Madrid and the Champagne Region

Allen and I were lucky enough to go away on two separate trips without the kids. Allen was at a conference in Madrid so I went along too. Mum and Dad come out to look after Jacob and Abi as they were at school. It was a brilliant break away. Madrid is not a huge city and was very walkable. The weather was chilly but fine so good for exploring. I ate so much tapas. I wish I knew more Spanish, although, by the end I could understand a lot more. Loads of people kept asking me questions in Spanish - I think I looked like a local as I was wearing winter boots, a coat and warm scarf in May!

Then in early June we had 3 nights in the Champagne region. It's only a 3 hour drive from here at SHAPE. Jacob and Abi were both on a school trip to Luxembourg so we took full advantage of this and booked into a wonderful B&B just south of Epernay in a village called Oyes. We did one day in Epernay and then had a day out cycling testing loads of champagne. The B&B catered for us in the evening and it was an excellent 3 days. We are now thinking of taking both sets of Grandmas there as they both like their champagne! No photos from this trip though so only Madrid.

April 2013

Grandma Melrose came out for Abi's birthday in April. We did a few day trips out and about - there's a huge coal mining influence in this area so we visited an old coal mine and had a walk along the canals that were all built due to this industry.

Abi had a great birthday too. She chose a pottery wheel party. So her and 5 friends all made pots. It was very difficult, well it looked it. No one would let me have a turn as they were having too much fun. We then did two separate sleep overs as I decided it was too much to have them all in one go. So as usual Abi's birthday was very elongated.

They also took part in a colour run on base - as predicted it was very colourful!

Bits and Pieces

Abi entered a car in the Powder Puff Derby, the girls version of Pinewood Derby, this was with Girl Scouts. We had lots of fun racing, her car wasn't bad, especially as I had helped make it! Hers is the Union Jacob one.

Swimming was a bit thing for Jacob and Abi. Abi qualified to swim 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle for the Championships. She swam at Eidenhoven in their Olympic pool. It was a brilliant experience. She came 14th out of about 200 so we were very proud of her. They both received trophies at the end of the season too. Allen is now President of the Seals Swim Team so we'll be even more involved - oh dear!

Abi has started horse riding, not seriously yet, but she's taken to it a lot better than her Mum - I am scared stiff of horses!

Christmas 2013

We went skiing in France with the Turners and Grandma Melrose. It was lovely seeing the family but the snow was not that good. The rental was a good location and we could walk into the town easily. Me and the kids didn't ski on Christmas day as it was raining but the others did, returning back very wet! 2nd photo is Jacob, Abi, Finn and Cameron.

We left on Boxing day to have a day at home and then we caught the ferry over to Newcastle and spent a few days in a hotel fro Allen's birthday, had a night with the Sharp's and then two nights at the Knights for New Year - lots of fun and catching up - not forgetting loads of shopping too. We squeezed back into the car for the return trip!

This last photo is Allen on his birthday!

Jacob's 11th Birthday (from Nov 2013!)

Way behind on our blog but I'll just do a few key things that have happened in the last 8 months!

Jacob turned 11 on Nov 19th 2013. He's getting very tall, it won't be long before he's taller than me. His feet are nearly the same size as mine too.

We took all the boys in his class swimming and then off to the bowling alley on base - very easy and all walkable. He had great fun and chose an m&m cake - very tasty it was too.

Night out in Mons

Abi and Jacob had a sleep over at one of our neighbours on Friday so freeing Allen and I up to go out. We've wanted to eat out in the Mons Grand Place, just the two of us, since we moved to Belgium. So nearly a year to the day we managed it! We got the bus in, so we could enjoy a few beers. When we got to the Grand Place it was packed as Belgium were playing Crotia in a World Cup qualifier. They had put up a few big screens and all of the restaurants and bars had put make shift beer taps outside of their premises. As we got there Belgium scored so there were loud bangs and fireworks going off! We managed to find the place we wanted to eat - Steak on A Rock (not it's proper name but that's what all the NATO people call it). It was empty so I had to ask if they were serving food, they were so we sat in a booth and ordered. We got the food before our beers! They bring you raw meat and then you cook it yourself on a hot rock. You also get a portion of chips and a salad all for 16 euros, not bad for Belgium! A little bit later the place filled up - it was half time! It then emptied and refilled at the end of the match. We enjoyed three different types of Belgium beer and will definitely go back. Might take the kids, but at a lunch time, as they do more child friendly food then! Caught the bus back so a great night out.

Got Jacob and Abi back at 10am on the Saturday and went off to the pool on base as had arranged to meet friends there. We had 10 kids in the pool and then 8 back to mine for lunch. They then stayed  afterwards to play and we dropped the final one off at 4pm.

We then had a swim meet on Sunday in Brussels - bus at 7.50am from the base

, so a very busy weekend. Jacob and Abi did really well. Jacob knocked 8 secs off his 100 free style and 5 secs off his 100IM. Abi was in two relays and they won both and she knocked time off her back stroke - this amazes me as she looks so relaxed when she swims it! Two swim meets this coming weekend.

A Junior afternoon out September

We also had the Thursday afternoon off prior to the Friday whole day off (our Paris trip) so, as Thursday after school, is a Junior meeting (Girl Scouts) we decided to do a trip to Paira Diaza. We had a fun time exploring the whole park. We'd taken a packed lunch. We finally got to see the elephants having a bath, we also went back to the scary bird show! The girls all enjoyed the afternoon as did the parents.