Bernkastel-Kues

Last September, when my parents were visiting, we stopped in to visit this perfectly German Mosel River town for their big annual wine festival. We really enjoyed the festival, the Rhineland-Pfalz food, and the wine (well, my family did, I was pregnant at the time). We wandered through the town, past its adorable bear fountain, beautiful half-timbered buildings and shops, watched a parade, and finally encountered a spectacular markt platz.

We fell in love with Bernkastel. So, we had a four-day weekend last weekend, and decided that it was time to revisit Bernkastel, as well as spend quality time along the Mosel. So, we rented an apartment in Bernkastel, which turned out to be a fantastic idea with our growing brood. We were right up from the river, and Bernkastel was a great base. We got there on Thursday, and got to just spend time in the town, browsing through stores. I ended up buying a pretty print of the town square, and found an excellent shop that sells Westerwaelder steinzeug (a new type of German stoneware that I didn't know was a genre I did not own; I am now a fan); a wide variety of traditional German wine glasses; and Mosel wine and liquors. I bought a zwiebeln pot (for onions), a kartoffeln pot (for potatoes), and some gluewein mugs and warmers (adorable). They apparently come from a store called Kleiraba in a town that is only two hours away from me. I must check out this pottery town in the near future.

Bernkastel Markt and its St. George Fountain:


On Friday, we packed up the kids and drove to Trier. We lucked out, because it was the first day of an annual festival, which turned out to be fun and convenient for eating purposes when you have young children. We had fun seeing all the major sights, and really just enjoyed the town. We have been blessed to see important ancient Roman and Greek ruins all over the world. But, the Porta Nigra is still impressive.



Our little Roman statue, on an ancient pillar outside the Trier Roman baths:


Saturday saw us in Cochem on a rainy day. There was a small town wine festival going on, which was great. We wandered the gorgeous old town, and hiked the kids up to the castle (really, it wasn't a difficult hike at all). We were rewarded with a stunning view over the town and the Mosel River. It was worth it, even with a cloudy day. There was a newly married couple celebrating with pictures at the top.



The hike back down was somehow more difficult (as we did have a stroller), but we explored more of the town on the way. We found a wine cellar (dating back from the 1400s, supposedly the oldest in Cochem). Chris was in awe, and told me that the inside was beautiful (I waited outside with the children). We also found a wonderful bakery on the main street that had treats that were as beautiful as they were tasty.

On our final day, we packed up the car and took the scenic route to Burg Eltz before heading home. Oh, this was spectacular! We had a sunny day and the ride closer to Burg Eltz was absolutely breathtaking. The grapevines are at their peak in terms of beauty (in terms of being cut and turned into wine, they still have a couple of months). The hills were just covered in green grapes, and the water just sparkled under the sun. It was truly beautiful. If we return to this area anytime soon, I just want to head to this area and spend the day walking along the river...and stopping by a winery or two. Simply lovely. Unfortunately, we were so in awe that we really didn't stop anywhere to snap a good picture. So, we must return.

Burg Eltz was great. I guess. It really is a beautiful fairytale castle in the woods. Very German. But, much of it is covered in construction at the moment, so we couldn't get good pictures. And, Jackson was very toddler that day, so we started the excellent English tour. But, by room two, I could tell it was time to just end it for the sake of other travelers. The end. So, we might return to try again one day. Fortunately, there is a parking lot close to the castle, where you can also get a shuttle van to and from the castle. So, we didn't waste a ridiculous hike on that outing.

Overall, we loved our lazy trip through the Mosel. Although each of these places is a day trip away, it was nice to just take our time and relax with our young children at these places. It's a part of Germany I love!

Baby Two

Well, it has been a painfully long time since I wrote on here. A LOT has happened during the past year. At the time of my last entry, I was just finding out that I was going to have another baby.

That news was very joyful for us. There was also slight trepidation at the thought of having another baby so close to the first, and in a totally new country. My German doctor, I would come to find out, was very sweet.

During my pregnancy, we took a few really great trips. I will try to go back and remember the details so that I can write about them here. My parents came for a great visit, and we went to a wine festival. They even graciously allowed us to spend most of their visit in Paris while they watched Jackson - our first trip of that sort. We went on a cruise to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in October, and a nice ski trip to Garmisch in January (Chris really did the skiing). I even got to go on a girls' weekend to Delft one weekend toward the end of January!

Then, a big surprise. During my 30th week of pregnancy, some complications arose. We went very early one morning to our hospital. I was quite sure that they would tell me to go home for bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy. But, they actually told me that they were sending me to the Mönchengladbach hospital about 45 minutes away, because there was a NICU there.

