Sunday Pizza Boat Cruises

If you repeat an event twice, does it automatically become a "tradition?" I hope so! The past two Sundays we've been invited aboard the Josephine for a pizza dinner cruise with Captain Brad and hostess Audra. The kids are at an age where boating is fun and no longer just a stress of "will they fall in??" We set off from their mooring outside their house in the red light district and meander slowly to De Pizzabakkers in Plantage, where Pete gracefully gets out of the boat and returns with hot pizzas. The kids then spend the rest of the boat cruise silently chowing down. It is heaven. 

Last weekends sail. A bit chilly, but sunny. Superman was aboard! 

 

The dancing ladies

 

 

 

 

Last evening's cruise was cloudy, but warm! 

 

The Durneys Got a Bakfiets!

Wheels and more wheels! We have all of our transportation needs covered! While I was in California, our bakfiets was delivered and we have been enjoying it every day since. To my non-expat friends who don't know what I'm referring to, a bakfiets is the dutch word for a cargo bike. They are everywhere here! 

In our first few years in the Netherlands we didn't see the need for one since we were able to take the kids on our bikes. In May however, we began to anticipate Pete taking both kids to school and wondered how he would accomplish this by bike. There was an option to add an additional seat for Jude behind Pete's handlebars, while Maeve rode in the back, but we knew the kids' bags and Pete's work stuff wouldn't also fit. So we decided to take the plunge and started looking for second hand bikes. When a friend in the city posted her's, we jumped on it, knowing that it was coming from a good home :) 

In case you are wondering, these things do not come cheap! Even second hand, we spent just under half of what we spent on our used car. Our total output was about 3600 euros, so I'll let you do the math with that! 

Our new baby has two benches and three seat belts, though 4 kids could fit. For now, Jude and Maeve sit together, but we may separate them soon as Jude tends to fall asleep on the way home from school and when his head bobs and hits Maeve, she screams and pushes him :) It has a pivoting rain cover, which will be handy for the coming winter months. Pete installed a bike hook into the front of our house to deter thieves as these things tend to get stolen frequently. We'll also take out insurance on it, which will give me piece of mind. 

The previous owner's final pic of their beloved bike. They are upgraded to an electric model.

Pete ready for his daily commute. 

We put the bakfiets to the test this morning, picking up Maeve and Jude's school friends and cycling all together to the goat farm.

Finally witnessing goat yoga  

 

And no, I haven't yet ridden the bakfiets yet. I'm still pretty intimidated, but I'll practice soon enough!

California Trip for My Grandma's 94th Birthday!

My grandma turned 94 last week! Wow! Every year since she turned 90, my mom's family has gathered in Northern California for a few days to celebrate, choosing getaway destinations not too far from Berkeley/Oakland. For each of those years, we have been in the Netherlands and I have been nursing, pregnant or home with a toddler, making the trip impossible. Well I have earned my freedom and was so excited when I found a great airfare ($550!) to allow me to attend this year. The idea of 14+ hours of travel (layover in Zurich) might bum some people out, but I was stoked! It was everything I hoped it would be- time to read, watch movies, sleep and enjoy the peace and quiet! And thanks to melatonin, I didn't suffer much from jet lag, only waking at 5:30 in the mornings, which let's be honest, is not too far from the norm.

Onto the celebrations:

We drove from Berkeley to Inverness in Point Reyes National Seashore. The day I arrived was my grandma's actual birthday so we got right to celebrating.

The long weekend was filled with hikes, reading, puzzling, games, eating and drinking. So relaxing!

Hike down to Shell Beach

I loved time on the deck listening to all of the birds, especially the wood peckers, and watching the fog roll in.

Tomales Bay

My aunt put together a slide show of all of the homes where my grandma has lived. A fun trip down memory lane for her. She is doing remarkable for 94, but admits to memory loss. I enjoyed looking through old family albums. My grandma was a meticulous scrapbooker!

A young grandma looking a lot like Maeve

Grandma with my great-grandma Evangeline and her twin brothers. 

On Saturday, rain came in right when we planned on an outdoor lunch at Cowgirl Creamery and a hike with friends Gregg and Katie who have recently moved from Madrid to San Fran. Instead, we shopped in the rain and enjoyed catching up indoors back at the house. When the skies did finally clear, we took a short walk down to Chicken Ranch Beach where their dog was very popular with the kids.

A rainbow for my grandpa

I know we weren't in the Netherlands, but the whole weekend was super gezellig! Especially with the roaring fires and hot-tubbing under the stars. 

Playing the Copeland family classic: Oh Hell. I won by 1 point ;) 

The gang split up on Sunday with my parents and Uncle Tom and Aunt Diane flying back home. My other two aunts live in Berkeley so I got in some extra time with them and grandma before my flight home the next day. And I got to see Sue and Nick's new Berkeley home!

Margaret, Claire and I drove further into Point Reyes National Seashore and took a leisurely hike to the Pacific Coast. It was such a beautiful day and as we were relaxing on the nearly empty expansive beach, Claire spotted first a seal and then two humpback whales, who spent an hour swimming down the coast, breaching and spouting along the way! #California!

 

 Back in Berkeley I did some necessary shopping :)

Then I had the treat of seeing some college friends for dinner and drinks!

Can't remember the last time I saw Becca! 

Marcus and Kevin, 6 kids later... 

One final stop to see Grandma at her assisted living center on my way back to the airport. I'm so glad that I got to see you, Grandma and help you celebrate! Be well and keep making your 90s look good!

Now for another relaxing 14 hours and then getting to see my family back home!!