Christmas Letter 2012

Merry Christmas 2012

Photo credit: Mackenzie Wheatley at www.chubbyfoot.com

Merry Christmas!  This was going to be the year I skipped out on a letter because I have no idea where to print it for a reasonable cost.  I’m nearly out of ink at home and haven’t seen cute paper anywhere.  But, then I thought I had better update you on what we’ve been up to for the past year in Belgium and figured the blog was a very “green” way to get the letter out to you this year.  For those of you that haven't followed the blog, grab your coffee and settle in for a bit.  This has been quite a year!  First and foremost….THANK YOU!  Thank you so much to those of you who have called, emailed, sent letters, read and commented on our blog, kept in contact on Facebook, checked up on us this year, and prayed for us!  It really means so much to all of us, and it makes it so much easier knowing we have friends and family cheering us on.  We are thankful for technology to keep connected with those we miss so much.  We are hoping to have more visitors in 2013 (hint, hint), so if you are interested, please let us know.  It would be our pleasure to have you stay with us.

I can honestly say that we have no regrets about our decision to move overseas.  We’ve grown individually and as a family, and it has been a life changing experience for all of us.  It has been very challenging at times, but we are embracing the opportunity we have been given.   I think Chris would agree that God has shown himself very clearly to us over the last year.  Without our faith, we wouldn’t be where we are today.  Our hearts are very full and content.  

This was our very first picture taken in the Grand Place in Brussels in January.

What do we love about Belgium??  We love our home, ISB (our school), our church, the friends we’ve made, travel opportunities (we’ve traveled to 12 new countries), autumn in the forest, markets, the Grand Place, soccer, beautiful cities, chocolate, waffles, the food in general, and Daddy loves the beer.  What do we dislike about Belgium??  We could do without the weather, traffic, everything that takes three extra steps to complete, random store closings (especially on Mondays), the language barrier (but we’re learning French), the high cost of clothes and shoes, Daddy works a lot (but that is why we’re here after all), and our family and friends from home are too far away.  We just try not to let those negatives get us down and attempt to embrace the differences and accept them for what they are.

Here's an update on the family....

We are proud to announce that Chris has been promoted and will begin his new position at
CAT on January 1^st.  We are really proud of him!  He’s still running, but not as much as he would like too.  He did complete the Brussels 20K in May and did a terrific job!  Last year, I wrote how he was excited to run in the forest, but after getting lost for two hours (which is not uncommon here) we no longer allow him to run in the forest.  He is also busy coaching Allison's basketball team.

Allison is already 11 years old and in 6^th grade.  She is active in ballet, soccer, basketball, violin, and piano. Her most time consuming activity is homework.  But, she is handling it with grace.  She has joined in on the One Direction hysteria and has given up on Justin Bieber.  Allison has many new friends here, and enjoys Skyping and texting friends back in the USA.  She is just too grown up.  I think living the expat life does that too you.  

Thomas is now 9 years old and in 4^th grade.  He too is playing soccer and piano.  He is our gamer and enjoys his iPod Touch and Wii on weekends only now because he has mean and terrible parents.  Thomas has one of the leads in our Christmas play at church and will also start horseback riding soon.  Thomas’ two close friends moved away at the end of last year.  He was excited to visit one of them on a trip to Prague this fall.  He is hoping to visit the other in Shanghai…HA!

I am keeping very busy here as well.  I am an active volunteer at ISB and the American Women’s Club of Brussels, and I've recently started teaching Sunday School.  I’m really enjoying the stay at home life which allows me more time to take care of my family, cook, and keep up with this blog.  The above picture is appropriate because I always have my camera in hand, and I've enjoyed photographing our trips and families who have asked.  I think of the four of us, I have adjusted the best to our move thanks to the great friends I have met here that always keep me busy.  Allison says, “I am living the dream.”  I would have to agree. J

Jerry and Amy were our first official visitors!  They had a short layover in Brussels on their way to Switzerland.  Three hours just wasn't enough, but it was better than nothing.  We can't wait for them to come back for a much longer visit!

The Wyse-Fishers were our first official overnight visitors.  They are living in Northern Ireland, and stopped by our house on one of their European travels.  It was so much fun having them here and showing them the city we love.  

Grandma and Mike arrived in May!  We were so glad to see them.  We spent two weeks traveling around Belgium and a weekend in Paris.  We kept them very busy while they were here.  They probably needed a vacation after their vacation.

There is nothing like eating dinner at an outdoor café in Paris.  I could spend every weekend there!

Tim, Cheryl, and Brandon arrived on the 4th of July!  In a little over a week, we visiting cities around Belgium, Monschau Germany, Amsterdam, and Paris.  They went on and enjoyed a weekend in London.  What a blast!  I'm already planning their return for next year...they just don't know it yet.

