Cousins
It's been almost five years since I lost my hero, my Oma. I still miss her almost every day. I'm an Oma now too. I'm a little older than she was, but not much. It's hard to imagine that one [...]
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‘s-Hertogenbosch
Tess has decided she'd like to stay in Europe. At least through college. This made my mommy-heart sing because not only are we staying another five years, but college is so much more affordable here. But. It meant getting us [...]
Quick Tip: Making Vellum
I'm furiously working on books over here. It's my go-to Christmas present. What else would I give? I recently started doing one for me too. A year of Toiny, if you will. Of course my beloved Scottish moo's have a [...]
Proud Mom Moments
Technology is awesome! Back in the 70's, when I first moved to California with my parents, we got letters once a month from family in Holland. Letters written on super thin, super light weight, special airmail stationary. My Oma would [...]
He’s Here!
First we had the engagement, then The Wedding, then the pregnancy announcement and now the baby! I think we can stop now with all the excitement because, obviously, this little guy is all we'll ever need. Isn't he perfect? Early [...]
Wanderstöcke mit Abzeichen
I am walking better & better every day (Pride Before Fall). Which, therefore, means I'm walking too much every day. I start off strong, almost normal, and as the day wears on I lean more, crouch more, and turn into [...]
One Ray of Sunshine
I am wallowing in memories today. My Oma would've been 104 this coming Monday. This time of year is not just Christmas, but Oma's birthday. This time of year my mom used to fly over. This time of year is [...]
The Wedding Quilt
I lied. One more wedding-ish post. It's not truly wedding, more wedding adjacent. I am many things: mom, wife, grandmother, daughter, store owner, scrapbooker, gardener, snowboarder, giraffe's best friend & quilter. Quilting is the twin sister of scrapbooking. Quilting is [...]
‘s-Hertogenbosch
It's hard to believe it's already been a week since I went "home" (De Binnendieze). Not that 's-Hertogenbosch is my actual hometown, but it is my moms', Omas' and so many of my family members. It's where I go when [...]
De Binnendieze
Sometimes you just need family. On Sunday I bustled Tess & Dane into the ol' VW and drove to Den Bosch (officially known as 's-Hertogenbosch, birthplace of my oma, my mom & countless family members). It was a gorgeous day. [...]
A Black Forest Wedding
Two weekends ago we were invited to our very first German wedding. I had no idea what to expect, and that always makes me a bundle of nerves. I hate to do the wrong thing. I worry about inadvertently insulting [...]
The Animals of Beekse Bergen
We spent half of Dane's birthday week at vacation park Beekse Bergen. He has two weeks of Pfingstferien (Pentacost holidays? Whitsun holidays? This one is a little bit of a mystery to me.), and we were in Holland anyway (Pimp [...]
Ted & Anne-Marie & Thieme
Our whirlwind family week is over! It is sadly quiet in my house without cousins here to keep the laughter going. I admit to spending Monday in a funk with "only" my three youngest & Dave around. There's a reason [...]
Zoë and Heidi visit Stuttgart
After we said goodbye to Hans (Saying Goodbye), we met Zoë and Heidi (cousins on my mothers side) down the street at the local supermarket. It may have been only a day trip to Holland. It may have been for [...]
A Final Goodbye
I want to thank all of you for your lovely, kind, warm notes. I was overwhelmed when I opened my mailbox Thursday morning. My Oma was my hero, and I am thrilled she touched so many of your lives as [...]
Fall in Amsterdam
I completely, totally, forgot my camera on Thanksgiving. It was right there on the sideboard, ready to document & cement our memories. This was also the year of the perfect turkey. It was juicy, amazing, and a gorgeous golden brown. [...]
Mouse-quiet
Because I've been lonely lately (thought Dave's birthday dinner helped amazingly), because my Oma turns 100 next month, I've been looking at a lot of old photo's. And I've realized I'm lonely partly because my house is so empty. I'm [...]
Eigenwijs
Do you know what is worse than going to the funeral of my beloved Aunt? Going to see Oma the next day. The minute she saw us, she started to cry. It literally broke my heart into pieces and I [...]
Tante Marianne
There is sunshine and light and laughter in every one of my days. Even my dark days. On the days when life has me down, things are not going my way, when I just need to cry. There are always [...]
Quit Baking a Cake!
Everything gets a little easier with time. Even being in a far away land without my big boys. My life is slowly getting back to normal after Soren's whirlwind visit, excepting the pile of snowboards in my living room. We [...]