Brussles, Belgium

On Friday Sep. 14th Cody and I headed off to Europe!

Being able to travel for Cody's work has been a  

long awaited opportunity 

and is an exciting milestone to reach. 

(Brussels, Belgium)

Although the trip was made possible because of Cody's work conference, 

we could not pass up the chance to spend time with the Lewis family while in Europe. Fortunately we were able to add a few days onto the beginning 

of our trip to make this happen.

Our first stop, after a layover in N.Y., was Brussels, Belgium.

(Cody & Belgium waffle #1 of trip)

 

We were only in Brussels for about 5 hours before

we were to board the high-speed Euro train that took us to England. 

After finding a locker in the train station to store our luggage, we headed off on foot to explore the city center of Brussels. Because we had been flying all night we were starving and popped into the first little storefront that we happened upon. 

Cody enjoyed a Belgium waffle and I had a crepe with Nutella.

When we arrived near the city center and discovered  

several shops offering the above options 

we realized we were a bit too impatient and should have waited to eat one of THESE waffles.

Okay, I just had to add this picture. 

If you have been to Belgium you know about THIS statue. 

It was quite something to see Manneken Pis over and over and over again, literally everywhere we turned throughout our trip there he was. He had been re-created in every size, color and crafted out of a variety of materials, including chocolate of course.

 

 Above are throngs of tourists wanting to snap a picture of this "historical legend."

Kind of weird if you ask me. Perhaps I should consider myself lucky because at one point I was sprinkled on by a mobile Manneen Pis statue that an official looking gentleman was pushing up and down the cobblestone streets.

 

Chocolate, chocolate everywhere. 

You can't go to Belgium without experiencing their world famous chocolate! 

 Soon it was time to get back to the station and board the Eurostar. After a three hour train ride

we arrived in London and took a taxi to the local train from the Eurostar station...

we then boarded another train headed to Oxford. 

When we arrived in Oxford we took one final taxi ride and arrived 

on Arian and Jill's doorstep a day and a half after our first flight departed.

Up next = Oxford with Arian, Jill, Kenneth, Audery and Grace

Picture Update

School time brings back fun hair-dos!

 

Avery's hand is all healed up now and looks much better than the picture above.

 

Made my ideal dinner the other night:

Broccoli

Garden tomatoes with homemade vinegarette

Broccoli 

Mushroom risotto

Baked and sauteed butternut squash

Cauliflower & broccoli soup

It was completely delicious and satisfying!

 

The girls somehow learned about "hobos" and decided to morph 

into them for an afternoon of play.

Brinley is ever the motherly helper and was terrific when we watched 

our friends four kiddos the other night.

 

The weather has been a dream and we are all enjoying the decreased humidity.

 

Cody took Brinley to get her braces taken off on Monday. 

I handed him the camera and asked him to take pictures as they rushed out the door...

well, we ended up with a great picture of her before she had the braces removed, 

and I chuckled when I noticed that the picture taking ended there.

Creativity Abounds

I relish observing the children come up with creative ways to fill their free time.

The other day the younger two  

transformed into reindeer and Brinley became Santa...

the girls are still enjoying the face paint Mom.

 

They used this jingling skirt dress-up as a sleigh and "flew" all over the house making preparations for a grand Christmas day in August.

Smiling All The Way

 It seems fitting that Avery would be our first child to wound herself 

badly enough and require stitches.

Last Sunday she was attempting to cut some duct tape for an art project with my craft scissors, which she knows she shouldn't use, and sliced her finger right open.

Fortunately Dr. Young was home and able to remain calm 

through the blood and terrifying screams.

Unfortunately all of our capable friends who could have sewn her finger at home were on call at various hospitals, so Daddy took her to urgent care.

When she arrived home she was all smiles as she declared 

"I screamed my guts out when I got two shots, but then it was great."

She has not complained ONCE since, even during wound cleaning and dressing changes. Just a few more days of TLC and she should be good as new!