English Premier League - by Paul :)

In late November I was able to attend my first English Premier League game. After taking the 2 hour train to London, I was one tube stop away from the Emirates Stadium, home to the Arsenal football club. They hosted the Tottenham Hot Spurs, which is another team from London. When cross town rivals play each other it’s known as a “derby,” which normally makes the match more interesting.

No exception today. Arsenal is having a very good season, and was in 2nd place behind Chelsea at the beginning of the day. They took an early 2-0 lead at halftime, and the crowd was very entertained (and entertaining!). Tottenham played a perfect 2nd half however, and ended up winning 3-2. Although their fans were small in number, they were singing their team songs so loudly at the end of the match it still filled the stadium. For those who have ever seen an EPL game on television, it really is as amazing as it looks. Thousands of fans singing and chanting in perfect synchronization.... the traditions are amazing to witness live. We had a couple of hours after the match to enjoy a pint before catching the train back home.

Not of the same caliber, but impressive none-the-less, was another game I was able to attend in the Belgium First Division (Jupiler Pro League). Standard Liege hosted Charleroi in the “Walloon Derby” (both teams are from the Walloon, or French speaking region of Belgium). The 30,000 fans who sold out the match were very impressive in their support, as Standard won 2-0. Although nothing’s planned, I still hope to see a Bundesliga (Germany) and Spanish League (Barcelone or Madrid) before this year’s season ends in May. I would have loved for the whole family to experience a match in Rome, but AS Roma was playing away. Maybe the euros we deposited in the Trevi fountain will pay off, and we’ll have another chance some day.

If all my talk of “football” has any of you worried, you should be glad to know that while in the US for a business trip in November, my dad and I were able to go see THE Ohio State Buckeyes, (who are still my favorite football team), beat Penn State in a real football game.

First Snow of the Year!

Technically it snowed over the Thanksgiving weekend, but not enough to stick and looked more like frost. Since we weren’t around that weekend, our first snow of the season occurred on December 1st. The morning of the 2nd, we were awoken by a phone call from Nicholas’s teacher that school was canceled. Hurray! Luckily, the roads weren’t too bad and our good friends came over for a day long play date. We went sledding on a hill near our neighborhood for a bit and then the kids played outside in our driveway and back yard. Nicholas collided with a sled and lost part of his tooth. An adult tooth of course. (See picture in the left side bar). We’re headed to our first Belgian dentist on Monday to fix it.

The snow continues to come down, and I think this will be a long, cold winter for us. Luckily, we’ve already booked our next vacations when the kids are out of school (Ohio for Christmas, Dubai in February, and a Mediterranean cruise in April) so we have a lot to look forward to. :)

Thanksgiving in Rome

Our friends the Ragaglia’s (Paul’s colleague and his family) had decided they were going to Rome, Italy for Thanksgiving. We don’t get time off school for this American holiday here in Belgium, but we decided to pull the kids out on Friday and join them. It cost our family of four only $300 to fly there roundtrip which made the decision quite easy. Gotta love Ryan Air :)

Anyway, we flew over on Thanksgiving night (no turkey or mashed potatoes for us) and all went well. We were ready for bed (well past Lindsey’s bedtime) and our sweet daughter decided to throw a massive fit (i.e. I WILL NOT GO TO BED!) even though the lights were out, and we were all under the covers. I was nervous our whole trip was going to be like this, but it was not the case.

Rome was a pleasant change from Belgium as the sun was out most of the time and the weather was mild. It is a huge city and the buildings are enormous! I’ve decided that Super Size was invented in Rome. Friday, we paid to have a tour guide take us around town and get us in/out of places quickly. Marco was well worth it. (If anyone is interested, he also offers a tour where you can drive a new Ferrari around Tuscany for 4-8 hours, for about 1,000 euro.) Saturday we were on our own and went at a much slower pace. Most meals this trip involved pizza and pasta except for our lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe :-)

Some of the places that we visited/saw:

• the Roman Forum -- was the commercial, religious, political, and legal center of the city. Our book on Rome has cool overlays that show what Rome used to look like and then what it looks like today. This was especially important for the visit to the Forum which includes the Basilica Aemilia, Temples of Saturn and Concord, the Arch of Titus, the House of the Vestal Virgins, the Basilica of Maxentius, etc. It was great to walk to the same streets as Julius Caesar once did.

• the Colosseum -- (forgive my misspelling in the slide show) was known as the Flavian Amphitheater and took 10 years to build. Counting those that were standing, the Colosseum could hold 70,000 people.

• Caesar’s Palace/Circus Maximus -- the Circus Maximus could hold up to 300,000 people in its oval shaped arena built for chariot races. There are no blackjack tables at the Caesar’s Palace in Rome ;-)

• Saint Peter’s Basilica -- where Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. You cannot take pictures inside or talk. We also learned he was threatened by the Pope to do the painting (up to this point he had never painted a thing).

