Happy 2016!

It's only Day Three, and 2016 already promises to be a big year for our little family.

Following twenty years of corporate life and an incredibly demanding travel schedule, DS took the last year off of work to stay home. We were able to extend our Dutch visas, and so remained in Europe until we knew where we were going to land next. This decision delivered plenty of ups and downs, and there were certainly moments when we worried we weren't playing our cards in the most responsible manner possible.

However, we stayed confident and chose to seize the moment. As a result, in all sorts of ways, the four of us have been living a dream. We're incredibly grateful to have lived a normal, daily life together in Europe, while also traveling extensively from Turkey to Africa to other regions in Europe.

I'm especially thrilled for what this year together has meant for DS and the kids. DS has been able to be a part of school activities, drop off and pick up, family dinners, and family breakfast. The kids are so young, I'm not sure they really know any different, which makes it even more special. I'm especially proud of my husband for the way he embraced his time off, from volunteering in Rwanda for four weeks, to pushing his fitness beyond even his own imagination, to establishing new business opportunities and connections that will probably keep us tied to Europe for years to come. Stay tuned for more entries about Rwanda.

With that said, 2015 is sooooooo last year! 2016 has arrived, and we are moving to New York City! DS found a wonderful fit for his experience, goals and values, and he left today to start a new job. The kids and I will follow in July at the end of the school year.

It was a teary goodbye, but we're all excited about our new chapter and our new home. We anticipate we'll be in NY for a long time, so it's quite fun to look forward through a new lens, one that is not temporary.

On another note, it was rather satisfying that today was the annual "burning of the Christmas trees," a beloved Dutch tradition whereby city residents drag (by hand, by bike, by whatever means possible) their Christmas trees to Museumplein (practically our backyard), pile them up, and watch as firemen set them ablaze. Kids watch up close and parents huddle nearby with bottles of red wine.

It's dramatic and scary and thrilling. All the feelings I'm having right now as our new chapter begins.

I love the custom, and I can't think of a more fitting way to bid farewell to Christmas and welcome in the New Year.

We had to say goodbye to DS before the ceremony began, he was in our hearts. And in our awe.

Here we go!

We dragged the big guy a few city blocks to the big green space in front of the Rijks Museum.

Sheesh, what a mess. Saving this job for January 4.

We made it. Waiting for the action to start:

And here we go. Had to shield RS at one point due to the heat and hot ash blowing through air. Fyi, not my kids screaming in background!

Look at that pile of trees yet to be burned:

Burning embers, with the Rijks acting all saintly in the background:

The kids documented every moment with their new poloroid minis:

Last night, the kids celebrated yet another custom heralding the end of the Christmas season, this time the French tradition of "galette des roi," or kings' cake. The cake is typically a flaky, pastry cake, in which a porcelain trinket is baked. Whoever is lucky enough to get the piece with the trinket becomes king or queen for the day. A sweet tradition.

To my family and friends, you are all royalty to me. I love you, and I wish you a happy and loving 2016!