Kaylin's first bike ride

Today Matt took Kaylin on her first bike ride. She wasn't very happy with the ride, but I am sure it was because she was tired and very crabby. Well try again when she is in a more agreeable mood!

Thanksgiving Part 2

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I hope you all had a great time with family and friends and I hope you all were stuffed with turkey and stuffing! :)

Our first Thanksgiving in our new home was pretty uneventful! Matt went to work and I stuck around here with the kids because the painters are still here working on the back. We did have a Thanksgiving dinner and were able to talk with family which was so nice. We even used our china for the first time. It was nice to finally have it out and ready to use for special occasions.

Turkey is hard to find here and we found that we could get one if we preordered it from Hanos which is like a Sams Club. Unfortunately we found out to late so we'll try next year. I made a small chicken, mashed potatoes, corn (had to search a bit for it), stuffing, rolls, pie (store bought), jello (brought from home) and I surprised Matt with some cheese dip...anyone in the Zomboracz Family circle knows how fantastic cheese dip is!

My helpers:

Kaylin was thrilled with her Jello!

Kaylin's kitchen and Shane's 6 month pics

Kaylin finally got her kitchen set! She loves it! Here are pics with some serious bed head and the poor girl was sick too! She really likes to cook for us and even makes a few things for her brother. She is really starting to take a liking to him and really likes to hold him. Her doll that she got last Christmas is finally getting some attention too. She now feeds it and wraps it in a blanket and told me yesterday that her name is Lilly. We have a book with a character whose name is Lilly so I am guessing that is where the name came from.

Shane turned 6 months last Thursday and is getting so big so fast. He now sits very well, rolls and scoots his way around and yesterday got up on his knees and pushed forward and did a face plant into the carpet. Only a few tears were shed and then he was on to some other toy. He has started eating solid foods is loving the squash Matt made him a few days ago. When he is starting to get upset he scrunches up his nose and starts breathing heavily. So cute! :) He watches Kaylin like a hawk. He always knows right where she is. Kaylin usually loves it and says "Shane watching me." He just has to make sure he doesn't touch the toy she is playing with!

Thanksgiving

On Saturday the 16th we had a Thanksgiving party with the people Matt works with. It was a great time with lots of Turkey and stuffing! Below are pictures of Shane on his 1st Thanksgiving!

We are back!

After going back and forth with the Internet provider we are up and running! Thankfully! It has been rough without having Internet or a phone for almost 2 weeks.

Overall the move went well. We received a few things that were supposed to go to storage and we have noticed one very important item that did not make it here...where it is I don't know I am guessing storage...Kaylin's brand new winter jacket...a birthday gift from papa Bud and Grandma Jane. We are so disappointed and can't understand why it wasn't packed. So, we had to go and get a new jacket, which surprisingly was hard to find.

Anyway, the movers arrived around 8:30 on Friday, but couldn't start until two cars were moved. One they got unlocked and tried to find info on the owner to call and the other they had to have towed. I did not see any signs posted that people could not park there so I feel a bit bad for the person who was towed. We have been told that a sign is usually put up earlier in the week letting people know not to park in x spot on x day, but it is not left up so the random person is out of luck.

They brought with them an elevator of sorts to bring in the stuff that belonged upstairs. The video below is our dresser being brought up.

They came back last Thursday to pick up the empty boxes.

The trim on the house is currently being painted. The downside to that is the only way to get to the back of the house is to come through ours. So, today they brought scaffolding through and will be in and out for the next few days.

We made our first trip in the car last Wednesday. Ikea! We or I should say I was very excited to go and spent a few hours there. It is HUGE and I have heard it referred to "like Disney Land." I have to agree...anything and everything is there. We bought a few lamps, rugs etc. and Matt will be going back tomorrow to get a coffee table and some hooks to hang our pics on. All through out the 1st floor is a picture rail that is common in the old homes so we won't nail anything into the walls.

The drive was okay. Our GPS doesn't realize that some roads are dead ends and some are bike paths, so following it can be a bit tricky.

Also on Wednesday we stopped at the bank to get me a check card and we went to the expat center to register in the city. Matt has to go somewhere else with our marriage cert tomorrow and will also pick up our parking permit.

Here is the video of the house the day before all of our stuff was moved in.

Moving Day

We move today!! Yeah!! We really couldn't be happier. We picked up the keys last night and everything went well during the check in. I took a video of the house but forgot to bring my camera back here so I will have to post it later.
I also have pics to upload from the Heineken Tour we went on last Sunday. I don't think our Internet is available at the house yet, so it will probably be a week or so until I post again. Wish us luck that all of our stuff fits through the windows and doors!

John Adams

I had been wondering why people were always stopping and looking into the windows of a building across the canal from us but I just hadn't gotten around to checking it out. Luckily Matt stopped by the other day and informed me that the location, Keizersgracht 529, is where John Adams lived from 1780-1782. I found the below excerpt from www.john-adams.nl.