• Vatican City and museums -- this is the world’s smallest country and operates by itself from the rest of Italy. There are 54 galleries inside the museums and one could spend days there with a guide (without young children of course). We also saw the Pope’s residence, and the window from which he blesses the crowds every Sunday.

• the Catacombs -- a series of underground cemeteries that span 19 kilometers and used to be places of burials, rituals, and celebrations of the deceased. You cannot take pictures here either.

• the Pantheon -- a temple erected in honor of all the Olympian Gods; the interior is a perfect sphere with a 9 meter in diameter hole in the ceiling.

• Spanish Steps -- the longest and widest staircase in Europe and located between two piazzas (squares) with a church at the top. There are 138 stairs and an incredible view of Rome at the top.

• Trevi Fountain -- is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. It’s located where 3 roads meet and took almost 30 years to complete. Traditional legend says that if you throw a coin into the fountain (over your back), you will ensure a trip back to Rome. It has been estimated that over 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain daily!

Budapest

Over fall break, we spent 2.5 days in Budapest, Hungary and enjoyed every minute of it (okay, well not the minutes where Lindsey was having a fit, but it’s easier to gloss over those minutes now that we are home)! Budapest is a beautiful city, easy to get around, and full of friendly people. It’s the capital of Hungary and used to be two different cities (referred to now as the Buda side or the Pest side) divided by the Danube River. Our hotel was on the river, and we had great views. We completely lucked out with the weather as well. The sun was shining, and jackets weren’t always necessary. It was perfect for sightseeing.

It’s crazy how things work out. We have become friends with a Hungarian couple that have a first grade son as well. Our friends were celebrating their 40th birthdays and having an adult party in Budapest over the break, which spurred our decision to visit. We have also become friends with a Swedish family that have kids the same ages as our kids. They moved to Budapest for another expat assignment 3 weeks ago. They generously offered to watch our kids overnight so Paul and I could attend the party. What kind of luck is that?! :)

Wednesday evening we flew to Budapest, and Lindsey lost her first tooth on the flight. She was soooo excited! The tooth fairy brought euros and Hungarian coins! Thursday we met Bea and Daniel at a science museum and then had lunch at a TGI Friday’s in a huge 5 story mall. (I was very excited to eat a buffalo chicken salad -- something you can’t find anywhere in Belgium). The kids were mesmerized by the water fountain that would shoot water up to the 3rd floor. That evening we went to Heroes Square and had dinner at a Hungarian restaurant. Lindsey fell in love with Goulash (a traditional Hungarian soup/stew). Friday we took a funicular to the castle district and walked around. Friday night the party was on a boat/bar/restaurant on the Danube, walking distance from the hotel. A Danish couple that we are friends and our Canadian friends who moved to Prague came to town as well. We had a great time hanging out with them and also singing Karaoke! Saturday we met the Swedish couple and all the kids for lunch in a great walking/shopping part of town and then headed to the airport. I would have loved one more afternoon to check out the local market and to go to a Hungarian bath. Guess that means we might need to go back! :)

Fall Family Update

So we’ve been here in Belgium for a year and half and things are going very well. School is in full swing and we are all keeping busy locally. Our traveled slowed down while we all got adjusted to the new school year, but no worries as we have something planned for each month left in 2010! :)

Consider this a fall family update similar to a Christmas card update. (Who knows if you’ll get one then!)

Nicholas -- It’s hard to believe that Nicholas is in first grade! He’s 6 and a half and lots of fun. He really enjoys being active whether it’s swimming, playing sports like soccer or basketball, catch with Dad/Uncle Matt in the backyard, rollerblading, riding bikes, you name it. He recently caught on to rugby and prefers to play it with his friend Ted, who is from the UK.

Cub Scouts is a new addition to our routine this year as Nicholas is in the Tiger Scouts with 6 other first grade boys. We’ve already had a rain gutter regatta and BBQ, bowling with the pack, and an outdoor adventure day outside of Antwerp, besides regular meetings. I’m trying to work the Cub Scout motto, “Do Your Best” into all aspects of his life, especially in school. Nick loves school and does very well in both language and maths. He does rush through his work though and this is where I hope the motto will help. (Paul just admitted he was always the first one done with his work so we know where he gets it from!) We just had a conference with Nicholas’s teacher (whose husband is the ambassador from the UK), and she is very pleased with his abilities and his desire to learn. Let’s hope that all continues!

Lindsey -- At 4 and a half years old, Lindsey is quite the character! She loves dressing up and has her own sense of style. She is very spirited and things are either fabulous or terrible. The Montessori method of learning has been good for her behavior, and we hope to continue to see changes and growth. Lindsey absolutely adores her teacher, Mia, who has a lot of energy and is excited to see her students every day. Linz is learning about the solar system and has lots of facts to share with us. She’s also learning to read, write, and color within the lines. Big feats for preschool!

