on my last day! Isabel was off for her riding lessons and I wanted to have a picture to show her buddy Jude.

And then a few uninterrupted hours reading on the beach! It was so hard to leave with this beautiful weather, but I was excited to get home to my own cuties. I hope it works out to visit with the whole family next time. I know they would have loved every minute of it, too!

Bouncing Around Boston: Part 6

From DC we flew up to Boston where we would spend the next week cramming in visits with friends. Boston was full of fortuitous meet-ups! I found out my cousin Chris and his family (who live in Arizona) would be leaving from Logan Airport around the same time we were landing. We missed seeing Lindsey, Silas and the belly by an hour or so, but got in some time with Chris at the rental car counter :) We'll take visits any way we can get them!

We drove to Cory and Mike's gorgeous new house in Concord, which was our on again, off again base for the week. I was excited to see the house, but much more excited to meet 4 month old baby Benjamin! What a cutie! Maeve was also excited to meet Biscuit and Gravy. The carpeted basement also inspired her to take some solid steps! Just a few and then a plop down, but progress! We enjoyed a peaceful afternoon at a local playground, my first American grocery shop this trip (I was carded and didn't have any ID) and then a quiet night at the house.

Sunday was the day of all days. Being the only full weekend day we had in Boston, we crammed in a lot of visits with our friends with kids. The first was extra special because Ella, Jake, Cora and Gus drove all the way from Montpelier, Vermont to see us. They stayed at a friend's condo in Roslindale so we met there in the morning for fun playground time and the most delicious brunch at Redd's in Rozzie. Thank you friends for making the drive to see us!!

Jeff, Char and Aurelia met us back at the playground after brunch and we played until the kids were ready to drop. Then we drove to a cafe where we could let them sleep in the car while eating next to them. Oh, parenting on the go. Aure kept us all entertained while the others were sleeping. It was hard to believe that we had never met her! The time really does fly by. Jeff is kicking butt and taking names at STAT news. Check them out if you haven't already!

Awake again and ready to rumble!

The cafe stop put us just 10 minutes away from our final event of the day. A Douglas family college reunion at Steve, Lauren, Bear and CC's house (no actual relation). 5 of the 12 Dougs were present and there were more new kiddos (and fur babies) to meet! It is still hard for me to wrap my head around so many of Pete's college friends being fathers knowing them all back when, but they are all doing a wonderful job! 

Preston and Bear

With the newest Doug, Lincoln

The next fortuitous meet-up happened Monday morning. Through Instagram, I learned that Amelia was in New England and messaged her just in case she was going to be in Boston, which she was! She is just back from her year in Africa, headed back to Washington state so I never imagined I would be seeing her so soon! So we were able to meet up in the Boston Science museum before my afternoon flight to Martha's Vineyard. I was so happy to get to introduce her to Maeve and to see Jude "all grown up!"

While I was gone for 2 days and nights on Martha's Vineyard (post to follow), Pete got to have a night seeing Sam and Desanty. They were meant to play an open mic in Somerville, our old neighborhood, but had a chill night in instead. Pete, Oma, Opa and the kids also got to spend time with the Boston Durnings: Chris, Renee, Julianna, Benjamin, Steve and Laurel, who I was sad to miss seeing (and who Pete forgot to get pictures with).

I heard Steve captured Maeve's heart and visa versa while I was gone. So sweet to see, especially given her often "mommy only" attitude. 

When I returned from the Vineyard, Pete and kids picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Jocelyn, Dan and Calvin's home in Dorchester. They bought a beautiful Victorian a few years back and are updating it mostly on their own (while holding down two serious jobs and raising a toddler. NBD). The visit was a bit chaotic with an unexpected retrieval mission for a lost cell phone, the chicken pox vaccine and trying to get our kids fed and on the road in time for bed. We so enjoyed meeting Calvin who is as brilliant as his parents and a very good toy-sharer! Regrettable we did not get a picture with J-Fo and Dan as there were a lot of tears after said vaccines!

The boys doing some construction projects with Maeve overseeing

Oma and Opa drove the kids back to Holliston for the night so that Pete and I could go to a yummy dinner at SRV in the South End with the Douglases and some of their ladies. We inevitably had many of the same conversations over and over again on this visit and none pleased us more than sharing the social benefits of living in the Netherlands. Explaining the affordable child care, lack of property taxes, free health care for children, etc, etc, etc, made us feel really good about our current life situation. If only we could convince more people to move over!

The guys

Our last fortuitous meet-up was with the Walker, Maddie, Margaret and David who live in Portland, OR, but happened to be visiting Walker's family the week we were in town. They invited us up to Swamscott for the day. We were meant to have a beach day, but did a modified version when it was grey and a bit rainy. It had been three years since we'd seen them. Margaret and Jude got along great, and had so much fun being goofy together. 

Looks who's standing!

Little charmer 

"All aboard!"

Little monkeys

While dinner was being prepared, Walker's mom set up a painting station for the big kids and then read them stories aloud while they painted! So great! 

Friday was our last day in Boston and if it isn't obvious from reading these last posts, I have to say that we became a bit travel weary. It took 34 days away from home to reach this point, which is pretty amazing! Exhausted from all of the driving throughout Boston, we opted for a day at home so the kids could get proper rest (and us, too). That meant missing out on a playdate with Joe, Pam and Josie, which we were really sad about. Instead, Pete and I dealt with our huge accumulation of things and the task of packing it all to fit for our flight home. While we tackled that, Oma and Opa took Jude and Maeve to the playground. With both of our kids napping and the packing complete, we had time to hang out with Benjamin (and I started in on the daunting task of updating the blog).

Maeve's wardrobe got hooked up by Winks in Maryland

Sweet boy!

Oblivious to our selfie 

Later in the afternoon, Jen drove down from Portland (ME) to see us and meet Maeve and Benjamin. I was in the early, miserable stages of pregnancy with Maeve when Jen came to visit us in Amsterdam. I felt badly that I couldn't give her the royal visitor welcome when we saw her last, so I was glad to have an opportunity to get those drinks together that I missed out on!

A huge shout out to our hosts with the most who put up with our all of our comings and goings, while also prepping to host a massive family reunion at their house the day we left! Can't wait to see Benjamin again when he's an active little guy!

Jude took this picture! He's getting so good! I guess Mike's seen better pre-school photographers :)