Nothing Like Family

If I could move my people to Belgium, I might stay in Europe forever.  But, I can't, so I will cherish the moments I am having with them while we are home.  Here are just a few pics over the last couple of days.

I think someone might adore her Uncle Chris just a bit.

Going in for the sneak attack...except he won't actually get in the water, so he has to wait until he floats in for the attack. 

My dear sister Nicole and my brother-in-law Jeremy. 

No comment needed...I mean really...look at this boy!  What's not to love???

I have two and my sister has two...and we each have a boy and girl...so each one has a buddy.  

I don't have a picture of the boys together because they won't slow down long enough for me to actually take a picture of the two of them!

The grandkids with Grandma

Just the girls!

My Hartwick family came to Moline for a visit today.  They are my dad's side of the family.  I wish we got to see each other more.  Can't wait until Christmas to spend more time together!

My kids with Great Grandma.  She will be 95 in August.  She is just the sweetest person you will ever meet!

Flashback to Friday night...we had a great time watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics together.  Go team USA!

Until next time,
Wendy

An Outdoor Pool! Finally!!!

If my memory serves me correctly, we have not gone swimming in an outdoor pool since last August!  There may have been the occasional night swim at the Phillips' house, but yesterday we were able to soak up the warm sun, go off the high dive, and slip down the slides all afternoon.  The kids were in Heaven!

You cannot imagine Thomas' excitement when two friends from his class just happened to be at the pool.  There was a whole lot of hugging!  These four had such a fun day!

This was my view all afternoon.  I loved just sunning and chatting with Kathie and Becki.  What a great day!!!  On a side note...I didn't realize just how sun deprived we really are.  When you go to a pool with folks that have been in the sun all summer, it is really, really obvious who leaves in Europe...WOW! 

This is such a fun picture of sweet friends and even better because I got Becki's oldest, Trevor, going off the high dive.  I didn't even realize it until I uploaded the picture.  Pretty cool, huh Becki!

And, this is our trip back to Grandma's house in Moline.  I can't even remember the last time these two slept in the car.  Apparently, the sun and swim wore them out!

What a terrific day!

Until next time,
Wendy

Home Sweet Home

It's so good to be home!  We've been in Belgium a little less than seven months, but we still wanted to take the opportunity to make a trip home this summer.  For the kids, you know. :)  On Friday, July 20th, we arrived in Moline, IL.  We had traveled from Brussels to Newark, Newark to Chicago, and Chicago to Moline.  We left Brussels at 10:00 A.M. and arrived in Moline at 6:00 P.M. which is actually 1:00 A.M. the following day in Brussels.  We were exhausted, and these smiling faces were a welcomed sight!

The kids were so shocked to see the Knepps at the airport to greet us!  Allison and Leksi are so happy to finally be together again! 

We were able to have dinner with Aubry and her boyfriend this weekend!

And on Monday, we traveled to Normal, IL to visit with my college friends.  I'm so glad that six out of nine of us were able to be together!

A visit with my college friends wouldn't be complete without a  dance party....

and a trip to the Pub II for cheeseballs!  They were delicious!!!

Future ISU students?

We are so lucky that our kids adore each other!  There are many more Danceline kids in the group, but these four were the remaining ones from the sleepover.  

Oh, I totally love this!  She's in front of my old dorm at ISU. :)

We did several takes, and this was the best I could get.

Then it was a stop in Morton for dinner with the Phillips family at La Fiesta!  I'll have to go back when I'm not driving....the Diet Coke with free refills were great...don't get me wrong, but I'm hoping for something of the frozen variety with lots of salt on the rim of the glass! ;)

Me, Kathie, and my sister Nicole!  It was a super day.  We headed back to Moline tonight to see my mom. Tomorrow, we will spend the day in Moline, and then we are off to Peoria/Morton tomorrow night.  I feel like I am wearing a path on I-74 already!  Oh, who cares!  It's just good to be HOME!

Until next time,
Wendy

It's Hard to be Patient!

In just three short days, I will be heading home for a visit to the USA.  And, I absolutely can't wait!  Leaving my family and friends was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I've been blessed in the six months I've been here and met some of the most terrific people.  How lucky am I to have such wonderful friends to come back to in Belgium!  