They sent me by ambulance, which was eerie. When I was nine years old, my family had just moved to Germany, and went to an airshow during which three airplanes crashed into crowds of people. The sound I heard all during that night were German ambulance sirens, and the sound has been haunting to me ever since.

Once I got to the hospital, I went through a battery of tests. The nurses finally told me that I would not be leaving that hospital until my baby came. I was stunned. When I asked how long they thought that would be, they told me they didn't know. I could potentially be there for the final ten weeks of my pregnancy, but they didn't think I would last that long.

Ultimately, I was on bed rest in the hospital for a little over a week. Then, my little bundle of joy, Colleen, was born! She weighed 1570 grams, or about 3.5 pounds. She was teeny tiny, and I didn't get to see her until she was 28 hours old.

Her first week was very scary. She had lung issues, and the doctors in the Kinderklinik could not diagnose what was wrong with them. Her tests for all kinds of diseases came back negative (praise God), but that still didn't tell us what was causing the inflammation. She turned the corner, eventually, and I was finally able to hold my baby when she was one week old.

The NICU experience is devastating and stressful in the first place. But, when you toss in language and cultural barriers, it is more so. Colleen was in the hospital for ten agonizing weeks. Ten weeks of driving back and forth every day, and highs and lows. My husband had to go to Afghanistan for a trip during this time, which only contributed to the stress. Fortunately, my incredible mother was able to come for the duration. She was here for three months, and we could never have done this without her. My dad and sister were also able to come visit, and I am grateful for the time we had with all of them.

Colleen came home mid-April, and I am very grateful to the Mönchengladbach staff for the great care. It was different from a stay in an American hospital and there were good and bad differences. I think she could have come home a little sooner than she did. But, I am so appreciative of the love and care shown to the most tiny and fragile of babies.

Our baby is doing really well. She still has a few lingering health issues, but she should outgrow them. I am, strangely, grateful for the opportunity to learn about the preemie world and the ability to have gotten through the experience with patience and strength that only God could give us. We are now fully entrenched in the German healthcare system, which allows us some real opportunities for cultural immersion. The theme of this for me is: Why Does the American Public Want a Socialist Healthcare System??

Bosbessen

It's blueberry season! Chris is out of town for a few weeks. Whenever this happens, I try to find other women whose husbands are also gone, so that we can get out of the house and commiserate. I found such a friend, and we set out to the blueberry patch this morning with a two-year-old, one-year-old, and two-month old. Brave? Yes!

I was not prepared for the level of organization that this operation entailed. The blueberry patch was actually quite lovely, and packed with cars when we showed up. It was in a town called Koningsbosch, about five minutes from our house on the Dutch side of the border. There were people with buckets milling about, women on walkie talkies and bikes directing people where to pick, and day laborers (people looking for fun like us) picking berries. There was also a very stressed out Dutch woman who didn't think we would be able to pick berries with the little ones. We very relaxedly told her that we would love to find a spot where we could park the strollers on the edge, and pick in that one spot. You would think we were the first people with little ones who had ever tried to pick berries!



But, the ladies there were very accommodating and found us a great location. We parked the kids there, and spent about two hours (!) picking from one bush. The weather was gorgeous - bordering between warm and cool throughout the morning, clouds in the sky threatening to burst but never doing so. By the time we left, I spent six euros on a bucket full of berries and some homemade blueberry juice. I am so excited to get to cook with these berries for the rest of the summer!

World Cup Finals

With our neighbors, the Netherlands, in the World Cup Finals, Chris and I knew we absolutely needed to get to Sittard to watch the game. The Sittard Markt was set up with three big screens and a sea of fans in orange.

The Dutch flag is red, white, and blue, but their spirit is definitely Oranje. The unifying color and resulting pride date back to William I (of Orange) who successfully organized the Dutch to revolt against Spanish rule. This World Cup game against Spain was a true rivalry, and it was exciting to be in the midst of the crowd during the game.



We were disappointed in Spain's win, right along with all of our Dutch neighbors. But, we were honored to share the game with them. It was an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime kind of evening.

Uno, Ein, One!

My sweet Jackson Thomas is one year old today! I can hardly believe it. It seems like only yesterday that I came out of 36 hours of labor to finally have a c-section; that I had to be talked off of a ledge every day because I really did not like nursing; that I had a teeny tiny baby to hold.

I am pleased to say that we actually made it an entire year of nursing! I really think I deserve some kind of prize for that. It really has all flown by, though, and I enjoy my son more and more each day.

