Meet the Chaos Crew

We are the van der Lee family—a family of six who believe that life's adventure happens in the mess.

I’m Sam, the impulsive one, always ready to leap into the next big idea without thinking through the details (because who needs them?).

Then there’s Mike, my husband, the calm, calculated one who asks all the right questions—and, let’s be real, probably saves us from making a few too many impulsive decisions.

And, of course, we’ve got our four amazing kids:
Matt (born 11/2022) – Always in motion, alway searching how to create chaos with a sweet smile.
Effy (born 05/2021) – The adorable talker who charmes everyone to listen to her never ending stories.
Amber (born 7/2018) – The sassy one with a heart of gold and an endless supply of curiosity.
Bella (born 3/2017) – The quiet observer who’s already plotting her own little adventures.

In January 2024 we set off on our first big adventure—because why not? Life’s too short to stay still, and chaos is just part of the fun. Welcome to our blog, where we share the stories of our beautifully chaotic family travels. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride.