March 2013

During March Ruth, a university friend visited. We went to Waterloo, both the town and the battle field, Mons, Brussels twice and Brugge. We spent the night in Brugge as there was a lot to do there. It was great exploring with Ruth, her sense of direction is so much better than mine so I just handed over the map! We visited the Brugge Zot brewery, very tasty. While Ruth was here we also popped back to Sittard, NL as Abi had a birthday party. Abi travelled in style - a limo - that you can see Ruth and Jacob sitting in. Abi was dressed as a princess for the party, tiara and all! The photo is of her and Haley.

We also had a weekend away in Chimay with Nadine, Phill, Haley and Kaden plus Phill's brother and sister in law. We had a great meal and tasting platter of beer and Chimay cheese, the hotel was right above the restaurant so we could drink the beer while the children watched movies upstairs. There was also a playground and the weather was good so everyone had fun! The next day we walked to the Abbey where they brew the Chimay beer. We will really miss the Mertes family when they move back to America later this year, at least we have somewhere else to visit I suppose!.

 Jacob and Abi had Red Nose Day at school, here's a photo of them dressed up!

January and February 2013

We we welcomed the New Year in in America, watching the fireworks on our balcony over looking Sea World. As soon as we got back to Belgium it then rained for a month! I worked a lot in January, teaching both Jacob and Abi who were very good, as were their classmates.

February brought our first proper break away so in half term we went off to Paris. Marion came with us as she had booked a HPB property to the West of Paris. It was a good location, we spent a day in Paris visiting the Sacre Coeur and Montmatre region, it was good weather and we enjoyed eating and walking around the capital.

My Mum, Dad and niece came out too so we had a busy house for 2 nights as Marion was there too! We visited our local ice cream shop and went on the base for swimming. Marion then flew home and I took everyone to Brussels for the day where we walked around and saw the Manneken Pis and had a good meal of mussels.

I have also been busy with American Girl Scouts. Abi is in Brownies and I am co-leader to the Junior group. I have also taken on the treasurer job for the Girl Scouts and the PR for the swim team - which Jacob and Abi are both in. Jacob got the award for most improved swimmer from the coach and Abi got a T shirt for her hard work.

Christmas 2012 Florida!

I realise I have not been posting for the past 6 months but I have been very busy, no excuse really though! Life in Belgium is hectic as usual, with school and general life I never seem to have a day to myself but I am determined to catch up over the next few weeks. We have of course done lots and visited loads of places over the past 6 months so I am going to be selective as to what I include, hope you don't get too bored.

So this past Christmas we spent two weeks in Florida. It was a lovely and relaxing holiday spending the first week in one Hilton resort and the second week right next to Sea World in a different Hilton Resort. The weather was warm although not sunny all of the time. We spent time in Universal and Disney. All of our favourites was Harry Potter in the Island of Adventures. We all preferred Universal to Disney, I think Jacob and Abi have out grown Disney now!

We hired a car a couple of times so we could go shopping, we loved being back in America enjoying all it had to offer and we all left wishing we'd booked another week!