Elbow Grease, Strawberries, and Frozen Pizza

We do have a lot of weather forces working against us here in Belgium, but it has been a fantastic discovery to know that the Belgian strawberry season starts in February!!! Connor devours strawberries and promptly asks for more calling out for "sta-bee-bees" --- it is so endearing that how can I not keep them coming? Rumor has it that these are Spanish strawberries (?) so they are only 99 cents a package even now. Thank you Spain strawberry farmers!Yesterday Connor had me in stitches because she took the little bowl of the precious red fruit and went and hid under the chair, clinging tightly to her "sta-bee-bees"!

In other Willingham domestic news, I have nearly burned down our apartment - several times. Well it wasn't that serious, but still an "am I on candid camera?" moment... For the past few days every time I turned on our oven it started smoking. At times setting off the smoke alarm and having me frantically opening windows and fanning the alarm to turn it off. I knew a bit of veggie oil had drizzled off into the oven the other day, but I thought it would just burn off and resolve itself. Wrong. I took the racks out of the oven to find mounds of burnt gunk. And we of course do not have a self cleaning oven here. So using lots of elbow grease, all is rectified. Phew.

I got the oven working just in time for us to have a classy dinner of frozen pizza last night. The pizza here is pretty good even if they don't have American pepperoni. I looked at this box and had to chuckle. Only in Europe would the boxed, cheapo frozen pizza be pictured alongside a glass of red wine!

Old MacDonald's Jungle?

One of Connor's very favorite songs these days is Old MacDonald. We sing it together several times a day. Kirk and I start the lyrics and when we get to "and on that farm he had a ____" Connor calls out the animal on the farm she wants to hear. We never knew that Farmer MacDonald had elephants, lions, and giraffes on his farm, but apparently according to Connor he does. Kirk and I have had fun figuring out sounds for elephants and giraffes to make!

Museum Night Fever!

On Saturday night Kirk and I went to "Museum Night Fever" in Brussels! It was a fun, giddy night out on the town. Our sweet friends, Julia and Matt Spencer, came over to stay with Connor allowing us the rare treat of a date night! Julia is pregnant with a baby girl due in July, so it was cute to see them excited about a cozy night in with pizza and a sleeping baby - it was as if they were "trying on" their future life for size. And it certainly fit! Connor goes to pieces every time she sees Julia calling out her name and bestowing hug upon hug.

Museum Night Fever is an event where you pay 7 euros for access to 14 Brussels museums to explore the exhibitions. At the same time local students and artists perform throughout the night and throughout all of the eclectic museums. Totally up our alley! We only made it to 5 museums before we pooped out though.

We saw:

1) Palais des Beaux-Arts - Bozar

2) Porte de Hal

3) Musee du Cinquantenaire

4) Musee Royal de l'Armee (Military Museum)

5) Autoworld Brussels

I was a little bummed that we didn't make it to the Musee de la Ville in the Grand Place or the BELvue Museum. The Musee of Musical Instruments would have been fun too. Well, we have our work cut out for us for next time!

It was a picture perfect night weatherwise. Clear and cool (not cold). Kirk and I felt so free without our stroller sidekick. We actually approached staircases with spring in our step knowing we wouldn't have to lug the stroller upstairs or search out the elevator. I just had to photograph Kirk on the stairs to prove my point.

There were shuttlebuses to transport us from museum to museum. Jumping from cool night air on and off the warm buses along with so many others reminded me of being young and even more spontaneous than we are now.

The best place we went were the museums near the Cinquantinaire Park. This arched gate is duplicated in many parks in many cities around Europe, but I had not been to this one in Brussels yet. We walked all over in the dark night air.

Autoworld was incredible. Cars representing so many different periods of time. I realized that in the past green cars were pretty popular. I even remember my Mom once had a green "Rabbit" car when I was little. But you really don't see many green cars these days, do you?

Kirk really wanted to see the Military History Museum so we went there too. It was enormous! And surprisingly enough it probably was the museum with the most ambiance. The hangar-type setting made for great lighting and there was a band playing below. You wouldn't think of that for a place filled with guns and antique war uniforms, huh? And strangely enough in one part of the museum they had a 'speed dating' room in conjunction with the Museum Night Fever program! You never know what you are going to get here in Brussels!

