What's On My Happy List?

April!

I was able to go to Atlanta 

with Jaren for the 

National School Board Convention

in early April...

We were able to do a little sight seeing...

 Coke-a-Cola factory...

Taste tested different kinds of 

Coke flavors

from around the world..

Had some yummy food...

Sweet Stack Creamery was worth

the walk to get there! lol

Heard a very inspirational speech

from a military veteran turned

Para Olympian.

Was able to attend an Atlanta Braves

baseball game...

That was great fun!

Our hotel was crazy cool.

{A scene from the Hunger Games was

filmed at this hotel.}

We got to check out this lounge at the 

Vegas airport on our layover home...

It was so nice...

It was quiet, had big private bathrooms 

and free food!

********************

Hannah and Brady got their engagement photos back...

*************

My man and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary!

Go us! lol

***************

Our Easter celebration!

Our Egg Crackoff Competition

Emmsie was our winner this year

and got the big egg with the money inside!

Our free for all Easter bunny treats....

***************

We attended the Pirates of the Caribbean

Symphony at Abravanel Hall!

***************

They brought Pride 'n Prejudice back into 

the theaters...

so that was a must see for us! lol

***************

Dinner Group!

*************************************

We also went to Europe in April!

{get ready for a photo dump}

😂

We had been planning this trip 

for well over a year. Trip for 10...

compliments of credit card travel points. 

Flights were free other than the 

taxes and fees, which amounted to 

approximately what one round trip

ticket would have cost to Amsterdam.

All of us went carry on only...

We had a late overnight 9 1/2 hour flight...

Lilly Belle did really well on the 

flight over sleeping 7 of those hours...

Day 1

Due to the 8 hour time difference...

We arrived in the Netherlands the next 

day in the afternoon.

We stayed at the Andaz Amsterdam...

for FREE on points...

it was the funkiest, swankiest hotel

I've ever stayed at! lol

the courtyard was so pretty

this statue dude was everywhere 

The hotel had a James Bond vibe to the place 

the bathroom wallpaper.... 

which I loved! lol

The beautiful delft blue and white china
originated in the Netherlands...
so you see it everywhere.

Even our bathroom sink!

We were all sleep-deprived 

but no rest for the weary. haha 

Shortly after checking in to our hotel

we met up with my sister and brother-in-law

for dinner and an evening canal cruise ride. 

So fun to be in Europe with my sister,

even if it was for just a few hours.

{They flew into Amsterdam on the same

day as us. They were at the beginning

of a 3 week Europe excursion.} 

Also, my brother and sister in law

were called on a mission to Netherlands 

and Belgium and went in the MTC 

mid April...we missed seeing them over 

there by about 10 days is all.

We ate together here...

My Dutch pancake was gluten-free

and it tasted SO good!

We knew it was gonna be chilly... 

so we brought jackets, sweaters and even 

32 degree undergarments...so we wouldn't 

need to bring coats.

 Had I known how chilly it would feel, 

in April over there...I probably 

would have just brought a coat. lol

Was grateful for the cooler weather though

as I would rather be cold than hot any day!

The best thing weather wise?

THERE WAS NO RAIN...

for the entire trip...YAY!

other than a slight drizzle one morning...

We definitely lucked out because it rains 

a lot in the Netherlands.

Day 2
Lilly Belle was up and playing 

at 3:15 in the morning.
Time change for her was a bit rough

the first couple of days. 

Since she was awake...

Kyleigh, Tyler were outside walking the town

a bit after 5:30 that first morning.

Afterwards, we took the baby so she could

go back to sleep for the night or 

maybe it was an early early morning nap...

who knew at that point.

lol

These two went back out exploring around

sunrise and discovered this was THE best time

to be out walking around without all

the hustle and bustle. 

Hardly any humans, cars or bikes!

Can we talk about ALL THE BIKES?!?

That morning we visited Keukenhof to see

the tulips!!! THIS was the 

reason we took this trip in April 

so we could see them in bloom.

GORGEOUS!

Some Gigi time....

We took SO many modes of transportation

on this trip...bus, tram, train, uber etc

I was super impressed by their subway.

And this is the Amsterdam train station...

👀 

Had some dang yummy fries... the mayo

was superb!

Some shops that caught my eye....

We also visited the Rijks Museum on this day...

We were able to see 

Rembrandt's 1642 masterpiece 

"The Night Watch"

and lots of other lovely things...

There was beautiful music coming 

from musicians 

performing in the tunnel of the museum...

I had the best lassi at this Indian restaurant....

stroopwafels & gelato for dessert

We went back the next day to the 

gelato shop haha... 

THAT GOOD!

Day 3

Jaren & I and a few of the kids

were up really early. 

