Back to life....back to reality........

Coming home and settling back in has taken just as much effort as packing to leave and the endless adventures while we were gone. We came home to a house full of love...wait...I cannot tell a lie...we came home to mayhem and madness!!! The children and I am sure more than a handful of friends ate everything in the house that had not already gone rotten in the fridge......I could go on and on and on..................and on. However, the big picture.....there is no place like home! To hug my boys was the best feeling ever! I knew I missed them, but I didnt know just how much I had missed them until I got one of their fabulous hugs. They amaze me! I would love to post pictures of them but most of the time they are not around and when they are....Its not for long. We were able to pick the little ones up early on Wednesday and its been non stop fun ever since. I swear when I saw them they had grown an inch. Amazing kids.....all of them.

Nothing better than playing with Daddy

Tickle time is their favorite!!!

Even when there is an accidental kick to the cheek from little brother. 

I often wonder....who is the kid? 

No really....who is the kid! Dean fixed the lawn mower this weekend and did something to it that made it fast and sounds like it could fly....he was in heaven! 

Ryker 

Flying kites with Daddy in the back yard. Love the Moon in the back ground. 

Nanny's garden. Kayleann and Gus were out there all day helping her. We did a lot of work in the front yard as well. Hope to show some some fabulous results soon. 

Happy summer is here and itching to get the boat out! 

Peace....love....cheers....Bren

Paris

I dont know if there are words to describe the past 36 hours. Paris....Paris.....Paris!!! From the Eiffel Tower to a memorial for Princess Diana....Notre Dame Cathedral and more....and more and more.......Here is a small morsel of what I just experienced. 

Eiffel Tower from the our hotel 

Tower at night from the balcony of our room. 

Dean and I in front of Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Mass service Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Francie and I in front of Notre Dame. We seriously dont know what we would have done with out her! It been a dream of mine since childhood to spend time with Francie in Paris. Ahhhh......thanks Francie for being so good to us. 

This is the corner where Princess Diana was killed. It was a bridge across from our Hotel room. They built a beautiful monument with a golden flame resembling that of the Statue of Liberty. 

The round about!!!!! This is a round about with NO LINES!!!!!!!!!!! and room for about 7 lanes of traffic and 10 or so exits.....its insane...and so scary. Dean was brave, very brave.

Dean's round about horror face!!!!

Chantilly Castle in France. The French country side is beautiful

Paris was a great experience but its good to be back in Eindhoven where there isnt as much of a language barrier and its so so much cleaner. We are exhausted!!!! 

Peace....Love.....Cheers

Eindhoven Holland

Eindhoven is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and beautiful!!! I love walking around the center with a hot Latte in hand. The flow is so different here, everything is so relaxed and laid back. I was shocked when I went out to go shopping around 6 PM and everything but restaurants (most of them) were shut down for the day. Every hour the bells from the church ring per the hour, once every half hour and go nuts at noon. 

Sint Catharinkakerk

Inside the Cathedral was incredible, amazing stain glass windows, prayer benches and statues.

Sint Joriskerk

Another cathedral in Eindhoven. We werent able to go into this one but the grounds were breath taking.

 

Tomorrow Dean is taking me to dinner in Amsterdam then we are off to Paris!!!!!

Germany for Starbucks anyone???

Mmmmmm Starbucks, Venti Americano with cream.......try and find a Starbucks in Europe! They arent on every corner here like they are in America. So Dean and I went on an adventure to find a few. The first one was right outside of Amsterdam.....not good, we drove in circles, couldnt see the green sign we all love and as usual, no parking.

So, we went to Germany...why not!!!! We were headed to check out some castles in Belgium so we made a pit stop in Germany. 

Heaven................................

Starbucks has never tasted so good.....

We took off and went to see a fortress in Belgium. Enjoying a Chimay with Dean at the top of the fortress, they spoke only German or French.....language barrier!

Fortress from the bottom

Castle at the base of the cliff

The day before Dean and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon in Amsterdam with my cousin Lee his wife Amanda and children Anna and Liam. Awesome to spend time with them.

Anna

Liam

Today we are exploring Eindhoven, there are some amazing churches and a huge outdoor market.

Peace....love....cheers...more soon! 

Dutch, Jet Lag & Size Matters

I made it...it was an adventure....... one I would recommend anytime. The flight wasnt my favorite but it could have been much worse. Getting from the airport to the hotel was the hardest,  jet lag coupled with the fact I dont speak or read dutch it was a challenge that took two hours. I reeked foreigner!!!!

First night Dean took me to Amsterdam for dinner, it was pouring rain and cold...cold...cold! But we had a fabulous time. Red light district...down town Amsterdam, canals, house on top of house on top of a store side by side, squished into a small area! Its all about size. Lucky Dean knows where he is going most of the time but a scary driver. All Europeans are scary drivers, get out of the way......or you will get hit by a car, train, bus, horse, bike or scooter....its dog eat dog...your on your own. 

SIZE MATTERS!!!!!!!

From the cars......

To the apartment buildings

To the Streets

To the bikes (notice the child seat in the back)

To the Hot Dog stand! (I think my UTV is about this big)

Size totally matters! Everything is small, squished to the point people are touching you....its normal. Little freaky for me! but normal. Squish yourself into a public restroom (thats hard to find) and it makes you want to find an instant liposuction clinics. 

Here is the view from the balcony of our room. You can hear the Euro Techno music from the clubs and the the bells every hour from the church across the street. 

Church across the street with what Dean calls the jumping Jesus. 

Canal in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

North Sea Adventure.......freezing! 

Having a incredible time. We hit Amsterdam again today, headed down the Coast and back to Eindhoven. Tomorrow...who knows....Belgium, Germany....could be anywhere. 

 I miss you kids!!!!!!! 

Peace....Love.....Cheers