Amsterdam and other tales

Hello again my friends! How the heck are ya?

You guessed it: the pregnant girl is feeling better finally and has decided to come out of her shell to share with you this hellish experience......

Okay, you dodged a bullet on that one, because I DON'T want to talk about it! Just suffice it to say, "whose brilliant idea was this?"

ANYWAY, we have been out and about, so I'd like to update you on our dutch lives. I know you've been holding your breath since the last blog, so you can let it out now. Whew!

Well, 'tis the season, only here it's Sinterklass! And his helper Swarte Pete. I know I told you about it last year when we first moved here, but now we're finally starting to know what's going on and realize, hey, we've done this before! Sinterklass is related to Santa Clause, but, according to one parent at Miles' preschool - "Santa Clause is made up and Sinterklass is real." Okay, sure.

So, when he first comes to Holland, every year in November there is a parade in his honor from the harbor through the whole city. We went to a different place to see it and we stood in front of a butcher. Oh no, I thought, eyeing the tubs of hot dogs around, now we have to endure the meat? No, it wasn't for us - it was for the people in the parade! I've never seen anything like it in my life. All the participants slowing down in front of us to eat little weiners - Sinterklass, his helpers (and there were a lot of them), even the dressed up ladies on horseback, all eating hot dogs! I couldn't help but laugh out loud! (see pic on right)

First of all, this would never happen in the US. Never. Everything has to be shrinkwrapped in the US. But these were huge tubs of naked hot dogs (can I say that?) just being handed up to the parade people. I guess people are a lot more relaxed about that kind of stuff here. Even the candy and cookies weren't wrapped individually - just dumped into waiting hands, more landing on the street than actually hitting their target. Whatever happened to the advice "don't take candy from strangers?" Apparently that doesn't apply to people dressed up in loud colors with black makeup on!  (see pic on left - all Swarte Pete's have black face on [totally nonPC], I guess because they are from Spain?)

So, that was our first adventure. Then Aaron had to go to Amsterdam again for the day so it was my bright idea to meet him there with Miles and stay overnight in a hotel. Well, all fine and dandy until I realize that I'M the one who has to get him onto two trams and a train to get there! No big deal (thank god for the movies on the Iphone) - we made it there in one piece. It was called the Fashion Hotel and I only chose it for the indoor pool. But, somehow, I don't think a lot of families stay there. Call it a hunch or all the breakable things in the lobby.......

Nice hotel, nice pool, bad idea. I forgot that we all stay in one room in a hotel and Miles wakes up early in strange environments - 5:30 am!!! AHHHHHH! So by 7:30 we were a little slap happy. Aaron gets the best dad/best husband award because he took that boy OUT to breakfast! Yea! Mommy gets to go back to sleep! And they brought me back a chocolate banana pancake! woo-hoo!

So then we all go down for a swim, and forgot Miles' swim wings. D'oh! Have to hold him the whole time, but it's still fun. With both of us there, he can practice swimming, and he can really do it! For short distances, but he's moving his arms and legs, holding his breath, the whole shebang! I don't know whether to be proud or have a heart attack every time he goes under water! Proud, proud, proud....

The sun is out for once, so we head to a park. Then we're so hungry after that, we actually eat at the Amsterdam Hard Rock Cafe. Who cares about the music, we love American food!! Go Macaroni and cheese! Miles, surprisingly, didn't like it, but hey, more for me! (the pic on the right is Miles' "No more pictures" pose)

The sun goes down early here- 5 pm and it's dark. We were totally exhausted by then, so we just headed home on the train. ah, home sweet home. Where we can just turn on the tv for our early riser and go back to bed! Yes, we're the parents of the year raising our MENSA child.

We actually celebrated Thanksgiving this year. Even though we were with our good friends, it felt weird not to be around family. But it was the first time I've ever made stuffing, or gravy. Yes, I know, I guess I'm a Thanksgiving virgin. I did find great recipes on www.veganyumyum.com, though! They turned out great! Plus Aaron made Seitan and we had two kinds of pie thanks to my friend.......mmmmm, it was Thanksgiving all right! And I'm thankful for all of you! (plus the pie; how can you not be thankful for pie?).....

Hope all your holidays are good ones and who knows, we may actually get a Christmas card out. Don't hold your breath! (again)....

Love
Nicole