On to the Netherlands!

Sunday morning we were up, packed and out of our hotel to meet our dear friends in Holland.  We stopped by McDonalds and waited for them to open then began our drive north out of Belgium.  Renting a car and doing a little road trip was good for these Texans who NEVER drive more than 15 miles away from home in Doha.  Finally we arrived at the Dutch Open Air Heritage Museum where we were meeting the Chapmans.  It was an awesome place full of fascinating info in regards to the Dutch lifestyle and how it appeared many years ago.  Turned out to be very chilly that day but no rain.  Fortunately wearing my Toms worked out and we were prepared with some extra accessories.

 

After reuniting and hugging our sweet friends the Chapmans we were ready to eat, of course! 

Uh the pancake house will do! 

This is the ham and cheese!

Kiddos who had an absolute blast together the whole week! 

The Chapman Crew!  They are expatriots living in London.  We are friends from college and Houston.  We conjured up this spring break trip over Christmas when we stopped for a London visit with them on our way home for the holidays. 

  

First stop after lunch was a look into the business and making of the well known dutch wooden clogs. 

 

 

We bought a pair in Georgia's size as a little Holland treasure. 

Up next?  Cheese!!  My kids were running around outside but Taylor and I were tasting and buying the most amazing cheese I've ever put in my mouth!!  

We also got to see an old spice mill. This one was grinding our family favorite, cinnamon.   

 

Georgia bundled up.

 

After an afternoon full of walking and being outside we were ready to eat again :)  So we headed to Haarlem. Home town and now museum for Corrie Tin Boom and the house/"hiding place" where she hid Jews safely from the Nazis. We were sad the museum was closed. 

We landed at a Rick Steves recommendation for dinner that was awesome of course. 

Venezia! 

That night was the first and the last time we got separated from the Chapmans when going to the restaurant. We moved forward from there by sticking together, parking together and walking together.  Having a car was great but parking in europe is NO FUN!  God bless the incredible Italian food we had for dinner.

Finishing up Brussels

After the photo shoot we put our coats on and decided to head for a spot a little bit warmer. 

 

Ok so we stopped for a couple waffles. Georgia with the awkward face/pose and I enjoying white chocolate and strawberries!  Breakfast!  

One for the boys and Daddy.

  Next we headed for the Brussels City Museum, right there in Grand Place.  We wanted to check out the Manneken Pis (tee tee boy, as I like to call him) costumes we had heard all about.  The official sight for the manneken pis was photographed later that weekend but we went ahead and enjoyed the museum.  The costumes are sent from countries all over the world and they're stored and displayed in this museum.  Then on most days the Manneken is changed into a new outfit.  He's either wearing something new or nothing at all. OH... And all costumes are custom made for the tee tee.  Yep, that's right!

Poor pics from inside the museum...you get the idea.

 

 

The Manneken who was way smaller than you would expect.  We went early on Sunday morning when few were there and he wasn't wearing a costume! Bummer! 

 

On to some other sights around Brussels

 awkward photo much?

 

 

Look at those tiny bikes.

Moving in! They use these exterior lifts to take everything up. The couch is next. 

  

Next up...Lunch of course

Comics Cafe

 

Cute little area of town...loaded with chocolate shops!

 

 

 

On to a little side trip we took to the little city called Antwerp.  To be honest we went because we heard there was a zoo at the train station.  Yes there was...and it cost an insane amount of money for how cold it was outside.  So we didn't go...instead I treated myself to a starbucks coffee and Nick treated the boys to a little carnival action. 

 

 

 

 

We ended our Antwerp experience with an small run-in with an American-hater.  No really she hated us and our American-ness!  We were a little bitter...still are but lets just say its really obvious some Europeans don't like Americans and we should do our best to correct their misconception that Americans are self righteous, arrogant people.  We have a long way to go with a few and unfortunately this was the first of a few inscidents on our trip that presented how some Europeans truly feel about Americans.  Pretty sad. 

Lets end with another glorious delightful food that Belgium originated!  The french fry, which is always served with mayo in Belgium and the Netherlands.  Don't knock it til ya try it! YUM!

Mackenzie's Magic in Brussels

We were up bright and early the next morning to take advantage of an opportunity that wouldn't happen again.  Back in November my favorite Houston photographer and now friend moved to Brussels.  Well, we certainly didn't pass up the chance to hook up with Mackenzie from Chubby Foot Photography.  We met her in the middle of Grand Place early on Saturday morning so we could miss the crowd. She worked her magic. We were so pleased and so thankful we took the opportunity to book a shoot with her while traveling in Europe.  Both blessings we don't deserve and so grateful for!

Here are some of my favorites...