Welcome 2009!!!

Well, to start off 2009 we decided to put an ornament in our yard. Isn't it pretty?! Both Jon and I cried when we saw the sign. We can't believe we are moving AGAIN! At least this time we get to come back to our home. Besides putting the sign up in the yard we have been busy going through everything we own. Man, we have collected a whole lot of JUNK for the past 11+ years. It's not good to go through this JUNK together. I think all of my stuff is important and his is garbarge and Jon thinks his stuff is important and wants to throw all of my stuff away. It has been quite the experience.

Also this past week we have begun our Dutch Language lessons. It is so HARD! I can now say "My name is Allison" and "I will live in the Netherlands for two years." I know it's not much but hopefully by the time we leave I will be able to say more or at least understand more.

We are hoping 2009 will bring us lots of happiness and many memories. We are going to miss all of our friends and family but hope to see most of you when you visit the Netherlands. (HINT HINT)

Apolo Anton Ohno

Monsanto sponsored the National Speed Skating competition held in St. Louis this past Saturday. Being Monsanto employees we were given tickets for the event. Of course, no one needed to pull our teeth to go. As soon as we found out Apolo Anton Ohno would be competing we were soooo excited. We arrived early and got seats 5 rows up on the finish line. It was awesome! The final race was amazing. Apolo along with three other competitors were in the finals. About half way through the race Apolo stubbed his toe, went down and took 2 other competitors with him. The officials stopped the race. We were all confused on why the race was stopped. Apparently the officials thought someone was hurt and in this case they stop the race. No one was hurt but decided to disqualify Apolo since he was the first to go down. The boos from the audience were so loud (including my boo and I believe Jon's boo). After discussion with Apolo's coach and I believe his father, Apolo was let back in the race. Once again the official shoots the gun and the race begins for the second time. This time Apolo was in the lead up until 10 ft from the finish line when someone goes down again and takes him out. Both smack in to the wall then cross the finish line. All said and done Apolo came in third. It was so much fun and I can't believe how intense. We were cheering the entire time not really knowing what we were cheering about. Of course I'm a HUGE Apolo fan since he was on Dancing with the Stars. I made Jon and the kids hang out by the locker room until Apolo came out. Apolo really didn't want to take pictures but I kind of forced myself in to the situation. Oh well, it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family.
Below is a slide show of some of the 193 pictures Jon took. Yes, we got a new camera for Christmas and he is a little obsessed!

National Speed Skating Competition

Amsterdam

Jon and I are now in Amsterdam until I come home on Monday. What a crazy, busy place. It's not the cars you have to look out for but all the bikes and mo-peds. Yes, I think I will be getting my second Mo-ped! I'm very excited about that!

Today we decided to see if we could figure out the trains, trams and bus system. We set out to make it to Anne Franks Home. After about an hour of debating how to read the maps that are in dutch we picked a tram and went for it. Yes, we made it to our destination! Anne Franks home is amazing. I can't wait to get home and go to the library to get the book with her entries in her diary.

After Anne Franks home we decided to try and get back to the hotel by foot. Along the way we found a Mcdonald's, Subway and KFC! It was fun seeing something American. We also ended up in the Red Light District. It was just all of a sudden right there in front of us. I tried to walk as fast as I could to get out but we were right smack dab in the middle. Oh well, it was a culture experience. Right?

I thought my culture experience was over for the day when we got back to the hotel. But no, it was just the beginning. Jon decided we needed to go sit in the sauna and relax our bodies from all the walking. We put on our swim suits and bathrobes and went. Once there we found out we were the minority. No one and I mean no one was is their swimsuits. They were in their birthday suits (if you know what I mean!) My jaw hit the floor! I didn't know what to do. I was scared. Never in my life have I seen something like this. I quickly ran to the relaxing room where people were in their robes. I thought I would be safe there. After sitting in the relaxing room for 15 minutes I thought I would make a run to the door and go back to my room. Well, I come out of the door and right there standing in front of me was a man. Yes, I saw the full frontal!!!!! Someone Help Me!!!!! I was frozen. Jon was no where to rescue me. He was sitting in the sauna with his eyes closed because of all the women in their birthday suits. I quickly ducked my head and went to the sauna no one was using. I motioned to Jon I was out of there. He started laughing. When we got back to the room I told Jon my experience and I thought he was going to die of laughter. He just looked at me and said "Welcome to Europe!!!" I'm in overload!!!!

Day 2 in Holland

So today I saw my first windmill. They are beautiful! We ventured out of the city and headed towards the country and the ocean. It is so green with lots of farm (sheep farms) and houses that are amazing. We looked for housing in a village called Bergen. The homes remind me of the home Hanzel and Grettel lived in. They are very unique. We explored a school which is a European school. They cater to all the countries here in Europe. It was actually pretty amazing to see. There are four families in the school from America. We spoke with some of the children. They said they liked living here. There is hope for us!

Here in Holland (Netherlands) riding a bicycle is the best form of transportation. It's amazing to see the baskets and bags hanging off the bikes to carry their items. In fact, today we saw a lady with two children strapped to her bike along with a basket of groceries. She was holding an umbrella in one hand and steering with the other. It was also a down pour of rain. I found it so amazing. It looks like I'll be getting a bike!

I learned how to say goodbye in Dutch. It's hoi hoi. I guess this is the informal version of goodbye but hey, it's goodbye! Chicken is kip so that's nice to know when I go to eat. It seems like my choices of meat are chicken or salmon. I quickly memorized chicken due to my dislike of any seafood or fish.

We saw the ocean today. It was awesome seeing it looking west toward the USA instead of standing on the North Carolina seashore looking towards the east. I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow and the adventure it holds.

I tried downloading some picture but I can't get it to work. I guess you'll have to wait for pictures until I get home.

What a SHOCK!!!

I just have to post a quick note letting all my blogging friends and family know we've made it to Holland. We are in a culture shock! I wasn't prepared for the housing options. What they call a home we call a small condo! There are no backyards they call it a garden. Which it literally is just that, a whole lot of plants and no grass! I asked where the children play and I was told in the street! The international school was amazing. I was very impressed with the curriculum and activities they offer. They even have a full day preschool for Talynn. What will I do with all my time?!!

Tomorrow we continue to look for housing. On Friday we are going to venture on the train. We are very nervous for this event! We don't even know how to buy a train ticket! It's amazing they let Jon and I in the country. Which for a moment I thought they weren't going to let me in. When the police checked my passport they did a lot of speaking in Dutch, flipping through my passport, putting it under some type of light and about 10 minutes of me sweating they finally stamped it and let me through. YES! I HAVE MY FIRST STAMP IN MY PASSPORT!!! Of course, they just stamped Jon's and let him pass. I guess I looked like someone they should be concerned about.

A quick thank you to Holly and everyone else who is helping with my children this week! I appreciate it! Love and miss all of you! Oh the stories I'll be able to tell when I get back!

Daddy Did It!

While I was at a church meeting Jon took the kids to the mall for some Christmas shopping. While there he decided Tally needed her ears pierced. So, he got them pierced! Yes, he pierced my babies ears without me even knowing such an event was going to take place! Needless to say when I got home my jaw hit the floor. I asked Tally what happened and she said "Daddy did it. Daddy ears mom, pretty princess." Talynn loves them. She calls herself Ariel Princess. She loves looking in the mirror and seeing her new bling. I have to admit, they are cute but I'm still upset I wasn't there for this BIG moment in her life.