Things that Make you go Hmmmm....

As I was walking through the Louvre, I came across this....

I can't help but wonder if this got people all riled up back in the day like the TIME magazine cover did very recently. :)  This was very interesting...to say the least.

Until next time,
Wendy  

One of Those Days....

I've had several days here in Belgium that make me scratch my head, roll my eyes, and giggle a little. If you leave off the giggle part, you'll go nuts!  These are the totally random days that have a way of just getting worse as the day goes on.  Last Monday, we didn't have much on the agenda for the day, and that turned out to be a good thing because we would have been very disappointed by our lack of accomplishment.  

The day started out with a typical commute to school.  We live close, and it should take less than 10 minutes, but generally it takes 20-25 minutes instead due to traffic.  On Monday, we got to the roundabout, just two long blocks from school, and the traffic completely stopped.  Several minutes later, we pulled up to this....a tree had fallen from the ISB hill and completely blocked three lanes of traffic.  Two lanes were westbound and one was eastbound.  This would create significant problems anywhere, but in a traffic stricken country like Belgium, this creates total chaos!!  So, I was able to make it to school, and the kids were only a couple minutes late, but getting home was a different story.  Luckily, I know the back roads now. :)  But, one hour and seventeen minutes later I arrived back home.  

Since it was mid-morning already, M and M and myself got some things done around the house and decided to head to IKEA for lunch.  Their meatballs and fries are so tasty!

Well of course, it was raining, so we thought it would be a good idea to just shop for something for my mom's brother (my Uncle Joey).  We checked the distance to the store she wanted to stop at, and "Claire" (our know-it-all GPS voice) said the easiest route was straight across Brussels.  It was 25 minutes...no problem!  I don't know why I thought that would be a good idea, but I went with it, and 1 hour and 20 minutes later we arrived at the shop......and it was CLOSED!  Because it was Monday, and if a store is open on Sunday, then it is closed on Monday.  I know better than that!  Agh!!!!!!

The day wasn't a total loss.  We had a wonderful dinner at The Limit in Overijse with the Cundiff family. We had some good old Belgian cuisine, and the kids had dessert, so everyone was happy!

Little tidbits from a few other days....

Surprise Uncle Joey!  We made it back to the shop a few days later. :)  Hope this doesn't ruin the surprise too much.  Mom was very excited to get this for you!

Mike helped me install some screens on our windows.  These are the kind where you put velcro around the window and stick the screen to it.  Works great so far, and our bug problem has significantly decreased.  Who said there are no bugs in Belgium?  That is crazy talk!

Look at this little cutie that was at ISB for pick up.  The day before it was wearing a rain coat.  What a doll!  Cuties like this are not helping with our kids desire for a dog.

Here's the tree now...my luck...the rest of it will fall just as I go walking by to pick up the kids.  I wonder how long they will leave it that way???

My little one eats like a true Belgian now.  His fork is in his left hand and he never puts his knife down.  He's pretty good at it!

And finally, a few shots from our send off at the airport.  I didn't post any crying pictures because they are just too sad.  The kids were pretty excited about the stop at Starbucks...that made the sadness go away just a little.

Thanks for allowing me to reflect on "One of those days".  Sometimes I feel like they happen a little too frequently.  I just keep giggling!

Until next time,

Wendy

Our (Almost) National Television Debut

Our friends Danny and Mackenzie, who are also expats, finished filming an episode for House Hunters International a few weeks ago.  Mackenzie is a Houston area photographer, and her business and photography skills were going to be showcased on the episode.  She kindly asked if the four of us would be the family she was photographing on the show.  Um.. YES...I love that show!  As it goes here in Belgium, it was POURING rain.  And, we needed to do the filming outside.  So, we were cut from our official TV debut. :(  There was an opportunity to film the following day, but with Thomas' busy social schedule, he was booked for the whole day.  And, it is bad enough to drag my husband to one photography shoot...let alone back to back shoots.  Oh well, we'll just see what's in store for us in the future.  There's a new show on HGTV about the lives of expats.  Maybe we'll find ourselves on there.  Chris prays that will never happen. :)

Since we were all dressed up with nowhere to go, Mackenzie snapped some indoor shots of us.  

Love this girl!  She is such a beautiful, young lady.

So handsome...and now you know why he desperately needed to get in for a haircut.

I don't think there is a shot that has captured him better.  This is my son for sure!

Thank you Mackenzie for the precious keepsakes.  Be sure to check out her blog at www.chubbyfoot.com.  They have done some amazing travels since they arrived in December.

Until next time,
Wendy

Is your food this fresh?

 I admit it...before moving here, I had never had a brown egg.  I thought they looked weird, but on our vacation we had white eggs, and now they look weird.  But, I love these "new" eggs, and I know they are fresh because this is what I find nearly every time I open a new carton.  A little gross?  Yes, maybe. :)

Until next time,

Wendy

Will someone please explain to me....

....why my broom will balance like this??

 Everyone was posting their pictures on Facebook, so I had to try it.  And, it worked!  Now please explain....

Until next time,

Wendy

Cart Clutter Solved!

