Final Days in Miami

In our final days home, we got to see some former Amsterdam friends, shop for all of our American delicacies to bring back, have a day date, and have some quiet time with Nana and Pops after all of the visitors had gone. 

Reunion with Jude's former classmate Max and his mom at Mattheson Hammock Park

The Keatings came for a 2-night visit from Naples where they were visiting family. It had been 4 years since our families were together! Fun to see the kids reconnect and to have a night out with my parents babysitting. 

After getting Maeve's shot done! 

Lunch out in Coconut Grove. We hadn't been back to that area since our wedding night! 

While we'd been out, Nana and Pops made me a birthday cake with the kids and surprised me after dinner. Given what happened for my actual birthday a week later, I was very grateful to have this early celebration! 

We found out on January 3rd that schools would reopen as planned (though the National lockdown continued a week beyond that date). So we kept our original plans to return on the 6th. We had to have a negative PCR test within 48 hours or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours, so we booked our PCR test for the morning of the 5th, assuming results would come in the following morning (as they had for all of the relatives who had been tested there over the break). Of course it wasn't that easy! The morning of our flight, results still weren't back so we went with plan B, stopping at the testing site again (without an appointment) and getting a rapid antigen test on our way to the airport. The negative result came through after we arrived at the airport. Nothing like some good travel stress. 

Thank you for your hospitality and flexibility Nana and Pops. Goodbyes are never easy. 

When we all stood for 40 minutes in the Dutch winter cold to get PCR tested 3 days later, I kept thinking back to this warm, sunny line in Miami. 

We had a layover in Chicago and then a red-eye home. We were able to spread out. The kids fell asleep and Pete and I synched our screens to watch the new Bond movie over dinner and wine. We flew United this trip and had really lovely service both ways. And then, it was back to winter and reality... 

The Gang's all Here: Our Entire Family in Miami!

This Christmas was extra special because both of our siblings came to see us and even overlapped for a few days. The first time our kids had been with both of their cousins at the same time. My nieces are the same age so it was also fun to watch their bond form. 

First Leslie came down with Peyton. Again, there was a COVID scare with my niece being a close contact just before their trip down. So more masking, playing COVID police, and trying to keep our distance to make sure we didn't catch anything. 

More Christmas elves for round 2 of outdoor gift exchanges

Annual height check

More beautiful weather to enjoy outdoor time

Attempting to keep the magnets 6 feet apart ;) 

Aunt Leslie brought gingerbread decorating kits

Oma and Opa were still in the isolation cottage (Leslie and Peyton checked into a hotel), so our outdoor dining set up got one more socially distanced table. 

Cousin shenanigans

We had a lot of great beach days on Key Biscanye. 

Maeve became obsessed with "Remember Me" from Coco

The European Medical Associated had approved COVID vaccines for kids 5-11 before we left for our trip, but the Netherlands had not started offering them yet. In the US, the vaccines are spaced 3 weeks apart, which was longer than our trip home. So we planned to just wait until the vaccines started in the NL so that the kids could be properly registered here with the health system. Then, over the break, articles came out that it was better to space apart the vaccines for better immunity. Other European countries were giving them 8 weeks apart, so we decided to get one dose in. Cousin Peyton had completed her vaccine course and wanted to go with our kids to offer moral support. And Aunt Leslie bribed the kids with a toy from CVS. We had to wait a while for the doses to be prepared and that just heightened Maeve's anxiety. Jude was a champ, not a complaint from him. Maeve on the other hand... Have you ever had the pleasure of chasing a screaming child around a CVS for nearly 20 minutes? Our attempts to restrain her in the chair were met with screams about us hurting her. We just couldn't do it so we gave up. I figured we'd arrange to go with some of her classmates here in the NL and hope for a better outcome. Well, 3 days later, Maeve woke up and said she wanted to get her vaccine so she'd be safe to see her friends. Great! Show up again at CVS, cue a repeat of the previous day. It took considerable restraint, but we got it done and immediately she declared, "that didn't hurt!" Oy Vey!  

We got to meet Leslie's new boyfriend, over beers in downtown Coral Gables and then at one of the home outdoor movie nights. 

Next, Matt, Krista and cousin Addy came from NC. Fun in the pool and two great beach days. 

Leslie ordered a movie projector for Nana and Pops so we had two outdoor movie nights where everyone could enjoy it together. 

Raya

Round 3 of Christmas elves.

New Year's Eve day spent at the beach. 

The gang's all here (minus Leslie who was working from the hotel)

New Year's Eve at home. Some celebrations with the kids and then a lot of prosecco and Euchre with Matt and Krista!

Starting the New Year right, back at the beach with Shake Shack. 

Opa, recovered from COVID and Oma who, amazingly, didn't get it! Happy grandparents finally getting some good squeezes on the kids before their journey home.