Happy Birthday SW

Thanks for visiting!!!  Happy Birthday!!

Funny Confession #305

I buxed football practice and it was worth every late minute

Around Town

Photo du Jour

My team, in the bulbs.  Photo creds to our super houseguest SW.

Staycation Sunflowers

W had football camp all day yesterday, which freed the SweetP and I for some girl time!  We did an art session at the Van Gogh museum, and it was so much fun!  

I've never had so much fun with markers.  I hope to make time to finish what I started.  I also really hope to keep art-ing, it feels so good.  

Staycation

The kids are on a 2 week break from school...and we are staying right here in Amsterdam the entire time.  Part of me is envious of the trips that classmates are taking (US visits and Spain and Japan and France...), but then I remember...we live in Amsterdam and there are a jillion cool things to do here.  Plus we have a few fab visitors passing through over the next 10 days, which we are excited about!

No time to have tired, sore legs from the Sunday's race, the break got off to an ambitious awesome start Monday, when I took my kids plus LL's 2 oldest kids  (hello BAMB) to the Rijksmuseum for the afternoon.  

 I made them all promise that if they remember NOTHING else about the Rijksmuseum collection, to please remember this painting (the Night Watch), and the painter (Rembrandt).  I'm not convinced it is going to stick...but I do think we all had a good time.

 They sure made themselves at home.  Each doodled their own version of the Night Watch.

SweetP's was pretty impressive...

 LL loved the ships...what is not to love?  Though he loved it less when he realized he couldn't touch it, climb on it, take it home, or even play with it.  #buzzkill

 Their father's sons...these two were chatting about wind conditions on the ocean.  #futurekitesurfers

 Bunch of people sitting around looking at a bunch of people sitting around...

 P's creative juices were also inspired by the silly collars she kept seeing...

The girls really loved this real princess bed...though they were confused as to where she was and how she got in at night to sleep if the bed is in a glass box in a locked museum...all good questions...

Running Is Hard and Funny Confession #305

God I wish I lived near this girl.  Clearly she is hilarious, good at navigation, and likes to run - she sounds like the perfect running buddy!  Plus, I doubt she gets all mental about her results (or lack of).  I need to be more like her.

Funny Confession #305: Forgive the gross title of this post, I was trying to be funny.  I am funny.  Right, it was funny.

Race Report

These 2 were the stars of the day!  Ruling the kids run and loving the Olympic Stadium atmosphere!!!  This was P's first race, and she loved it.  

Note to Nike Running people...sometimes when I want to look girly but fast for race day I shop in the tennis section instead of the running section.  Loving this Sharipova tennis dress...I wish there were similar options for runners, with running details included (pockets, etc.).  

I was hoping (really hoping) for a PR in the half.  That didn't happen.  Not even close.  But the run was good and fun and parts of it were kinda fast.  

Finish line treats...

Who wants fruit when you can have poffertjes??

Outside the stadium.  Done!

P and I both wanted post race photos with our medals...she also has on wrist guards...from her skateboarding session.  Love that girl.  

If I wasn't going to PR, I said I'd at least like to be top 100 (women) so that my results would post on the first page of results.  I made that goal.  Barely.  I came in #100, phew.

I'm trying hard not to be mental about the fact (is it a fact??) that I may have peaked at this distance 2 years ago.  Tempted to blame yesterday's wind, because that is easier to accept than my mature age.  It was windy...but not sure wind can be blamed for a 5 minute time loss...it wasn't that windy.  OK, enough running obsessing.  For now.  Thanks for listening.

I am now going to look for a green shirt...surely there are still a few around town for the crazy people like me...the race organizers thought of everything!

PS - I just signed up for my next race.  A 10k.  Surely I haven't peaked at that distance...right?  We will see.  

Family Birthdays!

If this is what 84 looks like, sign me UP!  Happy Birthday Annie!

Sweet sister Michele - HBD to you too!  Your birthday...but we were the ones getting gifts (from you). We love our new books and we love you!

It's Game Day

Baby Love

Our Amsterdam family got 6lbs bigger 2 weeks ago when my friend LL had her third child.  

Baby Jett came a few weeks ahead of schedule, which meant his baby shower date did not shift, we gladly made room for one (teeny tiny sweet) party crasher.  

The party theme was "Made in Holland".  HB and I hosted, and as you can see we really commited to the theme.  

Welcome to the world sweet Jett!