3:00am Wake-up Call

This morning the girls awoke at 3:00am. They dressed themselves and brushed their teeth and were ready to go by 3:30am. Rich and I had a hard time convincing them that it wasn't time for breakfast! Somehow we persuaded them to stay in their beds until 6:00am.

Let's hope that they sleep later tomorrow morning...

July in Paris

On June 30th I took the Thalys from Brussels to Paris with Elisabeth and Kate. We arrived safely and took a cab to our apartment in Paris on Rue de Malar on the left bank near the Eiffel Tower. We met Pascal at the apartment, he gave us a tour of the apartment and the keys and we unloaded our luggage. Kate, Elisabeth and I enjoyed buying groceries at one of the local markets. We bought fresh bread from the local boulangerie. We ate dinner at our favorite "football" restaurant on La Tour de Maubourg. We caught up on the World Cup and Wimbledon. We strolled through the Rue Cler neighborhood and then went home to the apartment. A long day.

Thursday: Eiffel Tower & Rodin Museum/Sculpture Garden
The next morning we awoke early. Elisabeth set the table and prepared breakfast. She is so helpful. We walked to the Eiffel Tower and rode the elevator to the top. We stopped at the Eiffel Tower cafe for a mid-morning snack. After the descent, we rode the merry-go-round on the right bank across from the Eiffel Tower (the merry-go-round on the left bank was closed). We ate lunch at an outdoor cafe along the Seine River on the left bank and then walked back to the apartment to rest and meet Rich around 3pm.

After an afternoon snack on jam and fresh bread at the apartment, Rich and I walked with the girls to the Rodin Museum. We strolled through the sculpture garden and enjoyed a cold drink and ice cream at the cafe in the garden. Elisabeth and Kate each had a map and found the sculptures.

We walked from the Rodin Museum past Invalides to La Tour Maubourg. We ate dinner at a one of our favorite bistros (it was in the same building as our first apartment in February 2010). We had eaten there often so the staff recognized the girls. We ate outside and enjoyed watching people. The girls saw two long haired golden retrievers....they want a dog.

After putting the girls to bed at 7pm (they were exhausted), Rich worked on his computer while I walked from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame and back to the Eiffel Tower. It was a lovely evening to walk. I think I returned at 10pm and it was still light.

Friday: Luxembourg Gardens & The Orangerie

On Friday Elisabeth planned for us to go to the Luxembourg Gardens. We went to the nearest cab stand on La Tour Maubourg and took a cab. The girls played at the playground and sailed boats in the pond. We ate lunch at one of the little cafes in Luxembourg Gardens.

After lunch we went to the Orangerie to see Monet's famous paintings. What an impressive art gallery. Elisabeth and Kate listened to the children's audio guide. They enjoyed it tremendously, especially sitting in the middle of the large gallery and looking at the paintings (perhaps they had just exhausted themselves at the playground that morning!). Afterwards, we watched a short video regarding impressionists and strolled through the galleries. Kate bought a coloring book at the gift shop. We walked back to the Eiffel Tower along the Seine and enjoyed a Spa Citron at a local brasserie before dinner in Rue Cler. Lots of football on the television! The girls enjoyed watching the World Cup.

Saturday: The Seine, the Louvre and the Jardin de Tuileries

On Saturday we walked from our apartment at Rue de Malar to the Eiffel Tower. We hopped on the Batobus boat and rode along the water. We had the boat all to ourselves (as it was a rainy morning). We got off at the Louvre and ate lunch at one of the restaurants in the Louvre.

Upon exiting the Louvre, the girls noticed a Ferris Wheel in the distance. We walked to the Jardin de Tuileries to discover a fair. We rode the Ferris Wheel, the girls drove pastel race cars and jumped on the trampolines with harnesses. Lots of front flips and back flips from Elisabeth and Kate! After the fair we walked back to the Batobus dock near the Louvre. We enjoyed our final boat ride along the Seine for July 2010. We ate dinner at the bistro on La Tour Maubourg. We sat outside and watched Parisians stroll through the neighborhood.

After putting the girls to bed at 7pm, Rich worked on his computer while I set off again to walk. Rather than walk on the left bank, I crossed the Seine River and walked along the right bank to Notre Dame. It was a much longer walk, but I enjoyed walking along the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Place de la Concorde, Les Tuileries, the Louvre, etc. I stopped at the Shakespeare and Company book shop on the Left Bank and bought Judy Blume's Freckle Juice and a few others for the flight home. What an incredible city!

Sunday: Rue Cler, the Eiffel Tower & a Final Farewell to Paris

On Sunday morning Rich took the girls to Rue Cler for a pastry while I finished packing our luggage. We left the apartment at 10am and walked to the Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful day with blue skies. Elisabeth and Kate rode the merry-go-rounds one last time, we enjoyed a Sprite at a cafe on the Left Bank of the Seine and walked back to our apartment. A cab met us at the apartment and took us to the train station. Our train didn't depart until 2pm so we had time for lunch at a local brasserie.

Farewell to Brussels

After a lovely week in Paris, we took the Thalys from Paris to Brussels on Sunday afternoon. We arrived by train at Gare de Midi in Brussels on Sunday, July 4th. A cab picked us up at the train station and took us to the Hotel Amigo, a hotel near the Grand Plaza in Brussels.

