Lots of Visitors and Never-ending trips

On April 21 Teia got to experience her first ever Koningsspelen, which means King Games. It's an annual sports day for children in the Netherlands. The event lasts for half the day and the kids participate in all sorts of fun activities and sport. A popular group known as Kinderen voor Kinderen - I would say it's like the Mickey Mouse equivalent for the Netherlands - plays a big role in the King Games day. The kids learn a synchronized dance and perform at the end of the games. It was amazing!

My dear and childhood best friend, Lisa, came out for a visit! This was Lisa's second time out. The first time was right when we moved here with her husband, River. After she arrived we quickly hopped on another plane to Scotland with the Nelson's.

Our fist day consisted of touring around Edinburgh. We walked around the various markets and stood outside the Edinburgh Castle. After some walking around and exploring a bit more we drove to Crail to stay in a beautiful home right near the water where you could feel and smell the salt breeze.

The following day we drove to St. Andrews and luckily were able to walk onto the world famous Old Course - the kids were playing on the 18th fairway and we took pictures on Swilken Bridge! We also managed to walk around the University of St. Andrews which was beautiful. Near our house there was a darling park along the coast line where the kids could play and we could enjoy our view!

Kirk and Eric went golfing the next day and the rest of us walked around the quaint town. Just on the other side of the Crail Harbor we found a darling cafe. It was definitely the highlight of our day. Sitting at this tiny hole-in-the-wall cafe in the sunshine enjoying the pristine view and eating scones, drinking delicious coffee and devouring Scotland's fudge equivalent called tablet (it's a bit more brittle and grainier than fudge). We also visited the most random little (but kinda cool) fisheries museum in nearby Anstruther.

Scotland is absolutely breathtaking. The people are lovely. The yellow flowers that cover the land go on for miles. Each night we gathered around the dining table eating home-cooked meals (thanks to Eric) or take-in from nearby fish and chips restaurants. Us gals even managed to get out one night for dinner at a nearby hotel where they played Christmas music and 90's hip hop. Kirk managed to get out one more time to golf at Crail Golfing Society - 7th oldest golf club in the world - on probably the 7th coldest and windiest day ever recorded. That wind was no joke. After he got back and thawed a bit we drove back to St. Andrews Cathedral to tour around.

For our final day we walked around a bit more in Edinburgh and had a yummy lunch and easy flight home! Lisa stuck around for a couple more days in Amsterdam before heading off to Belgium to visit her cousin who just moved there.

Before Lisa left for Belgium we celebrated King's Day! If you have been reading my blog over the years you know that each year the Netherlands celebrates Koningsdag. It's a really special and fun day where locals, expats and tourists dress up in orange and buy/sell food, clothing, drinks - you name it - and party the night away.  We spent the day at Sarah's apartment which is in a prime location so we enjoyed people watching from her windows! We also managed to walk around Vondelpark so Colette could participate in the festivities. Kirk unfortunately was super sick so he stayed home for the day.  Lisa, myself and Teia walked around a bit before calling it an early night. Thanks for coming out Lisa and hopefully next time you can bring the whole family!

Shortly after Lisa left, first timers to Amsterdam, Cora and Emily, flew out for a two week trip. Besides Amsterdam, they were going to Positano (with me), Rome, Barcelona and then back to Amsterdam! This was my third time to Positano which is so hard to believe. I love it more and more every time I go. It felt like my old stomping grounds. Our apartment was just slightly outside the main area (about a 20 minute walk on a scary and windy road). Each day we would head to the main town to eat, drink and take in the scenery. Our first night we had dinner at Al Pallazo which is situated in a beautiful courtyard setting.

If we weren't on the beach relaxing we were busy shopping around the narrow cobble-stoned streets. In the morning we took a ferry to Capri. After finding a cute spot to eat we talked for hours and lost track of time which resulted in us hauling ass to get back down to the marina to catch our ferry back. Though we didn't get to explore Capri as much as we wanted I wouldn't trade the intimate talks and laughs that we had - nothing beats that! We managed to get drinks in at Positano cafe and then ended our night at Sirenuse for Champagne and oysters. Our final night we ate at Adamo ed Eva at Hotel Eden Roc. As much as I would love to say this trip was perfect and I was able to drink the night away, it's not true......though I had so much fun with my sweet friends I was outright suffering. Come to find out I had strep throat which is just crazy that I managed to get by. Back at home Kirk ended up also having an infected tonsil so he was miserable trying to care for our little kids and figure out what was wrong. When I got back from the trip I started up antibiotics which did the trick. Luckily Emily and Cora didn't get sick and had a wonderful time on the 2nd part of their European trip.

