Polish Pottery

I will admit it... I am slightly addicted to Polish Pottery.   Here is why.

On Friday I took Mom and Dad to the Netherlands to check out the Polish Pottery outlet.  The website is http://en.bunzlaucastle.com/ in case you really want to know more.

A lot of my friends went too.  Here are two of them shopping for their favorite pieces of pottery.

Mom at the exit.  You can see the place isn't too glamorous.

Mom again at the exit.  Yep...we look a lot alike.  While we were taking pictures Dad was wrangling our shopping carts that were rolling into the street.  I knew we brought him for a reason!

We had fun shopping for some really special pieces that will help complete my collection.

St. Anthony's Parish Confirmation

Jenn, my Dad, Julie and Leah

On Saturday Leah and Jennifer celebrated their Confirmation at church.  They are really growing up!

Leah and Jenn

Bob, Jenn, Leah and Julie

My Mom, Jenn, Leah and my Dad

Papa, Nana, Jenn, Leah, Julie

Leah and Jenn

Officiating Priest, Father Jan

Father Pat, me, Leah and Jenn

Papa, Jenn, Leah and Bob

Leah, good friend Caroline and Jenn

Maria in China at Beijing University

This is not a tattoo!

Maria's view of the Great Wall

Maria on the very steep Great Wall

The Great Wall is behind Maria leading up the mountain.

Acupuncture practice at Beijing University.

Jane Goodall

Never in a million years did I ever think we would/could meet Jane Goodall.  To me, she is someone you read about or watch and learn from in books and on the National Geographic chanel.  On May 15, Leah, Jenn and I went to hear Jane Goodall speak at the International School of Brussels.  She came to the girls' school!! 
Did you know Jane Goodall is 86?  She was full of spunk throughout her speach.  She told us that her greatest hero was her mother because she helped Jane nurture her her childhood dream to travel to Africa and work with animals.  When Jane was 23 and needed a chaperone while she studied in the jungles of Africa, her mother put her own life aside and lived with Jane in a tent in the wilderness for 4 months.  My children ask favors of me all the time but none of them has needed me in such a huge way!

Jenn, friend Caroline and Leah with their books written by Jane Goodall.

Poor quality pic, sorry.

Jane Goodall, Jenn and Leah getting their books signed.

We learned how Jane Goodall began her studies and never stopped.  She was an inspiration to us and I hope Leah and Jenn will never forget the opportunity they were given to meet her in person.

London with Mom and Dad

Buckingham Palace

Parliament - They were getting ready for the ceremony the next day when the Queen would officially open Parliament.  Reporters were all over and were "practicing" their broadcasts for the next day.

Big Ben

London
Bridge

Old London and New London

Wall commemorating odd deeds of heroics.

Adrien, our personal tour guide from London Tours by Taxi, and Mom and Dad
(If you are a stranger and have landed on my blog through a random search, you are in luck.  We saw the entire city with Adrien http://www.londontoursbytaxi.com/   All of my pictures were taken while on the tour.  He drove us around and showed us the best parts of the city.  All of my pictures were taken during his tour. Go to his website for info.  You won't be sorry!)

This picture doesn't do justice to Harrod's Department Store.   It was absolutely wonderful and the Food Hall, pictured above, was the very best part.

London

Mom and Dad left for a Baltic cruise on Saturday but before they did, we went to London! Pictures are coming soon.

My Parents are HERE!

Dad and Mom in the Bois de Halle.  This is the famous location of the bluebell covered forest floor.  We were there yesterday at the very end of the blooming.  Mom and Dad could see the beauty even if it was nearly at the end of its peak.

We have a great house but...

We really felt lucky to find the house we have lived for the past 4 years in Belgium.  It was brand new in 2008 and we were the first tenants.  We have lots of bedrooms and bathrooms for guests, a yard big enough for a volleyball net and a garage that holds 3 cars (or 4 if they are tiny). The kitchen is nice and big with brown tiled walls.  That may sound odd but it's really warm and cozy.  I have a fridge bigger than most Euro fridges and a huge pantry in the basement. We didn't want to feel like we were "camping" the entire time we lived here so we brought all our furniture with us. So many aspects of the house are absolutely fabulous so it seems silly to complain about anything but the house has one HUGE flaw.  The mirrors in our master bath are way too high.  That might seem trivial but look at the pictures below to see what I see.

This is my mirror and sink.  Bob's is to the right of mine.  I took this picture while standing about 3 ft away. You can just see the top of my head.

And this is what I see every morning.  I have no idea what my mouth, teeth or chin look like but the top of my hair looks just fine.

Pics from May day.

Silliness at Grande Place.  We bought one of those drawings in the background.

The rest of the pictures are of the Market in Stokkel.  I love going to the outdoor market.  They are open in any weaher!

Chicken man!  He also sells ribs (ribbetjes).

Starbucks Update

It's May 1 which is a holiday in Belgium.  Leah, Jenn and I took Bob to the airport for his flight to the US.  We decided to bypass a trip inside the airport to get a Starbucks and instead made our way to check out a new shop and go to the market.  We were done by 11:30 and made our way to Grande Place for lunch.  After a stroll through the historical/tourist area, we walked to the Brussels Central Train Station to check out the newest Starbucks location.  As we entered the girls noticed that the barista was the guy who used to work at the airport Starbucks.  We hadn't seen him in ages.  As we approached the counter he said, "Hey I know you!  You are the twins I always waited on at the airport.  You are getting so tall!"  We all laughed and the girls said, "We thought that was you!  Hi Didier!"  They even know his name.  We all gave him our order and were automatically upgraded from Tall to Grande.  Cool!