Listening to Lindsey play with her Barbies, baby dolls, or ponies is always a treat. She creates elaborate fantasy worlds and is quite content to play by herself or with others. She loves music and often has favorite songs and even lines within the songs. Being read to is still a favorite past time for Lindsey and the two of us often have book marathons on the couch. My arm has to be around her during this! :)

Both kids -- Art and crafts are big activities at our house. We are having a hard time creating ways to display all the pictures and projects! It’s amazing what can be created from toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and tape. (There can never be too much tape in this house!) Nicholas and Lindsey also enjoy playing games, which I love to do, too. Right now our favorite is Clue Jr. and we were all very excited when Lindsey one for the first time a few weeks ago. I wish I could say they both get along well with each other all the time, but we are working on that. I hope it comes with age! :)

Gretchen -- It’s absolutely amazing at how busy one can be without a job/career! My days/weeks fill up quickly and I look forward to the slower pace of the weekends. I am the homeroom mom for Nicholas's class this year which involves organizing and delegating for parties and other first grade events. I truly love doing this and getting to know all 40 families in first grade. I am also volunteering in Nick’s art class room every other Monday with Mr. André Turner, his art teacher who is also a professional artist. My other volunteer hat at the school is with the Scholastic committee. Twice a year we manage the ordering and delivering of the Scholastic book club flyers and once a year we put on a school wide book fair. It’s fun, but a lot of work.

This year I am finally taking French lessons. I do think it was a good idea to wait as I have more words in my head than when I first got here. That being said, it’s not easy and I spend time retyping notes and reviewing materials. Hopefully what I am learning will transfer well to the areas where I need to speak French: at the grocery store, in restaurants, in stores, at the commune, etc. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I also volunteer at the American Women’s Club library and can study there while I look at travel books and the like.

I am the family travel agent and am currently figuring out where we will go for our winter break in February. Although the end results are always fun, all the planning and work that goes into our trips is exhausting. Still, there are worse things, right?! :)

Like Nicholas, I love being active and try to incorporate running, swimming, tennis, cycle class, and yoga into my weekly routine. I’ve also started a high protein diet (think South Beach) in order to lose the weight I’ve put on over the past 3 years. I was really eating like I was on vacation since we moved here and my clothes weren’t fitting. I’m happy to say I’ve lost 9.5 pounds in 4 weeks and am halfway to my goal! I hope that I’m making changes to my eating habits that will be easy to keep for life.

Paul -- Work continues to consume much of Paul’s time (as it does for many of you!). He continues to be challenged in new and interesting ways on a daily basis, and really enjoys working for ATMI. I am hopeful that after budget season he will return to more normal working hours (i.e. coming to bed before 2 am) and can find some time to do things he’s interested in. He has managed to take in a round of golf, meet some friends at the local pub for a regular drink, play a little bit of soccer, and go watch a professional game every now and then. He is also learning to speak Dutch, which is the language spoken in the northern / Flemish region of Belgium where his office is. Although there is still no “end date” for his job here, recent discussions have indicated we will be here at least 2 more years, which should be more than enough time for everyone to come see us!

St. John's International Wine Tasting

I have to believe only in Europe do schools hold a wine tasting as a fund raiser for the art program! It’s definitely a cause I’ll support though! :) For 10 euros a person we were able to mingle among 5-6 tables where wine suppliers discussed the wines they brought. You received a glass when you entered and then could pick and choose which wines you wanted to taste. If you wanted more information, you stayed near the table and chatted it up with the wine experts. If it was socialization you were after, you gathered around the bread, fruit, and cheese platters.

A few co-workers from Paul’s company were in town and joined us for the evening -- 2 hours of wine tasting, a delicious dinner at a local Italian restaurant, and then after dinner drinks at a bar near the house. If I told you I wasn’t feeling well the next day, that would be a mild understatement! :) Still, it was a great evening, and one I look forward to next year!

Champagne Tour

Paul and I were fortunate to spend a weekend in the Champagne region of France, touring champagne houses, while our friends watched the kids. It’s not a bad way to spend a weekend, that’s for sure! It’s about a 2.5 - 3 hour drive due south from Brussels, which is about an hour and a half east of Paris.

We toured 4 different houses (actually going into their cellars and listening to a guided talk about how champagne is made) and drove along the Champagne Route and stopped at a few smaller, family run houses as well. Rough estimate is we drank 32 total glasses of champagne (average 5 a day per person?).

As we were celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary (24 years of knowing each other, for those who knew us back then!), and also going to be in the car for several hours, I decided to make a “mix” CD for Paul. It turned out to be 67 songs, 5 hours, and 4 CDs long! We had lots of fun reminiscing while we sang our hearts out.

Things we learned over the weekend:

• Champagne production is strictly limited to the 35,000 hectares in the region.

• There are 3 types of grapes used in champagne production - pinot noir, pinot meunier, and chardonnay. The amount of each grape used determines the type of champagne produced.

• grapes are picked by hand and usually pressed as close as possible to the vineyards where they were harvested.

