Alright..

So, here I am.  Here we are.  My husband, Arnaud, our two little blond babes, Mila & Rémi and I moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Wassenaar, The Netherlands last summer.  It's been a really busy year and I've been wanting to share more and am only now finding the time to sit down and make it a priority.  It also feels good.

This isn't a blog about us "living in the Netherlands", although that is of course, where we now call home.  Instead, this is a journal of our lives, our experiences and anything I find inspiring.

My Grandma Zidarevich once gave me the best piece of advise.  Last year, I was crazy insane.  Hubby traveling all.the.time.  Two small kids at home.  Trying to rent our Michigan home and move to Europe.  I called Grandma and was a bit stressed, complaining about how I'm trying to manage it all and feeling like a failure.  Too many details, too much chaos.  She said to me, "Honey, when you are my age, you will realize that those ARE the best days.  The chaos, details, kids all become far and quiet when you are my age.  You'll get through it, but don't forget to enjoy it.  It's an adventure."

MAN, Grandma.  You changed me that day.  The Good Days Are Here.  Now.  Shut up, enjoy your moments, the nastiness, the kids running around you, because we all have purpose and I want to have fun on this ride called life.

Our village, Wassenaar

We got through the big move.  Found ourselves a cute 1930's 3 story Dutch Home in the village of Wassenaar, just 30 min SW of Amsterdam.  The Dutch Royal Family lives here and I hear their estate is only a couple of miles from us.  We are a mile and a half from the ocean and the kids love their school, although a learning institution where Mama has to say goodbye, in general, was a bit scary for Rémi for the first 3 months.  Mila is an amazing big sister and helps him with the transition.

We have a very small yard, but large lives.

Our "back yard"

Our 2 block walk to the center

We walk a lot and frequent the markets.  Leiden is an adorable town a couple of miles from us where Rembrandt lived and the pilgrims lived before heading to England and hopping on the Mayflower.  Blew my mind the first time I saw their little neighborhood.

Leiden

We are also only 10 minutes from The Hague, which is a great city but since I am utterly incapable of driving there, I tend to go into Amsterdam more often.  I think the city is easier, for some reason.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam 

Amsterdam

Life is good for us here.  It rains a lot and biking of course, is huge.  With our new bakfiets, we have a fun commute to school and I, consequently, have a better ass.

View from my bakfiets