During the past year, Jackson has visited eight countries. That is incredible! He is a great traveler - but not a good sleeper. He is so happy and so stubborn at the same time. I know I'm really going to be in for it later on.

Today was a great birthday for all of us. Jackson actually slept through the night. When he woke up, we had a pancake breakfast and opened some presents. We visited the Wildpark in Gangelt (Jackson loves animals and bucket swings which are both at the Wildpark), and we had dinner, cake and more presents!



Although we chose not to have a big birthday party, I still went with a theme for our small family gathering - a barnyard birthday. So, Jackson had a farm decor, farm-themed presents from his parents, and even a tractor cake (made by a friend).

He had a blast for his first birthday, and I am slightly sad knowing that the next year is going to go by just as quickly.

Garmisch

We spent a whirlwind few days in southern Germany, immediately after Chris' parents touched down for a visit. Although I have had some minor complaints about Edelweiss Lodge & Resort in Garmisch, it was the easiest place for us to stay for this visit. So, away we went!

Oh, what a glorious time to be there. I am obsessed with German flowers, and have been since I was a child. The Germans manage to cover the outside of their homes with geraniums, and it is spectacular.



On our first full day in Garmisch, we decided to stay in the local area, which of course, includes the ascent to Zugspitze. You might remember that it didn't go so well for me in October. So, those of us who were too scared to do it this time (me! I mean, Jackson) decided to stay at Eibsee while the others went up the mountain. That's quite OK, though, because we got to hang out here for awhile:



We also visited Mad King Ludwig's castles, Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, and ventured into Munich.

It was a great trip. Bavaria is really my favorite part of Germany, which makes my family laugh. When I was a snotty ten-year-old, my father went to Turkey to "fly planes" with his squadron for the summer, while the women and children were left at home. My mother decided to brave a trip with her three children, so she took us to Bavaria. This, apparently, was not to my liking, as I felt that I had wasted a summer going to "Bavaria" (imagine a really, really spoiled bored voice saying that) while other friends would have gone to places like Paris. I didn't feel that it was very fair, and Bavaria was apparently also too bucolic for my taste.

So, there is always a good laugh when I admit that I long for the mountains and beauty (and plain old stereotype) of southern Germany.

Kaiserfest

The flags are flying all over the place, so the Germans must be full of national pride because of the World Cup, right? Oh, not so fast. Sore subject.

Here in our sleepy village, the jubilation abounds for the three-day Kaiserfest, during which our residents usher in a new reign of a new King. This King, selected at the last festival in May as a result of keen rifle skills, is, for the first time ever (I am gathering)...a WOMAN. She is still called a King, though.

We decided to celebrate some of Chris' first-ever Father's Day by attending Day Two of Kaiserfest. There was a parade with all the surrounding villages participating with their marching bands, local dignitaries, and princesses of some sort. All these princesses wore their finest ball gowns. Completing their lovely ensembles were very ill-suited back tattoos, which appear to be a big trend among young German ladies. As the parade marched by, and spectators got a glimpse of these examples of back art (apparently, Chinese symbols are popular no matter what your nationality), you could see the elderly men and women silently wondering what on Earth can save this generation from itself.

Once the parade wound through the village, it was time to take your station in the fest tent with traditional afternoon cake and coffee or beer, or outside the fest tent with beer. There were your typical fest candy and toy vendors, and we enjoyed a good amount of people watching.

All in all, it was a good fest. And, they already started advertising for our village Oktoberfest!

Below is a picture of our new "King". You can't completely tell from this picture, but there were lots of people wearing coats. And, it's June! And, cold!

Ich Bin Ein Berliner

NATO had a four-day holiday this past weekend in honor of Corpus Christi, so we knew we had to take advantage of it. It's the last holiday weekend until the fall, and this American excitedly decided to travel along with every European on the continent, it seemed.

Before I tell you all about our lovely time in Berlin, I need to air some grievances to you about traveling, in general. I realize that what I am about to say will make me sound as curmudgeonly as the people with whom I used to share Metro space in D.C. You know, the ones who used to tap their feet impatiently at unsuspecting individuals who dared to stand on the lefthand side of the escalator instead of the right?

Anyways, here's a tip for travelers out there: If you do not have a stroller, suitcases, bicycles (clearly I'm in Europe on this one), or are in no way handicapped, the elevators are not for you. I know, you're really tired, or your child thinks it would be really fun. But, the escalators are just right over there, and they do the same thing!

