Jan 18, 2010

The Roman Holiday







given the fact that this blog has been on a 4 month hiatus- enjoy some photos & a few sentences about recent adventures.

Pictured here is the Roman Forum, the family inside the Colosseum, the family sitting on the Spanish steps, St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, and the Colosseum at night. We thoroughly enjoyed our Roman holiday over Christmas, the history, beauty, art, food, and age of the city wowed us all. Kids were bribed with gelato to endure the sight-seeing. Borghese Galleria, with Bernini's sculptures, was Amy's favorite. The Sistine Chapel is remarkable as well. We were glad to see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, fountains, piazzas, Bocca della Verita, several churches, & the Capuchini Crypt (exerpt from a website)
The crypt of the church comprises five chapels, the floors of which are covered with earth brought from the Holy Land. Friars that were part of the Capucin community at this church were buried in that holy earth, but when the space was filled, bodies of the long deceased were dug up and dismantled to make room for new occupants. The bones of the disinterred – from some 4000 bodies dating between 1528 and 1870 – were then used to create intricate designs that cover the walls and the vaults of the chapels.

Jan 17, 2010

December




DECEMBER FESTIVITIES: Christmas tree, Christmas market, Sinterklaas arrives in Delft with Zwarte Piets

October/November 2009





The college pals (the Amys) rallied in Volendam, Lucas & Hailey turned 4 and celebrated with a racecar cake, Lucas was a cowboy for Halloween and we're still looking for Hailey's ladybug photo

Sep 28, 2009

God Bless the USA











Thank you to all our dear family and friends for a wonderful visit. We were thrilled to be back on American soil after 14 months away...

Week one was spent in Cape Cod with the DeNucci/Yirga/Degenkolb clan. Delicious homecooked meals and amazing seafood dinners at favorite restaurants. Lucas and Hailey were showered with love & attention by Sloopa, Oompa, Kiki, and "Uncle Chrissy." Tom and Lucas even waited out a rain delay at Fenway to watch the Sox with Uncle Chris Lloyd and cousin Andrew.

Week two was spent in Rhode Island and western Massachusetts. A few killer beach days, harmonious play with cousins, raspberry picking, catching up with friends, and more good eats- love red meat!

A few other thankfuls- Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Marshall's, speaking English, striking up conversations with strangers, expanded cable (in English as well), & variety in all things.

USA











USA








Beacom girls, beach bonfire, Angel, and Superman eating ribs


USA
















Aug 5, 2009

Summer













Quick update- we are having a fabulous summer with friends and visitors. Beaches are great and summer weather has come through for us; compared to last year's weeks of cold and rain. Everyone is happy and healthy. Lucas and Hailey are growing fast and gearing up for Dutch school in the fall. (Pics): Lucas loves water guns, water balloons in the back garden with friends, L & H blowing bubbles, and L & H laughing their hardest at a cartoon clip from the Incredibles.

Jul 24, 2009

July's Fun with Friends

























(Pics 1-2) The Reeds, of Springfield, MA, concluding their month long European vacation at the windmills of Kinderdijk. Enjoyed their company.

(Pics 3-4) The Meister family, of Arnold, MD, included Delft as a destination in their European vacation. Tom worked with Neil when they were both stationed in Seattle. We met Gretchen (now 9) when she was a little younger than Lucas and Hailey. It was awesome to catch up, show them around town, and eat dinner on our patio set by the canal.

(Pic 4) The youngins on animal statues: enjoying our membership to the Rotterdam Zoo with all our military pals.








Jul 13, 2009

Jul 11, 2009

Jun 24, 2009

A Few More Pics from Gozo/Malta
















Gozo













Citadel, Face in the Mountain, & Blue Window