Christmas in Miami Week One

Against all odds (and against negative travel advice), we made it home for Christmas and were beyond grateful. After Pete's COVID ordeal, we needed the mental break more than anything. We had flights booked from last summer to go to Miami from December 14-31st. Pete and the kids would need to return in time for a 10 day quarantine before going to school on the January 5th so we knew we had to move up our return date. The idea of having only 2 weeks home with all of the coordination involved had me bumming. So I moved up the flights for the kids and I to December 6th and took them out of school a week early. This would give us our first week to recover from jet lag, isolate, and get COVID tested before Pete arrived. Of course, I wasn't thrilled about the prospects of solo travel with the kids, especially when our direct flight was cancelled and we had to connect through Atlanta. It was a long day, but these kids were so easy and our overseas flight was only about 1/4 full so we had a lot of room to spread out. 

These kids hadn't been on American soil for 2 years!! A lifetime for 4 and 6 year olds. 

There had been so many days during the past year of worry for our parents and fears that we may not physically be able to return to the US. So my expectations for our reunion were extremely high and as tends to happen, led to disaapointment. There wasn't the joyous moment of running towards each other through an airport; hugging and celebrating this damn thing being over. There was a masked-up curbside pick up with quick hugs from the kids, a drive home with the windows down, and 5 days primarly confined to the cottage and my parent's backyard. That, on top of dealing with jetlag solo (hello 3:30am wake-ups) and the general fear that we'd picked something up on our flights, had me feeling out of sorts and low those first few days. I was able to connect virtually with a lot of US friends that week though, which helped lift my spirits. 

This trip was only possible thanks to the set-up my parents have with a self-catering studio apartment in their backyard. We knew we'd have a place to stay safely isolated until we were able to get tested. And a heated pool and warm weather to pass the time together outdoors while we waited. 

Our isolation paradise:

This one was quite the fish (with floaties) this trip! 

Neighborhood walks in search of coconuts

If the coconut milk is brown, don't drink it! 

Nana stockpiled craft supplies in our guest house and we did a lot of crafting in the early morning hours. Here are some ornaments being made. And when they weren't crafting, they were on their ipads because with jetlag, anything goes! 

Jude made friends with this little frog and many lizards! 

There was a lot of stockpiling on this trip since we hadn't had our usual suppliers to bring things over to us. There were also a lot of foods we had been missing. Jude in particular was excited that we'd be able to get more fake syrup. Pops created a taste test to see if we could get away with store brand ;) ... nope! 

The kids loved exploring the exciting flora and fauna. 

Flower girl

The lizard whisperer

Mid week, the temperature dropped to highs of 60 and lows of 40, limiting our activities. 

Nana's night time stories moved outside

Smores bundled up

Mani/pedi time

Chex mix making tradition

On day 4, Pops drove the kids and I to a Miami-Dade Covid testing drive through site. The testing was free, we could make an appointment online the day before and we were in and out in 10 minutes. The US-health care critic in me was very impressed. The testing was a self-administered oral swab with a long q-tip, a blessing for the kids. Friday late afternoon, the emails came through with our negative test results. We yelped in joy and I sent the kids running into my parents house to share the good news. The holidays could now begin! The kids moved into the guest room in the main house and I enjoyed the cottage to myself (and morning sleep-ins).

We didn't get a Christmas tree in Amstelveen so we were all excited to decorate Nana and Pop's. 

And bake cookies, start on Christmas puzzles and watch Christmas movies together. 

The joy continued the next day when Pete arrived at dinner time. He showered and changed clothes upon arrival and then we treated him like he was immune until his testing later that week. We worried that he may still test positive since it had only been 4 weeks since he'd been diagnosed, but his result was negative. The temps had also risen so we had our first socially distanced outing to Matheson Hammock Park.

Fall Amsterdam Family Photo Shoot

While I take a ton of family photos, it had been 4 years since we'd taken professional family photos and I was itching to do it again! ISA dad, Simon, whom I'd taken a photography class with does lovely family sessions and we jumped on a discount he was offering for fall shoots. The stars aligned for us to do the shoot on our anniversary and while it was cold, gray and drizzly at times, the colors along the canals were at their peak. 