Our other travel-related complaint is a result of complete confusion on my part. Apparently, sometimes when you buy tickets online (even first class tickets), you might not get a seat assignment. This is because they oversell the train at times (like holiday weekends when every European on the continent is traveling). If you realize this too late, and go to the ticket counter to clear up the issue, they actually don't care (even for first class tickets), and might actually say to you, "Gee, I hope that it all works out for you." This, even after you say that even one actual seat assignment might be helpful, as you are traveling with an infant. "I recommend that you try to get to the dining car really fast so that you can get a seat." Helpful.

Thankfully, we did get a seat in the dining car for the return trip home. Otherwise, I would have planted myself on the floor in the aisle, and I would have had to sit there the entire trip - even though I paid for first class tickets!

But, we had a wonderful time in Berlin! We saw the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the KaDeWe department store, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, parts of the Berlin Wall, the Pergamon Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Zoo, and much more. We should have tried to go when we had longer than two or so days to see the city, but it was great to see all that we did.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, ravaged by World War II bombs, and left destroyed as a reminder:



We had an enjoyable meal at an Eastern Berlin beer garden, the oldest in Berlin. We also really enjoyed going to the new Sony Center and having some excellent Berliner Weisse beer (in my case with cherry flavoring, like the locals do).

The Reichstag visit was really interesting. First of all, we had a stroller so we got to skip the super long line! Once you get to the dome, you get an audio guide tour as you walk up the ramp, so you can get an overview of the entire city. It is a really fantastic starting point for your trip.

As we were taking this tour, I started contemplating just how fascinating Berlin really is. Everyone flocks there because of the World War II and Cold War histories, but the fallout from those conflicts and the resulting makeup of the city is absolutely fascinating to see. When you're taking the Reichstag tour, and looking out over the Chancellory and various embassies, you realize that they have only been there in their present forms for a few years. Previously, they had fled to Bonn, after having initially been in Berlin before that. So, if you had come to Berlin in, say, 1995, you would not even be taking this same tour.

When we passed the Brandenburg Gate, and saw the new American Embassy building, it was interesting to think about all the earth-shattering events that had taken place in Pariser Platz (JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech for one), and the fact that our embassy had been relocated so many times because of so many critical moments in history. And, it had all taken place right before us (including, might I add, the Michael Jackson baby-dangling incident at the Adlon Hotel in the same square).

Brandenburg Gate:



It's an interesting thing to stand in a location and try to remember whether you're standing on what used to be one side of the Wall or the other - and how that distinction at one time could have meant life or death, but no longer meant a thing.

Checkpoint Charlie sign:



Memorial crosses for those who died trying to cross the Wall:



Berlin has always been an elusive city for me, so I was happy to finally get there. My family lived in Germany when the Wall came down, and I will always remember the bells tolling and the fireworks going off. But, we never went to Berlin!

My favorite book of all time is Vienna Prelude by Bodie Theone. It's a book that is an emotional attachment at this point, as I started reading it when I was 12, and for years read it at least once a year. It takes place during pre-World War II years, and the book's main character is from Berlin. So, I felt like I was visiting with a friend seeing a lot of the same places Elisa frequents in the book. Finally, I got to see those places in person!

There was an incredible amount to see and do, and I'm impressed by the amount we accomplished. But, I know there's more to get to, so we'll have to go again.

Margraten: Where 8,301 American Heroes Lie

I am incredibly blessed to live in this region of Europe this year. We have seen the 65th anniversaries of major World War II events commemorated, and we live right in the midst of it all.

Recently, the liberation of the Netherlands was celebrated. And, for this Memorial Day weekend, we decided to go to Margraten, where the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is located, to plant flags and visit the graves of American warriors who sacrificed all for freedom.

It gives me chills to see a place like this. First of all, I still can't wrap my mind around the heritage Margraten represents for us. It is because of the battles represented there that we are even stationed in this area. Geilenkirchen, which hosts the NATO base at which we are stationed, was the site of a major 1944 battle. And, some of the men who lost their lives in that battle were buried right in front of me.



Margraten is tranquil and beautiful, just as it should be. The grounds are flawless, flowers blooming everwhere, monuments tasteful and simple, and the rows of crosses and stars are powerful and moving. Walking through to take note of when these men died and where they came from, I saw several pairs of brothers buried side by side.



An American family approached us and started talking to us. We told them that we were stationed in the area and asked if they were visiting. The man told us that they were there because his father is buried in the cemetery. He died in battle, and his son grew up without a father. Powerful. This man was at Margraten for the ceremonies this weekend - the Dutch Queen Beatrix will preside over them at the cemetery tomorrow.

There was a whole group of families walking around this morning wearing badges with their loved ones' pictures on them. Our new friends had been to visit his father's grave four times, and he felt like it was important to be here this year. He loves that his mother chose to keep his father buried here with his buddies.

