Amsterdam.

Well, Hello!!!

Ben is here!!! He arrived to joyous squeels and laughter from Ivy. We pulled up outside the house and she saw him through the front window and went running to the front door. It's like they were never apart! Not sure what we were so worried about. :-)

We have be exploring since my last post.
Friday I took the day off so we could take mom to Amsterdam before she headed home.

Like most day trips with babies, it was hectic, but fun. We took the train, which Ivy LOVED. She watched out the window and moo'd at the cows and baa'd at the sheep and laughed at the water. We arrived in Amsterdam not really know what we were going to do/see so we just sort of wandered up the canal and away from the crowd. We found ourselves in part of the Red Light district...very interesting.

We made our way to a pub for a morning beer and a snack while we tried to figure out the best place to catch a canal tour. We got some advice from a local woman and meandered to the boats. Friday was probably the warmest day we've had so far so it was a gorgeous day for a boat ride. However, the boat had a glass roof with a 'moon roof' so it made for a hot, hot ride. Mom got a few god pictures, Henry ate a lunch of carrots while we floated and Ivy tried her best not to lose it. :-)

After the canal tour, we found a great little restaurant with outdoor seating in a dead-end alley. It was great because it was shaded and quiet. PLUS, in the there were 3 different restaurants; Pancakes, Italian, Argentinian. The best part of all...no matter where we sat, we got all THREE menus. It was glorious.

After lunch we wandered a bit more and found our way back to the train station where we caught a ride home. The train was FAR less crowded on the way back which was nice, but we were HOT and there wasn't really any air so when we reached Hilversum Centraal we walked home.

The next morning the driver arrived at 8am and took mom and I to the airport. We checked her in for her flight and off she went. I was sad to see her go, but I know she was excited to get home and see Terry and get back to the comforts of life in the states...movies, popcorn and a clothes dryer. :-)

Thanks for everything mom!!! You made our transition so much easier. We miss you.

Lindz