Jewish Xmas Eve... Chinese food!

And our Christmas Eve ended Jewish style... with a Chinese feast at Oceania!

Lunchtime concert at the Concertgebouw

Our Christmas Eve started out with a free Lunchtime concert at the Concertgebouw.

Candle Lighting on the Dam: The Experience

This is what the Dam looks like just days before Christmas. Holiday shoppers are everywhere, there is a huge christmas tree brought in from Trondheim, Norway (where Monica and Daniel lived coincidentally) and it feels like winter!

Well, tonight, there was an addition... a HUGE Menorah that was going to be lit by the Mayor of Amsterdam. We watched from a huge group of Jews and non-Jews. Luckily it wasn't too cold so it was actually pleasant to stand outside on this lovely winter night to say the prayers and sing Ma'oz Tzur with the crowd.

Candle Lighting on the Dam

They mayor (burgemeester) of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, is coming out to the Dam (central square) to light a HUGE menorah (grote menora) tonight. Hopefully it won't be too cold because we plan on standing out there to enjoy the festivities.

It's still Hanukkah!

Where is he jetting off to now?

As MONday comes to a close over here in Amsterdam, I MUST MUST MUST post my new favorite picture of my favorite baby boy. Erik, you're the cutest thing!!!

Festival Crashers ChicBuds Video on YouTube

Accomplishment of the day

Today I joined a fitness center called Your Future! I hope to be spending a lot of time there in... MY future.

It's not a big flashy gym, it's just the right size for me... there are a few good machines and a couple of good classes every week. It should do the trick.


I think my favorite thing about this map is that it is not exactly accurate. The street is correct but the fitness center is on the other side of that main road, right across the street from the church.

Our street is also on this map. So, if you are at all familiar with Amsterdam then now you know the neighborhood we live in. FUN!
 

Happy Hanukkah!

Our new bikes!

Here is Dave and Theo and below is me and Stella. Off we go!

Albert Cuypmarkt

Sinterklaas came by to hand out fruit to the children!

When feeling slightly homesick...

Go out and find a Mexican restaurant!



Utrectsestraat at night.

Tourist vs. Local

When it's too cold to go outside...

We have these strange but super soft red chairs in our apartment that are a sure place to find a kitty at any hour of the day or night... if you happen to be looking for one.

Our new favorite place - Maoz

When you need a satisfying vegetarian meal, check out Maoz! It's our current favorite place to eat in Amsterdam. Quick & easy, affordable, nutritious & satisfying, we love it.

My new bike

It's hard to tell one from the other, but the blue one closest to the edge is my new bike. I'll take better pics of it soon. Now I really AM sterdam.
 

Happy one month anniversary to us!

Morning kitties

So that's what they think of Americans

I amsterdam

The breakfast staredown

Happy Birthday Husband!

Today my husband turns 29. Here he is in our apartment in Amsterdam snuggling under a blanket my mom knitted for us to keep us warm throughout the Holland winter.

OMG I live in Europe

This is a view of our street from our living room. So Amsterdam-ish!
 
And, here is a view looking up our street.

The kitties settle in

Our little kitchen!
 

Arriving in Amsterdam

On our way!!! It's snowy in Chicago.

We left San Diego early this morning and started out our long journey to Amsterdam. Right now we're in Chicago O'Hare airport connecting to our overseas flight. The kitties are doing great and so far it's been smooth sailing for us. Thanks to everyone for the happy travel vibes... they're working!!!

Last day in the USA

We've checked everything off our list, we've jammed our 6 suitcases full, we had our last decent Mexican food meal until next summer... we're ready to go!

And the bronze medal goes to...

MY BROTHER!

He places third for buying a plane ticket to come visit us in Amsterdam!!!

We have four scheduled visitors already and we're not even living there yet. :)

Packing, packing, and...

...more packing.

We are missing Sinterklaas!

Because we were supposed to have arrived in Amsterdam today, we had been looking forward to celebrating our first Sinterklaas. In the Netherlands there is a separate holiday for a Santa Claus-like figure earlier in December as opposed to in America where Santa Claus shows up on the 25th, Christmas Day.

Sinterklaas rides in on a white horse and people paint their faces black, I think these are the elf-like figures... anyway, it's a lot of fun and we thought we'd be there this year. I guess we'll have to wait to experience it in 2009. We'll be a lot less jet-lagged then.

Not leaving... yet!

We were supposed to depart for Amsterdam this morning but our visas were slightly delayed. Now that they are on their way our new departure date has been set: Tuesday, December 9th.

We're glad to have a few extra days in San Diego to get things done... our to-do list is crazy!!!