Day Three: Ikea, the market, & sunshine!

So I was wrong, I hadn't overcome jet lag and was up at 3am wondering what to do with my active mind. I woke up worried that Darren wouldn't be able to find where I had left the laundry detergent in our new home and felt the need to email him. I think that I fell back asleep around 6am, and back up again around 8:30. I was delighted, however, to see sunshine and blue skies outside the windows. Later, I set up a small table and chairs on the patio where the boys could dine for breakfast.

Around 1pm the whole family and I ventured to Delft Market where the Thursday market was bustling. The vendors sold everything from fresh local produce, fish, and cheese, to lacy thongs, stationary, and vacuum heads. At one point a giant Clydesdale pulled and parked a very old organ decorated with some sort of Dutch scene built in front to hide the organ and played old timey music. Next time I'll remember to bring my camera. After filling our bellies with waffles smothered in melted chocolate, we walked home. Jasper and I hung back for a while to study the ducks diving for food in the canals. Once home, we were greeted by family members of Claires, who convinced Claire that it would be a good idea to take their car to Ikea. Jasper, Annika, and I couldn't fit in the car, so we hung out in the empty house.

While I provided Annika with more anxiety than comfort, Jasper willingly stuck by her side to offer her reassurance that her entire family had not abandoned her. In the meantime, I did my best not to fall asleep, explaining to Jasper what jet lag is. The whole family returned a few hours later with exciting packages from Ikea, including a crib for Annika and a bunk bed for the boys. The evening was quickly consumed by the game of musical beds. Oliver was upgraded from a bed on the floor to a real bed, Jasper was promised top bunk, I inherited Jasper's bed, which will replace my airmattress, and Annika will soon sleep in a crib, rather than a sleeping tent for babies. Tomorrow will be the day that we have fun assembling all of these Ikea beds. Everything in this furnished apartment, by the way, is from Ikea.

My air mattress will soon be replaced with a purple corduroy bed!

Amongst all of the hubub, Claire joked about now wanting the wine that we had passed in the grocery store yesterday. I quickly offered to make a wine run while she prepared dinner, and Alex suggested that I buy four bottles, take my time coming home, but to make sure that I brought one bottle back for them. We added a few more items to the grocery list, then I was out the door to experience my first outing alone since arriving.

Right around the corner from our apartment

As I walked to the store over the cobblestone bridges arching over the little canals and felt the warm glow of an august sunset, I thought, Oh my god - this is my new neighborhood. I get to look forward to this walk everyday for the next three months.