About a week later the girls returned to Amsterdam - now I could properly show them the ropes. The first day we met up with my lovely Amsterdam friends for a boat ride around the canals. I took them through the red light, Dam Square, by Kirk's work, through the Negen Straatjes, and then beers and bites at Cafe T'Smalle. We managed to get them out on bikes to properly see the city - specifically Vondel Park, Museumplein and Rijks Museum. We also stopped for drinks (and bitterballen and kastengels) to meet up with our friend Britt who happened to be in town from New York. The next day they hit up some museums and we met for Pancakes. I took them to my favorite steak place Cafe Loetje, and even got to check out a coffee shop called Dampkring.

Emily and Cora, this was an epic time for me and I hope it was for you. I will always have the fondest memories of all of our lengthy chats, laughs, tears and the bond formed will be unbreakable. Can't wait to share another adventure with you!

For Mother's Day Kirk put together a pretty legit video. Love you Kirk for the thoughtful and funny video.  Enjoy!

I attended my first Goat Yoga lesson in the Bos. My friend Jess mentioned to me that this goat farm in the Bos actually have goat yoga classes so obviously we had to do one. At the farm you meet up with the teacher who takes you to all the baby goats where you get to pick out your goat and take them to another section of the farm. There you lie down on the hay and start your yoga lesson. The goats at some point start to take notice of your energy and will climb on you, nibble on your clothes or in my case my hair. It was hilarious and sweet and so completely random but I enjoyed every moment especially when the farm owners brought puppy Rottweilers. Cuteness overload. Afterward we enjoyed an organic meal with their local goat's cheese, yogurt and latte with goats milk of course. I did lose a huge chunk of hair since the goat decided to swallow my pony tail, otherwise no other injuries to report (well maybe some puppy teeth marks and sorry Jess that the goat bit you and made your finger bleed).

It was my 37th birthday - holy moly - so what better way to celebrate but have a late night picnic in Vondelpark with some friends and some bubbly. My sweet friend Jess made the best birthday cake - it was a mix of chocolate, carrot cake and cheese cake - delicious!  The weather was warm and windy and we just ordered food for delivery (yes they brought us burgers and fries right to where we were sitting in the park). The rest of the beautiful weekend we hit up some parks, kiddy pools, fountains and the Goat Farm again (this time for the kids to see and explore). We were so fortunate to have this incredible heat wave for lots of outdoor time!

Kirk's work, Wieden+Kennedy, had its annual Founders Day celebration on May 30th and 31st. Given that this year was the 25th Anniversary of their Amsterdam office, they decided to blow it out a bit. They started by chartering a private 737 and flying to Pisa. From there they hopped in shuttles and drove 90min to Tereglio - a tiny village in Northern Tuscany. Tereglio's population is just over 100 people, but use to be home to over 1000 so they basically took over the town for the evening. The night started at the central piazza for an aperitivo before walking through the town to the beautiful cathedral where they screened a short film made for the event. Afterward they all trekked down to the lower end of the town for dinner, a DJ, dancing and football. Later the party moved back up the hill for more dancing and hanging out. The next day they had a brunch and flew that 737 back home. What a memorable 24 hours!

Not long after that Kirk headed to New York for a week to work. It was sweltering hot, but always great to visit America and get some nice food.

For Father's Day this year Kirk spent the morning golfing with friends then we all relaxed at a nearby outdoor cafe listening to a lovely live string quartet. While Kirk was out golfing I busily tried to dress the girls up like their father and that was a major fail. At least we have this funny/disturbing pic to document the occasion. Love you Kirk!

The next night I managed to get out for drinks and dancing with my girlfriends at the Melkweg to see Shaggy. Yes, you heard me correctly, Shaggy.  I might have only known 3 songs but it was so worth it.

Our friends Leslie and Nate and their little Noa were in town for a bit before heading to Norway.  It was great seeing how big Noa has gotten and for them to see Colette and Teia. Leslie and I met at Museumplein and had some adult bubbles while the kids ran around! When Kirk was in Slovenia I was able to get in one last dinner Leslie and Nate before they flew back to the States. Miss you guys and I look forward to seeing you again soon (hopefully in Seattle).

Work trips seem to be happening a lot lately this time placing Kirk in Slovenia for a shoot. What a beautiful place with really nice people and really...unique food. At one meal at Spajza Kirk had fried toad, goose breast, deer carpaccio, pheasant ravioli, and 'young horse' steak.

My friend Ali was in town so we got out to see my friend DJ and then we celebrated together on Lisa and Richard's Going Boat Party. The boat was legit. Surrounded by Lisa and Richard's lovely friends we enjoyed a stand-up dinner and silent disco. Lisa and Richard you are part the "originals" group of friends that I have known since I moved here 7 years ago. I am so excited for your next adventure in Singapore but it is not easy to see you go. Love you both and best of luck and I hope to get out there at some point!

School is almost up and we are almost off to a weeklong trip in Portugal, and then shortly after flying back to Washington for the summer! These little ladies are looking forward to some much needed Pacific Northwest love! Can't wait!