• the chalky subsoil makes it perfect for harvesting grapes and storing the wine in cellars/caves where the temp. remains 10 degrees Celsius regardless what the the temp. is outside.

• Brut means less than 15 grams of sugar per liter.

• Demi-Sec means between 33 and 50 grams of sugar per liter.

• Blanc de blanc - means only chardonnay grapes are used.

• Rose - means “adding” the red-skinned grapes

• Vintage - champagne from a single year’s harvest ages on racks for at least 3 years before marketing.

• our tastes are completely opposite when it comes to champagne, as Paul prefers Blanc de blanc, and I the demi-sec.

• It is possible to actually get sick of drinking champagne! Towards the end, Paul decided he was beginning to prefer his champagne without bubbles... which I reminded him was simply white wine!!

Yenn/Shultz visit

In August, my parents, Stephanie and Matt, and their 15 month old son, Campbell came to Belgium for a week visit. What a great time we all had! Campbell was a trooper on the flights and dealing with jet lag. Steph and Matt are obviously doing something right! :) He’s so much fun and interacted with the kids so well, it was cute to watch them play. As soon as Nicholas figured out that Campbell could hold a light saber, they were best buds.

Everyone arrived Sunday and with spotty weather and people napping throughout the day, we stayed at home and played. Campbell had a rough first night (to be expected) and so the Yenn family slept in while our kids enjoyed lots of Nana and Poppi time. That afternoon the Morrisons and the Yenns (minus Campbell) visited the Atomium in Brussels. It was created in 1958 for the World’s Fair and continues to attract visitors.

Tuesday the Yenns slept in while I took Nicholas, Lindsey, Nana and Poppi to Chateau la Hulpe for a bike ride/walk around the grounds and a picnic lunch. We met friends there and the kids loved being able to ride their bikes everywhere. Nicholas has upgraded to a bike with gears and is quite proud of himself! :) We also toured the Folon Foundation, a museum dedicated to Jean-Michel Folon, a Belgian artist that Nicholas learned about in Kindergarten.

Wednesday it was no rest for the weary! Poppi stayed home, Paul was at work, and the rest of the crew went into Brussels to the Royal History and Natural Science Museum. It’s a gorgeous building on the inside and houses huge dinosaurs. Nicholas and Lindsey even went to a class in the paleo lab where they dug for fossils, made origami dinosaurs, put together puzzles, and colored pictures. We saw lots of different animals and a video on evolution.

Thursday while Paul worked, everyone else took a train ride into Ghent. The town was much bigger than I expected and we had to take a cab to and from the city center. The weather was also cooler and threatening to rain, so we spent more time than I wanted looking for a sweatshirt to buy for Nicholas. We did a little sightseeing and visited Gravensteen Castle, also known as Castle of the Counts. We’ll save a boat ride through the canals for next time. We ended the trip with delicious hot, Belgian waffles drizzled with chocolate. Even Campbell couldn’t get enough and kept doing the sign for more! :)

Friday Paul took the morning off and the adults, plus Campbell took the train into Brussels to see the carpet of flowers at the Grand Place. This is an event that occurs every two years and draws quite a crowd. We had a delicious lunch at a local Belgian restaurant and then headed back to Waterloo in time for Paul to make his 3:00 pm business call. Nicholas and Lindsey were excited to see us as they had exhausted the babysitter and were ready for fresh meat.

Saturday morning was full of playing and the afternoon was spent at the Waterloo swimming pool and walking around the main street for a little retail therapy. That evening we braved a local restaurant to eat Zeeland mussels and celebrate Nana and Poppi’s 39th wedding anniversary. Between the typical Belgian service and 3 hungry and tired kids, it was an interesting 2 hour adventure to say the least!

Sunday it was time for everyone to head back to the states and it’s been raining ever since. The kids are convinced both God and Mother Nature are crying, and want everyone to come back soon!

Centerparcs Weekend

The last weekend of July, we took the kids to a family friendly kid centered place called Centerparcs. I hesitate to use the word resort because it’s more like motel or dormitory accommodations as you can see from the pictures. Nevertheless, it was a great weekend for Nicholas and Lindsey! :) It took a little over an hour to get there (which was great after our Normandy driving trip). This location is nestled in a forest which makes it great for riding bikes, visiting the petting farm (where Lindsey loved having a goat try to eat her hair), going for a pony ride, and enjoying the outdoors during a round of miniature golf.

Indoor activities abounded at a kid central place called Baluba. There are 4 mini trampolines, a lego corner, a bouncy house, a play structure with lots of opportunities for climbing and multiple slides, go-carts, and the ever loud ball pit where you could shoot soft, nerf balls out of guns, and load them into different mechanisms to launch them all over the room. This was Nick’s favorite place. We also had time for family bowling after a picnic lunch.

