It's summer...but we're still in school!

Here's how it goes in our ward at church - all the American School kids get out of school and start partying for summer at a reasonable time, in June.  All of the poor international school and Dutch school kids are stuck in school until July.  JULY!  So we sing...

Oh what do you do in the summer time when all the world is green?

Do you swim in a pool OR are you stuck in school

Till the middle of JULYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Is that what you do?  So do I!

Actually, part of me has come to love the easy breezy super quick 6 week summer.  No one has a chance to get bored, they don't forget everything they learned in school, and we don't have this big crazy back to school prep feeling that we used to have.  It's just like an extra long Christmas break.  Yes, the 6 week break I can handle.  Waiting until the middle of JULY for it is the hard part.  Here's how we have kept on keeping on...

Riding bikes - here's the "parking lot" pickup at after school

Crazy Hair Day

That's a blue mohawk

Minnie Mouse bow

Cupcake Buns

Ava grew some cilantro in her class, and we had cilantro-lime rice with our dinner one night

Carver and his super fun Canadian teacher

Carver and his pals from Mexico, Pakistan, and India.

Ava and her Scottish teacher with the best accent in school

Ava with friends from India and England

Elsie and her teacher from St. Maarten

Kaydree with the only American teacher at the school

Kaydree and friends from Korea and India

Twinsies with their best pal from Turkey

We love our international school - even if we have a very long wait for summer!

Kimmie's Visit

About 2 years ago I had suggested to Kimmie, one of my all time favorite friends, to come visit me in Holland.  She finally took me up on my offer and I'm so glad she did!  She was in my stake when I was growing up, so we go wayyyyy back to girls camp days.  Then in college, we were both at BYUI at the same time - so of course we have the memories of annoying roommates, bad boyfriend choices, and road trips.  We have kept in touch, but we haven't talked and really caught up in years.  It was so fun to travel together, catch up, and laugh about old times.  

Zaanse Schans

Kimmie has perfected the art of the selfie stick selfie.

Amsterdam

Brugge, Belgium

Burg Eltz Castle, Germany

Paris, France

I made such a rookie mistake and headed to the Louvre on a Tuesday when it's closed!  Sorry Kimmie!

First time at Laduree - won't be the last!

Lots of instagram-ing going on.

Love ya like a sister Kimmie!  Can't wait for an excuse to travel together again!!!

Bennett - 7 months

A 7 month post for my little dude who I spend the majority of my time with.  He goes everywhere with me...

Grocery Shopping

Hanging out in Paris

The Louvre

Early Morning Wakeup Call

Chillin' with Mommy Jr.

Bennett is growing so fast!  He is still such an easy going fun baby to have around.  I have been so blessed with his mild temperament - he is just what our family needs.

Hofplein Theater Performance

Every other year, De Blijberg International Primary School does a big end of year show at a local theater.  They do a really great job of preparing for it.  Each class wears matching shirts and choreographs a performance.  They always have a theme too.  In Kaydree's first year here, they all did performances from musicals.  It was awesome!  I was really looking forward to the show this year and the theme ABBA and Michael Jackson (greatest hits from each).

Before the show...

C is moonwalking!

A quick shot at the theater after I put on some stage makeup (per there insistence)...

Follow the links to watch each child's performance.  They were SO entertaining!  Poor Ryan was still stuck in the hospital and was sad to miss the show.  I tried my best to capture it all on film.  Thanks to the Aitkens (Annie & Grace), I was able to film and watch the show with Bennett by my side!

Kaydree doing Abba's Money, Money, Money:

https://youtu.be/Yj44D5DOyLk

Carver doing The Jackson 5's I want you back:

https://youtu.be/AE5-qjrRXcs

Elsie doing Abba's Mamma Mia:

https://youtu.be/5N8Ku7fhXko

Ava doing Abba's Voulez Vous:

https://youtu.be/NiwAbrPo5PY

Bravo Kiddos!!!

Bennett - 6 months

Mr. B is a dream baby.  He still naps like a newborn, yet he sleeps through the night most of the time. I can't think of 1 single complaint about the kid.  He is simply the perfect baby...

Ryan spent some time in the hospital this month.  Bennett had a good time visiting him each day.  He gets so excited when he hears Ry's deep booming voice.  He loves his Daddy...

We took a much needed break from the hospital to enjoy some sunshine at the park.  B loved playing with the grass.  He was so excited about it...

We love this baby boy!