Photo Shoot

I took the girls to have their photos taken last week. Wow, photo shoots with small children are A LOT of work. Maisy and Sophie were both in good spirits, but I don't think either of them would enjoy being child models! I hope these adorable girls bring a smile to your face.

This first photo is the only one with both girls smiling - while still sitting in a semi posed position!

They spent most of the photo shoot playing. We had to set up this white box for them to sit on because they kept fighting over the single blue stool. The box had a hole in the side which meant the box was more fun to crawl inside than sit on!

This photo depicts Sophie with a smirk on her face because she finally got to sit on the stool.

Maisy, walking away with the stool so that Sophie couldn't use it.


The next series of photos depict Maisy...refusing to smile for the camera

Maisy's decision not to smile was rooted in stubborness.

Sophie just doesn't smile unless she is laughing, and she didn't think the camera or my antics behind the photographer were particularly funny. Fortunately for Sophie, she even looks cute when she's serious.

Both of Sophie's dresses are handmade. The pink one I purchased at a local artisans market, and the blue one I purchased at a Dutch shop that sells donated craft items to raise money for single mothers. I wanted to buy a matching smocked dress for Maisy but they didn't have one.

Mom snuck in for a few photos at the end of the shoot.

Notice the placemet of Sophie's hand. Mom, is it dinner time yet?!

Tickling elicits wonderful smiles!

Our Daily Pre-School Ritual

I've posted about Maisy's Dutch pre-school previously, but now I have some photos to share. We all like to tease my dad for his obsession with taking too many photos, but in this instance his inability to put down the camera has provided me with a nice opportunity to share one of our daily routines with you!

Packing up for our bike ride to school. It takes me about 10 minutes to load up the bike,

and another ten to get to school from our house.

This stretch of the trip along our wide shipping canal can get pretty cold and windy!

Arriving at school. I unload the girls and take them inside to play.

Parents and siblings are invited to stay and play for the first 30 minutes.

I try to arrive on time because Sophie loves playing with the kids.

I always unload Maisy first because Sophie -my fulltime menace-

will take off on me if I let her get out first.

Maisy's school has a wonderful indoor play area on the first level.

This photo shows the sand box where the kids spend the first hour and a half playing.

They also have the option to play with toys outside the sand box (cars, planes, etc.)

but very few ever choose to leave the sand box.

Maisy's teacher, Wanda, is wonderful with the children. She enters their creative and imaginitive world...and plays on their level. And as a result, all the children love and respect her. I never see children fighting in her classroom. The children play happily together.

The next series of photos show the parents cleaning up the play area at the end of the day.

The parents show up 15 minutes early to clean. Participating at the start and finish of school gives me an opportunity to get to know the other parents and care givers.

Sophie loves to help. Keeping her out of the sand box is sometimes a challenge!

When the play area is clean, the students come downstairs to play for a final 15 minutes

on the bikes, indoor slide, or other gym toys the teacher brings out.

In the next photo Maisy is enjoying the tandom bike with her friend, Nikkimay.

In this photo Maisy is barely tolerating her little sister.

Sophe loves to ride the bikes and scooters.

Unfortunately for Sophie (and me), her legs dont reach the floor.

I spend most of those final 15 minutes pushing her around the room!

Maisy took me upstairs to show me her artwork.

Sightseeing In The City

Grandpa John arrived last Sunday morning. The girls have been in heaven. The weather has been cold and wet, but it hasn't stopped us from sightseeing. We let Grandpa sleep for a few hours to recover from his flight and then we set out to do some sightseeing in the historic center.

We all loaded onto our bikes and set off. Grandpa managed to keep up with me as I weaved through the city streets - often giving him little notice before turning down an ally or infront of stopped cars! Still excited by his morning arrival Maisy and Sophie kept turning their heads around to make sure we didn't loose him! I think grandpa was a little surprised that we made it to our destination in one piece.

Riding your bike in the historic center is always a challenge. The brick streets are narrow, sloped and bumpy, the canals are only a few feet away and don't have guard rails, and clueless tourists walk aimlessly without regard to bikers. It took me a full month before I was ready to navigate the city on a bike, but now I love the adventure. To truly experience Amsterdam, you have to take the plunge and get on a bike.

Sophie hanging out on my back while I consult the map on our way to the Museum.

Maisy and Sophie running around the courtyard at Amsterdam's Historical Museum.

Taking a rest on the steps.

The girls loved the armor!

Sophie didn't want to get up from the step that was just her size.

Loading Up

When we first moved to Amsterdam I was grateful that we didn't have a car. A life without children's car seats felt liberating. Bicycles seemed simpler. I still appreciate our bike, but I'm no longer convinced that it makes an outing with two children any less labor intensive. Maybe during the warmer months when jackets, hats, and mittens aren't required...but now that the cold weather has set in I find myself forever preparing for and then cleaning up from our multiple bike outings each day.

The girls are bundled and ready. Two hats, two helmets, two jackets, two mittens, a change of clothes and diapers for Sophie, a lap blanket and a map! We are finally ready to go.

I always have to load Sophie in first because if I leave her unattended on the sidewalk she will take off down the street with a big shit grin on her face.

In the chaos of packing for our trip I forgot to buckle Maisy into her seat. She is pretty good at reminding me when I forget, especially after Sophie was catapulted from her seat one sunny afternoon when I hit a bump in the bike path at the park and had forgotten to buckle her in!

Look behind Sophie's left shoulder. That's me bent down taking off the bike chain that has become the bane of my existence! I always seem to forget to take it off until the girls are loaded in their seats and piled high with bags and blankets. The chain is stored under their bench seat, so I have to take out all the bags and ask Maisy to lift her legs up in the air!

Daddy waving goodbye from our apartment window. He's smiling because he is about to spend the afternoon relaxing on the couch watching football in a quiet house. Ahh, what a luxury.

Bert watching us from our apartment window.

Our Beautiful Canal

We have a full moon in Amsterdam this week and it is beautiful.

We took this photo of our canal the other night on our way to the store.

A Cold Day In Amsterdam

Last weekend we braved the wind and cold (and runny noses)

and had our family photos taken. Enjoy!