Camping Adventures

Our month long vacation in New York included a three night camping stint. Saying it was great is an understatement. We had a blast! The only thing we regret was not making our camping trip even longer. 

Rainbow Falls on the Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen

Hanging with cousin Joey

My first thought when planning this trip was that it could be really great or the worst idea ever. Turns out, Flora's a nature lover! She was happy as a clam anytime we were outdoors, hiking, roasting marshmallows (WAY past her bedtime), or hanging out in the campsite. She loved it. I'm glad that she is turning into one happy little traveler.

Breakfast at the campsite

I have so many great childhood memories of camping in Watkins Glen. I got a little nostalgic on our picnic lunch break while hiking the gorge trail. My father said it best, "Well, you've come full circle." So true. It's time to share these fun family traditions with our daughter. I already have ideas for next summer's camping adventure...

Home Sweet Home: Visiting Olana

Our day at Olana with my nephew was by far the best day of this vacation. Every time we travel to visit my family, Jaap and I like to explore something that we haven't seen together in the Hudson Valley. Having grown up in the Hudson Valley, many of the sites, parks, and places we visit are not new to me, but new for the two of us to explore together. I've developed a greater appreciation and admiration for the beautiful region that I grew up in. Jaap proposed to me two summers ago across the river. We could see Olana in the background up on the mountain. It's something we've wanted to go back and visit ever since.

Having grown up just across river from this site, I have many memories of Olana as a very young child. I was nervous about taking my nephew there because I wondered how much a 9 year old boy would really enjoy touring a historic site. I was impressed by how much he enjoyed it; asking questions to the tour guide and seeming to be genuinely interested in the life of Fredrich Church and the house itself. We were off to a good start!

Olana is a large, Persian inspired mansion built in the 1800s by Fredrich Church, one of the famous Hudson River School painters. We followed an indoor tour of the home and learned about the Church family's world travels and what inspired them to build Olana. 

View of the Hudson

Now, on to the fun stuff. After our cute little picnic lunch in the grass (complete with Jaap teaching Joey how to burn ants alive with a magnifying glass), I watched on as Jaap and Joey flew the kite we purhcased in Mystic, CT through the fields of Olana. Beautiful sunshine and the perfect amount of wind.

It was a day full of art, history, exercise, and nature, followed by a stop at Friendly's for some ice cream. (This was my favorite part). We finished our day together with an art project back home. Fun times.

Living in the Netherlands and being so far away from family make me appreciate these moments together much more. From beginning to end this day was perfect. And what better way to end the day with a free haircut from your 2 year old niece back at the house.

Home Sweet Home

Cafe con leche at Floridita= best coffee in NYC

My favorite New Yorker

Jaap and I spent the first two weeks of May visiting family and friends in NY. It's always good to come home and this time we got to celebrate the pregnancy (complete with a surprise baby shower!) with family and friends. 

No trip to NY would be complete without an evening with Shannon, my best friend, and our NY buddies. After a night out on the Lower East Side we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Floridita. If you want the best coffee in NYC, go to Floridita and order a cafe con leche. It's up on the West side on 125th St and Riverside Drive. 

Sculpture art on Park Avenue

My niece Elin enjoying the Baby Shower

Mastura & Mom

BFFs forever

The Pardo Family

What was planned as a casual lunch with my aunts turned out to be a surprise baby shower complete with Muppets! Thanks to my amazing sister and mother for organizing the day. It was such a great surprise to see our closest famiy and friends there. What a day. We got so much great stuff for the baby and Jaap was able to celebrate in Muppet style. We felt very loved. Now we just wait for the little Jansen-Pardo to arrive!

The Kermit Diaper Cake made by Catherine Pardo

Autumn in New York

"Autumn in New York". Does life get any better than this? Fall is my favorite season and we could not have asked for a better day walking through Central Park in NYC. Sunshine, fall foilage in full bloom, and family. It was a nice relaxing day leading up to our wedding the following weekend. 

Beautiful sunshine behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pop & Joey

Making a wish

Me & Mom at the Bethesda Fountain

Strolling the Mall in Central Park. I felt like we were walking through a painting. What's better than this? Okay- perhaps Paris in Fall is a close second. :)

Our Holidays in NY

Adventures with Jaap has seriously been neglected the past few weeks. Life is busy, but in a good way. Too many things happened in New York to write about. Lots of catching up with family and friends and some heavy duty wedding planning. So, here is a quick post (mostly pictures) of our Christmas holiday.

New York is my favorite place to be during the holidays. The tree, the shoppers, decorated store windows, and the lovely lights of 5th Avenue. It's really a magical place during Christmas.

Visiting the tree & Rockefeller Center

Nothing says Christmas like Cartier tied up with a big red ribbon

Visiting The Met

Here's Jaap at FAO Schwartz on 5th Avenue creating his original 'What Not' Muppet at the Muppet Workshop.  As you probably know, Jaap is an officially Muppet collector.  (This was a highlight of our trip). With the new Muppet movie out in the U.S. we were surrounded by Muppet mania.

Later on we met up with some of my favorite New Yorkers. One of my favorite thing about coming home is catching up with these wonderful people. Good times!

Susan, Michael & Shannon 

My best NY friend and our signature pose

The annual Secret Santa gathering of my friends from home is always a good time. Most of us have known each other for 25 years and in some cases since birth, literally. It's a strong bond we share and I'm happy our traditions hold strong. (We've been exchanging gifts for 17 years!)

Playing games with my nephew, Joey, on Christmas Eve

The Pardo Family Christmas Tree '12

Excited for gifts

Jaap sporting gifts knitted by Aunt Carol

 Jaap and I took my nephew up to Minnewaska State Park after Christmas for a chilly hike and some fresh air. One of my favorite things about going home is seeing mountains! Although the Dutch seem to think Limburg has 'mountains'. (They're called rolling hills, but don't tell them that).

Playing more games/discussing strategy

With Diane and the cute belly bump

We went to Pennsylvania to visit with my roomate and good friend Diane and her husband Chris for the New Year. It was nice to catch up and celebrate all the exciting things happening in our lives.

Chris (with the help of Jaap) smoked some ribs for New Year's dinner. Deliciousness!

We were able to spend lots of quality time with my mom, sister, and Joey over the vacation. Time flew by and I was sad to see our visit come to an end. Good byes at the airport are always hard, but I think this one was particularly difficult because we won't be going back to NY until October for the wedding. I miss being a part of my family's life on a regular basis and sharing moments together with them. But we are back in Maastricht now and enjoying 2012, already planning for our trip back to NY when we say "I do"!

Hiking in Cold Spring with Jaap & Mom