But, I must admit that I am so excited to see my friends at home...who have known me for years...who know everything about me...and they still love me. :)

Which leads me to this picture on Pinterest.  It truly touched me. 

When I left Morton,  I left behind my best friend, teaching partner, second mom to my kids, confidant, walking buddy, soul sister, you name it, and she is it! 

This is my best friend, Kathie, and I just can't wait to give her the biggest hug when I see her, and I know it will be as if I never left!

Until next time,
Wendy

It's a Hard Knock Life

If you are 11 years old (or a nine year old), this is the house to live in!  It's the life of leisure I tell ya.  You get up in the morning.  Your mom makes your breakfast.  Then your mom makes your bed (because she is incredibly picky and likes the way she makes the bed.)  In the meantime, she has picked out your clothes and made sure everything you need for the day is ready to go.  You get to play most of the day, there really aren't any limits on iPod Touch time, and you pretty much get to do as you like...within reasonable limits of course.  Life is just so fun!  They are loving their mom staying home...to say the least.

So, during dinner with a  friend last night, he mentioned how his girls' job in the morning is to empty the dishwasher from the night before.  That nagging voice is my head started...."You really should make your kids do more...they need to be responsible...you can't do everything for them their entire lives."  I know these things.  I've been doing this mom thing for a while, and I was a teacher.  I should definitely know better!

Which led to today's list.

I thought I would start small.  Much of the list is things they would be doing anyway.  How hard it is to do your hair, get dressed, and brush your teeth?  Well, you would have thought I asked the kids to clean the whole house!  These are things they do most days (with the exception of piano everyday), but when in the form of a list it must have looked very intimidating.  Allison got right to it.  No problem.  She was done with everything rather quickly.  But, Thomas...he cried through half the list.  I'm not kidding.  It must have been iPod Touch withdrawal during this period of torture.  But, he did finish, except for eating.  He just hasn't been eating much for breakfast lately because he hasn't been feeling well.

I can assure you though.  There will be another list tomorrow.  And, I'm sure there will be more tears, but it's time for these two to be more responsible.  And, it's time for Mom to stick to sharing the duties and remain consistent.  We'll see how long this lasts.

Until next time,

Wendy

Scenes from Paris

Just a few pics to share of Paris.  No people in these photos.  Just some shots of the beautiful city.  I wish I could do it justice.  It is really beautiful, and I think every building looks like a museum.  

Walking along the Seine across from the Louvre.

The light was hitting the dome just right.

Le Tour Eiffel

On the boat tour and passing under Pont Alexandre Bridge

This is Thomas' favorite bridge "with all the funny faces." :)

The Orsay Museum...and to think it was going to be torn down!  What a save that was!

Enjoying a bit of sunshine around the clouds.

Notre Dame

The back of Notre Dame while boating on the Seine.

A boat for my mom. :)

I was really hoping that sunshine would creep closer to the Eiffel Tower, but no such luck.

There is always a crane present in a picture taken in Europe.

The Champs Elysees from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Arc de Triomphe

I really do love Paris!

Our quaint little hotel that was across from the Louvre.

This was the view from Tim and Cheryl's room.  Our room faced the inner part of the building and looked like a scene out of the movie Moulin Rouge.

Our view while waiting to enter the Catacombs. 

Love it! 

Silly gargoyle!

The Louvre

Arc du Carrousel outside the Louvre

The Tuileries

The kids loved this fountain.

Inside Notre Dame

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

This seriously takes my breath away.  What a sight!

One of the ceilings of the Louvre

Wow!  What a room!

What are you looking at?

I love the wrought iron on every balcony.

Sweet sunshine

Doors on the Louvre

An evening at the Louvre

Pont Alexandre...so beautiful, but at the time was loaded with pick pockets.  They kept picking up rings they "found" on the ground and asking if they belonged to tourists.  They just want to get close to you.  We would watch them walk around the block and then start again.  

Folks just enjoying their day and relaxing around the fountains of the Tuileries. 

The Orangerie Museum...and home to Monet's Water Lilies.

Farewell Paris...I do hope we see each other again very soon!

Until next time,
Wendy