Since it had been so long since we'd done family photos, I should have prepped the kids better (aka thought of a really good bribe for good behavior). Lesson learned. They were whinny and pulling ridiculous faces about 90% of the time. Simon managed to get some good ones regardless (and work photo editing magic when needed!). 

Memories of this beautiful city during COVID lockdown captured! 

The Season of Sint in the time of COVID-19

As the pandemic marched on, we had to come to terms with the cancellation of many beloved Dutch holiday traditions, which usually help lift our spirits when the days become dark and cold. The kids still made lanterns at school for St. Maarten and Pete took the kids to a few houses in the neighborhood while I stayed back to give out candy to the handful of kids who stopped by. 

I was especially bummed out about the cancellation of Sinterklaas activities. Yes, it can all be a bit much with the holiday spanning 3 weeks, but the parades, random run-ins with Piets at shops, and general merriment in the air were sorely missed. Usually, Sint arrives in one town in the Netherlands in mid-November and a crowd gathers to greet his ship, arriving from Spain ;). This year, the event took place online and his arrival location was kept under wraps to prevent a crowd. We made the most of it, dressed the kids in their Piet costumes, and let them eat unlimited pepernoten all afternoon.

The kids still set their shoes out many nights during the three week period. As this coincided with our family quarantine when Pete had COVID, it was a welcome distraction from our every day monotomy. Those Piets sure are sneaky to be able to deliver gifts while we were all stuck at home ;) 

 

Pakjesavond (present night) was on a Saturday this year, so Sinterklaas visited ISA on Friday. How fortunate these kids were to be in school to celebrate! Parents were not allowed to watch Sint's arrival on his horse, Amerigo into the parking lot so we really enjoyed the photos that the teachers sent later that day. 

Sinterklaas and Santa do such a good job coordinating every year! Sint knew we'd be in the US for Christmas and didn't want us to have to bring too many things across the ocean. So we had some extra presents delivered, much to the kids' delight. And just in time as the kids and I boarded a plane the next day to Miami.... 

Hij komt!

Thankful

Well, the shoe dropped two weeks ago. We were in a great swing of things with my work being busier than ever and the kids thriving in school. We were still in a partial lockdown, so there wasn't much socializing going on and nowhere to meet up indoors, but at this time of year, I am content to stay home so I wasn't bothered. Then Pete came home from school feeling extra tired and by the following day (thankfully a remote in-service day), he felt achy and his head hurt. We went online and made him an appointment for testing the next morning, just out of caution, not really thinking he had COVID. I figured he'd get his negative results, get over his cold and life would go back to normal. Think again. His worse night was the evening while he was awaiting test results. He had fevers and chills and went to bed early, just before his results were emailed to him. I woke up in the middle of the night to Pete telling me he tested positive. So I got out of bed and curled up at the end of Jude's bed for the night, but couldn't sleep, my mind consumed by anxieties (which unfortunately hasn't really abated since then). The next day was spent communicating the results to everyone who needed to know and having conversations with the dutch health authorities and the school nurse. I knew from friends who have been exposed that the home quarantine time in the NL is 10 days. So I did the math and came to terms with the kids being home for a week. Then Pete shared that for the kids and I, the 10 day quarantine starts after our "last contact" with the positive person. So essentially from the day that Pete would recover. That was a blow. 17 days confined to our house and postage stamp garden with no possibilities to go for walks. I set myself up to sleep and work in the guest room and Pete began donning a mask around the house and keeping his distance from us. But it wasn't possible for him to completely isolate as I needed help parenting while I worked. 

Firstly, we are very THANKFUL that Pete recovered in about a week and that the disease didn't go to his lungs. He still has "foggy head," some fatigue, and loss of taste and smell. We understand these symptoms can take a long time to get over. 

We are THANKFUL that the kids and I didn't get it. This is a bizarre virus. Early on I was convinced I must have it. I was sharing a bed with Pete when he was his most contagious after all. When I had a very slight runny nose after a few days, I went for testing and to my surprise I was negative. I felt some disappointment wishing that I was going to be one of the lucky asymptomatic people and still get the immunity from it. I had a period of feeling pretty positive that the kids and I would be fine and then the anxiety crept back in. And now I'm back to some restless nights, fearful that I will start with symptoms and have to reset our quarantine. The Dutch health authorities called today to tell us our quarantine is over, but we're waiting until Monday to see anyone and send the kids and Pete back to school. 

