ACT 2: 2013

amsterdam

so we went to amsterdam in may. yes, it's july as i type this. yes, i am a horrible blogger. i think i start every blog post with some declaration of how bad i am at keeping up with this blog & how i will try harder. hmmm.... well, back to amsterdam...
we had a great time, really fell in love with the city.... it's beautiful. the canals, the narrow houses, the cafes, the bikes.... the atmosphere is fabulous! minus the red light district/ tourist areas - that was a bit too much for us.... yes there are drugs & prostitution, but we didn't participate in either activity, so it didn't really bother us. what bothered us more were the crowds in those areas. just too many people.... but we found some really quiet, nice areas of amsterdam that we just loved....
we rented out a local woman's apartment in the jordaan area.... she had a cat, tom, that we took care of for her & we really got a feel for more of the local life than we would if we had stayed in a hotel. we went to the grocery store, had a few beers at the neighborhood pub, took lena to the neighborhood playground, it felt more home like, even if we were only there for a long weekend....
we went to the huge vondelpark - amazing park.... so much to see & do there. went to the museum area - only went into the modern art museum (which we went through at a very brisk pace) - went to the kid's science museum NEMO, which was geared more for older kids, but because everything is interactive lena still has a blast running around.... we ate delicious frites, walked through the flower market & a flea market, tried not to get run over by the bikes, & of course ate outside for every meal (our favorite thing & what we loved about australia too - outdoor cafes along all the streets)....
it was a great trip & if we had more time & money would be back to visit in a heartbeat!

train station

the street we stayed on

our neighborhood pub

love this pic because it captures lena in all her traveling, won't stay still glory... but also guy in red = fantastic!

our temporary apartment

strolling through the flea market

teeny car

NEMO science museum

building

fantastic fries... check out all the sauces!

vondelpark

our apartment building

at the neighborhood playground

flower market

rainy day lunch break

best apple pie in all of amsterdam

we love amsterdam!

edinburgh

11:11 PM 0 comments

so this is coming about a month late & i think i'll just let it be mostly a picture post.... jeff's sister & her family came to visit us here at our house for a few days & then we all took the train up to edinburgh for a few days..... we had a great time! it was freezing, but fun!

walking down the royal mile

spoon fun at dinner

museum time - best one of the 3 of them....

st giles cathedral

for my mom

for my sister

grey friar's bobby

edinburgh castle

one of the many gift shops

bagpipes!!

things to remember

11:08 PM 1 comments

i haven't done one of these kinda posts in a while..... & there are so many amazing, hilarious, precious, heart warming things i want to remember (along with the more trying & challenging ones as well)

you love wheels on the bus - it is your absolute favorite song & you sing it all the time

you love animals & can name tons of different ones

your pronunciation of words amazes me.... you went from saying a handful of words & then you turned 2 & a month later can say everything! really, you repeat everything!

you love to snuggle & ask to snuggle frequently (so so sweet)

you give mommy & daddy a sweet kiss goodnight every night before you cuddle up with your monkey & blanket in your crib

you love soccer (still) & now are really into basketball

you know (too well) how to use my iphone & cry for phone too often (i have to hide it most of the time)

you love to "skype gammy & popa bill" & "ganma, ganpa" & your friend "ken" (quin)

you love & seem to require daily "running! running!"

you love to do art - paint, color

you don't always want to get dressed, you like to run around "naykee"

you've peepeed in the potty a few times (i'm not pushing it, you'll let me know when you're ready)

you love trucks, airplanes, ambulances, buses & cars

you love your shopping cart (you push it around every day)
you love dancing/ jumping/ fake crying & making faces in front of the oven (which is like a mirror)

favorite books

richard scary books from grandpa & granny ann

the going to bed book

richard scary airplane book

ladybug book

won't you be my kissaroo?

little people zoo book

favorite lena quotes

"please play outside please"

"so many cars!" "so many guys!" "so many pastas!" (guys = little figurines)

"kids, go play kids!"

"more bayay!" (ballet)
"yike jumping a yot" (like jumping a lot)