Party!

What could make a group of kids stand like this for several minutes?

CAKE! Today was Miss Lydia's birthday, so we celebrated in style!

Everyone sat around and enjoyed hanging out and relaxing for a bit!

Riley Cates loved the cake part!

I had fun racing cars with my friends!

And then came the best part... We watched Planes! Hooray! Look how we were all glued to the tv!

Oh, and then Riley Cates started sharpening her photography skills, which resulted in pictures like this...

A good time was had by all!

Let's Take a Tour

I'm going to take you on a little tour of where we are living this month, since I am sure you are dying to know! 

Here is our building, the OM Centre in Zaventem, which is right outside of Brussels. 

Come inside and on up the stairs!

Hurry up, Sissy!

Finally to the top. Can you tell that the stairs get really tiny on the part by the rail where they curve at the top? Small enough that nothing can fit on? Yeah, that's where I like to walk.

If you go to the right at the top of the stairs, you will get to the dining room, which is where we eat all of our meals.

Not surprisingly, Riley Cates really enjoys eating there! She devoured some lasagna today and practically licked the bowl of tiramisu clean (she takes after Mommy)!

Can you see me at the other table? I'm pretty big, so I don't always have to sit with Mommy and Daddy. I really like having so many friends to sit with!

Ok, back to the tour. If you turn left when you get to the top of the stairs, you go into a common area. It has comfy couches and room on the floor to race cars. You know, the important stuff.

Near that room is a library where we hang out lots, read books, and work on puzzles. The kids had a movie night in there over the weekend, and tonight we had a dance party! It was mostly the girls, which was a little much for me, so I went and found some cars to make it more fun for me! 

If you look back in the picture with the comfy couches, there is a doorway that leads to a hall that leads to our room.

Ta-da! This is where we live! Mommy and Daddy have the big bed, and there is a small closet on the other side of the bed that you can just barely see. We have a sink in our room, which is a big deal because we are the only ones with that luxury!

(Hey Daddy!)

Mommy took that picture from the doorway. So now I will show you what the door looks like! Oh, and I sleep on the bottom bunk and Riley Cates sleeps in the pack n play (strollers don't normally hang on there. That was because we just got back from a walk). And that's our room! It's like a great big slumber party every night! 

One of my favorite places to go, however, is the break room. They have cookies and hot chocolate. What more could you want?

And that is our home for the month!

Heading to Church

We went to a new church this morning, and it was a bit of a different experience for us! For starters, we bundled up, walked to the train station, and hopped on an awesome train. I think that is my favorite part of being in Belgium so far! Riley Cates and I love looking out the window!

This is what we saw when we got off of the train. Isn't it beautiful?

We walked a bit further and then waited to get on the tram. So many new and exciting things!

Finally we got to our church! Can you read the name of it? Me either! But that's mostly because I can't read yet, and has nothing to do with the fact that it is not in English!

The church had two different services. At the one we went to, most of the people spoke French and Turkish. We sang songs in Turkish this morning! Who knew?!

The people were so nice. They gave us lots of kisses (Mommy says that's the way they greet each other), and then they brought us cookies. I think I would like to go back there! 

Riley Cates agreed about the cookies! She ran around telling everyone hi! We both learned a new word today. Merci. It means thank you in French!

This is what church looked like before everyone came in.

We can't wait to go back next week! Daddy will be preaching with something called an interpreter. Sounds interesting to me!

Tour of Brussels

This morning we got to take a train over to Brussels. As if the train ride itself wasn't enough, we went to see a park! 

Unfortunately, this was not a park with toys. BORING. Riley Cates made the best of it and pushed her stroller, using that as her toy! 

Then we went to check out this huge building. The first thing I asked was if this were our hotel.  Apparently that's the Royal Palace instead of our hotel!

We took a picture in front of the pretty gate (Doesn't Riley Cates look frozen? Poor girl!). Obviously I was getting a little hungry since I was trying to eat my jacket!

So we took a little stroll down this pretty alley.

And pulled into this yummy looking restaurant! 

Yay for pizza!

Man, was that delicious!

When we left, we saw this crazy horse out in the street. Still not sure why he was standing so still...

I wonder if he'll still be there next time we go out!

We're in Belgium!

We finally made it to Belgium sometime Tuesday after many hours on airplanes! Today was our first day out in the city, and we saw some fun things!

This picture is kind of hard to read, but the sign says, "FRITUUR." Daddy said that meant we could get french fries, so we were happy!

Wait, I thought we were going to Rush's!

You say this dip is good? I'm up for trying any kind of dip! "Bip. bip, bip," as I like to say!

These are delicious!

Then we had to go pick up a few diapers, and Mommy and Daddy made me carry them all the way home! Can you believe it?! The package is almost as big as I am! (I'm kidding. I volunteered to carry them. They kept me warm!)

It was a fun first outing, and you can expect pictures from many more!

Mommy's Little Helpers

This week we are studying space at school. AND it is my turn to bring snack! So naturally we decided to make star shaped cookies. Because who doesn't like a star shaped cookie?!

Riley Cates and I are both excellent helpers in the kitchen. She guarded the cookies, making sure to wear her oven mitts. Safety first!

Bonus: They are just the right size!

I even wore my space pajamas to help Mommy ice the cookies.

I can't wait to share my cookies with my friends tomorrow!

Camp Fire

Since the weather has finally turned to fall (again), we did the only reasonable thing to do last night... We cooked our supper on a fire outside! Yay for living in the country! It was a beautiful evening and a yummy supper--it would have made BigWal proud!

We roasted some hot dogs,

Which we quickly gobbled up because we wanted to get to the best part.

S'mores! This was a first for Riley Cates, and it was as big as her head! She did not seem to mind!

I never can remember where to put the chocolate...

It's all good wherever it is!

Of course Riley Cates wins the messiest award! A little dirt and leaves make a s'more taste better, right?

What a fun night by the fire!

(Followed immediately by a much needed bath!)