Aquamundo is the indoor water park and we’re sad we didn’t take any pictures inside, although we brought our camera both days. It has several pools, a lazy river, and 3 crazy water slides. Two are traditional tube slides that you wind your way down. The best was the Rapid River whose current carried you up and over bumps and ending in a tide pool. Think of a giant slip-n-slide with an open fire hydrant supplying the water, pushing you down a ski run with moguls. If I had a dollar for how many times we rode that, I would be rich!

Other activities included two different sessions at the kids’ club. One afternoon the kids were princesses and knights, which culminated with a puppet show they attended dressed in their costumes. The other morning the kids were artists and they were able to bring home the canvases on which they painted. So fun! Of course the kids want to go back again and again! Only time will tell . . .

Normandy visit w/Grammy and Papa

A road trip to Normandy is something almost all expat families do while they are in Belgium. Knowing that Ted is such a history buff, we chose his visit for this trip. We loaded the car with things for the kids to do, food to eat, and put our bags in our new top of the car luggage rack. The family truckster was ready for the 5 hour drive, and the Griswold’s started yet another European Vacation. First real stop (not counting potty breaks) was in a town called Honfleur. It was my favorite town, and might even be my Sedona of Europe! Seaside, marina, lots of cafes/restaurants, old churches, and tons of charm. Kids’ favorite part was the double decker carousel.

Back in the car, we headed to Bayeux where they have a huge cathedral as well as the Bayeux tapestry. We weren’t allowed to take pictures of this amazing piece of embroidery, so you’ll have to check it out for yourself at: http://www.tapestry-bayeux.com/. It was definitely impressive.

Our bed and breakfast was in a town outside of Bayeux called Balleroy. We were the only people there for both nights which was very nice. Each morning we had a lovely breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt from a local farmer, soft boiled eggs, and pastries.

Friday morning we began our tour of Normandy with our private tour guide, Bertrand. We started looking at different tanks located in Bayeux, including the Sherman. We then headed to the Germany military cemetery, which interestingly enough, used to be an American cemetery. From there we went to St. Mere Eglise where the first parachuters were dropped on the D-day invasion. We visited the US Airborne Museum here, which was of particular interest to Ted as he was in the 82nd Airborne division during his Army tenure. From there we headed to Utah beach, where Lindsey decided it was nap time. I stayed in the van with her while the others had a history lesson beach side. Nicholas played in the sand and was oblivious that learning was going on. :) Back in the van again we headed to Pont du Hoc. This was a strategically important station for the Germans, as they could see both Omaha and Utah beaches, and could reach them effectively with their long range guns. It was evident from the massive bomb craters that remain today that US and Allied forces understood the importance as well. Several bunkers, guns, and other evidence of the war remained. The kids thoroughly enjoyed running around here (again oblivious to the history behind it all). It goes without saying that watching the kids play on the same beach where so many armed forces men and women made the ultimate sacrifice can give you a new appreciation of the freedoms we have. I don’t think we’ve ever taken it for granted, but we can also never give thanks enough. Next stop was Omaha Beach and this time the kids and I played in the sand for a bit. Quick pit stop at a nearby souvenir shop for Nicholas to pick out an Army helicopter/jeep Lego set from Grammy and Papa and then we were off to our final destination, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. This is no small place (over 172 acres). Our entire tour with Bertrand lasted from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm with lunch in the van. It was a long, but very interesting, informative day.

Saturday at 10 am we headed back into Bayeux to buy a few more souvenirs and then we were off to Rouen, France. This city was much bigger than we had anticipated and by this point we were all pretty exhausted (including a huge crying fit in the car from Lindsey who wanted to sit next to daddy who was driving). We ate lunch, walked around and saw their enormous and impressive cathedral and got back in the car. By 7 pm we were back in Belgium and it felt good to be home! Nicholas got right to work putting together his Lego project with Paul and Ted. :)

Unfortunately, Sunday was the last day of Grammy and Papa’s visit. They left the house at 8 am, and we rested all day. Even Mother Nature was sad they left as the weather was overcast and gloomy (complete opposite from the other days they were in town). We’re already looking forward to their next visit over here and hope to take them to Italy . . .

Belgium visit with Grammy and Papa

Grammy and Papa visit Belgium!

We just had a great visit with Ted and Rochelle this past week! (Ted’s first visit to us and Rochelle’s second.) They arrived on a Sunday morning and after a quick breakfast at the house, we were off to the Waterloo market. It’s a small local weekly market with varieties of fruit, veggies, bread, meats, cheeses, flowers, etc. We picked out meals for a few nights and were happy with our purchases. That afternoon we started our history lessons and went to the Butte du Lion in Waterloo.

