Latest "Wants" List

We sent my parents back to the states Sunday morning (and I got a Starbuck's since the only one in town as at the airport!) with a new want list, tired, and full of amazing memories! We had a ball with them, and I think we really wore them out - at least I had to take a nap later that day! They'll be back again in July with my grandma and two aunts as well. We'll be sightseeing around Belgium with a short trip to Paris in the middle of the week.


K heads back to Indy in a few weeks to pack my suitcase with all the items on "the list" that we really miss from the states, or we just plain need. Since he won't be there for even a week, my mom sweetly volunteered to purchase the items on the list so K didn't have go go shopping all week.


Clinique items made the list this time as my stash is running low. Also, salsa, granola bars, Neosporin Ointment (for those minor cuts), shoe polish, printer cartridges, contact solution for K, vitamin C chewables for the kids, sunscreen, Ranch salad dressin, antibacterial hand wipes, and Skyline chili sauce. I'm sure I'll think of more things we just can't live without before he returns.

Our Backyard Pictures You've Been Waiting For

This is the view out our living room window right to the side of our patio (above). Below is the view of our front yard through the kitchen window.

Just kidding - this is actually a well known flower oasis called Keukenhof in Holland. It puts any other flower show I've seen to shame!

The day didn't start off too easily since our 5 year old daughter drew with marker on a kitchen chair, so her punishment was...you'll never guess...wearing jeans for the day. Time out is not nearly as effective for her, but taking away her beloved skirts and dresses, that's a catastrophe. Then when she threw a complete fit (honestly - it's out of the ordinary - most days her behavior is wonderful) about not wearing a dress or skirt, we threw in another day as well if she didn't get the jeans on so we could leave for the 2 1/2 hour car drive to see these amazing flowers. As you can see, we eventually arrived.

The drive through the fields to the parking lot consisted of rows of tulips and hyacinths planted just like cornfields back home. Much prettier here! And the smell resembled a flower shop X 10. We rolled our windows down to smell the aroma. I felt like I was in the middle of a rainbow with colors surrounding me.

After parking we entered on probably the most cowded day of the year.

There were mini gardens like this everywhere mixed with various varieties of spring flowers.

Look at how tall these tulips are!!!
They were up to my hips in height.

This picture looks fake - almost like we photoshopped us into it, but honestly, we were really there right in front of the flowers!

The lady in the background is not part of our family. She slipped into the picture.

We heard the calliope playing.

Walking on water? This was the highlight of the day for the kids. We had to do it a few times. We honestly thought one of them was going to fall after the area became crowded. Notice how I was the one that had to go both times instead of K or my parents volunteering.

London, England through the English Tunnel

Early Saturday morning we woke to drive about 2 1/2 hours toward the English Channel. We were headed to London, England and the only thing in our way was the water. How in the world people ever thought to dig a tunnel under the water is beyond my comprehension, but they did. I need to look into the history of this because it still amazes me.

Our train departed France on this side of the seas at 8:50 with our cars in tow. We simply drove to the site, displayed our passports for stamping, and followed the other cars into a loading area. The train was visible from the outside before we loaded. As we boarded, it seemed as if we were driving into a contraption which was a mix between a parking garage and subway train without seats.

The ramp leading up into the train (above). Parked and ready to go (below).

We drove to London then (mind you - on the other side of the road) with my armpits sweating like bullets! K was in the car ahead of me with my dad and the TomTom. My mom and I were following with the two kids who happened to be rehearsing a french song from the radio of their school bus (over and over again). I'm still hoping it wasn't a crazy love song since I have no clue what the words are and they belt it out wherever we go. I haven't noticed any stares yet from french speakers, but hopefully the language is clean.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief as we pulled up to our hotel about an hour later. So far, no wrecks. We took a stroll outside and found flower petals - nature's confetti.
You can't go to London without a ride on a famous red double decker bus. We basked in the sun as we took in the sites (I was particulary glad I wasn't behind the wheel.) while J sneaked in a nap only to wake about a half hour later proud of the drool on her daddy's knee from her heavy snooze.
The Tower of London was our first stop of the day. We enjoyed the tour and juicy stories of beheadings from the Beefeaters (guides). Mom and I gauked at the crown jewels and other valuables displayed inside before we laughed at Henry VIII's growing sizes of armor as he had aged.

R's classmates had talked about riding the London Eye, so of course we had to ride that as well. The view from the top is a total of 25 miles on a clear day. This is Big Ben and Parliament from our view inside the Eye.

Sunday morning we drove through downtown London (I think I can do anything now.) surrounded by beautiful buildings, to arrive at Windsor Castle where Queen Elizabeth retreats.

Think these two could defend the castle from attack?

We witnessed the changing of the guards where one guard makes sure there aren't any stray fuzzies on the uniform of his buddy.


Looks good to us!

Royal Greenhouses

Every year the royal family opens this "glass city" to the public for a few weeks in late April which Leopold II created while he ruled. The flowers were completely stunning. We spent 2.50 Euros each to see a total length of 1 kilometer of flowers. At one point when we turned a corner and I saw the view I said, "WOW!" and the man behind me (a Belgian) replied, "Yes, we're very proud of these." Indeed they should be!

Blue Bells

"Wow!" was all we could say when we drove up to this scene last night. K's sweet co-worker printed out and highlighted 3 taped together maps for us to come to "the spot" where these Blue Bells grow in the wild for just a few weeks each year. I'm glad K was deciphering the map, because there's no way I could have figured out which side road and cobblestone path to take.

One Way Out of Eating Your Supper!

As I was making dinner, J announced, "Yuck, we're having Waterzooi tonight?" We had to since my parents are here. It's a true Belgian recipe!

Literally minutes before the meal timer went off, she was running through the house to tell R something extremely important about her Hot Wheels.com game when she hit the glass side table, slicing her ear. Immediately we heard the scream that means she's not crying wolf. After investigating the situation, we decided it probably needed stitches and headed to the hospital with our TomTom as we had no clue where in Brussels this place would be.

Only days before had the kids and I received our Belgian identity cards which makes the whole process a lot easier. I handed J's card to the receptionist, waited a few minutes while she punched numbers and letters into the computer, and then put it back in my purse to wait for a doctor. It was really that easy. The doctor came and stitched her up (6 stitches) after putting the magic numbing cream on her ear to ease the pain. She claimed it still hurt pretty bad, but like she told me, "I was a trooper!" She sure was. We left the hospital without touching or signing a single paper within 2 hours and headed to McDonald's at 10:00 to finally eat our dinner. We didn't have the heart to make her eat Waterzooi, but instead we had to celebrate her great attitude and bravery with a Happy Meal and Fanta to drink!

Rhine River Boat Ride

After our night of royal treatment, we drove to the bottom of the city to explore while we awaited our boat ride on the Rhine River. The kids found a park area to enjoy and run off some steam.

Then we walked and took pictures of the area - spring is everywhere!

My dad, the retired pharmacist (who doesn't get to chat with people as much these days), found an Apothek (pharmacy) still decorated like old times. He fell in love and said, "K, take a picture of this!"

This is the boat we boarded for our ride down and back on the Rhine River.
None of us were expecting the beauty of the land surrounding the Rhine and the spring blossoms just enhanced the views. I'm not sure what we were expecting, but it far exceeded my expectations.

Schoenburg Castle on the top of the hill and a church in front of it.

We ate lunch here on the top balcony.

You can see all the vineyards in the background on the left.

People are really working out there!