Actually, let's start with a MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE dinner with Astrid's ex, Jaap, at our nearby Metropole restaurant...our 3rd year in a row! It's a tradition now that keeps on giving, filling all 3 of us with joy:
Plus a meal to die for:
Venison carpaccio, hare's-leg bitterballs, wild-duck rollade, and dessert.
All for the record, as I say!
Now to HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It started with daughter Amy's arrival at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, from Atlanta, on Monday, December 29. It's a longer story than this but the flight had been planned long before any of us knew g'son Nicholas would move to Phoenix, AZ, to help open a new J Alexander's restaurant. Amy changed things up to be with him for Christmas AND with us, with only 24 hours in between flights. Like I said, a longer story than this.
But Amy's visit, however long/short (Monday to Friday, instead of Saturday to Friday), was an unexpected Christmas gift for us...and New Year's, all wrapped up in one.
After a day to settle in, doing nothing but BEING with each other (eating, catching up, and playing Five Crowns), we spent 10 hours on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, with our nearby dear friends, Jeannette and Femke (J&F), eating, catching up, playing Sjoelen, eating again, toasting in the new year...
and ending with an hour's worth of fireworks.
[video credit: Astrid]
It was Amy's first experience with how Europe celebrates the New Year vs America.
(Our American fireworks happen country-wide on July 4th.)
The very next day, Thursday, on January 1st, we spent the afternoon at Jaap's with our immediate family here, including all 3 children from Jeroen (Hailey 7) and Marissa (Sem 7) and together (Nova, now 6 months).
In no particular order, let the photos speak for themselves!
[photo credit: Jaap]
Speaking of Jaap, he's the best Opa ever!
[photo credit: Jaap]
It was my first time to see Amy holding a baby since her son (Nicholas) was born 25+ years ago!
Talk about warming the cockles of my heart!
[photo credit: Jeroen]
The very next morning, Friday, at 6:45 am, we drove Amy back to Schiphol for her 10:45 flight back to Atlanta.
We had a thin layer of snow that Friday morning (top image),
followed by more snow a day later (bottom image) and more snow today, Sunday.
And just like that we've entered the new year, 2026! Who knows what this year will bring (with the noise of Venezuela, Epstein, Ukraine, Epstein, Greenland, Epstein, and, and, and...ringing in our ears)! Who knows, indeed!
And yet we all repeat, from the depths of our hearts and souls....
HAPPY NEW YEAR
What a wonderful week of family! Happy New Year to you both!
ReplyDeleteThank you most kindly, Marie!
DeleteOhh what a photo treat! Just beautiful to see you all together. I love the two fisherman sweaters knit by Astrid 💗 That was quite the turnaround for Amy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth, especially for remembering that Astrid knit our fisherman sweaters. And, yes, it took Amy until she got back home to finally get back to "normal."
DeleteIt looks like you had wonderful family holidays.
ReplyDeleteThey are all very happy colleagues.
And the children are so cute.
Yes, indeed, Marjolein, and thank you. We were so fortunate to share all the important people with Amy on this special occasion!
DeleteThank you for making this post, Ginnie. All the celebrations at the end of the year were very special. Amy for sure was the trooper here to have those flights right after each other. I am so glad that she was able to celebrate with us. The snow came as a nice surprise.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
I love that you share these memories with me, Astrid, and totally "get" the importance of them all. Thank you for being my Partner in Crime...as well as in Love. Always!
DeleteFor some reason I haven't been getting your posts...but perhaps the NEW YEAR brought me this one! I'll take it! Loved seeing everyone in the photos...and here's to both of you...a HAPPY NEW YEAR...(ignoring the shit happening for this moment!) xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteSorry...that above comment is from me...Robin (USA - AZ - NYC)
ReplyDelete