Packing up!

The movers come tomorrow morning, Monday, the 28th of June. Lots of packing this weekend! We are packing for a week in Paris, packing for the long hot summer in Virginia, and packing up for our shipment for delivery late in the summer. Let's hope we don't get the suitcases and boxes confused!

Elisabeth and Kate were a big help this morning. They spent the morning packing their suitcases for Paris and Virginia. I think their favorite part of the morning was hiding in the suitcases! As a reward for their efforts, Rich took them to the Farmer's Market in Boisfort.

Packing, packing, and more packing!

A Walk in the Woods

Elisabeth, Kate and I drove to the Brussels airport this morning to pick up Rich. He returned to Brussels after two weeks working in the DC office. After a quiet morning of ZINGO! and the Dora Matching Game, Rich, Elisabeth & Kate set off for a bike ride to a playground in Parc de Woluwe. It is a beautiful summer day in Brussels with blue skies (let's hope a cold front doesn't blow in!). I am looking forward to a nice quiet walk in the Parc Woluwe woods and meeting up at 12:15pm for a picnic lunch.

So much of the Parc de Woluwe woods reminds me of Hills & Dales park in Dayton, Ohio where I grew up. Hills & Dales Park was originally designed between 1906 and 1918 by the famous Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm, renowned for their work on Central Park in New York City. It is situated at the border of Oakwood, Dayton and Kettering, Ohio. With its lush rolling hills, majestic trees, quiet streams and ponds, Hills & Dales holds a special place in my heart. Some of my favorite memories are of Hills & Dales Park whether riding my bike through the woods with my brothers and sisters to swim practice at Dayton Country Club, attending Keyes family reunions at the picnic shelters, collecting clay from the streams or running with my Dad.

http://www.metroparks.org/getoutside/rebirthHillsDalesPark.aspx

How Much Will Caramel Cost: 100 Euros?

This afternoon Elisabeth bounded down the stairs and rushed out of school. She didn't stop at the play ground at ISB. Elisabeth wanted to arrive first at Ariosa so that she could ride Caramel. Monsieur Alan had Caramel saddled and ready to go. Elisabeth spent 15 minutes in the Manage riding Caramel before the other children arrived. Monsieur Alan let Elisabeth be the coach and lead the others during the lesson. Elisabeth was so happy. She was grinning from ear to ear after the lesson.

During dinner this evening Elisabeth talked about what it would be like to have Caramel as her horse. She said today that she will ask Monsieur Alan if she can buy Caramel with her allowance money. Elisabeth said Caramel will probably cost 100 Euro. She asked if she could borrow it from me. Elisabeth wants to bring Caramel back to the US so much. It reminded me of Tatum O'Neill and Pie in International Velvet.

I'm almost in tears thinking about how difficult her last lesson will be for all of us. Caramel has the sweetest disposition and is so gentle. Caramel takes good care of Elisabeth and Elisabeth takes good care of Caramel. They are a great team.

I called Rich with my sob story. He said, "That's how you get suckered into buying a pony!"

La Menage de la Cambre

This morning Elisabeth went to a birthday party for her friend, Joia, at the La Menage de la Cambre in Ixelles in Brussels. The Menage borders the Bois de la Cambre, an urban public park on the edge of the Sonian Forest in Brussels, Belgium. The forest has an area of 1.23 square kilometres. Elisabeth insisted upon wearing her riding clothes. She enjoyed pony rides with her ISB friends in the woods, as well as cake. What a fun morning!

Musee de Transport Urban Bruxellois

Elisabeth had a birthday party this afternoon for her friend, Talya. While Elisabeth was at the birthday party, Kate and I visited the Musee de Transport Urban Bruxellois in Woluwe St. Pierre. The museum is at the corner of Tervuren and Sovereign in Brussels.

First, Kate and I rode an old-fashioned tram to Tervuren. What fun! Kate was thrilled! During the ride back to the tram station, she fell asleep. (For my fellow Daytonians, the tram reminded me of the Wright Brothers' trams that transported our wedding guests from Emmanuel Church to the Trails End Club for our wedding reception in August 2000).

We enjoyed talking with one of the tram conductors, a retired Brit living with his wife and family in Brussels. What a fun hobby for retirement!

After our tram ride, we toured the museum. Kate enjoyed selecting and purchasing a postcard from the gift shop. She is fascinated by trains!

The Queen Mary

We enjoyed a lovely visit with Rich's parents in early June. They sailed over the Atlantic on the Queen Mary. Gretchen and Mike arrived in Southampton and took the train to Brussels. The girls enjoyed their visit. They especially loved hearing about the ship and the balls!

1950s American Diner in Brussels

After school today the girls had a play date with their friends, Anna and Sarah, at the playground in the Bois de la Cambre. The girls enjoyed a pony ride as well. After dinner we drove to the 1950'S American Diner in Ixelles. Imagine pink and turquoise booths with real American food: hot dogs, hamburgers, milk shakes, etc. What a treat!

