7 Things about Caroline

 Sweet Caroline is 7 now.  My top 7 things about her:

1.  Her smile.
2.  She likes to sleep late.
3.  She is very funny.
4.  She is has mastered the art of doing nothing. 
5.  She still wants to hold hands when walking.
6.  Her yellow hair.
7.  Just being Caroline!

Christmasness

Christmas in London is festive but comparatively dialed down. No stress. Just a little busier than our usual day to day. We lit the Advent wreath nightly. The girls and I watched the English National Ballet's Nutcracker from the front row. We decorated little gingerbread houses. We enjoyed a pre-Christmas snow. The girls had a nice Christmas lunch at school. We looked forward to cards in the post.  We visited New York.  We watched loads of Christmas movies.  A snapshot of it all...

Caroline was Mary in her school Nativity play...

Tea towels and Tinsel....

Mary Kate's orchestra played at her Carol Service...130 school girls singing are angelic...

Little swags on the pot rack...

Christmas kitchen mantel...

My only decor addition this year is bunting from: Blue Moon Studios

O Christmas Tree...

The picture is tilted.  I finally pulled out the tripod and I am working on technical skills both with the camera and how to use the tripod.  It is hard for some people. 

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas was indeed and continues to be merry...

The week before Christmas I was hit with the dreadful strep throat - thanks for nothing New York.  So our celebrations are continuing into this week...!

Bruges

We used our Eurostar tickets for a complimentary transfer to Bruges (the g kinda makes a sh sound and the s is silent) - sometimes called the Venice of the North.  Bruges offered more oustanding chocolate, beer, and waffles.  Overall it was rather touristy but venturing just off the beaten path always helps.  

We stayed in a castle:  Kasteel Ten Berghe.  The adult highlight of the castle was the self-service bar.  The little room was filled to the brim with several varieties of Belgian beer.  They kept the window open for refrigeration.

Bicycles are very popular.  Although Brent and the girls only rode around the grounds.

There was a little chapel in the castle...

Out of desperation we ate one meal at what appeared to be a tourist trap and indeed was a disappointing lunch.  But dinner made up for the experience...Bruges Zot and the Belgian national dish:  Mussels.  

Waffles in action...

More chocolate...

I bought the middle one for Brent for Christmas.  

Shhh...don't tell. 

We had a luxurious lounge in our room...

A Bruges canal...

Another canal view...

We had extra time when we returned to Brussels for our return train.  We explored  the area around the Royal Palace and park.  And of course bought more chocolates to bring home. 

Brussels

We were pleasantly surprised by Belgium.  Not because we thought it would be bad, rather we did not know what to expect.  We visited for October half-term because of the direct Eurostar trains from London to Brussels.  The big surprise was the glorious food - waffles, chocolates, fries, steak, beer and coffee.  We ate it all!  The first night we lowered the boom with steak frites and beer...

The weather was rather bad...cold and rain.  Different rain than London - even our "good" umbrellas were flipped in the wind.  The Grand Place. 

Manneken Pis or Boy Peeing...it is a famous Brussels landmark and wears various costumes...

Apparently he is a popular souvenir item as well...I did not have enough cash to buy a t-shirt...darn...

This stopped us in our tracks...but we did not think it would translate so we kept walking...

More beer...

Our boy eating fries...

Chocolates on display...

Caroline sporting her travel clothes...funny thing is Brent has the exact same outfit...

Next stop...Bruges...

Hold up...

We were just kidding about returning to America at the new year.  We are excited to extend to the summer of 2012!  We were just finding our footing - they say it takes a couple of years.  If you plan to visit , this is your one time extension.  Alright - let it run...

Treats

Halloween was fun!  I think of it as the beginning of holiday-child-indulgence. 

Felicity and Felicity...

Kit & Kit...

George the Giraffe...

I HATE the hat...stop trying to make me wear it...

Brent's Jack-o-lantern creations...Elmo, horseshoe and puppy...

These received rave reviews and several parents took pictures.  Elmo was called Cookie Monster more than once...hmmm.

Henry

With sadness, Henry has gone on to little white dog heaven.  Even though I said goodbye to him when we left for London, I still feel sad.  His age and the timing of things meant we had to leave him in Texas.  He was 15.  I understand why my Grandpa said he did not want dogs because you get too attached.  A special thank you to Lael for taking good care of him.  Henry was not photogenic but was very cute and furry with a puff ball tail...

Henry and Mary Kate at the school pet blessing...

Pre-schoolers brought pictures of their pets...

Good Thing #4

The smell of dinner when walking through the front door in the evening. 

Usually on Sunday evenings I go to church with a girl and Brent stays home to make dinner with a girl while the boy sleeps.  Mmmm...

Usually on Sunday mornings Brent goes to church with a girl and I stay home to make chicken every Sunday with a girl while the boy takes a nap.  It is not our first choice but the best solution for this season.  Back to the good thing...

The smell of dinner when walking through the front door in the evening - especially when bacon is an ingredient.  Mmmm....

Term Time

The girls are almost through the first half of the Autumn term!  Flashback to the first day...

Caroline - Year 2M

Mary Kate - Year 4O

Walking to school...

George likes the school run - especially with a baggie of Cheerios...