He told us about the great relationship he has with the Dutch family that adopted his father's grave. It is really admirable to see what the Dutch people do for those buried at Margraten. All graves are adopted by the Dutch - there is a waiting list. However, families tend to solemnly pass down the responsibility of caring for the graves to their own family members.

A Dutch man also started talking to me later on about the grave he adopted. He excitedly told me the soldier's name, and how much it means to him to be able to care for his plot. His eyes misted, and he looked up and over the cemetery. He said, "These people did much for us." The Dutch really appreciate the sacrifices, and generations of them were out today placing flowers on the markers. I'm thankful for these people and the way they passionately care for our fallen.



It was a fitting way to mark Memorial Day. I will absolutely return, hopefully in the near future.

Monschau

We went to the most charming little German town today while we have some gorgeous weather. I'm so glad that the sun is out, finally. Chris has a three-day weekend in honor of the Pentecost, so we decided to take a day of leisure and be tourists.

Monschau is located in the Eifel region, near Aachen, close to the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. It's about an hour from us. To get there, you drive through some somewhat hilly farmland, and then all of a sudden you realize you are at the top of a steep, winding, mountainous road!

The town has your quintessential castle at the top of the mountain/hill (your view of what this is depends on where you're from), a babbling river, and so many fun restaurants and shops, making this a town to which I will bring visitors for the duration of our living in this region.



This is definitely a great place to go hiking, and we will do that soon. But, today I wanted to explore the town and we spent lots of time wandering.

We chose to sit outside at a wonderful restaurant right on the river and outside a lovely church with bells that tolled for what seemed ages at noon. The sound of bells tolling is one of my favorite things about Europe, and something I will desperately miss when we move home.

For lunch I had the best schnitzel that I have had since we moved here. It did not seem greasy and was accompanied by a sauce made from the honey-mustard that this town makes well. We also tried some white asparagus, as that is in season now. I had another seasonal favorite - fresh strawberries. Incredible food today.

The shopping was great today, too. There were all kinds of wine stores, antique shops, and - wait for it - a Christmas store!! Of course, I went in. This store was perfect, and the prices were even good! I bought a few things. For those of you rolling your eyes at me right now, yes, I realize I have a problem involving shopping and Christmas.

I also bought some of the town mustard, and Chris, naturally, bought some wine. There was an intriguing store that sold a lot of Czech crystal. I'm not entirely sure why. But, I will keep that in mind in case I ever need something, and can't get to Prague.

We had such a fantastic day in Monschau and can't wait to return.

Feature - Beware of mischief on German Labor Day

When we returned from our trip to the United States, we got serious about getting our flower pots in order. We went to the garden shop, picked out all our plants, and then noticed that our beautiful printed tin window boxes from Italy were missing. Chris swears that he left them on our front porch. And, we had a mysterious baseball sitting on the back porch. Coincidence? Read the following:Feature - Beware of mischief on German Labor Day

I think we know what happened now.

Alles Gute zum Muttertag

This is my first Mother's Day since having Jackson, and it has been a delightful one. I am very grateful for my little boy (although, as I write this he just crawled over and broke a Delftware tray that I have).

After church today we opted to stay in our village to enjoy a local parade and celebration for Muttertag. We walked up to the church, and started talking to a man decked out in his finest German outfit for the occasion. He told us that everything was in honor of Mother's Day - but, that the event was being held to decide the new "king" (mayor) of our village.




After the parade made its way around the village, everyone headed to a field where there was a shooting contest - to decide who the new mayor would be. Seriously.

I am one of those people who becomes very involved in different organizations wherever I live. And, many of these organizations arrive at the same crossroads year in and year out - who the heck is going to take over the various leadership positions because nobody wants to take them? I now have a solution. Everyone takes a turn at the gun to shoot at the target. Whoever gets the best score assumes the presidency! Incredible.



As is typical at any German fest, the drink tent was right near the entrance. To be a good sport, I decided that Chris and I should both drink a beer, as neither of us had to drive. I walked up to the bar, and ordered from the list. I totally ruined it, though, and accidentally ordered us some very unmanly wine coolers instead of the beer I promised. Chris wanted to die from embarrassment, as it appeared that drinking a wine cooler in Germany is just as uncool as drinking one in the United States.



We had a really wonderful time meeting some of the village neighbors, including an American and a Canadian couple who were lots of fun. And, I learned that our village has been around since 1583. Pretty amazing!

Overwhelmed

It has taken a few days, but we are starting to get back into our routine in Germany. We spent a blissful couple of weeks touring our old stomping grounds in the USA.

