International Festival

This weekend we had our favorite ISB event, the International Festival. We had a fabulous time sampling food (and drink) from every nation. The American booth focussed on the foods of New Orleans and an old fashioned bake sale for dessert. I made 74 cupcakes with red white and blue sprinkles. Not obtainable in Belgium, those sprinkles are leftover from years of Target shopping and collecting things I knew I would need someday. Bob was a parking lot gaurd. He loved his job of turning away anyone who didn't have a preapproved parking pass. I think the control went to his head! He loved it!

Maria and Bob taking a break at the American booth.

Above: Jennifer playing the Viola

Below: Leah playing the Bass

Seasonal Sign

Last Spring and again this Spring we saw this sign go up near our house. I assume it means that between the hours of 7pm and 7am there will be frogs jumping across the street. I saw absolutely no frogs last year. But this year, I have run over one in the driveway, one on the street and nearly stepped on three at ISB! (sorry PETA)

Another favorite

Yesterday I showed my favorite store. Today I will share my new favorite restaurant.Anata has yummy sushi and the entire family loves it! The girls and I have been there twice and we finally got Bob to try it on Sunday. Can you figure out the lunch menu from the sign below?

The best part of Anata is that it is right around the corner from the cookie store, La Cure Gourmande. Beware: Tomorrow I will show a sign that will make you laugh!

My favorite store!

This is my favorite store in Brussels. If you live here or you've visited here, you might be thinking, "What about Neuhaus? What about the lace stores? What about the beer?" No to all of those choices. This store, La Cure Gourmande, only sells cookies (biscuits!) and they are the loviest and tastiest in all the land. The store itself is disneylike in it's decorations. Yellow shelves from floor to ceiling house the pastel boxes and canisters. If you click on the picture above, you will see the piles of cookies to choose from which you can fill in your own beautiful box, bag or can. They also sell chocolate olives and suckers that last all day and into the night. No trip to Brussels is complete without a stop at this little gem!

Local signs - Please explain!

I understand this sign. It makes sense. The heart stands for love. I get it. I Love NY.

But this sign below makes no sense to me. I turtle my home? I am my home? I carry my home?

And this one... I cat my cat? These two signs are all over Brussels. They are on every bus stop and at every intersection. We argue about what they mean. We ask for advice from our European friends. Help us figure it out!

Jennifer at the Ballet

Here are some beautiful pictures of Jennifer at her ballet recital. Before I explain the recital or why Leah isn't also participating, let me first say that Jennifer is exceptional! I may be a little biased because she is my daughter but I think you can see from the photos that Jennifer is by far the best one in the group! There are two other girls who were on different parts of the stage who are also very good but I am not their mother so I really don't care too much about them. In case you didn't know, Jenn is the dancer with the bangs! Miss Beverly of the famous Stage I Dance Academy (Just writing that makes me smile!)would have never allowed those bangs to hang down. All our girls have Bev to thank for their work ethic and commitment to just about anything they do. They really took to heart her ideals (and ours) that practice, attendance and respect have as much to do with your success as your god given ability.

The recital itself was more of a show consisting of a sample of their daily classes. The Royal Academy of Ballet is centered around technical ability. You learn the basics at your level, are tested by RAB officials yearly and then move on to the next level. Jennifer and Leah are both in the second level of Grade Five. They will be tested this spring (on a school day!) and after passing will move up to Grade Six next fall. They also take a class with girls from a variety of levels on Saturdays to start point.

You may be wondering why Leah isn't pictured. This recital was on the exact weekend of Leah's big opportunity with the Junior Honors Orchestra in London. While Jenn was at dress rehearsals, Leah was at her own rehearsals in London. Leah, Maria and I were back in Brussels just in time to see Jennifer in her Sunday evening performance. And where was Bob? He stayed behind to work in Brussels and be Jenn's taxi to and from rehearsals. I think he also put her hair in a bun but Jenn confided that she had to redo it when she got to the theater! This recital really made us all miss Stage I Dance Academy in Greenwood, Indiana. http://www.stage1danceacademy.com/ Bob was even so frustrated with one of the rehearsals that he got up to move scenery around! (Randy-you would have done the same thing!) We have seen the best recitals at Stage I so our recent experience here in Brussels really made us appreciate what we used to have.

It is always fun to watch all the girls do their thing...Softball starts tomorrow!

Leah in London

Leah had the honor 2 weeks ago to play her Bass in the Junior Honors Orchestra. She was given audition music last May, auditioned in October and then practiced like mad to be ready for the 4 day music study at the American School of London at the end of February. (OK, I know you are curious...Jennifer got the same opportunity and practiced all last summer too. But then the day of her audition, she broke her arm in PE class. Bad luck for sure but she will try again next year!) The experience was exceptional and I don't think Leah will ever forget it. After listening to her practice the songs over and over, it was special to hear her play the songs together with the other great orchestra members and the guest conductor from the United States.
I will work on getting a good video!

This opportunity was awesome for Leah! Maria and I went to London to hear her play in the orchestra with other 6, 7 and 8th graders from all over the world. Below is Leah with Ella, her new London friend and Naomi, her friend from ISB.

College Bound!

I apologize for not writing and updating but I am obsessed with Maria and the super cool exciting fabulous and promising life ahead of her!!! She is a Senior in HS and this is the time of year when most kids hear from the colleges they have applied to and start making decisions that will determine their next path. So far, Maria has heard from six (Yes 6!) colleges which means now she has to make some tough decisions! These are the questions she has to answer...Do I go to a big school? Do I go to a small school? Should I take the scholarship? Should I go to the East Coast? Should I go to the Midwest? Is D.C. too big for me? Is Lafayette, Indiana too familiar?

The deadline for the the big decision is May 1. How will she ever decide by that date?