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!
