Christmas tree

 

Yesterday we went to the market in Antwerp and we bought some sea snails (karakollen), so while the were cooking, we set up the christmas tree.

My dad made a small table for under the tree, as we had to cut the lower branches to avoid the Bobby (yes, she has a name) will jump in the tree.

 

When the tree was decorated, DH and son #2 set up their Marklin train underneath the tree. Good idea...

 

 

until Bobby found out...

 

 

So know there is only lego under the tree and the Marklin is back safe in the box after having been derailed by Bobby, the catzilla.

 

Kitten

 

Well, our vet called today to ask if we could accomodate a kitten that needed an emergency adoption. So here she is, she had no name yet, but she misses a piece of tail, so we should be able to get something.

 

She is very social and immediately started playing with the boys.

Wreath

Son #2 made this wreath in school, I think he did his best and it is now the centerpiece on our dining table. Well done.

Sinterklaas

Last weekend, we went to meet Sinterklaas at DHs work. Son #2 and 3 participated in teh festivities. Son #1 went into the upstairs office and did his homework.
The end of an era...

Finally, a new crochet project

Last week, I finished our hats for the ski holiday, well I finished the ones for our family. I crocheted the ones for our friends, but I have to make their badges yet.
But this week, I purchased a pattern from RuthMaddock on etsy. I made the scraf with a pair of matching wristwarmers from the thread that was left. Looks great, although not like the pattern, but I am very happy with it.

Pictures

OK, we received the pictures from our photoshoot and I will give you a preview... And remember, no kids were harmed in this shot :-)

Halloween Weekend

We had our annual photoshoot, and we also made some pics for the Christmas card... No, they are not on these picture, it will be a surprise...

Then at night, we had a Halloween parade in the neighbourhood my BIL and SIL live. They went around with the boys and we guarded the candy bowl in front of their house.

 

 As you can see... Like father, like son:

 

 

We had a great time, a friend came by with his daughters, and te weather was exceptional... 16°C at night... A first...

Today we drove home through Zeeland, as they were working on the highway, and we would have ended up in a traffic jam, so we decided to de-tour and have some sightseeing. As you can see there were a lot of kite surfers.

And the two oldest biys, never left the car...

 

And when we arrived back home, there was a rabbit in the garden... It is defintey not ours... Lets see if someone comes to look for it.

Weekend Ardennen

DH and I met some friends of our in Liège, we had  boulet frites à la liégeoise , very nice, they are meatballs in pear sirop. We had a stroll through the city until it started raining. We then drove to Lernieux, where we stayed at La Maison de Maître, a small hotel with rooms decorated in different styles. We also had dinner at the hotel.

 

Today we came back home and the boys asked if I could carve the pumpking, so here is the result:

 

 

And this is the result when it was placed outside our front door:

Opera at the movies

We went to see Macbeth Live at the Met. It is a live production you can see around the worl live as it is played in NYC.
It was the opening play of the new Opera season and we were welcomed with champagne. Great opera, great cast, we had a wonderful evening.

 

Anna Netrebko whoplays Lady Macbeth was fenomenal. What a performance. You can see more at the website of the Met, click here.

Red Velvet Cake

An online friend send me an european adaptation fro Red Velvet Cake. I had a go today together with son #3.

 

Coloring: check

 

Taste: check

 

How true...

 

And this is the result. It is delicious, like the real thing...

I told my friend, this will go into the Great Recipies from Family and Friends book.

Antwerp 1914 - 1918

 

A highlight of this commemorative programme is the contemporary reconstruction of the 1914 pontoon bridge, symbolising the connection between the past, present and future. The temporary pontoon bridge across the River Scheldt near Steen Fortress will be built by Belgian and Dutch engineer battalions. The bridge allowed a lot of people of the city to flee to the UK or Holland on the 7th of Octobre 1914.

 

 

So, as my dad and I are from Antwerp, we had to corss the bridge as our forefathers. We managed to get some of the 100,000 tickets that were available, but not together, so my parents, kids and au pair crossed the bridge in the morning.

 

The bridge while people are crossing it in the morning.

 



Waiting for the crossing, I guess 100 years ago, people were not laughing as there was panic as the Germans were advancing on the city...

All th eboats that have to push the bridge against the very strong current of the River Scheldt.

Once crossed, there were a lot of activities.

 

Every now and then the bridge has to be broken up to change boat positions as the River Scheldt has tides or if the boats needs to be fueled or if schips have to pass...

 

The city showed herself at her best for the tourists I guess. All these pictures were not taken by me, but by our au pair or my dad.

The boys and Mum as they are crossing the bridge.

Son #1 and our au pair.

 

Allmost at the other side.

 

One of the activities.

 

In the evening, DH and I went to the city to cross the bridge, but we first went out to diner.

 

 

Had a bite to eat at comocomo, great tapas.

 

But when we left the restaurant it started raining, luckily we got one of the last umbrellas at one of the tourist shops... as this was the line at 22.00.

At 22.30, we crossed the bridge, in a full blown storm, it added to teh atmosphere, as it rained,was cold and windy and everybody wanted to cross the bridge as fast as possible.

 

On the other side, the view was spectacular.

And yes, we did it, it has a strange feeling to know that this was the way many people were able to get away from the city you were born... But I am glad we had the opportunity.