1950s American Diner

www.50samericandiner.be

Rue de Marchienne 108

6110 Montigny le tilleul, Belgique

0477 46 25 66

A Four Way Intersection with No Stop Sign?

On Friday Kate and I went to lunch with her friend, Brady, and his Mom, Karen. It was their last day in Brussels before flying back to North Carolina. We went to McDonald's in Ixelles and the kids ate lunch and played in the play area there.

After lunch we drove Karen and Brady to their apartment in Ixelles. In Ixelles there are lots of four way intersections with no stop signs. By law, the car to the right has the right of way, but I am always nervous when I approach these intersections! I think my blood pressure went through the roof of the car!

I am definitely looking forward to stop signs in Virginia!

Can Caramel Come With Us?

For the past six months Elisabeth has taken riding lessons at Ariosa, a stable in Hoeilaart, Belgium. She started off with private lessons with Miss Barbara for 30 minutes once a week. Elisabeth has progessed to a weekly group lesson for one hour with Monsiuer Alan on Tuesdays after school. Last week she galloped for the first time!

Her favorite pony is Caramel, a Shetland pony. After her lesson Elisabeth leads Caramel to her stall (#30), takes off her saddle and bridle. Then Elisabeth feeds Caramel carrots to eat after her lesson. Elisabeth is heartbroken to leave her pony. Yesterday, Elisabeth asked, "Can Caramel come with us to Virginia?" Will Monsiuer Alan sell Caramel to me?"

Elisabeth has three more riding lessons with Monsiuer Alan and Caramel before we leave for Virginia. Caramel can not come with us to Virginia, but I will take a lot of pictures so that she can remember Caramel.

"I want a house, Mommy!"

Kate's quote of the week, "I want a house, Mommy!"

I guess it's time to return to the States....the girls are tired of living in an apartment.

Strep Throat in Brussels

Kate has been sick all week. High fever of 102.5 under her armpit. Another parent whose husband works at the US Embassy recommended a pediatrician in Woluwe-St. Pierre, Dr. Annick Grymonprez. She was terrific with Kate and said that she had strep throat. Dr. Grymonprez prescribed Amoxicilline for her strep throat and said I could use our Tylenol Cold/Flu for the fever (so glad it hadn't expired!).

Kate and I found Popsicles at the local Del Haize grocery store (although we don't have the freezer space!). We also bought lots of sorbet, 7UP and Sprite to sooth her throat. What a nice week of treats for Kate!

The pediatrician said she could go back to school tomorrow. I think she is excited to see her friends. I am glad she is well, but I will miss playing Candyland and the Dora Matching Game with Kate.

BEPS Summer Fair

Last weekend was Kate's Summer Fair at BEPS on Franklin Roosevelt. Elisabeth and Kate enjoyed playing old fashioned games at the summer fair. One of their favorites was "fishing". They also enjoyed the more modern moon bounces, merry-go-rounds, and the good old-fashioned barbecue from the famous Irish butcher in Brussels. It was a warm day. Elisabeth and Kate wore their favorite summer dresses and sandals. Kate had a wonderful time with her friends and teachers. She will be sorry to leave BEPS. When we talk about the move in July, Kate asks if we can wait until after the BEPS Halloween Party and the BEPS Winter Concert....

First Grade Play: The Lorax

Today Kate and I went to ISB for the first grade theatre production. Each of the four first grade classes performed a play: The Great Kapok Tree, The Golden Goose, Sleeping Beauty and The Lorax.

Kate loved watching her sister on stage. What a treat! Elisabeth had several role in The Lorax: a duck, a house, a tree, etc. Afterwards Kate gave Elisabeth a bouquet of red roses. She loves her sister so much!

The Lorax is a story about the tree loving Lorax and the greedy Once-ler. When the Once-ler shows up, he notices a forest of Truffula trees. He realizes that these natural resources could be profitable by making "Thneeds" out of them. A Thneed is a fine something that all people need. The Once-ler, in his greedy state, encounters the Lorax. The Lorax "speaks for the trees because the trees have no tongues". He protests. The Once-ler calls his family one by one and then all of them came and started to help him cut down the trees. They started whacking down trees to make Thneeds, something that everyone needs. These "things" started to sell at an amazing pace and the Once-ler was making so much money. Pretty soon, something very terrible happened. In his quest for money he polluted the air, polluted the water, and deforested all the "special trees" from the land. This, in turn, drove away the animals that had lived in the area. They had relied on the trees for food and shelter. After the very last Truffula tree was chopped, his family left him with no trees and no more money. When the Lorax drifted away from the polluted mess he left a pile of rocks where he stood, with one word..."Unless".

Winter Coats in June

Today is June 1st. However, it feels like November in Brussels! Kate asked to wear her winter coat today. We all piled on sweaters and warm socks.