Sunday, June 28, 2015

Field Trip with Mini and Bompi!

First stop:  Marble Museum

Fully-articulated fossil skeleton of a triceratops

Trilobite fossil

Awesome bench of stone!

Fluorescent minerals

Hall of Presidents!
Brady read every name, where the president 
was from and then he added a fact he knew about
each president.  We learned a lot!

Brady with Chester A. Arthur

Eli with Benjamin Harrison

Brady says, "Eli, it looks like in all of the carvings
the presidents have their eyes rolled 
up in their heads, like this!"

Next stop was the Maple Museum!
After some time exploring outside, we went inside to 
check out the tasting room (4 grades of maple syrup to taste)
and purchase some maple candy.  (Yum!)
The covered bridge was fun.


There were frogs in among the duck weed on the pond.

This is a teeny tiny frog!  (Little Pudy as Eli calls them!)
Whatever!  It was cute!

News from Abroad: Chapter 3

Today we went into Enghien to the Procession de la Saint-Jean, a 
religious parade and fair.  Several of Jill's family members 
participated in the procession, and after there was a buffet
BBQ where we had lunch.  Alix liked all of the music and the
girls got to meet a bunch of relatives.

Start of the parade!

Pascal and Pierrot (Bonne Maman's cousins)

A princess (No more details)

Horns

Dressed as Monks, including Jill's
2nd cousin Francois

Jill's Great Aunt Ginette

Another cool pic of the church!

Second cousin Sophie!

Watching!

A new friend!

Hats needed for some light sprinkles!

News from Abroad: Chapter 2

Slept in until around 11am this morning, 
then went into Enghien (the city near by) for the afternoon. 
They had a local fair downtown, so went on rides and 
got some ice cream. Went over to Jill's relatives for dinner and the 
evening, got home late and right to bed for the kids!

Sisters!

Hanging on the couch!

Trying on Papa's headset for work!

Our view!

Stare down the neighbors!

The ladies!

Enghien!

The church!

Steeple!

St. Nicholas Church in Enghien 
This large Gothic church has a 51-chime carillon. Inside, note the modern 
1964 stained-glass windows (the main one depicts the Apostolate) by Max Ingrand. 
The oldest part of the church, the Our Lady of Messine Chapel, has a beautiful 
16C altarpiece with scenes depicting the Life of the Virgin Mary.
  http://travel.michelin.com/web/destination/Belgium_Luxembourg-Belgium-Enghien/tourist_site-
St_Nicholas_Church-Grand_place

Town fair around the church!
(Just had to check it out!)

 Ready to drive!

Off they go!

Had so much fun, they went a second time.

Racing!

Fortunately, the ice cream truck came by!

Friday, June 26, 2015

News From Abroad: Chapter 1

We left Burlington about 2pm on Thursday, then left Newark 
at 6pm that evening. Had dinner on the plane, watched a little TV, 
then slept on the overnight flight to Brussels (Mama and Papa 
didn't sleep much). Made it to Brussels about 7am and arrived at the 
place we are staying around 11am. Hung out for the afternoon, 
with Jill's family stopping to visit in the evening. Everyone was glad to get to bed!

Getting ready to depart from BVT 
Yellow shirts help keep family together!
Happy trails, Justin, Jill, Céline, and Alix!

Got to stay safe!

Enjoying the ride!


Shopping the Sky Mall Magazine!

Snooze time with Buddy Karl as a pillow! 

Home for the summer!

Our farm!

Céline's hoping this is her room!  It's pretty cool!

Céline making friends with a couple of the neighbor kids!

Hey Boys!

Some of the interesting buildings in town!