First few days

Tuesday July 12th 2022

While the kids were at the pool with Erik this morning and I was reorganizing the suitcases, my friend Alyssa texted to let me know she was on the way for a quick hug on the parking lot. She had to go to work so we only had a 5-minute moment, but it was so nice!!! And it fit right into the way that we have been in touch over the past year. We had decided before we left that we would try to call whenever we would have a minute, not having to worry whether it would fit the others schedule. Rather have quick hello’s more often, then long talks that we had to plan. It worked out perfectly and so this quick hug was perfect!!!!

After the kids and Erik came back, we left the hotel and got on the road to Katie and John’s house. It sounds like quite the undertaking but it was something like: Get in the car with all kids and all suitcases, then enter the street, take a right, then another right, follow this road to the end, take a right, a left, another left and there they were….waiting for us on the porch. While writing this this blogpost my tears are creeping up in my throat again. I cannot describe how it feels to be here and see the people I love so much again. Its an insane ride that we are on, but I’m loving it!!!

After our first hellos, the tour through our bed & breakfast 😉, which I must say Katie has outdone herself, we had drinks and delicious lunch etc. The kids were so happy to see each other again!!! After lunch we went to see our friend Leslie. It is so weird to drive around town which we can do with our eyes closed still. After seeing those wonderful faces, we went back to Katies as our friends Alda and Alyssa would come over for appetizers. I cannot even tell you how full my heart is after seeing all these wonderful friends today. The kids just continued where they left of last year as if no time had passed. Boy, have I missed these playdates/gatherings. We had so much fun!!!

And then they came out with a BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW birthday cake for me!!! And they all sang “Lang zal ze leven” (Happy birthday in Dutch) for me! Talking about feeling the love!

It really was as if no time has passed! I got the question how I feel a lot, not only that night, but over text, on fb etc and to be honest….I don’t know. The best answer is probably that I feel everything, all the emotions mixed up, going up and down and more. Am I happy, sad, relieved??? Yes, but no….I don’t know. It is funny to write this as I know so many of you don’t really understand, but also so many of you (probably mostly the people that do or have done this kind of thing) know exactly what I mean.

When I am crying I don’t even know if it is happy tears or sad and all. It is so weird and I decided to just embrace it as I am sure not able to control it. What I can say is that my fear of how it will be when we leave in 4 weeks has not been going away, it only grew. But I am able to just put it aside, sometimes after venting it to Erik or to whoever is lucky enough to be around when it comes up lol.

The night was PERFECT! We ended it with fun shenanigans and some group pictures which I love and will share soon as well.

We slept really well from the beginning and had no issues at all with jetlag, which is awesome and so helpful!

Wednesday July 13th 2022

When I woke up this morning, I heard people downstairs and also a guys voice but I figured that was Katies dad who also lives in the house. When I went downstairs though it turned out to be our friend John who was away for work and we wouldn’t see him until end of July. But he had the day off and drove home as a surprise. Him and Nynke made a delicious real American breakfast of American pancakes and bacon and eggs. It was so nice!!

After breakfast and catching up Erik and I took the kids to run some very essential errands, we visited our friends TJ, Maxx and Target😊. The plan was to shop, which we did, only I am afraid that I will have to go back as the only stuff we bought had Pim and Nynkes name on it…(but isn’t that what moms do😊).

After shopping Erik dropped me off at Barrels & Boards to have lunch with Tristin who unexpectedly had the day off. So we enjoyed a delicious lunch with only the two of us. I missed catching up like this, even though we didn’t get to do a 1 on 1 that often even when living here. After lunch I grabbed my bathing suit to go to Edgewood (local pool where Katie has a membership). She had already gone there with all the kids and Erik and John decided to go ride their bikes together.

When I got there I saw Rachel and the kids and another friend Holly, it is so nice to see everyone and see how big all the kids have gotten.

When we almost wanted to leave, Erik and John showed up to take a swim after a very hot bike ride. The kids were so excited to have the guys show up.

After that we went home and John and Katie grilled out and made a delicious dinner. I sure can get used to this😉. After dinner Katie and I sneaked away to go run some errands. We went to the dollar tree which turns out to be the dollar and 25 cents store now lol. And we also went to the Walmart for a bit. It feels so familiar to walk around those stores. It even smells familiar.

After that my battery literally ran out and it was bedtime. How wonderful this day was, I got to spent quality time with both Tristin and Katie, what a treat!!!! Can’t wait for everything else that is coming our way the coming 4 weeks!

XO Wen

(Pictures to follow, or you can see them on my facebookpage)