Life: Idiotropic

Thankfully, it is officially spring and finally ice cream season. Our long winter was quick to go so within a crazy two week period we went from bitter cold frosty mornings to warm shorts and t-shirt weather that brought all the blooms to the roundabouts and opened the doors to all the ice cream shops. Cafes are now more outdoors than in with chairs spilling out into market squares more than doubling the sizes of the restaurants themselves. Bicycles are everywhere and happy people are sitting with ice cream or beer relaxing, smiling, and enjoying the season. It feels good to be outside.

Today we went to Sittard on some Easter Bunny errands, but took a moment to enjoy an ice cream from Die Twee. Smurfijs for the girls - they love that blue stuff. And though I've asked random ice cream servers for the last 3 years what flavor exactly is a Smurf, today I finally got the long elusive answer - Caramel! So now you know. According to Dutch and German ice cream makers, Smurfs definitely taste like overly sweet caramel - a flavor and a color that my girls absolutely love.

Enjoyed the city today. The market area was absolutely packed with folks relaxing in the sun at cafe tables. We wandered and took pictures and bought some good cheese so my visiting Uncle could try some and see a bit of The Netherlands. Felt good to wander and relax. A nice afternoon.

Played Easter Bunny tonight... everything is ready. Going to hide this letter now to save. Arianna wrote to the Easter Bunny. Our friends might not be able to join us tomorrow for dinner because one of the kids is sick... my girls are all very concerned and sad that their friends won't be able to be here. Here it is: