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...

Delft!

Several months ago we traveled to Delft during the Carnaval break. It's been on my to-do list of places to visit in The Netherlands since we moved here and we finally made it. What a cute place. Delft is a charming and atmospheric city. We had a quiet and relaxing weekend, a nice recuperation for Jaap following a busy Carnaval week. Here are some pics of our weekend. Sunshine and blues skies! And someone celebrated her seven month birthday while we were there. Feels so long ago...

Nieuwe Kerk

Oostpoort

Strolling the beautiful canals

Nieuwe kerk

Wonderful Weekend in Den Haag

Scheveningense bosje

Den Haag

A return to blogging...I was reading through my Croatia posts and started to think about how much I miss this blog. As I reread the posts, I realized there is so much from that trip I forgot about. It got me thinking about how much I miss documenting our lives and adventures. There is so much missing from this blog and I'm sad that I can't go back and read about it again. So enough of that. Back to the blog and Adventures with Jaap.

Binnenhof

Now that we are traveling with little Flora, our family weekend getaways and vacations are slightly less exotic, but just as fun. I knew that once we started a family we would be spending more time exploring The Netherlands and that's what we have been doing a lot this year. We went to Den Haag for the long Pinksteren wekend. I was once briefly in Den Haag for my immigration paperwork, but I have never spent a good amount of time here. This city is great. Very international, full of greenery, and a 20 minute bus ride to the beach. What's not to love?

Fun at the Escher Museum

We had lots of fun at the Escher Museum. (Thanks for the tip, Mom). Here's Flora having some fun with modern art. 

Saturday was our beach day and we went to Kijkduin for the morning. Flora got to touch/feel and explore sand for the first time and we got to stick our feet in the freezing cold water. I love watching her face when she experiences something for the first time...the silent pause and questioning look. Of course she then proceeded to try and eat the sand.

Peace Palace

My favorite part of Den Haag is all the nature. The city is full of parks, "forests", and tiny squares with greenery. It's truly unique and refreshing for city life. We had some beautiful walks with Flora through the Scheveningse Forest and the Clingendael.

A delicious dinner at ZOT!

The Japanese Garden in the Clingendael was a nice treat. It's only open a few weeks every year, so we were lucky to catch the last weekend. 

Our happy little traveler

Traveling is a little different now with a baby. Dinner at 5:00 (!) and some early wake up calls, but these little smiles are worth it. I could just eat these chubby cheeks. 

Hoensbroek Castle

Hoensbroek Castle

Now that we are slightly less mobile with a baby, we're exploring Limburg, the neighboring forests of Belgium and all that the region has to offer. I guess this was the plan all along. Have fun traveling and exploring other parts of Europe before we decide to have a family. Now is the time to enjoy what we have around us locally. 

Someone's not happy

I'm an American obsessed with castles. Since we don't have any structures this old in the U.S., I'm fascinated by them. I've wanted to visit Hoensbroek Castle since we moved here. Three and a half years later...we made it!

Feeling better :)

The scientist always has to stop to do a puzzle. :)

Nap time

Happy Anniversary Jaap!

Happy one year wedding anniversary to my partner in crime! A year ago (yesterday) we stood in front of our family and friends (me a blubbering mess) and entered this incredible journey of marriage together. What an incredible year it has been for us. You're an amazing husband and father. I can't imagine this adventure with anybody but you. 

All photos by Caylena Cahill
http://ccphotoandmedia.com/

Hikes in Hoge Kempen

Maastricht is very close to Hoge Kempen, a large National Park in Belgium with tons of hiking and bike trails. A few weeks ago we drove to Maasmechelen and had our first hike with Flora as a family.

As you can see, she loves sleeping on Papa in her baby carrier.

My mountain man hiking the trail

It was a weekend of firsts for Flora. Jeker Jazz was also in Maastricht with different jazz concerts throughout the city all weekend long. Flora enjoyed sleepig through her first jazz quartet at Cafe Falstaff while Papa enjoyed a beer. See... we can have a baby and still have a life. Yay for us!

 I had to include this picture. I'm just in love with this cute little face. Flora too. :)