Welcome Waz

We just returned from a week in Turkey.   Sometime soon I'll tell you all about it.  For a preview - check my last few instagram posts (on the right).  But right now we are putting clean sheets on the beds and waiting for Team Waz to roll in!  So excited to share our city with them!  W is waiting outside, P is glued to the window.

50 Years!!!

Extremely handsome young guys always try to get close to B.E.

 But ever since highschool, she has only had eyes for this stud.

Today B and E celebrate 50 years of marriage.  And we send them our love.

Summer in the City

So much to love about summer in the city, especially this city.  Lately, we have been enjoying blowing bubbles in the bakfiets as we roll through town, soaking up the summer energy and sunshine.

We keep busy and cool (not that we are ever too hot here) by hitting up the fountain scene (favorites include Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark and Beatrix Park).

We eat lots of ice cream with friends and by myself after the kids go to bed.

We deal with tourists, lots of them.  Sometimes we take their picture - see below, nerd alert.  Usually they take ours...as they point at our bike.  We have gotten really good at hamming it up for their cameras.

We are also being tourists ourselves, and loving it!  Some really good friends arrive in a week and we can't wait to host and share this our city with them.

As much as we are loving summer in the city, I do have to say that I enjoyed and agree with the POV of Wim Pijbes, the Director of the Rijksmuseum.  

Portuguide

Before we take that next vacation...I want to get this post posted.  If you (or anyone you know) ever plan a trip to the Algarve region of Portugal...read this first.  If I ever go back, remind me to read this first.

Eat:
Octopus...Casa do Polvo, Santa Luzia
Amazing food under a fig tree, magical outside space - Casa do Campo
Really cool outside space, good pizza - Casavostra 
Piri Piri Chicken - O Teodosio
Fruit stands...on the side of the road...best peaches and oranges of our lives

Beaches:
Praia do Rocha
Praias dos Tres Castelos
Salema (cool tiny town and beach)
Praia dos Pescadores (here we are there)
Camilo 

Fun:
Take a break from epic beaching to ride the slides at aqualand.  Sounds cheesy, but it is very sweet and small and clean and simple - fun for all ages.  We went twice, in July, and it wasn't crowded at all.

Buy:
Pottery!  Town of Porches has great shops.  Buy something.

Photo du jour

Damn, I'm good

Vacation doesn't start until tomorrow...but already it's fabulous.  

Run With Me, Along The River, Again

I'm pretty sure I've already posted photos of these houses once or twice before...but I just adore the homes along the Amstel River.  When I run there, I can't help but stop and take pictures (and I'm not even out of shape.).

I need to meet this Anna chick...her hoeve (above, close up below) is dope.

HBD Papa Jean!

Happy Birthday to this guy, the one on the left.  We love him.  Love IS love, and we love you Papa Jean!

Bring It On

We are really loving summer in the city.  But today, the weather got to us, and the kids and I decided that we are ready for our next vacation.

Funny Confession #298

When you are just a little (1km) into a little (5km) run...it is totally fine to stop and rest your legs if you stumble upon a tree swing that looks like this.

Funny Confession #297

I think Jay and Bey were inspired by Birdie and Bry...

OK, not really.  It's not really true that B&B inspired Jay and Bey.  Really, its not.

The amazing portrait above is but a part of the incredible "Carter Family Portrait Gallery", which I am in love with.  My girl KK would also looooove this so much - she loved all things Bey (what's not to love?).

American Gothic, Carter style is my favorite of the collection.  But below are a few others that make me smile.

Funny Confession #296

I have previously admitted this nugget about how I tend to match my digs.    Well, it's not just my clothes (and food)...it's my nails too.

I have been wanting to do fresh polka dots for a while...inspired by KS.   I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.  P got in on the dots too.

Only a really great friend would celebrate my acquisition of a fab antique dresser by gifting me matching polish. 

A tres belated "merci" to HB, for knowing me well enough to give the perfect gift and helping to turn a non-occasion into a gift-worthy occasion, LOVE.

Now please pretend you don't see that the rug is wrinkled up...