Nothing is more irritating than carts scattered all over the Walmart parking lot.  They roll into your car leaving a nice little ding and block open parking spaces...and it's always the close ones.  And, then there is the lowly Sears cart at the end of the parking lot by JC Penney....nowhere near where it belongs.  I always wonder who the poor sap is that has to go retrieve that cart.  Well, all of these problems would be solved if these stores would take on the European mentality when it comes to carts.  All you need is a 1 or 2 euro coin (which you always have plenty of.)  There are tokens that work as well.  You stick the coin in the opening in the cart and it unlocks.  When you're finished, you lock it back up, and your coin or token is returned to you.  I suppose you could leave your cart in the lot, but no one wants to lose their euros.  It's perfect!  All carts are returned, the lots are free from the clutter of carts, and there are plenty of carts waiting to be used by the customers.  Perhaps it will be my mission to develop carts like this when I return to the states. :)

I will, however, make sure that these new and improved US carts will not have four 360 degree wheels.  It makes these boogers tricky to push.  They tend to get away from you, but it is quite an ab workout!

Until next time,

Wendy

Wordless Wednesday

I'm sure this is exactly what the builder and our landlord intended for this archway.....

Until next time,

Wendy

Not so Hungry....

I'm dragging my feet.  I've started this book three times, and I just can't get into it.  In my defense, I've had a few distractions over the last few months.  And, maybe it's the fact that it's about a bunch of kids that have to kill each other to be the sole survivor of the Hunger Games...or so I've been told.  But, you know how much I like movies, and this movie release is just around the corner.  And, I really want to see it.  So, this weekend, I am making it a point to restart this book.  I'll have some time while Chris traveling.  He is headed back to the States on Sunday and is going to be busy running errands for me.  Okay, not really, but he does have a sizable list.  #1 on the list is handing off my camera lens to my friend Kara to send in for repair.  I opened my camera bag yesterday, and my lens was detached from the body of my camera that I just purchased in the fall.  Completely snapped off.  Are you kidding me??  I am then hoping Jerry and Amy can bring it back to me on their way through Brussels at the end of the month.  Hey Amy, if you're reading...is that okay? :)  Like I said....never a dull moment.

And just a bonus pic for you.  Here's T watching "The Biggest Loser" eating Belgian chocolate.  I hope this stint in Belgium doesn't land him on that show. :)

Until next time,

Wendy

Happy Leap Day!

How are you spending your extra day in 2012?  Wishing you a day filled with love and happiness.

Until next time,

Wendy

Oscar Recap

Did you watch the Oscars?  I stayed up until 2:00 A.M. watching the red carpet.  This is one of my most favorite nights of the year, so I had to watch at least part of it live.  The dresses, the jewels, the beautiful people, honoring impeccable talent...I just love all of it!  I remember going to see Star Wars with my dad when I was only four years old.  And, it is still my most favorite movie...ever!  I have a husband that quotes movies all.the.time....but I love it.  Okay, okay...most of the time it's Billy Madison, but he likes going to the movies as much as I do.  So, the Oscars are just really special to me.  So, here's my two cents worth on the Oscars this year. It you're not into movies, famous people, Hollywood, or shallow thoughts...then you can just stop reading now. :)

1.  Billy Crystal is absolutely hilarious.  It was so good to have him back!
2.  Nick Nolte looks really, really scary!  On the other hand, Michael Douglas looks great!  So glad he beat cancer and is doing so well.
3.  Angelina Jolie is incredibly beautiful.  Really, couldn't she share a little of that??!!  Say whatever you want about the scandal with Brad.  She is still breathtaking!
4.  Apparently, I need to see Hugo.  It won a ton of awards.  But, I'm okay with not seeing The Artist.  No desire to spend my money on that!
5.  I didn't see Rob anywhere!  Bummer!
6.  Did you have trouble with the sound?  There was a clanging, tin sound in the background during dialog.  Anyone else?
7.  Will Farrell and Zach Galifianakis made me laugh out loud.  When Zach said his own name wrong, I almost lost it.
8.  "Man or Muppet" won best song...really?  I guess they didn't have much to choose from.
9.  When they did the movie montage toward the beginning of the show, I got really teary-eyed.  It featured most of my favorite movies....including Star Wars.  I just love movies!
10.  Time for Brad Pitt to cut his hair!  But I still love ya anyway hot stuff!
11.  Loved the actors thoughts on movies they love.  How those movies have shaped them.  I totally get it.
12.  Love, love, love the bridesmaids!
13.  When The Shore won...it made me think of my friend Tiffany up there in Northern Ireland.  Hooray for the little guys at the Oscars!
14.  The Johnson's commercial where the babies are "talking" to their moms made me cry my eyes out!
15.  Emma Stone has staying power.  Such a talented actress and just embodies Hollywood.
16.  Remember when Billy C. talked about James Earl Jones saying, "Baseball"...He totally nailed it.  Oh that voice. James Earl Jones is really aging though.  What will we do without him or Morgan Freeman?  I can't even think about it!
17.  The whole Governor's Award section made me cry too!
18.  "What a Wonderful World" was so beautiful!
19.  And who doesn't love George Clooney?!  I can't look at him without thinking of his character in the Facts of Life with all the hair.
20.  Congratulations to the Frenchman on his leading actor win.  Prior to this move...that would have bugged me.  And, now it doesn't. :)
21.  Oh, I really wanted Michelle Williams to win.  What an amazing gal.  For being so young, she seems to have been through a lot.  She strikes me as a class act and a wonderful mom.  But, congratulations Meryl.  You're pretty classy too!
22.  Someday...I will be a seat filler in my long, beautiful gown, hair all done up, and hopefully looking fabulous!  Can anyone out there help me make that happen?

I love movies.  I love the way they make me laugh.  I love the way they make me cry.  I love sitting in a theater and sharing the experience with those around me.  I love the celebration of the amazing talent.  Looking forward to the 85th annual Oscars next year.

Until next time,
Wendy