School's Out!

This was the final week before summer vacation. On Friday there was a farewell to the colleagues who are leaving. Three of the teachers had been there for about 40 years, so it was interesting to hear some of their stories. I am really glad this year is over. I think next year will be much better!

The girls also had their last week of daycare. There was a party for them on Friday. Naomi made some banana boats. They were a bit sad to leave, but excited about starting school. We took them out for pizza to celebrate, and they got some ice cream yesterday.

Now it is time to start thinking about the big trip! I hope everything goes alright on Tuesday. A lot could go wrong though, and it makes me worry a bit. At least we have a friend who is willing to get up really early and bring us to the train station!

Auntie Claire

This has been a really busy week. On Monday I got quite sick with food poisoning or something. Didn't recover completely until yesterday. Thursday was a 14 hour workday and I had to go back in for a meeting on Friday morning. Naomi came with and we had a nice lunch in Zutphen. Then Friday night Claire braved the traffic and drove up from Switzerland. We had a really nice day with her yesterday.

The girls are pretty wiped out. They traded off between either daycare or school this week - trying things out for the first time - so every day they were out of the house. It went really well and they like school a lot, but it was definitely a bit much for one week.

Today I feel the first touch of Fall in the air. We haven't seen rain in a long time and a lot of plants are dying. Nice that things cool off slightly. We will go to the Bosrand, have some quesadillas, wash cars, and eat dinner with our Turkish friends. Curious how that will go with their naughty boys...

Zutphen.

Summertime!

The first day of trying out school.

Grandpa Jack

Last night we had a tasty dinner in honor of Grandpa Jack, who passed away this week. Beer, fish, and french fries. I am sure he would have like it. We will miss him, but it sounds like it was the right time for him to go. Incredible that they made it to their 60 year wedding anniversary!

These last few weeks of school are quite busy for me. I am working more like three days a week instead of two, including a lot of evenings and dinners. Definitely ready for the summer holiday.

Had a nice time in Zutphen with an old friend from Mali, Joost. He came to visit my school and then we had some Moroccan food for dinner at our favorite restaurant. Friday night there was a class party that didn't finish up until 11. Way too late!

The girls also have a busy few weeks. They are going to daycare a bit extra as we had some leftover days and they will also be trying out the elementary school where they will start after the summer holiday. We are really looking forward to America!!

The Relaxation Begins

I have worked extra hard since January so I could rack up the hours I needed to cover the cost of the girl's daycare. They will be stopping in a couple weeks, and now is the time to take it easy on Mondays and Fridays. There are a few things that need to be wrapped up in the shop, but I will get to those whenever I feel like it. Vacation is beginning!

School is also really winding down, but it is supposed to be hot again this week so I don't really know how productive I can be. The heat dramatically reduced my capabilities. There are some things that need to be taken care of, but it seems manageable.

Amélie and Abigail both did something impressive this week while I was at work. Amélie spent a few minutes matching up numbers, putting tiles in the right order over a template. Abigail recognized the Mona Lisa in a video clip. Kind of fun!

Yesterday we had a really nice time with Karmen and Clifton. We met at the dunes near Utrecht and went to an American place for dinner. It is always a lot of fun to spend time with them.

A Father's Day walk in the woods.

Amélie's number matching.

An afternoon at the dunes.

One Month

In exactly one month we should have gotten off the train at the airport. Hopefully a bit early. Getting there makes me nervous. It is really time to head back to the States. I have been feeling pretty homesick lately, especially with what is going on with Grandpa Jack. Everything is winding down. Wish I could leave sooner!!

This week we had a lot of fun playing at a campground. They have a really nice playground - both indoor and outdoor. Last week Sunday we went to Erna's birthday party and Thursday Naomi's Dad and Edith came. Today we are heading back to the Bosrand. Nice to be in the normal routine as the next few weeks will be busy.

Hopefully on Monday I will be able to finish up the swinging bench for the garden. I will use some tung oil on it though, so it will take a while to dry. Probably no point in setting it up before the vacation. Naomi will be disappointed...

A whiteboard for the girls!

My latest breakthrough on the dome idea...

Playing at the campground.

Work Pressure

This week I really felt a lack of motivation to work for my business. Not exactly sure why, but it must be time for a holiday. At school, I got a BIG relief from a meeting we had with the director. I won't have to be a mentor, which means I have a LOT of time and energy freed up for other things. Also plenty of nights, dinners, and trips that I won't have to go on. The next few years look much more peaceful now!

Abigail hit another big milestone this week. She learned how to ride a bike without training wheels!! She can even stop and start herself now. It was a lot easier than I expected. Amélie also went to the swimming pool for the first time. She loved it! Didn't want to leave. Jumped off the side. Naomi had a lot of fun with her while I was teaching Abigail to ride the bike!

Today we will visit Naomi's family instead of going to the Bosrand. It is Erna's birthday party. Should be fun, especially since Naomi spent the last few days going through old pictures!

The girls found a spot for their shoes at the Bosrand.

Got the frame together for the swinging bench.

Some ideas for Grandpa we came across at the castle.

Ready to roll!

Playing with Oma's old wedding dress.

Finally found a way to hook up the air conditioner.

Heat Wave

This was an uncomfortable week. They close schools early if it gets up to 30 degrees. It was 29 for four days in a row. Might not sound that bad, but the humidity makes it unbearable especially when you are teaching on the top floor, under a flat black roof, with little ventilation and sun shining through the windows.

I think it messed with my blood pressure. Got dizzy and felt drunk. Had to send one girl home. A couple others felt sick too. One of the teachers in the next room threw up; she is from South Africa. This country is not designed for heat!

On Monday I had a business meeting with a couple friends. Thinking about starting up something new. Won't be for a while if it happens at all though. It would be fun to build something with a small team, and my business is certainly not a moneymaker, so a little extra cash would help.

I taught myself how to draw a rose!

Cool flowers that I found growing out of a rock in our backyard.

Making progress on the frame for the swinging bench.