A trip to Disneyland Paris was our first official trip out of Belgium.  It was my choice for my birthday.  Loved it, but it was FREEZING!  Disney is not supposed to be cold.

In February, we met the Kirschenmann family in Edinburgh, Scotland.  What a beautiful city!  The kids loved eating at The Elephant House where Harry Potter was written.

Two trips to Germany in March...Monschau and Cologne.

Thomas turned nine years old in March!

For spring break, we took quite a road trip.  We spent 20+ hours in the car...with no DVD player.  It was a "looking out the window" kind of trip. It was old school for my kids.  LOL!  We started the trip with a drive through Luxembourg and a stop at Legoland in Germany.

Then, we were on to Neuschwanstein Castle and Munich!

Of course, you can't go to Munich without a stop at the Hofbräuhaus.  

We had a very somber visit to Dachau Concentration Camp.

We then drove to Salzburg, Austria.  What a beautiful city, and we loved the Sound of Music Tour (okay, well maybe almost all of us loved the tour.)  Here we are in front of the gazebo from the movie.

Salzburg, Austria

Last stop on our spring break tour was a night in Rothenburg, Germany.  It is a perfectly, quaint walled city.  Here we are doing the Nightwatchman Tour.  The guide was a cross between Jerry Seinfeld and Gene Wilder.  He was hilarious!

Tulips in the Netherlands in the spring.

A trip to London to see the Kirschenmanns again.  What a great weekend!

The kids survived their nearly week long field trips to Germany and the coast of Belgium.  It was so nice to have them home safe and sound!  Thomas took another field trip to France this fall.  He liked the trip to the coast better.  I think five days with no calls home was a little long for him.

Allison turned 11 in June!

School's out for summer (even though we felt like it was halfway through summer at the end of June!)

After our visitors, the kids and I headed home for 3 1/2 weeks in the summer.  It was awesome to see family and friends...and experience HEAT and SUN!  We were the most ghostly white people in Illinois.  It didn't take long for the kids to get those summer tans back.

Chris had a work trip to the states while we were home, so we were able to attend his 20 year class reunion.  What a fun night!

It wasn't long before the kids were heading back to school starting 6th and 4th grade.  Geesh!  How do I stop time???

In September, we took a "mom and kids" long weekend trip to Mallora, Spain.  I may never live this trip down.  Chris was not too happy when he saw the pictures.  Looks like we may be visiting  Mallorca again.

The tables turned in October when Chris and the kids went to Prague with the DeKunder family.  I made a quick trip back to the US for my grandma's funeral. :(  It really worked out for the best.  My family had a terrific weekend, and I was exactly where I needed to be.

Our last big adventure for the year was a trip to Rome.  We took in all of the fantastic tourist spots and learned a ton!  Technically, this counts for two countries because Vatican City is a country too.   We are now enjoying the Christmas season with markets around the area.  Europe is really beautiful during the Christmas season...and we've even had quite a bit of snow (by Belgium standards!)

And, there you have it.  Our year in a nutshell.  I had to include one of my favorite pictures from the last 12 months.  This pretty much sums up outdoor play in Belgium.  They make the most of the weather. :)

Thank you for bearing with me on this extra long Christmas letter!

We hope that in the midst of the season’s chaos…you can still see the star…hear the angels singing…and find your way to the manger.  Remember if your journey ever brings you to Belgium…there is…room at our inn. 

Love,

Chris, Wendy, Allison, and Thomas

Sinterklaas Was Here!

It's fun to celebrate new things in our new country.  This year, Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) visited us in Hoeilaart!  

Shoes were left by the fireplace before bed last night.  I'm fairly certain the tradition is for one shoe...but two boots allows for more goodies.

Their boots this morning!  I love the Sinterklaas paper. 

The spoils!

They wanted this for breakfast.  We compromised with one chocolate coin each.  Their teachers will thank me later.

Happy St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas) Day to you!

Until next time,
Wendy

Not Your Typical Tuesday

Thomas considered himself one of the luckiest kids in town today.  He didn't have to go to school!  He was part of the fourth grade floorball hockey team (consisting of just 8 players) that represented ISB in a tournament at the Scandinavian School of Brussels.  In addition to the fourth grade team, a sixth grade team was there as well.  What is floorball hockey you ask?  Well you can read about it here.  In short, it's a form of floor hockey that originated in Sweden and is very popular in other Scandinavian countries.  

These games got very intense!

Thomas was so proud of himself for making this team.  I wish they had other opportunities to play again, but it was just a one day event.