The hub of activity spoked from the BOZAR Museum of Fine Arts. In the atrium there were performers from modern dance to opera singing. There were so many art and art history museums in the selection. I don't know why there are literally 5-7 art museums in Brussels, but whatever. I guess this way you get the art in bite-size pieces!
We found this aerial photo of Brussels at the BOZAR. It was fun to try to pick out the Grand Place and other landmarks of our city!

At one point in the night I was parched. We found a vending machine so I could grab a Sprite. I looked over at the food vendor and had to laugh. They sell WAFFLES in their vending machines over here. That is a serious love affair with waffles!

Museum Night was a real treat. It inspired me to know more and learn more about this city we are calling home for 18 months. THANK YOU again to Matt and Julia for making it so.

Noah Built an Ark-y, Ark-y!

Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory! Children of the Lord!

Yesterday we went to see Noah's Ark. Yep, this guy in the Netherlands built a replica of Noah's Ark - actually only 1/5 of the size of the real ark, but quite impressive nonetheless - click here for the news article. It was a 3 hour drive each way so it made for a long day of traveling, but we had fun. We read about Noah along the way and practiced singing the "Rise and Shine" song. If you don't know the song, click here for lyrics. It is a classic! The drive through the Netherlands was stunning. The low country with shimmering waterways and lush green fields was dotted with windmills as far as the eye could see!

We met Brady and the Proctors at the Ark in Drachten, Holland. The wooden ark was just right there, hangin' out in the water. Like a perfectly normal boat. But of course it wasn't a normal boat. It made Noah's story and his trust in the Lord really come alive! We toured inside the 3 story ark and there were life size animals in stalls by two-sies, two-sies, elephants and kangaroosies, roosies (again read the song lyrics). Brady and Connor danced from the elephants to the crocodiles to the horses with delight. All within this incredible wooden boat. I especially loved the artwork throughout the ark displays. The Noah story images are some of the most colorful and vivid in the Bible I think. A great way to start teaching Bible stories. Plus the Noah story ends with a rainbow. What could be better than that?!?








There were movies of the Ark and even a play area up top full of all kinds of Ark toys and books. Although most of the books were in Dutch so that made reading them challenging. But we know the story by heart so could ad-lib with the pictures!

Mr. Huibers built this Ark replica as a way to encourage Europeans to know more about the Bible. So not only was the inside decorated with "flood story" images, but there was also a creche scene with "Baby Jesus" (you know Connor loved that!), a creation timeline, and a tomb with a crucifix. The eclectic mix certainly kept us guessing what we would see around every corner.

It was a blue sky, sunshine day which certainly helped. Note how much Connor enjoyed running all over the ark!!! She is an active one - those feet are always in motion!!!
After time aboard the Ark we headed to our favorite spot. McDonalds! Brady and Connor were on their best behavior and had fun playing with balloons together. What fun to have such wonderful friends!
















Today is a rainy Sunday so we decided to continue to build upon the Ark theme with our own "Art Ark" --- first we made it "rain" with water and paintbrushes...Then we colored an ark, cut out a rainbow, glued some cotton clouds and matched the yummy animals into twos... Click here for more photos of Noah's Ark (full album)

How-How's Sweater

My wonderful aunt Howard (How-How to me) has a sensational talent for knitting. When I was a child she made this incredible bunny rabbit sweater for me complete with cotton tails all over it. I remember it still! It was one of my very favorites! So we were especially excited when How-How made a beautiful Spring green sweater for Connor for her first birthday. When I opened it though it looked huge. I thought, Connor will never be big enough to actually wear this masterpiece. Boy was I wrong. I tried it on her yesterday and it nearly fit. It will be perfect in a few weeks. Just in time for Spring! She will be the best dressed kid in Europe thanks to How-How's love.

The funny part was that when I tried to take the sweater off Connor ran away and hugged it close. She absolutely would not let me take it off of her! How-How, your sweater is a hit! Thank you.

