A Perfect Saturday in Summer!

You may remember that super cool park we went to several months ago....Bloso Domein Hofstade....well, we went back today and thought we would try out the beach.  It was in the 70s and sunny, so that calls for time spent outside.  The cost was five euros per person, and we had to show our Belgian ID.   Be sure to bring your's if you plan to visit.  We asked about out of town visitors, and they said they would need their Passports for identification.  

When we arrived around 1:00, it was pretty empty.  The water was cold, but the kids enjoyed swimming out to the platform and jumping into the lake.

Poor Thomas is still so red and sore from our trip to the coast.  Nothing says "I'm an American" like a swim shirt and bermuda shorts.  Oh well!  Turns out, we had more than enough clothes on....there were several little ones in their "birthday suits".  Thankfully, their parents were clothed appropriately (by American standards.)

Daddy's girl!

The beach was very clean and well maintained.  There was also play equipment for the kids on the beach and two lifeguards on duty.

The kids thought this inflatable was so much fun.  Occasionally, there were 20+ kids on this thing.  I was waiting for it to sink.

This evening we went to the Cannon household for dinner.  They live in one of the coolest houses I've seen here in Belgium....unique house, in-ground pool, acres of forest and walking trails....and cows.  My kids are completely enthralled with the cows.  We came out here for a swim on Thursday, and the cows came up to the fence.  Tonight though, the kids thought they should go to the cows. 

No worries...we supervised and shouted things like, "Don't walk behind the cows...be careful...no running...watch for cow pies...."  And, it really helped too.  The kids were just fine. :)

Here are all four kids in the field.  Thomas is going to be a farmer, so he is really good with cows you know.....just ask him.

About half of the cows are Belgian Blues.  These cows have double muscling and solid as a rock.  

Sun, sand, and super friends makes for a splendid Saturday!

Until next time,
Wendy

Six Months Already!

 It's hard to believe that today we mark six months in Belgium (and yet, some days it feels like we've been here for six years!)  We have learned so much in that short time, and we have said numerous times that if we can do this, we can do anything.  It is challenging.  The language is more of a barrier than we anticipated.  It is a very different culture from the US, but that is what we appreciate about it.  We came here expecting something completely different, completely different is what we got, and we wouldn't have it any other way.  I think in many ways, we have all changed.  Our minds are more open, we're more outgoing, and we cling tighter to each other because each other is all we have (and our terrific new friends who are now like family.)  Here is a recap of our first six months in pictures.  My friend, Mackenzie, has been here just two weeks longer than us, so I totally stole this idea from her blog. :)

Please note...for the most part, this post is in chronological order, but there are a few exceptions, I am lacking patience with the blog right now, and I fear losing the whole post.  Please forgive me. :)

We left the US on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 and arrived the following morning in Brussels, Belgium.

Our sea container arrived just four days later!  Great timing!

Ice sculptures in Brugge..Amy was terrific about filling the time with great activities before school started.

The house was mostly put together in just a few days.

Visiting Brussels at the end of the first week.

Our first big trip was January 14, 2012, to Disneyland Paris.  We promised the kids this would be our first trip!

Ghent, Belgium

Off to Edinburgh, Scotland with the Kirschenmann family.

Beer run to Westvleteren!

Leuven, Belgium

Cologne, Germany with the Westercamp family

Monshau, Germany is so adorable!

Celebrating the USA and all of the countries of the ISB students at the International School of Brussels.

Jerry and Amy had a layover in March.  Wish they could have stayed longer.

Thomas turned nine at the end of March.

Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels

Villers Abbey in Villers-la-Ville, Belgium

Daddy's first trip to Brugge

Our spring break tour started with a stop at Legoland in Germany.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany

Breathtaking scenery on our drive from Germany to Austria

Munich, Germany...the Glockenspiel and Hofbrauhaus

Dachau Concentration Camp

Salzburg, Austria

The Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg

We loved this city!

Rothenburg ob der tauber, Germany

The Nightwatchman Tour was fabulous!

Celebrating Daddy's birthday at the end of April.

Keukenhof, Holland (the Netherlands) to see the beautiful tulips

Dustin, Tiffany, Miles, and Liam were our first overnight guests! 

London, England with Kolin and Christie 

The kids survived their school trips to the Belgian Coast (Thomas) and Trier, Germany (Allison).

Namur, Belgium

Chris did an awesome job running the Brussels 20K! 

Grandma and Mike arrived on May 28th!

Flanders Field Cemetery on Memorial Day

Paris, France

Allison turned 11!

Girls trip to London!

The Grand Place with Mom and Mike who came to be known as M and M.

Back to Brugge

The Belgian Coast (North Sea)

Waterloo, Belgium and the Butte du Lion 

Mechelen, Belgium

Antwerp, Belgium

We found a church we love!

Last day of School! 

Beach day in De Haan, Belgium.

It has been a very eventful six months.  I have no regrets, and I can't wait to see what is in store for the next six months....okay, I have a pretty good idea...but you'll have to wait and see. :)

Until next time,
Wendy