We wanted to experience what 

Kyleigh & Tyler had the morning

before.....hearing the church 

bells chime at 6 AM. Oh so

worth it..it was so SO 

beautiful & peaceful...

{To this day one of my favorite

memories of the trip.}

A quiet breakfast in the hotel restaurant...

with birds chirping

That day we visited Zaanse Schans, 

a traditional Dutch village 

with historic windmills.

A cheese and clog museum 

and quaint shops...

Some Gigi time!

Kate and Emmsie LOVED 

the apple pastries at the 

village bakery... 

Later that afternoon we traveled

to the quaint town of Haarlem. 

We visited the gorgeous Grote Kerk Chapel

built in 1307. 

Mozart and Handel performed

in this church....

it's THAT old!

For lunch we got to try bitterballen 

a savory Dutch meat based snack

for the first time...

Lilly Belle helping herself to Bonka's fries...

We headed back to Amsterdam... 

Those who were brave enough

{which included me haha} tried herring...

I thought it was really tasty.

that evening another stroopwaffle shop 

was found...

My gluten-free ones weren't as pretty

but I thought they were yummy...

A late night friet snack!

Day 4

Easter Sunday

Another early morning to hear the church bells

and see the sun rise...

also an early morning photoshoot

Later that morning we traveled to

 Castle de Harr in the city of Utrecht...

to see and tour the biggest castle in Netherlands...

The castle grounds were so lovely...

We were able to have a family picnic...

We even got to see the Easter bunny...

Catching a few Z's on the way back...lol

Some antique browsing...

That afternoon we visited the 

WW II Dutch Resistance Museum... 

Our family enjoys the history from the 

WWII time period

so this was SO interesting to us...

We walked a lot on this trip...

Emma often led the way...she 

is such a good navigator!

We ate here...

at Jaren's place 

😉

The house specialty

Cafe de Jaren stew...

we saw some pretty things while walking

to have dessert here...

THIS apple pie was seriously one

of the best things I've ever put in my mouth.

Like when I think of the food from this 

trip...this was the winner...and that was

without even eating the crust. lol

We had a late-evening tour through

Anne Frank's house.

{You have to purchase tickets 6 weeks 

in advance}

Oh my... so surreal to be there... 

🥺

Day 5

We took the train to Belgium!

We had a couple train stops...

one in Antwerp.

In planning, we purposely made sure we 

had a stop at this train station.

We had heard it was one of the prettiest

train stations in the world.

They weren't kidding.

I think this was the only place

 I had to pay to use the loo in Europe.

😆

Good 'ole McDonald's came in handy a

 few times...

particularly in Antwerp when we didn't have

much time before we had to catch another train.

Beautiful Belgium!

Fell in love with Bruges...
😍

Couldn't get over all the cute quaint shops...

especially all the chocolate shops...

SO many of them!

The Christmas shop was another favorite...

Strolling along the canal....

We had a delightful time

at this pizzeria...

Kyleigh, Tyler & Lilly Belle,

 with a poopy diaper on,

 got stuck in the 

small hotel elevator for 40 minutes...

😳

{pic taken the next day with the sign that was put up 

to advise guests to not use the elevator}

The love birds...

Jaren and I with Emma, Brie and Kate had a 

late-night stroll through the town...

along with a late-night snack of 

mussels, mushrooms on toast 

creme brûlée and mousse at a

restaurant right behind our hotel...

{another one of my favorite memories}

These were so delicious!!!!

Day 6

Stroopwafel in bed...

or a Belgian waffle...

That morning we visited the

 Church of our Lady...

It houses the famous 

Madonna and Child statue... 

The pope had just died the day before...

so there was a shrine set up for him.

we took a picturesque canal ride...

Had amazing hot chocolate 

at the Old Chocolate Shop...

{highly recommend this experience.}

Some Gigi time....

Some lace, tapestry and chocolate shopping...

Jaren and I snuck away for lunch together

on the terrace...this was also one of

my fav meals of the trip...

😋

The fam visited the Basilica of the 

Holy Blood...

Some chill time with Bonka!

Visited a castle!

{My goal is to see a castle in 

every European country I visit.}

😍

Kasteel Van Loppem

 

Did some antique shopping with Emmsie...

afternoon treat here...

We went back for more mussels & mushroom toast

for dinner!

Day 7

We traveled home...

The week flew by...

I have so many tips and recommendations 

{as in wearing a vest on travel days 

like I am below}

But I do believe this post is 

looong enough lol

so I'll just wrap up by saying

 taking a family of 10 to Europe 

is very do-able.

We had the most marvelous time!

However...the flight home was a little rougher 

for Lilly Belle and company as it was

during the daytime hours...

Bless her heart!

The morning after arriving home...

She had a tumble on a few steps

and received a buckle fracture

on her right arm.

Welcome home and back to reality! haha 

A stuffed puppy for her woes..

😌