Look Ma! No training wheels!!

Training wheels

First try in a nature park

Natalie so happy for him!

Almost in the fence

All pro!

Thijs learned to bike without his training wheels a couple of days ago. It took a few tries to get his balance and after that ... there was no turning back. Good thing there are a lot of farm roads and bike paths here where he can practice. The faster he goes, the better the balance. Now he can bike with us when we go places. The traffic rules are still pretty tricky as the kids are just not used to biking in traffic. They looks like normal Dutch kids biking to the store but they have no concept of staying on the right side of the bikepath, stopping in the middle of the road just because and right away. Keeps everybody on their toes and makes for a entertaining ride.

Holland, home sweet home?

Holland, a country below sealevel, land of cheese, tulips, windmills, wooden shoes, lots of rain, chocolate sprinkles on bread for breakfast, drop (licorice) and memories from long ago.

It is weird to think I have been gone for almost 20 years. Every time I am here there is a certain feeling that I get. Like I am "home". Family is still here and a few friends I email with and visit when I am here, but other than that... its the familiarity.

We have been here a week now and I think we have settled in really well. Jetlag was minor and there were no sleepless nights. We spend our days riding our bikes to visit animals on some farms in the area, going for walks, playing soccer and hanging out. It relaxing not to have a schedule, no homework to worry about, no after school activities.... I love it here and its nice to be back.

Summer is here . . .

Finally, school is finished. No more schedules, no more homework, no more getting up at 630am! Our last day of school was on Thursday and after many tears and saying goodbye to the wonderful teachers, aides and friends we made this past year in 2nd Grade and Pre-School, the next chapter is in the making. Our closets are just about empty as most of our clothes are in suitcases ready to go with us tomorrow on our almost 9 week tour of Europe. I LOVE summer, but here in Singapore its always sad. We have so many friends relocating this year, either back to the US or other international assignments. I am taking my laptop and will post while we are on summer break. We will be back on August 7th. School starts on August 11. Natalie will be going to 3rd grade and Thijs to Pre-Kindergarten. I will be Head Room Mom for the Early Childhood Center again and will start a new "job" as Sales Coordinator for an organization called Tabitha (http://www.tabithasingapore.com/about/index.asp). Lots to look forward to.