I think the one word I continue to use each and every time I return to the States is "overwhelmed". I believe that I become more so with every visit. It's the endless number of TV channels from which to choose; the ridiculous stream of stores to shop in (and the number of items they have to buy); the countless number of restaurants we wanted to visit; the enormous cars whizzing by us on the freeway (in the right lane talking on cellphones); the limitless times to visit Starbucks and Barnes & Noble; the ability to do anything, buy anything, see anything you want at any time you want to do so. It's just too much.

When I'm overseas I miss all the choices, but I have to say it gives me anxiety to be able to have anything I want when I want it. I mean, there are definitely things I regret not having here in Germany. Just today, I went to the Commissary to buy food, and I was in a state of melancholy when I arrived in the baby aisle. When I went to Babies R Us in Texas, I had tears welling in my eyes to see that they had an entire row for pacifiers; more baby food flavors than I had any clue existed (they have green vegetables in Stage 3??); so many baby clothes and odds and ends right at my fingertips, and I had never had the pleasure of walking into a store like this since I had Jackson.

But, here I was back at the Commissary. After dining on fun-flavored organic baby food for weeks, and discovering graham crackers without honey (babies can't eat anything with honey) and other great new snacks, we were relegated to buying the Gerber sweet potatoes and squash once again. Sorry, Jackson. Back to the boring options. Bye-bye Mum-Mums. Auf wiedersehn baby yogurt.

At the end of the day, though, I desperately miss my family and friends, but surprisingly enough, can do without the "so much"ness of America. We don't need all of it, and my simplified life is much happier without all of the stuff.

We had a wonderful time visiting Oklahoma City, OK; Fort Worth, TX; Washington D.C.; and Yorktown, VA. Chris and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with a night out to Reata in Forth Worth; introduced Jack to new family members, including his cousins, Luke and George; and watched Jackson enjoy so many new experiences. I miss my country, but am enjoying the time we have here in Europe.

Keukenhof & Leiden

Chris and I love to celebrate our wedding anniversary by getting each other traditional gifts. I guess I should clarify. I like to celebrate our anniversary by getting traditional gifts. Chris likes to go along with it to make me happy.

When I saw that the fourth anniversary gift is "fruit and flowers" I knew I had a winner. We live near Holland, and flowers abound in our anniversary month - April!

I have had a love of tulips since I was a child. Love really probably doesn't describe it enough. Obsession, maybe? My mother used to read me a children's story about the history of tulips, and I was hooked at that young age.

I really was not picky as a bride about my wedding details. The one thing I absolutely had to have was a tulip as our wedding flower. So, we got married in April.

This year, to celebrate the "fruit and flower" anniversary, we decided to take an entire weekend to follow the tulip in Holland. We were originally going to go toward the end of April, but decided to move it to last weekend when we booked a trip to the United States. So, off we went.



It was heavenly for me. I have decided that Heaven MUST include gardens full of tulips, along with my favorite lemon and orange trees from Italy.





First of all, we found a great kid-friendly hotel. In fact, this entire trip was child-friendly. Bonus! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Leiden. It turned out to be more expensive than we liked, but worth it. Did you know that Leiden was the city where the first tulip bulb was planted in Holland? I did!

We drove the tulip route, spent an entire day at Keukenhof, and enjoyed every minute of it.

There was a petting zoo at Keukenhof. Jackson got to see his first cow, goats, bunnies, and chickens up close!



There were also all the extra trappings of a traditional Dutch scene at Keukenhof - a man making wooden shoes and a windmill to name a couple.



On Sunday, we checked out the city of Leiden. Not a must see, but pretty. Leiden is known to Americans as the city the Pilgrims lived in for a decade before sailing to America. It's also the city where Rembrandt was born. However, trying to find the Pilgrim landmarks is not easy, as they are not well-marked. I heard once from a fellow American that if you were to ask a resident of Leiden about the Pilgrims that they would have no idea what you were talking about.

So, we spent about an hour walking in a circle until we finally found William Brewstersteeg - an alleyway apparently - where William Brewster had his printing press. I was not wanting to give up on finding this, as Jackson and I are both descendents of his. Luckily, we did find it, snapped a picture, and our weekend was complete.

Now begins our whirlwind packing and organizing to get out of here by Wednesday morning! We will travel to the United States so that Jackson can be properly introduced to his country. We can't wait!

Kinderdijk

Today we drove about two hours away to Kinderdijk to a park to see nineteen working windmills in the Netherlands. I have always really appreciated the stereotypical symbols of Holland, and so I was really excited to get there.

