True, she was just here for New Year's, but in the larger scheme of things (because New Year's will probably never happen again), THIS is the 3rd Easter in a row that she's been with us, with plans already for next year. THIS is the tradition!
And it never disappoints!
This time it was from Wednesday to Thursday (April 1-9), a full week of rest and relaxation with a few things mixed in to make it exciting.
Thursday, April 2, was a leisurely drive at lunch time, out on the back roads along the dijks to Fort Asperen, one of our new favorite cafés since she was last with us:
The fort wasn't yet open for the season (it's always closed while the bats hibernate there during winter),
but the door was "accidentally" open, so we peeked in so Amy could get a hint of it.
The lunch experience was exactly what we wanted and expected.
And because we had noticed some storks in nests on our way...
we drove a few miles away after lunch to visit the stork village in Herwijnen.
This is the time of the year the babies are being born, just like the lambs!
Friday, April 3, was our senior community's Easter luncheon, which Amy has now shared with us and our friends for the 3rd time. It's a good way for her to she how we live here in community and they love seeing her with us:
I make the mutjes/little hats (green, yellow, pink and purple) for the soft-boiled eggs that Astrid cooks.
And this year the daughter of one of our residents catered the meal through her company.
It was a huge winner.
Saturday, April 4, was Amy's day out with our best friends, Jeannette and Femke (J&F), to explore Rotterdam...without us:
We sent her off (left) to the ecstatic excitement of them all
and were very happy when Femke shared photos with us throughout the day (right).
Based on what we heard, it was a glorious day for like-minded friends!
Then it was Easter Sunday, April 5, when the goal was to just relax and BE:
This was Astrid's 3rd time to make the white asparagus meal for lunch,
a real winner for all of us!
And then, late afternoon, we walked the 10 minutes to the La Caponnière bunker café...
where once again we enjoyed a charcuterie platter.
It's now a tradition that Amy loves, ending our Easter celebration.
That brings us to Easter Monday, April 6, when, believe it or not, WE STAYED AT HOME the entire day, eating and playing Five Crowns. Actually, during all the in-between times, you can just assume we were playing Five Crowns: a total of 19 games altogether! And 4 movies plus a Repair Shop!
On Tuesday, April 7, we drove to Wijk bij Duurstede for Amy to see and drive through the only drive-through windmill in the Netherlands (and the world??):
Yes, that's our car with her in it.
We ate lunch at our favorite restaurant there, De Engle (The Angel), on the town square...
followed by a short walk to the ruins of the medieval castle still used for wedding venues:
To be honest, it's one of our favorite places to take visitors,
especially on a gorgeous day!
The town is such a delight to visit, also because we take a ferry (bottom-right),
coming or going, which is another fun experience to share with our guests.
Our last full day was Wednesday, April 8, when we spent the afternoon and evening with Astrid's family here where we live in Gorinchem:
We first picked up Hailey and Sem at lunchtime (with Wednesday afternoons off from school),
and drove to Woudrichem, across the Merwerde river, to eat pannekoeken on a barge.
It actually was a first for Astrid and me there, which we loved sharing with the kids
...and Amy!
Astrid is a great Oma, as you can see!
How fun is that!
Woudrichem, too, is a delightful place to take guests,
unless you're plumb tuckered out, of course?!
But once back at Jeroen's and Marissa's, we were all wide awake,
even Nova, who is now 9 months old!
Jaap is a great Opa, as you can see!
We all dug in for the "last supper" of Amy's trip.
It made for a grand celebration and ending to another beautiful visit.
Besides, it's that time of the year. Definitely a perfect time for traditions.
On Thursday, April 9, it was back to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport in the morning for her return to Atlanta.
THANK YOU, Amy, for yet another grand visit.
We LOVE this EASTER tradition!
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