"Keizersgracht 529
Before being elected the second President of the United States, Adams resided in the Netherlands from 1780-1782 as an envoy and advocate for the American colonies, which were then waging a brutal war for independence against the British. Living in the heart of the city of Amsterdam, at Keizersgracht 529, he actively sought contact with the social-economic elite, befriending bankers, politicians, and other influential persons who could help contribute to support the fledgling republic. The long history of friendship between America and the Netherlands was cemented by Adams and the Netherlands became the second country in the world, after France, to recognize America's independence. "

It is not a place to tour, but I still find it very interesting!

The past week

Updates from the week:

Tuesday I took the kids over to the new house and we were able to take another look around. Kaylin really seemed to enjoy being there and picked our her room and Shane's room and we decided where her manas and popas were going to stay when visiting. It was a struggle to get her to leave and I will take that as a good sign.

We are doing the check-in for our house on Thursday at 5:00 and the movers are coming between 8-9 on Friday morning. I can not even begin to describe how happy we are! We have been out of our house for just over 6 weeks now and we are ready for the comforts of home.


I went to the monthly meeting for the American Women's Club of Amsterdam this past Thursday. It was nice to meet some of the other women, but is not the best place to bring kids. So, we didn't stay too long. I paid my membership dues and am now an official member.


Yesterday Matt signed up to rent movies at a place near by so we had movie night. We both watched Fools Gold and then I went to bed and Matt watched Shooters. I wasn't too interested in that one.



Work is going well for Matt. He still has not been assigned to a client yet so he is spending his time doing tutorials or playing around on Facebook! If anyone has a facebook page you probably are aware that after making fun of me Matt is now a member and spends a great deal of time on it!


Today we went to Amstelveen which is a city about 30 minutes south of Amsterdam. They have a large shopping mall there. I wanted to go to Prenatal, a baby store to pick up nightlights and a baby monitor. I also had hopes of getting a phone but found out that we have to have our residents permit first which we still have to get. We spent about 3 hours there and picked up a few things for the house. Tonight we had plans to go over to Megan and Jim's house for dinner, but their son Jack came down with a cold so we took a rain check and hope to get together soon.


We are going to try again to go on the Heineken Tour tomorrow.


The kids are doing well. I can tell Kaylin is starting to get really cooped up here which makes our move this week even better. Her favorite phrases lately are "Let go Mommy," when ever I am trying to help her or take something away. She also frequently says "No Pictures Mommy No Pictures," can you tell she has seen a lot of the camera the past month. She also says "self" a lot because she is becoming even more independent and wants to do everything herself. She can put on and take off her pants and tries to put her socks on and can get her shoes on by herself- surprisingly usually on the right feet.


Shane is growing like a weed and his first tooth, his bottom left, just broke through today! I can't even imagine him with teeth...he is too small for teeth! He also had his first bites of avocado ( a GREAT first food! ) and green beans and really enjoys both. Below are pics of both of them enjoying the avocado. He also scoots around. Not on his knees yet, but he gets to where he wants to go. In the picture below, he started out on the mat in the bottom left and you see where he ended up. He also LOVES splashing in the tub. His little arms and feet go a mile a minute!





Somebody tell me where the pause button is.

Especially for Asher

Weekend

We were planning on taking the kids Trick or Treating, but the windchill was 38 degrees and we don't have the kids winter coats or mittens, so we stayed in. At least they went to the Halloween Party the week before.

On Saturday I went to a baby shower for the wife of a guy Matt works with. It was at Bakkerswinkel, a great restaurant! It was very nice and I was able to meet quite a few people that I have a feeling we are going to spend a lot of time with! I was a little hesitant going at first because I had never met her before so I felt really strange going to her baby shower, but I am really glad I went. It is different here in that everyone has been in our position before so I feel like people are going above and beyond to make us feel welcome. It is much appreciated!!

After the shower I came back and we got the kids ready for Andrew's 1st birthday party at Sara and Aaron's. It was a great farm themed party and the kids had a great time!

Sunday was my birthday. Happy B-day to me! :) Matt bought me the movie Sex in the City and the kids gave me the Other Boleyn Sister. I had been wanting to see both!! So, I watched those and Matt cooked a great dinner...steaks, potatoes, mushrooms, onions...fantastic! I also was able to shower without any kids in the room. It was wonderful! :)

Today I took Kaylin and Shane to Tun Fun. It is an indoor playground built in a former traffic underpass. There is quite a bit to keep the kids occupied. I really liked that they have it divided so the little kids are not in with the bigger kids and vice versa. Kaylin spend the first half playing in the age 1-4 area and then because she thinks she is 10 years old she thought she belonged with the bigger kids. So, I spent the last half trying to persuade her back to the toddler area! It was about a 20 minute walk there and I had no problems finding it. I definitely am not feeling

as scared to take the kids out. Taking them on the tram intimidates me a bit still, but I am sure it will be second nature soon and I don't enjoy grocery shopping with them, but I didn't back home either! :)

Yeah!!!

Your sea shipment have just arrived in The Netherlands and we have brought the goods to our warehouse until we have the import permit and can clear your goods. We hope to have the import permit this week. We will keep you posted on the status. When we have the import permit we can already plan a delivery date.

You air shipment will be sent when we have the import permit.

What a relief!!