I think he was aiming for me! ;)

The beautiful chateau on the grounds of the Scandinavian School.

Guess who wanted to play goalie....guess who has never played goalie in floorball hockey....

You have to catch this little wiffle ball while trying to see out of the helmet you aren't used to wearing.

And, the goalies defends the goal on his/her knees the whole time.  Ouch!

Is anyone else thinking of the movie Dodgeball right now???

They won a game!  Yay!!! 

Third place finishers (out of four) and giving a little shout out to Lincoln School with the sweatshirt. :)

And tonight, we were off to Allison's orchestra concert.  She has done really well with the violin since starting in January.  She really loves music and is proud to say she plays two instruments (she told me that in the car tonight.)  I pray she sticks with it!

The sixth grade orchestra

With her director/teacher Mrs. Smith.

Sweet friends after the concert.  Nice job ladies!

So, that was our busy, and not so typical, Tuesday.  There are many more busy days to come.   Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner!  EEK!!!  So excited!

Until next time,
Wendy

A Sensational Sunday!

Our sensational Sunday started when the alarm went off, and I wearily opened my eyes.  First thing I always do is check my Facebook (lame..I know) before dragging myself out of bed.  The first post I saw said there was snow in Belgium (thank you, Hope.)  What?!?  Could it be???  I literally shot out of bed, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash...really I just opened the curtain, and then giddily ran around the house waking everyone up.  They did not share my enthusiasm as we got to bed VERY late the night before.

The snow is so pretty, but with no snow plows or even a shovel at our house,  you kind of pray that it doesn't stick around too long.  Or pray that you can just stay home and enjoy it.  Staying home was not an option on this sensational Sunday.

Before setting off for church and a preservice practice for the nativity play, Allison enjoyed picking the snow from outside her window and eating it.  She said it literally tasted like the roof.  Blah!  How does she know what a roof even tastes like? ;)

As if being the first Sunday in Advent wasn't sensational enough...the kids took part in their first communion.  There was no pretty white dress with a dainty little veil or a handsome black suit.  Instead, they were bundled in their coats (as they can't seem to get the heat going in our church), and they stood by our sides and those of other members of our congregation.  We've started going to the front of the church and standing around the altar to receive communion.  I really like the change, and it was even more special with our kids up there with us...partaking in a really pivotal event as they grow in their faith.  Maybe it wasn't quite as pivotal as I thought when Thomas whispered to me on the way back to our pew, "That juice was awesome!" 

After their "first communion" we snapped a picture of them with Pastor Murray. 

Next up...we were off to our first Christmas market ever.  We stopped in the Grand Place to see the crèche.  Thomas thought the people were a little too real looking for him.

The Vastines and Westercamps

My girl was all smiley on this chilly day in Brussels.

I pretty much had to beg for this shot.  That is really a pathetic attempt at a smile.

We headed over to the Sablon only to find out that market ended yesterday...story of my life!  So, we had a waffle, dodged the rain under the awning of Leonidas, gave a shout out to Sinterklaas, and made our way over to Pierre Marcolini for some really good chocolate. 

Good choice little ones!

I chose cheesecake....banana and caramel to be exact...and it was fabulous!

Making our way to the Brussels Christmas Market....I've known there were sections of the wall that once surrounded Brussels still standing in a few places around the city.  Well, I think we found one today.  Maybe? Finally!

Another crèche near Manneken Pis.  This one was all marionettes.  And, there was no baby Jesus...only a pig...am I missing something?  I get that baby Jesus will probably show up on Christmas Eve...but a pig?

Love the greenery now get that boy some clothes!  Brrrr! 

This was the most unique carrousel we've ever seen.  Check out Thomas in the chameleon.  I couldn't find him anywhere (no pun intended) and was a little worried.  Chris said he was in the frog....well no wonder I couldn't find him!  This is coming from the guy who thought Jiminy Cricket was also a frog.  What is it with him and frogs??

LOVE the lights! 

The "Christmas tree" in the Grand Place.  I'm not really a fan.  I like a good old fashioned Christmas tree.

From our table at dinner, you could see the light show going on.  The tree was all kinds of funky colors and designs and so were the buildings.  Alright, alright...it was pretty cool, but I still like the traditional tree better.

The only things not so sensational about this Sunday were...1. I forgot to take Flat Stanley to the market, and he let us know just how ticked he was when we got home.  2. We were so excited to eat at Hard Rock Cafe, and the food was cold.  I mean really cold. and 3. I think Thomas shared his pink eye with me.  We'll see how that looks tomorrow.

I have some past things I need to post, so I'll get you caught up this week.

Until next time,
Wendy