German Christmas Market

It's that time of year...it's officially Christmas season.  Unless you're living in the Netherlands, were they celebrate Sinterklass on Dec 5th.  So we packed up the family (including Lucas) and headed to Cologne (Koln), Germany to the Christmas Markets.   

      

We met up with some friends and played hide and seek with others.  We can't believe we didn't find them.  The city was much bigger than we though (or we we're lost).  We had a nice weekend enjoying great food, gluhwein (warmed spiced german wine) and it was the perfect way to start the holiday season.

 

Family Photo 2008

Happy Thanksgiving to the folks in the US (just another work day here).  But we are going to have our own celebration tomorrow night with our friends from Amsterdam.

Here are some photos from our family photo session last week.  Abigail loved the camera, 

I think we're in trouble.

Girl's Weekend

For Abigail's October break, we decided to have a girls weekend and flew to Minnesota to see Lily and check out her new house.  We had fun painting our nails, watching movies, shopping and exploring the Mall of America (what girl wouldn't). Abigail loved the indoor amusement park, I think she convinced Lily to take her on all of the rides.

Spoiled rotten by Aunt Lily....

Street Fair/Dancing

Abigail and Owen enjoying an Amsterdam street fair and learned some Latin dance moves.

School Days

Our little girl is growing up fast.  She started at the British School full time this fall (no naps). She is very excited to be going to school with the big kids and where everybody speaks English. 

Which also ment that she had to say good bye to all of her friends at the Dutch School (daycare).  They had a going away party for her, where she was guest of honor (queen bee for the day).

Cubs Take First Steps to the Final Goal

Don't look now but the Chicago Cubs have just completed step one of the ultimate goal.  Winning the Central Division for the second year in a row.  Now as a life long cubs fan I have mixed emotions about this.  My heart is telling me to jump and down and start to prepare for a long trip to Chicago to watch baseball in October but my mind is telling me to temper my enthusiasm because we have been here before and failed.  Even though I live half way around the world from Chicago I still can feel the excitement and the growing believe that this is the year.  Still, I am cautiously optimistic.  This season has been hard on me.  To watch the games I have to stay up late.  When I can't watch them, I spend the first hour or so in the morning reading every article I can.  Not great for my health, family time, and my work.  I hope they are not tracking my time spent on Cubs.com.  If they are, I will have allot more time to watch games.  :)

Enough about this.  My enthusiasm grows with each day and I PRAY that this is the year.

PS - If anyone has tickets to the Cubs playoffs or the world series - I would love to join you.  I need about 10 hours of notice to make sure I am there.

Luxembourg

Enough of the rain....we decided to take a quick weekend get away to Luxembourg.

We had a great time exploring the city and seeing the sun =)  

We took a took ride though the old city.  Abigail loved all of the castles and thinks this is where all of the princesses live.  She would go into every building, castles and church looking for the princesses, it's great to see her use her imagination and tell her stories.  She is growing up so fast.  She also learned how to use mom's camera and took several self photos.    

Here is quick history of Luxembourg (via guide book)

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is  a small country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany.  The city's history dates back to the year 963, when Siegfried, Count of the Ardennes, had a castle named 'Lucilinburhus' build on a rock overlooking the Alzette River.  It was the famous French fortress builder Vauban who at the service of Louis, XIV, turned Luxembourg

 into one of his masterpieces, suitably known as the 'Gibraltar of the North'.

First Professional Haircut

Abigail finally had enough of mom 'trying' to cut her long beautiful hair.  She decided last weekend that she wanted to go to a place that cuts kids hair and sit in a chair and have her haircut.  So we found Zini a hair salon that specializes in kids hair.  She did great and wants to go back again.  

Boys and Their Toys

Speaking of boats, Greg and the boys purchased a boat this weekend. The name of the vessel is G2EH.

It's a typical 'sloep boot'. What a great way to explore the Amsterdam canals, it a totally different view.

Here are some photos from our first family outing. I'm sure we will have more adventures.

Summer in Amsterdam

We finally have good weather, it hasn't been too consistent, but nice never the less.  We are taking full advantage of every sunny day!!

This weekend we took a bike ride into the country with our friends Che, Wendi and Ameile. We road along the Amstel River from Amsterdam to Ouderkerk (40 minutes).  We enjoyed a lovely lunch on the water and watched the boats go by.  Most of the boat were making their way in

to Amsterdam for the annual Gay Pride parade.  Abigail loved the pink boats, decorations and loud music.

Oh to be young again

Last weekend Christine came to visit us from Rome.  She is spending the summer studying abroad in Europe.  

Christine embraced the Amsterdam culture quickly.  Within hours of arriving she was on a bike exploring the city with Greg.  They went to the Ann Frank house, then met up with Rachel (babysitter) and her friends and went to a DJ mixing contest.  The next morning we took a family bike ride into the Dutch country side for pancakes, only to realize there are amazing pancake houses just minutes from our house.  Abigail enjoyed getting to know her cousin.  She quickly realized that Christine was the oldest cousin and she was the youngest.  She would also like to go to college and live in Paris when she gets bigger...thanks.