Brugge and Monschau....check!

We are busy traveling and showing the Ohio Vastines as much as we can in the week they are here.  Yesterday, we headed up to Brugge.  It is the second most popular city for tourists in Belgium.  This was my fourth trip to the picturesque city, and each time I find something new.  My kids, however, are already at that complaining stage.  Do we have to go back to Brugge?  Do we have to go in another cathedral?  Do we have to have fries?  I admit it...I'm even sick of French fries at this point, but I am not tired of Brugge or cathedrals!  

The architecture here is beautiful!  

We took a boat cruise along the canals to learn about the history of Brugge.  Our captain had to speak multiple languages, so we didn't get the excellent descriptions we had on our last tour.  So, I just filled in a few bits of info he left off. :)

Strolling around the city and being very cooperative when we wanted to take their pictures.                                          

The Ohio Vastines at the oldest bridge.

And, our family, of course.

Can you see Brandon's cheeks?  This was his first taste of Belgian chocolates.  He couldn't shove those morals of heaven into his mouth fast enough!

I like the pigeon on his head.

Remembering to do her pose! 

Of course!!!

And, of course!!!

After shopping (got a new purse...yay!), learning all about the beers of Belgium after a long study of the beer wall,  lots of walking, and ice cream and waffles...we headed to Blankenberge to show the Ohio Vastines the coast.  By this point, it was pouring rain.  So we simply looked at the water, and then went to dinner.  We enjoyed some traditional Belgian cuisine, and headed home.  It was a terrific day!

Today, we were off to Monschau, Germany.  "Cute" doesn't even begin to describe this quaint little town just over the border of Germany.  The forecast called for rain and thunderstorms all day, but by mid-day we had full sun and shed our coats.  It was a perfect!

Monschau is nestled down in a valley, so the views from up on top are fantastic.  We had to do a little picture taking session.  The kids were tolerant...it was the dads who gave us the most trouble. ;)

What a perfect chair for the three of them!  

Cousin love! 

Drinks at an outdoor cafe.

I could sit here all day long....

Well done Cheryl!

We purchased venison and boar sausage, as well as mustard and four German beers.  The four beers were only three euros.  Chris was thrilled!  Here, the boys are taste testing all of their trappist beers they purchased in Brugge yesterday.  Tim is enthralled with the beer here.  He thinks Belgium is pretty much the place to be.  We agree!

Visiting the sites around Brussels is on the agenda for tomorrow.  More pictures to come!

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