the family announcement

The Randolph Family has an announcement to make ----at first glance - it looks like the Randolph's is having another baby - NOPE! look a little closer.... later this fall we will be moving the family from the Netherlands to Sturgis, Michigan. I dreamed of this moment many times where I could announce our return to the United States - back to our home in Kenosha..... I never imagined that I would be typing this post to announce that we are moving to another city.... but I believe there is a plan for us and whatever that plan may be - it only makes us stronger.

Yes, we are off on another crazy adventure! ...only this time there will be a 24 hour/7day a week Walmart (I don't think Sturgis has a Target - darn!) , an endless supply of Jif peanut butter, cake mixes that don't cost $8 a box... the list could go on :).... but we will miss our fun European adventures, gouda cheese, wooden shoes, rain rain rain rain and more rain, and many of our new friends from all over the world.

When Ross told the kids that we would be moving soon Jayden's immediate response was "Are we moving to Russia?" - Graham asked if we were moving to Japan. I love that this expat experience has giving our children an understanding that this world is really a big place with many cultures and people.

.... now I'm going to have to rename my blog - hmmmmmm

happy golden birthday!

i love the look of surprise on her face!

helen gets a new bike for her birthday

already out riding it!

jillian checks out helen's new bike... someday jillian will ride a bike like this :)

the traditional breakfast bar with a candle

jillian is on the table celebrating helen's birthday.. .she climbed up there by herself - ugh!

grandma sends jillian a smurfette tshirt

grandma's famous customized birthday shirt

cupcake time!

a golden 4 for helen's golden birthday

jillian is thoroughly enjoying helen's birthday cupcake... she also thoroughly enjoyed helen's choice of pasta for dinner :)

the finish line

eating lunch just before leaving Flam

good bye Flam

a city along the fjord

used my iphone to locate where we were along the fjord - cool huh?

jillian is not interested in the beautiful scenery... just the steps on the boat!

up and down - up and down... oh and mom - i DO NOT need your help!!! that's my jilly!

well - the others aren't too interested in the scenery either.....

jillian found the only puddle on the boat.... so i had to use the dryer in the bathroom to dry her pants --- beautiful scenery outside? who's watching it?

arriving in the city of Gudvangen

now on to the bus from Gudvangen to Voss - 13 of these hairpin turns in a bus - ugh!

taking a train from Voss to Bergen..... the final stop on our Norway in a Nutshell Tour! I'm exhausted!!!!

that's an expensive sandwich!! converts to about $15!! who said eating fast food was cheap?

pizza and a milkshake in our hotel room in Bergen... even jillian had some milkshake in her sippy cup!

fish market in Bergen

walking around Bergen

we found a park while jillian napped in my carrier... the kids were so excited to play in a park

visiting 6 countries and 13 major cities this summer - i have realized that some things just don't come through correctly in translation :)

jillian ponders whether she wants to join in the "fun" or not

distracted by a stick on the ground.....

of course - she eventually joins in the "fun"!!

rub a dub dub ------ 4 crazy kids in a claw-foot tub! i tried about 10 outtakes of this photo ---- trying to get jillian to sit down like the other 3 kids------that's my jilly!

pot o' gold

our tour guide

extreme helen close-up!

we took a little train tour of the city

the original town and church of flam

our apartment on the water

the cruise ship was "testing" the rescue boats... jayden wanted to watch them unload the boats, drive them in the harbor, and load the boats back up ... so we watched and watched and watched :)

enjoying the view after lunch

my adventurous biking crew

this huge cruise shiop shows just how large the fjords actually are

we saw another rainbow and the boys thought we were biking to find the pot of gold

view of our apartment from the other side of the fjord

taco dinner in our apartment