The Great Haircut Swap

I have heard about "babysitting swaps" and even "wife swaps" but now we have arranged a GREAT Haircut Swap! Karen and I both struggle with being at home moms in a foreign country, with busy toddlers, and getting the most mundane tasks accomplished. Like a simple haircut! So we booked back-to-back appointments yesterday with Victor, the English-speaking hairdresser, and agreed to alternate taking the 2 kids to give the each other a break to relax in the barber's chair. The haircut place was in a small walk-thru mall with a toy store. Wah-la! Nothing like a toy store to waste some time and entertain our little ones.

I think getting a haircut is one of the most relaxing events. I mean what could be better than having someone wash your hair?!? When they let the conditioner set I swear I fell asleep for a few moments. That was until I felt a little wag against my leg. Yes a wag! There was the sweetest lab dog wandering all over the shop. Sorta strange and wonderful all in one. Even if he did wake me from my sink slumber.

I had not had a haircut since October! I was nervous about a European do. And had sorta resigned myself to having overgrown hair and to be a little hippie over here! I am so glad I sucked it up and took the plunge though. I was happy to keep the length in my hair but to get more of a style. I walked home and couldn't help but to glimpse my hair shining and bouncing in the window reflections. I felt like I should have been in a hair product commercial waltzing down the street. It was a bright sunny day and there were street musicians playing everywhere to add to the scene.

Here are our pre and post haircut shots (pre first, followed by post):












We got our haircuts in a place right near Avenue Louise. They have just put up this new "art" exhibit nearby of orange bunnies. They definitely POP!

The Day I Took the BIG Stroller on the Bus....

The day I took the big Bob stroller on the Brussels bus went well!
Bet you didn't think I was going to say that!

Earlier this week I ventured to the Women's Club. I was training to volunteer as a waitress in their cafe while Connor played in Rani's care. I was nervous about maneuvering around and being yelled at in French on the public transport - but my concern was for naught. Our big Bob stroller is warmer and much more protective of Connor. And the trip to the Women's Club is 90 minutes each way. Plus Bob takes the cobblestones much more seamlessly than the rickety umbrella stroller that catches on every edge. I am gaining assertive confidence as a mother over here so I just decided I didn't care what the other travelers thought and I was going to look out for US this time instead of worrying so much about what everyone was thinking!!! There are handicapped spaces on the bus, so the only thing was how to get the stroller off and on the bus. I was so pleased that on both trips there were bus stewards who immediately came to help me in the handicapped bus entrance. Hooray! Connor slept the entire way back. It gives us both so much more freedom to travel with Bob (the stroller).

We also had a Ladies Night Out at the Movies this week. While Karen and I saw "Confessions of a Shopaholic" Tony and Kirk took the kids to McDonald's. It was fun to think of them playing together on a Daddy's Night Out! When I returned home I snuck in Connor's room to whisper goodnight to my dreaming babe. I was surprised to find Connor stripped down to her diaper! She had taken her PJs completely off before falling asleep. Sneaky girl! We had to wake her just to cover and redress her.

It was a day filled with little important memories.

Don't Try this at Home

After our Carnival celebration at Binche last week, we had a bowl full of blood oranges from the parade. Connor was pretty uneasy about eating the red oranges so I decided to try to make a Blood Orange Tart. My friend, Kathryn, made a similar recipe several years ago and I remember the delicious the treat fondly. I bought the tart plate below the day after eating Kathryn's tart way back then in hopes of duplicating her dessert. It took me until today to pull it off. Or should I say to attempt to pull it off.I made the "curd" filling 2 days ago. It had to sit for 1-3 days. I was a little nervous that it was not as congealed as it seemed it should be. But onward I continued!
This is my attempt at making my first ever pie crust. I didn't have a rolling pin, so I used Connor's!

I was a little unsure as to if the tart was even going to fit in the freezer to cool.

Luckily it fit by the skin of its teeth.The tart actually looked pretty in the end. Unfortunately when we cut into it the filling did indeed goop out as I feared it would. And the texture didn't really make it appealing. Oh well. It made for pretty photos. Now I know why they call them "blood" oranges - I definitely feel like I put my blood, sweat and tears into this one.

But let's end this post with some cute Connor photos instead of my cooking failure:

Think you've got enough friends in your stroller, Connor?!?
Connor found these beads from a free goodie bag from a movie premier last night.
The necklace and bracelet made for hours of fun!