The weather today was not the best for this outing, as it was windy and cold. But, it was still nice to get out and walk along the canals to see what was going on.

It was definitely a big tourist day. Lots of French people, particularly the elderly French in large tourist groups. It was also a big day for nine-month-olds and their tantrums. However, we stuck it out and saw what we wanted to see.

The windmills were constructed centuries ago to pump water out of the land. The canals, themselves, were dug by hand in the 1200s before people got the idea to build the windmills.

People actually live in some of the windmills today, and one has been converted into a museum of sorts. There are cafes and souvenir shops to go in too. In colder weather, when the canals are frozen, you can go skating on the ice! It is an incredible place to gaze at these structures, and we will definitely return on a nicer day. We thought about driving a further twenty minutes to the town of Gouda, but decided against it. Adding cheese to the list today just seemed a tad too touristy, and we can always return.

Child-Unfriendly

We have had a really great holiday weekend so far. With Chris working for NATO, we get some pretty non-standard holidays. As an example, we will not get Independence Day off, but we do have a four-day weekend for Easter.

There were some things that we wanted to get done around the house today, and so we decided to take it easy. We started off the day at the Sittard market, just to get out this morning. The Saturday market is a smaller version of the weekly Thursday market, but there were vendors out with their Easter best today.





After looking around, we decided to get some lunch at Bagels & Beans, the most fun little coffee and bagel shop around. I have said before, and I'll say it again, it amazes me to see how child-unfriendly restaurants are in the Netherlands (really, in most of Europe).

I have really been thinking about this a lot lately, as we are planning a trip back to the States very soon, and I have started to get excited about all the ways I will enjoy carting my child around once we are home. The doors that are welcoming for strollers! The changing tables in the restrooms! The high chairs in the restaurants! The grandparents who will watch our son for a few hours! That last one has nothing to do with dragging the baby around, but I am really excited about it.

Today, I just happened to have my camera with me, so I want to point out a few things for you to illustrate what we put up with here. There are two things I want you to keep in mind. First of all, this outing to a "restaurant" is very rare for us. I have decided, generally, that Jackson is just not fun to take out anymore so we just don't eat in restaurants. A coffee shop was OK for today though. Secondly, Bagels & Beans is actually more roomy and child-friendly than most other restaurants. Just to give you an idea.

The following picture is of Jackson sitting in a "high chair". There was one standard high chair in the whole restaurant. It was taken. So, there was this other thing that you strap to a normal adult-sized chair. Not very sturdy. That was what we found for Jackson, and it was also the only of its kind in the restaurant. [This was very generous, though, as most restaurants have absolutely nothing for your children.] You can also possibly see from this picture that there is not much distance between our table and the one across the aisle. This is also typical. You can only imagine how long it took us to get our stroller to the table and then find a place to stow the stroller.



You might have no clue what you are looking at here - it's the women's restroom. No, not a stall, the whole restroom. There is a sink right behind me. Beneath the changing pad is the toilet. So, you are expected to pick up the changing pad off the ledge, and place it on top of the toilet to change your child. I must emphasize that the fact that there even is a changing pad available is incredibly generous, because there typically is nothing.



I really hope all my expectations about the United States come to pass!

St. Vith

Set against the rolling hills of beautiful Belgian countryside lies a town strewn with buildings that, to me, are like precious gemstones. These buildings contain furniture for purchase.

Typically, I favor Belgian antiques, and I definitely have a style that draws me in like a moth to a flame. I love the Flemish style of pretty much any furniture, topped with Italian marble. However, we have been planning on getting a new dining room table for a long time - pretty much as long as we have been married - and I didn't want something antique.

So, we drove to St. Vith yesterday where there are several modern furniture stores from which to choose. We picked Moebel Krings Maraite. We really got the best deal with this store, too. If I had closed my eyes, I probably would have thought for a moment that we were in the United States, what with all the ease of purchasing and customer service offered there.

We ended up with a beautiful new dining room table and chairs, and also purchased a new coffee table and matching end tables for our living room.

So, here's why I really appreciated this place. I ran the saleswoman ragged looking things up for me, and she was very helpful and friendly through all of my indecisiveness. She offered us something to drink and when she came back with our very tasty cappucini, she also gave us snacks. Since we forgot our VAT forms, she supplied us with two self-addressed stamped envelopes so that we could just send them to her. And, the company is going to deliver our furniture to us an hour-and-a-half away for FREE. I am loving this company.

