Fun with Dutch Friends

While we were in the city of Leiden, we had so much fun visiting with our friends. Even though we don't get to see each other very often, it seems like we just pick right back up where we left off without missing a beat!

These are my two best dutch girlfriends - Janneke and Annelies! We have known each other for over 13 years! It was so fun to get together with them after so long... Annelies and Martijn are expecting their second baby in January and Annelies sure looks great! It was so fun to see her with the little baby bump. :) Here we are, sitting on the couch at her house after eating a delightful dutch spaghetti dinner!

Martijn carries both girls up to the house.

Martijn helping Annelies out by stirring the pot.

Here, Annelies' little girl Serra and Rachel are looking out the window at the busy city below. At one point, Serra put her arm around Rachel as they looked for a birdie! Sweet, huh? Here Annelies and I pose for a shot with our little girls! Annelies is such a great mother and you can tell she and Martijn are doing such a great job with little Serra because she is such a lovely child. I wish we lived closer and could get our girls together more often!

We visited with the Desars, long time friends of the family. Rachel walked with her Opa and Mrs. Desar through their beautiful garden.
Here I am with my good friend Aad Otgaar!
This is a shot from the city of Leiden with Serge, my father, me and Rachel.
Rachel and I after shopping in the city in front of the pond!
Corry, Jose, Serge and Rachel.
Corry and Leen reading a book with Rachel in their living room.

Having fun in the Netherlands

We made it here safe and sound and without too much trouble. Although Rachel did surprise us and didn't sleep until the last hour of our long flight! Needless to say, we walked up and down the isles a LOT!!! It was good practice for her and it kept her happy. She really enjoyed the airplane and did not cry when we took off or landed. She also loved seeing all the other passengers as walked by them! All in all, it was a success and we were happy to arrive in the Netherlands!!!

Here's Rachel eating her first meal at our friend's house - the den Os family. Isn't it a cute high chair? Our friend Serge used to eat in it as a little boy and his mom saved it for herself when she has grandchildren!

Here my friend Annelies and her daughter Serra are playing on the playground with Rachel. They call this the "wip" and Rachel really liked it! Annelies is 17 weeks pregnant and Serra is two and a half years old!

Here our friend Jose is feeding Rachel some vla. It is something really dutch - we don't have anything like it in the US. It is like a pudding, but creamier and not so thick. It is delicious and comes in many flavors. Rachel loved it and here she is eating the chocolate variety!

Corry den Os took us to a children's farm and she brought bread for Rachel to feed to the animals. Rachel really liked the goats, ducks, chickens and pigs. It was so cute to watch her and she kept saying "duck" when she saw anything resembling a bird!!!

You could tell she was truly enjoying herself!!!