Elisabeth and Kate were excited for their last evening in Brussels. Elisabeth planned our afternoon. We walked from the Grand Plaza to St. Catherine's Square (one of her favorite squares in Brussels). During our stroll we enjoyed Belgian chocolates from Elisabeth, her favorite chocolatier in Brussels. What a treat! We loved Paris, but we missed our Belgian chocolates!

We ate dinner at our favorite Greek restaurant just off of the Grand Plaza in Brussels. A lovely meal. We reminisced about our travels in Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Which was our favorite? The consensus was Spain! Starting to think about Spring Break in Barcelona next year...

After dinner, as a special treat, we took the girls to a boutique across the street from the Hotel Amigo. I had taken the girls to the boutique many times to buy wedding presents, christening gifts and Christmas presents. Elisabeth and Kate were very patient and admired the dresses there. The girls enjoyed picking out a special dress.

After putting the girls to bed at the Hotel Amigo, I enjoyed a nice walk from the Hotel Amigo through the Grand Plaza to the Cinquantenaire Park. The hotel gave me a map of a short route and a long route. Of course, I took the long route. Quite strenuous, but fun to see the city one last time. Lovely fountains, parks, and cobblestone streets.

The next morning we woke up early. We ate breakfast at Exki, a healthy breakfast spot just off of the Grand Plaza (we contemplated the walk up to the Petit Sablon to eat at Pan Quotidien; however, the uphill hike was too strenuous for us so early in the morning!). After breakfast we strolled around the historic Grand Plaza and returned to our hotel. Surprisingly, the Radio Shack team from the La Tour de France was just checking out (aka Lance Armstrong, etc.). What fun for the girls to meet some of the Radio Shack team!

Upon arrival at the airport, the girls were in good spirits (despite being carsick in the parking lot at the Brussels airport). It could have been a long flight, but the girls rallied and we enjoyed a terrific flight. Several people commented on the plane that the girls were well behaved and well mannered. The flight attendants gave them extra "United Wings" as a reward. Elisabeth was also allowed in the cockpit after the plane landed and the pilot gave her a tour (she wants to be a pilot when she grows up!).

We were concerned about immigration, baggage claim and customs, but we breezed through. We arrived home at Rich's parents in Falls Church at 3:30pm, dropped off our luggage and drove to the pool. Such a hot day in Virginia. Nice to let the girls swim (there are few outdoor pools in Belgium - too cold!). Also nice to see a few familiar faces. We stopped at Panera to eat dinner, drove through the neighborhood and put the girls to bed. They were asleep by 7pm (1:00am in Brussels). A very long day. Let's hope for a good night sleep....

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.

An Afternoon at Bokrijk: Socialist Solidarity Day

On Sunday we drove to visit Bokrijk, an open-air museum in eastern Belgium. There are over 120 historic buildings from all over Belgium reassembled to give visitors an overview of Belgian history. It includes a grand Renaissance Flemish town square, farmhouses, mills, craft shops, etc. Park staff demonstrate traditional activities like lace making. There are also fishing ponds, a deer park, horse-cart rides, and one of Belgium's biggest playgrounds with some amazing slides.

Predictably, we spent all of our time at the playground. Elisabeth and Kate enjoyed the Viking themed playground, pony rides, g0-cart rides and the slides. It was a rainy day so we enjoyed a hot chocolate and the indoor playground in the afternoon.

Sunday was Socialist Solidarity Day at Bokrijk. Free admission!

Culture Shock?

I signed up for a seminar in June at ISB regarding transition for families moving back to the US. I want to make the transition to the US as smooth as possible for the girls (and myself!).

I experienced my first "culture shock" this week. I called the US to sign up Elisabeth and Kate for summer camps. Just talking on the phone with an attendant at one of the camps was stressful. American English, American schedules, American web site sign-up, etc. I think I must be experiencing culture shock.

Let's hope the girls have an easier time switching gears (and continents!).

Make Way for the Ducklings

Last week I went to my Ruth's house in Tervuren for a walk and tea. Ruth gave me a tour of the park behind Tervuren. As we walked we came upon a mother duck and her ducklings in the middle of the road. We escorted them to the side of the road. Later another gentleman escorted them up the road to the park gates. It reminded us of Make Way for the Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.

Whether in Tervuren Park or Woluwe Park there are plenty of gaggles of goslings swimming in the lakes, mother ducks and ducklings walking through the parks and baby rabbits hopping through the gardens. Spring is in the air.

After our walk we enjoyed a cup of tea, but I couldn't pick up my tea cup with my right hand (I've been using my left hand/arm for the last 8 months). Ruth gave me the phone number of a US trained Chiropractor in Auderghem (across the street from our apartment building). I have had two appointments with the chiropractor. Finally, today my hand has opened. It is a little stiff, but the pain in my arm is gone. I am overjoyed!

We've had a wonderful year in Brussels, but the problems with my arm have put a grey cloud over our adventures. I have pretty much lost the use of my right arm. None of the specialist doctors were able to alleviate the pain without proposing surgery, more cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. So happy to be on the mend.