A brief summary: The 'Butte du Lion de Waterloo' or mound of the lion of Waterloo, is a war monument to commemorate the famous battle that occurred June 18th, 1815. The French troops of Napoléon Bonaparte fought against an mixture of 'allied' troupes, essentially representing the rest of Europe. The most popular of the leaders were the english Duke of Wellington and the Prussian General Blucher. The memorial was erected by the King of the Netherlands on the spot where it is believed his son, the Prince of Orange, was wounded. The Lion on the top of the hill is the symbol of the Netherlands coat of arms, and it’s paw on a round sphere symbolizes the global nature of the victory. For additional information, go listen to the Abba song :-)

The next day we were off to Bruges via train. We enjoyed walking around the quintessential town and took a horse drawn carriage ride as well. Tuesday was a morning of rest and then Paul and his parents walked around the main street in Waterloo and did some shopping. Wednesday he took them into Brussels while I took the kids to our local pool. Perfect plans for all of us! Thursday we headed to Normandy which is a slide show in itself as you may have already seen. :)

All in all it was a perfect mixture of doing things in Belgium and allowing the grandparents quality time with the kids.

My 3rd European soccer game in Europe?

Taking advantage of our central European location, I decided to head up to Amsterdam to watch Holland play last Sunday in their 3rd World Cup Final, and first in 32 years . A quick 90 minute drive got me just a 30 minute train ride from Amsterdam Central station. Although a short train ride, it might have been the loudest 30 minutes I have ever experienced with all of the vuvuzela’s being blown. It was ridiculous. A 20 minute walk from there, and I had arrived at the Museumplein (Museum Square), where >100,000 Dutch fans gathered to watch the game (which was actually being played in South Africa).

Forget the passport, you needed some orange clothing to get into the country on Sunday. For those with more limited closets, I saw creative body paint, life jackets, and highly reflective orange jumpsuits doing the trick.

I arrived just before 3pm, a full 5 and 1/2 hours before kickoff, and the party had already started. The front “half” of the square was already packed, and they weren’t letting anyone else in. The second half was well on its way, and a quick walk through told me it wasn’t the right place for me to watch the game. Plenty of singing, dancing, and general happiness until around 6pm, when the party “officially” started. This, of course, is when the beer tents opened! Local radio personalities started talking over the loudspeaker, and really got the crowd going with some local / national songs that literally had 100,000+ fans screaming, clapping, and waving their hands in unison.

The most impressive moment occurred at 8:30pm, when immediately after kickoff the aforementioned 100,000+ fans who had spent the last 5+ hours partying, singing, screaming, and dancing, immediately turned extremely, quiet, deadly serious, and intensely focused on the game. I left the park at halftime, and worked my way through multiple pubs as I headed back towards the station to catch my return train. For those who didn’t catch the game, Spain scored with only 4 minutes left in overtime, leaving the Dutch with no excuse to miss work Monday.

Stockholm and cruise

Stockholm

We fell in love with Stockholm! I am sure summer is a perfect time to visit with the sun shining, breezes blowing, and the flowers in bloom. A winter visit might make me change my mind with piles of snow everywhere and about 5 hours of daylight (not sunshine, but daylight!). Stockholm is a bunch of islands/peninsulas that are surrounded by water. Cruise ships come right into downtown and dock so in the summer it’s full of tourists. The city has a great vibe to it with lots of cultural things to do, plenty of parks, great museums for adults and kids, and many historical sights.

One place we all loved was the Vasa Museum. It’s actually an embarrassing story for Sweden that they’ve turned into a national treasure. It took almost 2 years to build this impressive ship and on her maiden voyage in 1628, she sunk right off the harbor. In 1956, an explorer found the ship preserved in the water only 300 meters from where it sank (not sure they were really looking for it that hard!) and in 1961, the Vasa was recovered and work began to restore the ship to its former glory. For 17 years, they sprayed the ship with a chemical compound that replaces the water in waterlogged wood to prevent shrinkage and cracking. The museum opened in 1990. Their website is full of information if you want to learn more: http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/

While we were in Stockholm, we were also able to take a short boat ride through the archipelagos to another island and also visit a place called Junibracken (tribute to the author of the Pippi Longstocking series). We stayed with Swedish friends that we have met here in Belgium and were able to see two different parts of Stockholm through them as one lives in the country, and the other more of a suburb. Paul and I got time alone to explore the old town, Gamla Stan, and enjoyed drinking a beer on a floating bar/restaurant. Knowing that we have friends there, it’s a place I would love to revisit if possible. :)

Cruise

Our friends, the Diehl’s, suggested we all take a short 4 night Royal Caribbean cruise this summer leaving from Stockholm with ports in Tallinn, Estonia and St. Petersburg, Russia. It was a great vacation! The length of the cruise was perfect for our family, although the ports weren’t very interesting to the kids. A typical day was to get up and have breakfast from the buffet in the Windjammer. We’d then leave the ship for some sightseeing (took a Hop-on Hop-off bus around Tallinn and a walking tour around St. Petersburg), back to the ship for lunch and swimming. Nicholas and Jason would then spend some time at the climbing wall. They loved it there and were actually quite good at it. Then time to shower and change for dinner. Our wait staff was great with the kids and attentive to their needs. The kids also spent time in the kids’ club and one night stayed through dinner on a special pirate themed evening.

