Holiday 2019 - Sept. 5 - Schiphol to Bakkeveen - Day 1

I got a new computer!  Finally.  It was one of those things that had to be done, but never got done.
And now, because of that, I have no more excuses not to blog about our holiday.
We were blessed to be able to go on a wonderfully long trip to Europe last fall!  This trip had been in the making for quite some time, slowly coming together and we were very excited to get some time away from the farm, to see other things, and expand our horizons again.
Of course, life being what it is, threw a loop into it when Andy tore his ACL and MCL on his knee just three weeks before leaving playing a game of soccer with friends and the kids.  Thus the brace.  We weren't even sure if we should go at all, but being home would not have facilitated rest any more than a holiday so we decided a bit nervously that we would make the best of it, the Dr. being ok with us going.
So September 5th, we flew with all seven of us out of Calgary, to Edmonton, then straight to Amsterdam.  It was a good flight.  The kids love adventure and were happy and very excited.  That makes travelling much easier for us.  I don't think we would do it, if the kids weren't such easy travellers. Shiny eyes and shiny shoes, backpacks filled with snacks and a favourite toy, plus journals and sharp pencils, we were ready for whatever was to come our way.

In Schiphol, after a missed night, waiting for the rental van.

Rowan was exhausted at this point and he couldn't even stand anymore. :) 

He could have/should have slept in the airplane but the screen in front of him was too enticing. 

Even the stewardesses were amazed he pulled an all nighter. 😁

With five kids to care for in the airplane who didn't sleep in unison, we didn't get a chance to sleep either.  After landing and getting the rental we drove for a while and stopped by the Afsluitdijk to sleep in the van before heading to the campground we had a rental at.  SO yes, above, we are so amazingly tired 😆 , BUT we had arrived, and all was good!  We felt much refreshed after sleeping for a while and continued on, passing the farm Andy grew up at and lived at till he immigrated to Canada in 1999.  ❤

We arrived at the Ikeleane in Bakkeveen and it was very exciting and beautiful. Like a dream compared to Alberta, everything neat and tiny, the kids couldn't stop smiling.

The stacaravan we rented for the weekend.

We got groceries on the way and had so much fun showing the kids all the vla and hagelslag in the cutest and best smelling little grocery store.  After hours and hours of travel it was the best supper we could ask for.  ❤