I ♥ PARIS

Over Christmas break our friend Libby came to visit. Before she came Jason and I decided we would take her to Paris to show her a good time. We had such an amazing time!! We spent one and a half days sightseeing and at the end we considered ourselves Metro pros! (Thanks to the lesson Steve Ross gave us before hand!) While there we visited the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre-Coeur, Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Moulin Rouge and the Louvre. It was a whirlwind of a trip and I left wanting to see and do more. I said goodbye to Paris but really I was just saying see you later. Quincy's favorite sight was the Eiffel Tower and I made sure to take his picture in front of all the sights to remind him when he is older. Little Cooper fell asleep during most of the sightseeing but he too is in all the pictures to show him when he is older. Here are just a few of the amazing sights we saw while there.

Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

The back of Notre Dame

These people had the right idea!

The Louvre

The Great Sphinx

Venus de Milo

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Mona Lisa

Arc de Triomphe

Sacre-Coeur

422 Stairs up and 422 down to see the Sacre-Coere

Cheese and Wine!

Our Hotel

Blast From the Past!

My sister recently uncovered some hidden treasures! This video is from the summer of 2004 when Quincy was just 1 and 1/2 years old! When Quincy was little we didn't have a video camera so to see this is immensely special to Jason, me and even Quincy. She sent a few more and assured me there are even more. I just thought I would share this with you all and see if you remember when Quincy was this little! Enjoy!!

7 Months old Nov. 22, 2010

Cooper is growing like a weed...wait that isn't exactly true...the time is flying by but our little peanut remains our little peanut. He is already 7 months old and I am amazed how he is developing so quickly into a funny, full of life little boy. The day he turned 7 months old he was NOT in the mood to smile hence these pictures of him. However, he is still adorable so enjoy;)

This pic was HARD work to get this smile! Note the food ALL over his shirt!

These were not on his 7 month bday BUT they are super cute

Eight Years OLD!!!!

Can it really be that eight years ago Jason and I welcomed our first baby boy into this world? No...can it? Quincy turned 8 years old on November 20th. I remember the day he was born he was this tiny little baby with the highest pitch scream I had ever heard. My friend, Megan still reminds me that she heard that scream before she even met Quincy. One of my favorite stories from the day he was born is he came out and they put him on my belly and showed him to me. After that that took him to do all the things they do with babies and while he was on the table he opened his eyes and looked at Jason. Within a few seconds they turned on the light over the table and Quincy quickly shut his eyes and didn't open them again for about 24 hours! It always reminds me how cozy he must have been in my tummy:)

In the eight years since Quincy was born a lot has changed in our lives. I have a hard time deciding if eight years flew by or did it seem to take forever...I think a little of both. Quincy is a handsome, independent little boy who thinks his dad is the coolest person in the World. If we were in the States he would be in second grade but instead he is in Group 4 at the international school he attends. He is happy, caring and doesn't know it yet but wise beyond his years. Jason and I are amazed daily at the things that come out of his mouth. We are constantly asking, "How do you know that?" Quincy just smiles, shrugs his shoulders and says, "I don't know."

This year for his birthday Quincy received a gift he has wanted for a long time! When he was five he started to ask for a video game and Jason and I just picked a date, we thought, was in the distant future...when your 8, we said. He got a Nintendo Ds and couldn't be more thrilled. I was silently happy that the DS was not the first thing he wanted to open but the Legos which my mom and sister sent. Thats the Quincy I know, Legos are his favorite toy and he could spend hours looking through the newest catalog. When he grows up he would love to design Legos...he has lots of good ideas too:) Anyway, here are a few pictures from the big day. He has said on multiple occasions that this was the best birthday yet...I hope we can top it next year!

Quincy and the cupcakes we made for his class

The sign at the Apekooi where Quincy and Jacob, a school mate, had a party

At home with his cake

Loved this picture! He was so excited he was moving so fast

After he calmed down and sat still

Star Wars Legos!

Family Photos

Living away from home is not easy. However, one benefit to living overseas is you get to meet lots of people. I have almost lived in Holland for a year! (minus the two and a half months I spent at home during the summer:) In the time that we have lived here I have met lots of interesting, kind and generous people. I have met teachers, doctors, lawyers, stay at home moms, pastors, accountants and so many more. One person who I have met is named Henk Eggens. Henk is a photographer and he photographs Jason's basketball games. Last year after each game he would post the pictures from the game on his website. Throughout the year Jason and I would look at the pictures and comment on how good they were. When Cooper was born we wanted some pictures taken and we thought of Henk. Since Cooper was born so close to the end of the last season the timing never worked out and we never did get our session with Henk. Well fast forward to this season and this time we were not going to let this opportunity pass. Just a couple weeks ago Quincy had a week off from school for Fall break. During that week we set up a time to meet at Henks studio for some family photos. Going into this I had no idea that Henk actually doesn't take studio portraits but is actually a social and documentary photographer. I also didn't realize that he and Jason had so much in common. Henk has traveled back and forth to Seattle a number of times and has actually been to Jason's hometown of Kent on several occasions. After the photo session we spent some time talking to Henk about his time and experiences in Seattle. I am always surprised at how small of a world we actually live in.

We walked into the photo session hoping for some nice pictures and we what we came away with completely surpassed out expectations. We had art...starring my beautiful family. Here are just a few of the photos taken that day. I love all of them so much and I can never thank Henk Eggens enough for these precious memories!

My FAVORITE of Quincy and Cooper

Sweet Cooper

Jason with what else...a basketball;)

Adorable profile of Quincy

Oops...he pulled off the stem.

Cooper too loves the basketball...sigh

Jason and me!

Halloween 2010

Happy Halloween. Last night was Quincy's first Halloween outside the United States and it was Cooper's first Halloween ever. Here in Holland the Dutch do not celebrate Halloween, however, on Jason's team we have enough Americans and Canadians to pull off a pretty great one! Quincy, Cooper and their American friend Kaleb (see video and pics below) dressed to impress and went out Trick-or-Treating. Quincy was Ironman, Cooper was a pumpkin and Kaleb was The Incredible Hulk. Quincy went to a total of 7 houses a got more candy then any Halloween and possibly all Halloweens combined! These basketball players know how to pass out candy! After the T-or-T everyone came back to our apartment and we had a feast of goodies including homemade apple cider, chips and guacamole, home baked cake and cookies and so much more!! Even though we are so far from home we are blessed to have amazing friends to make us feel a little closer.

Cooper, Quincy and Kaleb

Our little Pumpkin

Quincy and his BEST Costume award he received at school!

Suzanne with her Incredible baby Kaleb

Matt Bauscher handing out candy

Matt Haryasz got into Halloween! He had The Pirates of the Caribbean theme song playing in the background.

The two dads looking for some treats too! John scored a Bounty Bar...his favorite.

John, JD and Jason

This looks pretty good...wish I had some teeth.

Look at all this LOOT!

Our stick on Jack-o-Lantern