As I mentioned VAT forms, I do need to mention that the thought of them made me smile out of sheer irony. As Americans, we get to deduct the 30% Value Added Tax that the Europeans pay on furniture at this store. This is pretty standard across Europe. However, now that we have "health care reform" in the United States, we can start getting used to having to pay this same tax, as I am positive that it is the only way our country will be able to pay for anything from here on out. I should enjoy not paying the tax while I can.

But, it was a nice day in Belgium. And, in eight to twelve weeks, I will receive my new furniture!

Hippity Hoppity!

Easter's on its way! Clearly, our March has not been all that exciting, as I have not posted anything lately. We have enjoyed the nicer weather, and Jackson has enjoyed sitting on the porch watching the birds.

This morning, we went to JFC Brunssum, which is one of the bases in our area, for their Easter egg hunt. Jackson really enjoyed picking up the eggs and putting them in his basket. He also met the Easter Bunny, and didn't cry!



The entire event was actually very nice. It was a NATO event, so there were people there from different nationalities, and it had a carnival atmosphere. So, there were lots of European fest rides for the kids and a pancake breakfast. Very nice indeed.

We are going to have a quiet Easter weekend next week. Chris will have a long weekend, so we will probably have a couple of day trips to record. Otherwise, we will just be enjoying this gorgeous Spring weather that we have here in Germany!

Wind Storm!

I just came inside the house after spending too long outside picking up sticks, both miniscule and gigantic (actual tree branches). I did this right alongside my German neighbor, who was using brooms of all sizes to also clean up specks of dirt from in between the bricks on her driveway and from the gutter on the sidewalk. I was lucky to just get the branches off of the lawn.

Anyways, what prompted this desire to go outside and clean with the Germans? Don't worry, I wasn't trying to compete. Who can do that with Frau Dirt Pail living next door?

First of all, Jackson and I were pulling into the driveway after going to a music playgroup run by some British ladies (it was fun!), and as my neighbor was out clearing the clutter, I decided I might as well put in an appearance.

You see, we had a MASSIVE wind storm yesterday. It was quite scary. And, that's saying something since this area is known for being windy.

We were leaving Wiesbaden yesterday, and experienced this crazy wind for the entire two-hour trip. Signs were flying off of sign posts, trees were being uprooted, trailers were being overturned. We saw more emergency vehicles during that trip home than we did a few weeks ago when we drove through a snow storm.

The wind and rain were fierce back at our house. Our Sunday School group was cancelled for the evening, and we were just starting to figure out what we would make for dinner, when I heard what sounded like a tornado siren. Chris ran outside, verified that was what he thought it was too, and we bolted down to the basement. Living in Oklahoma will make you nothing if not prepared for a tornado.

Ultimately, we're not entirely sure what the siren was for. It might have just been a severe storm warning. But, we do know that we had lots of wind and lots of sticks in the yard. And, you can bet that the Germans were out early making sure that we Americans felt beyond incompetent in making sure the yard was back to perfect only hours later.

Wiesbaden & Easter Market

As soon as I read the words "Easter Market", I knew what our plans would be for this past weekend. This particular market supposedly would feature Easter eggs, baskets, springtime decorations, and chocolate, so I was on board. The market was going to take place in Kloster Eberbach, a monastery on the Rhine River. We decided to make a little trip of it, stay in Wiesbaden, and take in the traveling Titanic exhibit.

We left on Saturday during what was a gorgeous sunny day. Our GPS even took us on a route that crossed the Rhine River on a ferry! We arrived at the gorgeous monastery, and things were looking promising. Unfortunately, though, the Easter Market was pretty disappointing. I didn't even take pictures, because it was not all what I expected.

Sure, there were beautifully painted Easter eggs. But, nothing really compares to the most spectacular Easter egg store in the world, Easter in Salzburg. This store (obviously located in Salzburg, Austria) blows you away with the wide range of gorgeous eggs. I recommend buying your eggs there.

So, we decided to just head to the hotel. I had read the following from Rick Steves regarding Wiesbaden: skip it. The spa town is known for its thermal baths; its culture center, Kurhaus; and its proximity to the Rhine River wine region. I was determined to prove Rick wrong. Wiesbaden was going to be worth it! Unfortunately, I was wrong.

It was a fine city to hang out in for a few hours, but Rick was correct. Wiesbaden is lovely, don't get me wrong. And, it had not one but TWO Starbucks! There really wasn't that much to see, though.

The Titanic exhibit was great, though! I highly recommend going, if you ever get the chance to go. The whole exhibit was led by an audio guide, which I have decided is the best way to see exhibits. You get all the important information and can move as quickly or slowly as you would like.

Although it was a bummer of a location for the weekend, we decided it was nice to go out and see somewhere new.