Dear Family,
Saturday, March 30th - We were so disappointed when we heard that Jeff and Amy's train had been delayed from Kansas City to Chicago where they were flying out of and they missed their flight, so instead of arriving yesterday, they wouldn't be coming in until today. But, we were so thrilled when we picked them up at the airport, that time didn't matter anymore! We had a gotten a big enough van that we could fit all their luggage, plus the five extra people in it--Jeff, Amy, Garrett, Isaac, and Lola. They left Copeland home with their Bishop's wife who came to their home to watch him and their dog, Frisco. Now, that is a great bishop's wife!!!
Anyway, we got Jeff and Amy's family to our apartment, let them have a little down time, then took off for our first adventure--in GOUDA, SOUTH HOLLAND! Known for its namesake cheese, canals, bicycles, 15th Century Town hall, and now for the reunion place for the Barlow family coming to Europe! Even after being up for almost two days, they were all such good sports to go adventuring with their Gpa George and me as we traveled nearly five hours to get there after they'd just traveled all night on the plane to Frankfurt! We even stopped in Cologne for them to see the huge cathedral there!
They just caught little naps here and there and were such great sports! We stayed in a beautiful little apartment overlooking the canal that had a big living room, kitchen, four bedrooms, and two baths. It was perfect!
Sunday, March 31st - We traveled about 45 minutes to KEUKENHOF, South Holland. One of the World's largest flower gardens with 7 million bulbs planted every year! It truly is a Garden of Eden! It was such a beautiful piece of heaven for such a fun family time together.
Monday, April 1st - We got up early and caught the train into Amsterdam.
We walked through the beautiful little town of Gouda to the nearby train station--
stopping at the bakery to get a few treats to take on the train with us. So many selections!
There were bicycles as far as the eye could see in front of the train station.
Cute Lola enjoying her donut treat.
Arrival in Amsterdam. Oh, how we LOVE Amsterdam with its gorgeous canals and flowers, but how scared we are that we're going to be either be run over by a bicycle or a tram!
We spent such a fun day at a museum called the Dutch Resistance Museum, which tells the history of the Dutch people in World War II. One huge section was devoted to four young people and how their lives were affected during the war--everything from one whose family had to go into hiding to a young girl who thought she was doing right joining the youth military and then finding out she was on the wrong side! It was so interactive as you went into their houses and became involved with their families! Absolutely one of the best museums I have ever seen--for young and old! In the end, it showed them as adults as they told their true stories of what happened after the war and how it affected them. Amazing! This made the Anne Frank House all the more meaningful. We took a trip down the canals and of course, had to have Dutch pancakes, gelato, etc., etc.
The four young people, now grown, then told their stories of how they survived and what their lives were like now.
Back in Gouda after the day in Amsterdam, where we had to park our van in the smallest parking space I have ever seen in an alley down this street. Oh, how I wish I would have taken the pic for you to see it!
Tuesday, April 2nd - We started off today making sure the kids saw windmills! So we went to Kinderdijk! To drain the water behind the Holland dikes, a system of 19 windmills was built around 1740. This group of mills is the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands and is a UNESCO World Heritage site! I think we all understand windmills a little better now--they are so unique! We headed back to Frankfurt after sadly saying goodbye to our cute apartment in Gouda.
Along the five hour trek home, we got off the Autobahn in some town that I don't even know the name, but we got help from a little man who shared his cut-out coupons with us and told us his favorite restaurant, plus another young guy who tried to talk to us I think in German how to get to a great place. It was hysterical! We ended up eating at McDonalds for the kids! After arriving in Frankfurt, we took them by to see the Frankfurt Temple three minutes from our house--supposedly to be done in September, sadly after we leave!
Continued on the next post - Kent and Natalie's family come to visit!
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