The boys are both getting to be great swimmers. They had lessons earlier in the summer and now we are enjoying lazy days at the local pool. They love to race one another and take turns jumping in the water from the side. They can jump for hours, especially if I take pictures of them.
Two happy boys
Boy #1 walking on water, sort of
The classic nose plug
Our town has a big 4th of July celebration, including a hot air balloon launch. This year there was a Darth Vader balloon so there were storm troopers and bounty hunters in town, some even came from Canada to participate. That is some serious dedication to the dark side.
The boys and some storm troopers
Boy #2 and a bounty hunter
Vadar and the other balloons
I have tried to take the boys on a summer road trip to CA the last few summers. This year we made a 10 day, 2200 mile trip that was awesome. We headed to visit Grammie and Grandpa in the Bay Area, then went to visit my sister in Central CA, and ended up in Southern CA for a visit with my other sister. Along the way we spent a day at Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and the beach. We got to visit with great family members and friends. My niece came along to keep me sane. It was a great trip! Can't wait for next summer's road trip.
The boys climbing the trees by my childhood home. I had a secret fort not far from these trees when I was a girl
Yosemite was amazing! Lower Yosemite Falls with all the mist
We ate lunch in the beautiful Ahwahnee Hotel, I love the ceiling in this lobby
One of the giant Sequoia trees
We saw this bear and three others while we strolled on a path around a meadow
My sister, my niece, and boy #1 climbed to the top of Morro Rock in Sequoia National Park while I waited for boy #2 to go potty
Boy #2 has wanted a snorkel for months so I got him one and he used it a ton in my sister's pool
The boys at the beach
The boys and me at the beach
We had a fun family gathering at my cousin's house with my 2 aunts, my 2 cousins, their kids, my sister, my niece, and the dog
Since I have posted pictures of the Netherlands I thought I better give some time to Belgium. I must admit that even though I was excited to eat waffles with large sugar pearls inside and lots of chocolate, the best thing I ate in Belgium was a warm goat cheese and bacon salad. Oh my goodness, it was heaven in a dish. I only wish I had discovered it sooner so I could have eaten it one more time. And unfortunately, I have no pictures of the fabulous salad.
The hot chocolate at Wittamer was heavenly
We came across part of the Brussels old city wall, Steve looks like an ant next to it
We also came across a marathon that had just started, we were inspired to take up running again, but haven't done it yet
Of course we had to visit the famous statue
Buildings in the Grand Place
Brugge was beautiful but too crowded with tourists, but I loved the detail on the old buildings
More beautiful buildings in Brugge
Our trip is winding down and I thought I would post a few more pictures. If I had to do it again, of course I would do a few things differently. I would make Brussels a day trip from Brugge since our hotel was cheaper in Brugge and the food was better. Also Brussels has not wowed me and a weekend round trip is just as much as a weekend one way on the train. Anyway, onto the pictures.
We stayed in Delft after leaving Amsterdam. It was charming and quiet. We loved our hotel, de Emauspoort. They provided a fabulous breakfast with fresh breads from their bakery. This is the view from the New Church tower, 376 steps up.
We rented bikes in Delft and rode to The Hague. With my short legs they had to rent me a youth bike
We took a train and bus from Delft to the Kinderdijk, where there are 19 windmills. It was a blustery day but very beautiful
On the way back from the Kinderdijk we stopped in Rotterdam and saw a very cool museum, the Boijmans Van Beuningen. They had this awesome coat rack system that looked like an installation, but was just a practical coat rack for visitors
We also saw the cool cube houses in Rotterdam
I am loving Amsterdam. It is a quiet, beautiful city and the museums are great! Travel is easy and everyone speaks English which obviously makes communication easy. Here are a few pictures so far.
Canals
In the Museum Square
A parachute beetle on special exhibit at the Kroller-Muller
Riding the white bikes at the De Hoge Veluwe preserve on the way to the Kroller-Muller