We received an outpouring of support and love from our community here. I was so emotional those first few days and kept thinking of the final scene of "It's a Wonderful Life" where all of George Bailey's friends show up for him in his time of need. THANK YOU so much for the deliveries of food, vitamins, booze, toys, and friendly faces through the big glass window (Sharon, Alya, Katie, Rachel, Lien, Sara, Sylvie, and Bobbie) and for all of the supportive messages and check-ins from everyone else! The school librarians even selected and dropped off books for the kids! Jude's teacher sent a care package and Maeve's teacher stopped by to drop off pictures her friends had made for her. We are THANKFUL! 

We knew that schools opening would pose a threat to Pete especially working with older students. And indeed, we think he contracted COVID from a student. More than ever, we and everyone else should be THANKFUL for teachers. The kids were switched over to distance learning (which had been ongoing for kids who couldn't return to school for a variety of reasons). I was dreading this and am definitely over it and feel BIG time for everyone back home dealing with this on a long term basis. However, it went much better than it did in the Spring. Especially for Maeve who has been really engaged with her check-ins with her class and just generally really happy at home. I don't know if it is because she is able to zoom in with her class while they are in school, or if it is my improved mental health (there's a light at the end of a 2 week home confinement that we didn't have back in March when everything shut down) or maybe it is just that she is 6 months older and maturer. Either way, I am THANKFUL for that! Jude has needed a fair amount of nagging to complete his daily assignments, especially when he sees his sister just getting to play all day. His distance learning program is really great though and it gives us a glimpse of the learning he is doing at school. THANK you to all of the distance learning teachers out there. This is not easy and you rock! 

In these uncertain times, we really have a lot to be thankful for even though the last 2 weeks have been tough. We are so THANKFUL that our families and friends back home have been responsible and safe. We pray that you stay that way. We miss you! 

We had a low-key Thanksgiving with virtual school, a catered Turkey dinner, and a big Durning family zoom call with a special Birthday video for Opa, who turns 70 today! A special day indeed. We can't wait to see you soon! 

So much screen time these past two weeks! 

Art class

Decked the halls very early! Nothing else to do! 

And early cookie making and decorating

My profession's annual conference went virtual this year obviously, so I was actually able to attend for the first time in 6 years! It went from 4pm-12am 4 nights in the middle of our quarantine. Not the best timing, but good to have some "me" time. (dinner- homemade chicken soup delivered by Sara and whatever we could find in our freezer)

Maeve and mommy

Making pumpkin bread. Our only Thanksgiving day cooking 

Gobble gobble

A beautiful tribute video for Opa! Enjoyed by all. 

Halloween 2020

Thank goodness for the Fall holidays as this pandemic wears on. It has been so nice to have things to look forward to! We had a pretty usual Halloween. We carved a pumpkin at the pluktuin and bought more to carve at home from a farm along the Amstel river. 

We made Halloween cookies and decorated with our neighbor, Cora. 

The kids were allowed to dress up for school. Maeve was a fairy and Jude was a ninja (too stealth to get a photo).

Jude had a birthday party on the afternoon of Halloween and got to dress up again. 

The large Halloween trick or treating organized by expats in Zuid was canceled this year so I reached out to some neighbors instead. Neighbors asked other neighbors and in the end we had 12 houses to visit. Of course, the day after I organized all of this, the government advised against trick or treating, but we felt we could do it responsibly by not gathering in groups and keeping distance. The Nazlawys and the Makers joined in the fun, at a distance. It was a success and I look forward to the post-covid world where we can organize something bigger and more inclusive for the neighborhood. 

Maeve had a last minute costume drama, which was thankfully solved when she saw me putting on my Incredibles costume (the only costume I own). We still had Jude's costume from 2 years ago so she happily put that on. I made these costumes for Halloween 2008 in NYC, which was days before Obama was elected, so I hoped they would be a good omen again (and am hoping that is the case....).

I mean...