We had amazing weather with high’s in the 80’s and rarely a cloud in the sky, which we are so grateful for. Especially since St. Petersburg gets only 60 days of sunshine a year! (Clearly we won’t be moving there anytime soon!) One night the adults felt like kids again as we played BINGO after dinner with people two to four times our age. Brian and Danielle won $184 so it was well worth our $16 investment. :) One night Paul and Brian went out after the kids fell asleep and another night Danielle and I did the same. Summertime is known as the white nights because the sun doesn’t set until 11:30. It rises at 3:30, so we were very pleased to have interior rooms without windows! All in all, it was a great, relaxing vacation!

Prague Weekend with Lang family

Shortly after arriving in Belgium, we met the Lang family. Solenne was in Nicholas’s preschool class and they hit it off right away. When school started again in September, we got word that the family would be taking another expat assignment in Prague and leaving Belgium in October. We promised to visit them.
Keeping true to our word, we visited them in Praha over Ascension weekend. It’s an easy 1 hr. and 15 minute flight from Brussels. The kids were all excited to see each other and temporarily forgot that we were also there to visit the city.
The first night Solenne and her older sister Kyra were in a school play and we were on our own to sight see for a few hours. If I had a euro for every time the kids asked, “Is the play over yet?” I would be a rich woman. Saturday morning was grey and overcast. Trying to be kind parents, Paul and I postponed sight seeing and let the kids play in a soccer game. Nicholas and Lindsey were told the new plan for the day -- soccer game, lunch, play time, sight seeing, dinner with the family and more play time. Unfortunately one warning was not enough and we had two colossal meltdowns going on when it was time to stop jumping on the trampoline and go see what else Prague had to offer. It was a mess. (For those of you wondering, all of the traveling that we have been able to do still hasn’t changed the fact that we’re traveling with a 4 and 6 year old! Gretchen is already planning the next expat assignment we get when the kids are in college!)
Public transportation is fairly easy to use in Prague and after a bus and a tram, we walked to a funicular (aka “ski gondola”) that took us to the top of Petrin Hill, where a 1/3 scale replica of the Eiffel Tower is located. It’s 299 steps to the top and the views of the city are breathtaking. We also visited a house of mirrors and had fun laughing at each other. Some ice cream and a local park rounded out our afternoon. Nicholas even said, “This was fun. I’m glad we did it.” Whew. At least he was kind enough to acknowledge that we were right (at least that’s what I heard). :)
Sunday was a bus and a tram ride to Bohemia Bagel where 90% of the customers are American college students. I really wanted to know where everyone went, but stopped myself from asking. We walked across the crowded Charles Bridge and tried to see a marionette show. The weather was cold and blustery. We all had on rain jackets, boots, and mittens. I had to remind myself it was May, and stop myself from thinking of what our friends in AZ might be doing this weekend. The kids, of course, were more than happy to go home and jump on the trampoline some more.
Monday we headed back to Belgium. For those who have enjoyed the pictures we’ve been posting, please send a thank you to Wizz Air, who kindly held Paul’s camera after he left it on the plane. Without them, this blog would be only words!

Holy $%&*@

Okay, for those of you who are sick of all the travel stories and want more of the mishaps of living abroad, this one is for you. This is not for the faint of heart. You can thank me now for not having a slide show of pictures to accompany this story. :)
It started the morning we were leaving Belgium for the States. Paul and I went into the garage just as the cab arrived. We were greeted by a horrible smell, and a chunky liquid seeping from a metal square in the floor. I thought someone had thrown up. Paul informed me it was leaking from the septic tank. Gross. We quickly cleaned it up, threw the towel into the trash, and left the garage door open a crack to vent the smell. The cab was loaded and waiting. Our neighbors arrived back to Belgium a week later and checked on the house. Everything seemed fine.
When we arrived home 3 weeks later, the septic tank issue seemed to be resolved. We couldn’t have been more wrong. Three days later the seepage was back. Paul was in Brugge and the landlord was called in. After expressing some displeasure, he called for back up. Two guys, a giant “shop vac” and a couple hundred euros later, and all was well.... except for the mess those guys left! There was “shit water” all over the garage. Nana and I were mortified. We went to the local Brico (picture a Home Depot with all of the products in French) and purchased disinfectant, rubber gloves, mops, squeegee, etc. Nana was determined to restore the garage to its original glory. A full afternoon of cleaning and all was well.
What did we learn from all of this? Well It turns out plumbing is a little different here. The pipes don’t run all the way through, so there are spots where the waste/trash is just running over concrete or rock. Too much paper, etc. and it easily gets caught and backed up. No Kleenex, wipes, feminine products, etc. I’m now on a mission to alert other Americans so they can learn from our crappy mistake. :)

