evolution of a weekend
First we were in Amsterdam. Joel and Martijn went off one weekend to this beer festival, a short train ride away, and came back raving over it.
Next we were in Amsterdam. Joel and Martijn convinced their wife/girlfriend to come along, even though (a) I was 7 months pregnant and (b) Wendy wasn't really a beer drinker.
Next we were in Tilburg, and Martijn had moved in with Wendy. We came up to spend the weekend with them, and Joel, Gwen, and I ended up going to one of the days on our own. Gwen enjoyed sitting in the parking lot, eating hamburger buns with mustard and ketchup on them.
Next we were in Heidelberg. We packed up everything a not yet 2 year old would need to be entertained during a beer festival and headed out to Wilnis for a long weekend. This year, the festival made arrangements with a nearby kids play place, where kids of festival attendees could play at a reduced price. Gwen wasn't quite old enough to be left, so Joel and I swapped off.
Last year, we were in Heidelberg. Gwen and I bought a one-way ticket, and headed out, knowing we were never coming back. The play place was closed but we scored seats near the leftover swingset, and took turns pushing Gwen on the swing and drinking beer. After spending the weekend in Wilnis, we then headed to IJmuiden and the ferry to Newcastle.
A year later, we're packing up our things to catch the overnight ferry tonight, coming back on Sunday. We'll get to meet Tobias for the first time (Gwen is seriously looking forward to that). From the original two who went six years ago, there's now six of us. And I have little doubt that this weekend next year, we'll be making a similar trip, and the year after and the year after that, until Gwen, and then Toby, are old enough to properly join in with us, and we'll look back on a life time's tradition.
Next we were in Amsterdam. Joel and Martijn convinced their wife/girlfriend to come along, even though (a) I was 7 months pregnant and (b) Wendy wasn't really a beer drinker.
Next we were in Tilburg, and Martijn had moved in with Wendy. We came up to spend the weekend with them, and Joel, Gwen, and I ended up going to one of the days on our own. Gwen enjoyed sitting in the parking lot, eating hamburger buns with mustard and ketchup on them.
Next we were in Heidelberg. We packed up everything a not yet 2 year old would need to be entertained during a beer festival and headed out to Wilnis for a long weekend. This year, the festival made arrangements with a nearby kids play place, where kids of festival attendees could play at a reduced price. Gwen wasn't quite old enough to be left, so Joel and I swapped off.
Last year, we were in Heidelberg. Gwen and I bought a one-way ticket, and headed out, knowing we were never coming back. The play place was closed but we scored seats near the leftover swingset, and took turns pushing Gwen on the swing and drinking beer. After spending the weekend in Wilnis, we then headed to IJmuiden and the ferry to Newcastle.
A year later, we're packing up our things to catch the overnight ferry tonight, coming back on Sunday. We'll get to meet Tobias for the first time (Gwen is seriously looking forward to that). From the original two who went six years ago, there's now six of us. And I have little doubt that this weekend next year, we'll be making a similar trip, and the year after and the year after that, until Gwen, and then Toby, are old enough to properly join in with us, and we'll look back on a life time's tradition.