I'm Ba-ack!

So the first thing that distracted me from the interwebs was our two-week trip to the Netherlands, 'way back in June. We (J, his mother, and I) were invited to celebrate an aunt's milestone birthday so we seized the opportunity to spend time with family members and friends, some of whom we hadn't seen since our last trip to NL. Which was... last century.

Here's J with just a few of his beautiful cousins. See the family resemblance?

And here's J's mom (second from right) with her sisters:

















We also visited with J's "second mom," a close family friend who aided and abetted their move to the USA in 1979. Thanks, Jolien!

















We walked around a number of fortified cities, including Gorinchem, Middelburgh, Heusden, and Zaltbommel. We crossed big rivers on little ferries.

















We ate. A lot. Including my first herring (gross!).







































It was cold and rainy almost the whole time, but it cleared up enough one day for a leisurely bike ride through the countryside.


















We spent the last three days in Haarlem, where we attended an organ concert at the cathedral and discovered the Teyler Museum. Most wonderful.







































And did I mention? There were a lot of lovely shoes.