Christmas Comes to ISB

The students at ISB were ready for the holidays.  Trees were decorated in the four divisions and holiday concerts were in full swing. 

The cute little tree in the elementary school.

Allison's concert….sitting second chair.

Farrah, Maddie, Allison, and Preslee

The huge tree in the chateau.

Thomas's first band concert.  He is playing the baritone. 

So proud!

Paris is Always a Good Idea!

My poor, neglected blog.  I've been pretty busy around here.  Check out WE Photography and see what Ericka and I have been up to.  We've been having a lot of fun and thankful for the number of clients we have been able to work with this fall!!  So, most of my time has been dedicated to photography and keeping up the WE blog.  Now it's time to get caught up here.  Thanks for sticking with me!

You know me...I'm always up for a good girls' trip.  My friend Lisa and her family are preparing to leave Brussels in early January, and she had one request.  She wanted to take a baking class in Paris.  Well, I'm not a great baker (avoided it when Thomas was suffering from food allergies), so I was up for learning how to master the art of croissant making. 

But first…there was shopping to be done!

I never get tired of the beauty around Paris. Everything is worthy of a photo.

Look at those blue skies!

My eighth time in Paris, and I NEVER grow tired of the sight of you!

All dressed up for the holidays!

We loved this blue door.  Just another photo opportunity!

Can you see the Arc de Triomphe behind us?  Yep, your have to stand in the middle of the Champs Elysees to get this shot.

And, then the serious shopping started…..

I've been saving my euros.  And, I wasn't leaving without a new bag.

Oh look!  We persuaded Brandi to get the perfect bag as well.

And, if you're a first time buyer, you and your friends get to enjoy champagne.  Thank you, Brandi!  It was delicious!  

You have to stand on the Champs Elysees to get this shot too.  This was a bit more dangerous.  Thankfully, it was a long red light.

We had dinner at one our favorite restaurants in Paris.  I think Brandi and Cary originally found it.  They recommended it to Lisa and Scott who recommended it to us.  And, I recommend it to everyone.  It is quaint and perfectly Parisian.

And this is the highlight of the meal.  Too bad it's inappropriate to lick your plate clean.

The next stop was seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle.  We missed the midnight twinkle, so we hung out for nearly an hour waiting in the cold.  But, it was worth it.  

And, when the sparkling was over, they shut off all the lights.  I guess I've never been up late enough and hanging out by the Eiffel Tower to even notice!

Sunday morning was baking morning!

I could handle this kitchen in my house.

Would you like some dough with your butter???

Our very entertaining chef

Enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Group pic!  Loved the Dutch couple we worked with.

Hmmm….I just don't get it???

We stopped at Montmartre, so Brandi could have a drawing done of her kids.  It turned out beautiful! Sorry, no picture.

I FINALLY found the Moulin Rouge.  Well, I have never really looked for it.  But, I set out to find it on Sunday.  Turns out, it is just down the hill from Montmartre and was never very far.

Montmartre at night!

 Thank you for the brilliant idea for a girls' weekend Lisa.  And, thank you for allowing me to be a part of it!  Memories to last a lifetime.

Until next time,

Wendy

Scenes from Soccer Season 2013

Our 2013 soccer season was a bit more hectic than usual.  For the first time, the kids were not playing in the same league, so that involved more practices, weeknight and weekend games, as well as travel to the Netherlands for Allison.  

Allison was a part of the CESSIB (Council of English Speaking Schools in Benelux) soccer team this year through ISB.  This team was made up of 6th and 7th graders from her school.

This was her first season being part of a school team.

Looking incredibly gown up in this picture. 

We watched a lot of games in the rain this season.

I think Allison enjoyed the friendships as much (maybe more) than actually playing.

So close…but no score.  She did score in one of the last games of the year.

Thomas played BSA (Brussels Sports Association) Soccer which is an English speaking league coached by parents.  Games are held at ISB and St. John's International Schools.

Thomas and "Coach" :)

Chris's twin brother Jerry helped him coach one of the games when he was visiting in September.

I know someone who throws her hands on her hips and makes that face all the time…but I won't name names…..We'll just say he gets that look honestly.

The Navy Missiles only win of the season.  Poor guys.  They worked so hard.

Sporting her "away" uniform for a scrimmage at ISB.

She always makes me laugh.

Spectating again.

Last game of the season.

Allison with Coach Janelle and Coach Kelley

Teammates and buddies!  I adore the friendship between these two.

Spectating at her brother's game.

Last game of the season.
November in Brussels is so cold and wet.  With only 29 hours of visible sunlight for the month of November, it was time for the soccer season to come to an end.

The Navy Missiles

I would be remiss if I did not include this picture.  I'm not sure Thomas ever had a dry soccer practice.  Monsoon winds and rain were par for the course.

And, that concludes our soccer season.  Basketball season is already in full swing for Allison.  She will be traveling to Germany this weekend.  Thomas finds out his team next week.  The busy schedule continues!

Until next time,

Wendy