Back to Seattle

So we arrived back in Seattle and stayed at our neighbor Joyce's house.  I went back to work about a week after we arrived.  It was a quick start back in life.  We were not able to get into our house until mid-May so we were able to stay with Joyce for a couple of weeks.  We were so lucky to have space and a place that welcomed us.

At Carkeek park enjoying it with our friends Robyn, Chris, Issac, and baby Nora!

Sylvie at our house before we moved in.

Having fun in Joyce's yard.

back at Cowen Park

Back at our house before our furniture arrived.  Joyce let us borrow some furniture and we made due with the bare basics.  It was nice to have our own space as we tried to get settled into our new life.  Both Archie and Sylvie were having a tough time adjusting.  There was a lot of crying, screaming, and trouble settling down.  

Archie had his first dentist visit!  All went well.  Campbell was doing a great job being with the kids full time.  Grandpa and Didi came to stay in Seattle and watch the kids for 3 weeks.  They even went to Corvallis for a week which helped as well.

We had a "special" trip to the ER when Archie wanted to wear these zip-up jimmies from Oren.  Except it all took a turn for the worse when he zipped his willie up.  Ouch.  So we went to the ER where everything came out of the zipper just as we checked in. But we still had to stay.  So Archie got to watch movies which he loved.  And the doctor gave him a stuffy - orca whale and that was appropriate for "free-willie".

We went to a bday part for some of the cousins kids.  It was really fun and Archie and Sylvie spent the whole time going CRAZY with the water and pool while all the other kids played quietly.  It was fun to catch up and see everyone.

Taking a bike ride along the lake.  The kids loved it and it was nice to get our dutch bikes out around the city.

We went to Boise for Grandma Marien's 100th birthday.  It was a lot of fun and hot!!  The kids had fun with their cousins and we had fun relaxing at different pools.  Good to have a break from life.

Last days in Breda

I am a bit behind on my posting.  We are back now in Seattle and I will try and recap as much as possible.  This blog is becoming more of a diary of our life than something to update the far off relatives and friends with.  No one is viewing it now that it is private.  So now I will keep it for our family.  It will be a good way for the kids to see photos and read the memories that they will likely forget.  So I will try and remember it for you and write down as much as I can.

Archie received a Recognition Award with his best friend Italo at school.  The two of them are peas in a pod and were gigging the entire time.  Archie was showing his belly and Italo was in giggles.

For their last day at school, Sylvie and Archie were the special helpers.  We also had a surprise for their favorite teacher Keri, for her wedding.  It made for a very special morning.  It was a fun morning but also tough.  I was teary and Archie didn't want to say goodbye.  He just ran away laughing when I tried to get him to say goodbye to anyone.  It was really heart breaking.  He just couldn't bring himself to acknowledge that he wasn't coming back.

During the week Italo turned 4.  He had a fun party in class and it was another special time to have before we left.  These boys love each other.

Keri made the kids some photo books.  We tried to get photos together but the kids were too wiggly and so we all tried sticking tongues out instead.

Playing outside with the kids for the last day.  They were able to stay the entire day which made it a great last day.

On our last day in Breda, we walked over to visit Italo.  The twins were sick so we just had a quick play outside.  Archie and Sylvie LOVE Italo and Italo is equally in love.  

And for the afternoon of the last day of school, we went for our last "Smurf" ice cream, the kids absolute favorite.  That flavor isn't in the US and they still ask for it now!

It was a good last week.  No more chores to be done, just friends to catch up with.  It was very difficult to say goodbye as we all knew that there is no chance that we will see one another soon.  It was also sad knowing that this would be our last week together since I would be going back to work the following week when we arrived in Seattle.  It was really hard to even envision what would lay ahead and how the kids would cope.  So much change for little people who didn't really understand.