Amsterdam & Keukenhof

Every spring many Europeans make the trip to Holland to see the beautiful tulips at Keukenhof. We had just moved to Belgium this time last year and didn’t make the drive. This year, we planned to go when Nana came to visit. We left Brussels Sat. morning and drove the 3 hours to a town called Leiden. Paul and I were lucky enough to leave the kids with my mom at the Holiday Inn (which had an indoor pool and kids’ play area) and we took the 30 minute train ride into Amsterdam. Our first stop was the Anne Frank museum and, after realizing trying to speed walk the Van Gogh in 15 minutes probably wasn’t a good decision (it was closing), we enjoyed walking around the town and admiring the canals. Dinner and drinks were at a patio restaurant on the canal, then a leisurely stroll through the Red Light District on our way back to the train station (had to see what all the fuss is about!... and no, we didn’t have any brownies for dessert!)
The next morning we drove 20 minutes to Keukenhof. Passing the tulip farms was really impressive, with symmetrical rows of brightly colored tulips running perpendicular to the main road. Unfortunately, we didn’t get pictures of those, but will next year. Even more unfortunate was the weather. It was raining when we woke up and it didn’t stop. Determined to see the flowers, we came armed with umbrellas and rain coats. The displays and colors were amazing, even on a rainy, grey day. With Lindsey asleep before we left the park, and Gretchen dreaming 10 minutes into the car, we started our drive home. Even in the rain, it was one of those experiences that we’ll repeat next year, with the addition of the Kinderdijk windmills.

Ajax Game in Amsterdam

Paul's European Soccer Tour Continues: Game 2: AFC Ajax v FC Groningen, Amsterdam Arena
Special thanks to my co-worker John for this experience.... We're getting to the end of most European league soccer seasons, so the run for the championships (and our travel schedule) is making it hard to get tickets to games. John was able to get two tickets that not only got us into the game, but gave us access to a corporate suite before the game (where a junior league Ajax coach came and talked about the upcoming game), 2nd row corner seats, and then back the suite after the game to meet and talk to one of the players! AFC (Amsterdam Football Club) Ajax is one of the oldest, and most popular teams in the Dutch Eredivisie (1st Division). They play in Amsterdam Arena, which holds about 50,000 people. Amsterdam Arena was the first stadium in Europe to have a retractable roof, and is where many of the largest concerts in Europe are held. Believe it or not, they actually host a "dance party" in this stadium every year, where 55,000 people come to dance... or at least that's what they tell their parents ;-) Back to the game... AFC Ajax won 3-0, which made the 2.5 hour drive back to Waterloo more pleasant than the alternative. They finished the season in 2nd place, 1 point behind 1st time champions FC Twente.

Easter break trip to the States

Easter break trip to the States
Nicholas and Lindsey got two weeks off school for the Easter break and we took advantage of that and headed to the US. Traveling there was smooth and uneventful. We celebrated Easter at Grammy and Papa’s house with a delicious brunch and an Easter egg hunt for the cousins. We spent our first week going to several doctor appointments, and playing outside enjoying the glorious spring weather, including a fun trip to the Columbus Zoo. At the end of the week, Nana and Poppi flew in from Kansas and we drove to Dayton to celebrate Campbell’s 1st birthday! We had a family photo shoot in a beautiful park area called Hills and Dales in matching outfits. Lots of fun! The kids and I left Dayton and headed to Phoenix for a quick 3 day visit to soak up the Arizona sunshine, visit with friends, and get in their annual visit with the pediatrician. Believe it or not, I didn’t take a single picture in Arizona, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that we were there! :) As we headed back to Columbus, the volcano in Iceland was erupting and causing traffic delays to and from Europe. We found out an hour before we had to head to the airport that our flight was indeed canceled to Brussels and we were able to extend our visit in Ohio. I joke that we were “stuck” in the US for an extra week, but realistically, no one was complaining. We all enjoyed the extra time with friends and family, knowing we won’t return to the States until Christmas. As you’ll see from the pictures I did take, we had a fantastic visit!

Pisa, Italy

One of the perks of living in Europe is being able to travel. We’re trying to take advantage of that while also keeping the kids’ interests in mind. We just took an overnight trip to Pisa, Italy. It was great! We figured at ages 6 and 4, they aren’t going to get too much out of many places in Italy, but a tower that’s not straight, that’ll get their attention! We flew in, unpacked at the hotel. Walked 5 minutes to our first stop (lunch near the Arno River) and then another 10 minutes to the leaning tower of Pisa. I was able to go inside (you must be 8 years or older) and up the almost 300 flights of marble stairs. It was cool and in one picture if you look closely, you can see Paul and the kids waving to me from the ground. The only drawback was dinner that night at an Irish pub instead of delicious Italian food. It seems that the Italians (like the Belgians) like to start dinner at 7:30 or later and weren’t open when our kids were “starving”. Paul insists the Irish Pub was the only place open and swears he wasn’t swayed by the gigantic Guiness sign out front! :) Guess that means we’ll have to take another trip (maybe to the Amalfi Coast) to get authentic Italian food! (For this slide show, scroll over the picture an the caption will pop up!)