Sweet Butterfly Milk

Today Viv and her best friend are having a dress rehearsal of their dance performance entitled "sweet butterfly milk." Here is a video of the creator herself describing the main characters and then performing the title song herself.

Bruges Continued

We enjoyed rich Belgian chocolates

an unforgettable horse-and-buggy tour
and sites with fascinating history like the Basilica of the Holy Blood

Bruges, Belgium

My mother met a college girl on a train who had been traveling all over Europe for six months. This girl said that Bruges, Belgium was her favorite city to date. Good enough to arouse our curiosity.. I would say it lived up.
We rented an attic studio apartment for the three days, it required Ethan to haul luggage, babies, etc. up three teensy spiral staircases. Nonetheless, even he admits that the location and the charm were amazing. Our daddy also took his first bath since infancy (he claims) - as a claw-foot tub was all we had.

A Day in Ghent, Belgium

Our August 4-day weekend took us to Bruges, Belgium - 4.5 hours NW of us by minivan. What a trip. Cartrips with our lively brood and my pregnant body are best taken in segments, so we spent Day 1 in Ghent, Belgium.

The two main sites we visited in this beautiful city where the Saint Bavo Cathedral - home to the uber-famous altar painting "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by the Van Eyck brothers and the Gravensteen Castle. Both were visually and historically astounding.

Americana tourista children at St. Bavo's:

The Gravensteen Castle, or Castle of the Counts, is located immediately in the heart of Ghent and was amazingly preserved. Vivian's favorite part was the torture museum, I don't know exactly what to make of this..









Lastly, we enjoyed delicious Belgian beer and local meat and cheese selections at an old meat market-gone tourist trap on the river in Ghent. Day 1 taught us that we like this country:

Schwimbad Fun

There are not many hot sunny days in Wiesbaden. However, when we have gotten them this summer we have taken full advantage of a beautiful outdoor German Schwimbad on the Rhine River. Here are some shots of us with our friends at the world's coolest Eltville Schwimbad.

Feast of the Assumption

Since this Catholic Holy Day of Obligation (August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of Mary Body and Soul into Heaven) fell on a Saturday this year there was no requirement to go to Mass. Nonetheless, we did our best to make it a special day here at home.


Viv's rendition:














Blue dessert in remembrance of Mary:

We Do Have a Table, Honestly

Juice Cups in the Coat Closet and

cupcake batter in the tub, of course.

Cause of the Blog Blackout

Enjoying a whole lot of this:

Toothbrush Returns Tomorrow

We made it, folks. Tonight is the last night I will have to retrieve my sad single toothbrush from the holder in our bathroom. Her partner and my true companion return tomorrow. Hooray.

Piranha Pagoda

So, I don't know if these photos will do it justice, but there is currently a rather ornate canopy-bed-type-creation on the floor at the foot of my bed. Its inhabitant.... why Daddy's stuffed Piranha statue of course. Just a glimpse into life with my children. Nothing surprises anymore.

Pregnancy Equation

Third Floor + Third Trimester - One Spouse + One 18-month-old toddler = Physical Exhaustion

Mommy's Little Helper

I saw this and thought, "oh, how sweet, he knows Daddy is gone and he is helping out with unloading the dishwasher!"










Then, upon closer examination, I saw this:

Not To Be Outdone

She emerged with this self-made skirt (and accompanying sassy hip swings) today. I think I am letting them watch too much So You Think You Can Dance...
Daddy, you better get home from Afghanistan soon.