We made it!

 Everything went well for us on the flight.

We arrived at the airport in Amsterdam and took the train into the Central Station.

From the Central Station we took a taxi to the hotel.

We are staying at the NH Carlton in the city center.

We did some walking around this afternoon.

We came back to the hotel for a short nap.

Then we walked a little over a mile to the Anne Frank house.

I think the tulips are a bit past their peak but it is definitely spring here.

There is a big flower conference going on this weekend.

As part of the conference, the hotel put together this heart made from fresh roses.

They were putting this together all afternoon.

This is in the lobby of the hotel.

This is a picture we took out the window of the plane.

You can see some of the tulip fields.

On Friday we are going to take a train from the Central Station to a town called Hertogenbosch.  We are meeting a man called Corne Ruijs and his wife and 14 month old young son.  We are having lunch with them and seeing their town.  Holiday Vacations uses Corne Ruijs' bus company for our transportation in Paris and in Holland.

It is Queen Beatrice's birthday this weekend and the whole country of the Netherlands celebrates.  We'll see what kind of festival this is.  However, the town is all a buzz over the expected crowds.

Friday and Saturday we stay at a hotel call the Die Port van Cleve.  It is right next to the Magna Plaza just off the Dam Square.  Sunday night we stay on our river boat.

Mary is happy we get BBC televison in our hotel room for nonstop coverage of the royal wedding.  Lots of coverage tonight about people sleeping along the streets hoping to see the happy couple tomorrow.

Still more Easter pictures

We helped Hugh celebrate his 60th birthday this Easter.  The t-shirt says, "If it's too loud, You're too old"

Hugh was with us for our Easter dinner at noon.  He had to leave at 1:30 PM to go to work.

Mary & Brady.  Notice the potato in Brady's hand.  He is wearing the outfit Grandma G made for him.

In our recently remodeled kitchen.

Coloring Easter Eggs.  Notice the intensity on Brady's face.

More coloring Easter eggs.

One of Brady's favorite things to do at our house is play the piano.

Here Uncle Tim and Brady are playing a duet.

Our little man is almost always in motion.

Tim and Grandma Goessling.

Mary, Andrea, Adam & Tim.

Happy Easter!

Even more Easter photos

Easter weekend 2011 started with a stir-fry meal on Saturday night followed by coloring of Easter Eggs.  Dan & Nancy, Adam, Andrea & Brady, Tim, Grandma Goessling, Mary & Greg

Saturday night, April 23, 2011

Coloring Easter Eggs

From left to right

Nancy, Andrea, Brady, Tim, Dan, Grandma G, Adam

 Brady coloring Easter Eggs.

Brady, age 20 months, in his going-to-church Easter outfit.  Sweater vest courtesy of Noah Sabelko.

Notice Brady is getting closer to seeing what is on the counter. 

Adam, Brady, Tim on Easter morning.

The traditional hunt for the Easter baskets.

Adam cleverly sleuthed out the false bottom on the end tables.

Brady provided moral support.

Notice the new hardwood floor in the living room.

Adam pointing out the false bottom.

Adam's Easter Basket hidden in the false bottom of an end table.

Andrea going to work on finding her Easter Basket. 

After observing Adam find his basket, Brady was able to provide technical assistance to Andrea.

Andrea's efforts are rewarded!

For his second Easter, Brady received an Elmo Easter Basket.

Brady was the first to find his Easter Basket.

Uncle Tim and Brady

What a life!  Two Grandmas and an Elmo Easter Basket.



More Easter 2011

Here is a better picture of the outfit Grandma Goessling made for Brady. She made this before Brady was born.

Easter 2011

Greetings from Altoona, Wisconsin.
Saturday, April 23, 2011.

Adam, Andrea and Brady came for a visit. Brady is just over 20 months old. He is wearing the outfit Grandma Goessling knitted for him.

Dan Burns' Olive Spread

OK I'm on a roll. This recipe is from Dan Burns, a friend of ours who is a cancer Dr. So I like to think this is a healthy recipe and will fight cancer but he never said that. I took this as an appetizer for our 9 to Dine Dinner group and it was a big hit although only 7 or us were there at the time. It's easy but you do need either a food processor or blender.
1 cup greek olives with the pits removed
1/4 cup pine nuts (which are very expensive)
2-4 Tbsp. of olive oil
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
2 cloves of garlic

Mix all together in a food processor. Dan has a mini one which if anyone wants a gift idea for me, this would be a good one. I use my big food processor and it does fine. Start with the pine nuts, then the oil, then the olives, then the garlic. Add the cheese last to keep it from getting too cut up.
Serve with some kind of crispy cracker. My latest obsession is Back to Nature brand, Multigrain Flax seeded flatbread crackers. They are really good and may be somewhat good for you judging by the rustic box they come in. Mega Foods has them which is surprising so hopefully they are easy to find elsewhere. Enjoy!

Chinese Beef Stir Fry with Vegetables

Well, I just checked my blog and see that I have been remiss in not posting any recipes. So in perusing my files, I've decided to share this stir fry recipe. I have no idea where I got it, but judging by the stains and food splotches on the recipe card, I've made it numerous times which is always a good sign!
1 # beef cut in cubes (you can use any kind of steak)
1 Tbsp. dry sherry (I just use whatever kind of wine I have on hand)
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp sugar
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 Tbsp. oyster sauce
2 large stalks broccoli
2 carrots sliced diagonally
1/2 cup beef broth
8 spears (1/2 of 15 oz can, or what the heck, use the whole thing) baby corn drained
20 fresh snow peas
1 green onion chopped

Marinate meat at room temp in mixture of sherry, soy sauce, 1 tsp. cornstarch, sugar, 1/2 tsp oil, pepper & garlic for 1 hour.
Heat 1 Toil in wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir fry beef quickly until meat is brown outside and pink inside. Remove from heat.
Mix 2 tsp cornstarch with oyster sauce. Reheat wok with 1 T. oil. Add broccoli and carrots. Stir fry about 30 seconds. Add broth, cover wok and steam 1 minute or until veggies are tender but crunchy.
Add corn, snow peas, onion, beef & oyster sauce/cornstarch mixture.
Heat quickly until sauce is clear and thickened. Serve immediately with rice.
Happy cooking!