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Amy's Book Review

Cameron's Album

Sofia's Album

Jan's Race Album

About Us

The de Rie family, December 2010

Amy

So many interesting things to do; so little time to do them! One light of my life is  my smart, funny, and increasingly independent son, Cameron. Twelve years younger Sofia adds challenges, lots of love, and oh, so much joy. My husband, Jan, tops off the brilliance.

I've enjoyed working as a technical communications specialist for a transportation research agency at the University of Washington for over 25 years. In fact, with a BA in journalism and an MS in technical communications, both from the UW, the campus is a home away from home for me. I love dancing—especially swing and waltz with Jan. I'm a habitual reader and rarely go anywhere without a book along. My biggest hobby is scrapbooking, which combines my interests in photography, writing, and layout in fun (and sometimes expensive) ways; I have become quite obsessed with it.

A blessing of life with Jan is always having a trip to look forward to, and I like studying about the different cultures we visit, whether the vacation is meant to be an adventure or just relaxation in the sun. Some of my favorite places to date have been Paris, Florence, Barcelona, Bangkok, England, and Washington, D.C. We've also taken a number of cruises in the Caribbean and Mexican Pacific, and I really enjoy those, too.

Until the birth of Sofia, the overarching theme of my life was travel and movement. One recent passion still related to that theme was competitively racing a Porsche. I started two businesses related to my interest, and I raced at Portland International Raceway, Seattle International Raceway, Bremerton Raceway, and in Mission, British Columbia. However, family life and the exorbitant costs of gasoline, tires, and fender benders eventually led me to sell my race car in January 2011. To prevent my mind from deteriorating into mush from changing too many diapers, I created my own electronics workshop in our basement and began repairing broken Tektronix electronic scopes in 2004 (I bought them on e-Bay). From there, I designed both the hardware and software for an oscilloscope clock.  Through mostly word of mouth, their sale took off, and I had nearly more orders than I could handle. I sold that business in 2010.

I was born in Rotterdam and raised in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. On Thanksgiving 1984 I moved to Portland, Ore. My intent was to work for one year in the computer software industry, but America and I got along so well that I stayed longer and eventually decided to make the US my home. I worked at Microsoft for 11 years and am currently taking a long-term sabbatical. Although I no longer develop software, I still spend much of my time with computers, building them, keeping up with the latest hardware, and surfing the Net daily. Folk dancing was my hobby in Holland, and I continued in the US. Then in about 1995 I took up swing dancing. Good thing I did: otherwise, my life might not have been blessed with Amy! I love wandering abroad, and adventures before Amy include visits to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania (I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro), and the Philippines.

Cameron

Cameron is 19 and attending the University of Washington, where he lives at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. His favorite subjects in school are math and science, and his current intention is to obtain a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His primary hobby is researching cars; he subscribes to at least six different car magazines and likes to baby his 1987 BMW 325IS.  He was a talented trumpet player throughout school but has set aside his instrument, at least for now. Besides cars he also loves playing computer games, constructing projects with his hands... and a special girlfriend.   

His favorite sports to play are basketball and tennis; his favorite sports to watch are basketball and football.  His favorite foods are pizza, barbecue ribs, and Caesar salad. His favorite movies are the Lord of the Rings series and the Blue Collar Comedy Tour series. His favorite TV shows are The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?. 

Here are some of her favorite things:

She's a good eater and is very aware of "healthy" foods. Some of her favorites are corn on the cob, carrots and broccoli in dip, and popcorn. That doesn't mean that she doesn't love sweets, however. One of her very favorites is cotton candy.

She is an elementary student at Evergreen Academy in Bothell.  She also attends Oranjeschool, a Dutch language school, every Saturday, as well as weekly gymnastics and drama classes.

How We Met

We met in early September 1997 at a Living Traditions swing dance. We were attracted right way through the communication of dance. 

We were engaged in August 1999. 

We married April 30, 2000, (Queen's Day in The Netherlands) at the Hollywood Schoolhouse in Woodinville, Wash. We assume that the unusually warm, sunny weather was proof of good things to come. We were surrounded by friends and family, including all 18 members of Jan's immediate family flown over from The Netherlands.  We were blessed to be surrounded by so much love and support. Our honeymoon was a Mediterranean cruise.