A is for Adventure, B is for Band and Braces, C is for Celebration, and D is for Deters Family {May 2015}

Allison was off on another ADVENTURE with ISB.  Her 8th grade class spent the week in Normandy!  She was gone from Monday to Friday.

Ready for a great trip!

Thomas had the opportunity to play in the ISB pep BAND.  A spirit night was hosted to support our softball and baseball teams.

Loving every minute of it!

Allison returned just in time to join in on the fun!

The taco truck was there.  YUM!!!

Face painting was obviously a lot of fun.  

It went from this....

To this!  Yikes!

The kids at ISB are beyond talented.  This is one of the bands that has formed amongst the students.  So good!!

On Saturday morning, the DETERS family arrived!!  We were so excited to have them visiting from Geneva, Switzerland.  Two Morton families taking on Brussels.  Get ready!

The girls loved the waffles!!

A stop at hip hop Manny.

Fast friends!

A stop at the Palace of Justice.  It's much prettier once you get past the scaffolding.

The parents!

Photo op in front of the Royal Palace.

This right here was a huge success!  Joni found a beer she likes!!  Too bad you either have to get it at this bar, pay 15 euro a bottle in selected beer shops, or drive to the northwest of corner of Belgium to pick it up (only after you have spent hours trying to reserve two cases!)  I have another one for her to try that is much more accessible.  She won't be disappointed.

Yep, that's what we ordered!

Dinner at the Comic Cafe

Belgium is home to Tin Tin.

While the Deters family toured Brugge and Gent on Sunday, we attended a 100 year birthday CELEBRATION.  It was in a lovely restaurant and garden in the middle of Brussels.

Thomas and his band performed for the crowd.

Don't they look great for 100?!  Two fifties make one hundred.  What a fun way for the two of them to celebrate their special birthdays.  We were so happy to be a part of it.

On Monday, we were off to Waterloo to see the Butte du Lion and the new museum.

Made it to the top!

Brian (history teacher) enlightening us.  

I love this photo!  Thanks to our resident teenager with the stellar selfie skills.

The new Battle of Waterloo Museum is really fantastic.

How many times can you watch the virtual head fall into the basket?

Dozens!!  LOL!

If you have not been, you really need to check it out!

Lunch in Leuven

Brian, Joni, and Girls
Thank you for a terrific visit! We had such a great time showing you Brussels.

That evening was Hoeilaart Wine Night.  I decided it was time to try steak tartare/filet Americain.  I really can't tell you the difference between the two.  But, I can tell you that I ate raw beef and a raw egg.  I finished the whole thing.  And, I will never order it again.

The treats from Brian and Joni were much better.  This lasted about 30 minutes in our household.  So delicious!

May 28th, Allison got braces!!!

There are still more visitors to come in May! Stay tuned for more fun!!

Until next time,

Wendy

Concluding the Vastine Visit

Saturday morning, it was back to regular life for Chris and family.  As much as I wanted to take them to some fabulous location, soccer was calling.  Chris and Mary did enjoy a great bike ride on Saturday morning.

Then the busy day started with Allison's game.  They played a great game and WON!  First win of the season.

Cutest little soccer player EVER!

 Next up was Thomas's soccer game.  And, of course it was at a different school, so off to ISB we went!

Twins co-coaching! 

And, then it was back to St. Johns again for Allison's game.  This is our life. :)

Love these girls!

Saturday evening, we spent some time in Leuven.  We had a terrific dinner at Agora across from the town hall.

Chris left for a business trip to the US on Sunday.  I was happy to keep Jerry and Mary for a bit longer.

They got to come along to riding lessons.

Following lessons, we went to the site of the Battle of Waterloo.  Jerry wrote a paper on this topic in high school, so he needed to see it in person...and it's close by.

Climbing the 226 steps to the top.

Jerry had to leave us Monday morning, so it was just Mary and I during the day for most of the week.

Monday morning we did a Brussels bike tour with ISB.  Nice photo bomb by Scott. :)

We actually went inside the Palace of Justice...a first for me.  There's Scott again. :)

Just a little ride through the Louise roundabout at noon.  I saw my life flash before me. 

Dodging traffic

But our reward was in sight.  Frites at Maison Antoine in Place Jourdan are the best in Brussels.

Cheers!

We had such a great time.

Teaching Aunt Mary all about eating raclette.  The kids love it!

Tuesday, we spent most of the day at the American Women's Club.  Duty calls and I had things to do.  Mary was a good sport, and the gals loved hanging out with her.

 Wednesday was our last day together, so we headed to Brugge.  I had never taken the train before and decided today would be the day.  The traffic has been terrible, and we didn't have time to spend 2.5 hrs driving when it should only take one hour.

I love this spot.  These are the seven different styles of architecture in this part of the country. 

I love that reflection.

It was the most beautiful sunny day!

Of course, we had to stop at the beer wall and admire.

Mary started to chat with some Americans who were visiting Europe.  Just so happens this girl's stepdad works at the same hospital as Mary.  They are holding a Gundersen Lutheran pen.  SMALL WORLD!

 We had the most wonderful day, and it was the perfect way to end Mary's stay.  Thursday morning, she was off to Minnesota.  We were so sad to see her go but thrilled we had the time to spend together.

Until next time,

Wendy