Saturday, December 21, 2013

November Visitors

Around the 3rd week of November, we welcomed Mike's parents to Belgium.   It was a fantastic visit, and we sure did a lot in those 9 days!   We took them around our home and into the Belgian cities of Mons, Brussels, Ghent, & Bruges.  We also drove to Lille, France, and up to the Netherlands to visit with their Dutch relatives.  Aside from all the jaunts around Europe, some of our favorite time was just spent talking while having dinner at our home or enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning.  It had been 15 months since we had seen them, and we truly enjoyed their visit.


Day 1:   Havre Chateau and Mons Grand Place

 
The quirky Havre chateau


It's a ruined estate from the 11th century



Pony ride in Mons Grand Place

"Yee-haw, cowboy!"

 
Day 2:  Church, Advent Wreath Making, and Brussels

 

 
 
After church, our parish had an Advent Wreath Making potluck.  We enjoyed some food, introduced Mike's parents to our church family, and the boys and them made this beautiful wreath.  Afterwards, we jumped on a train and went to Brussels.
 
Brussels

 
Shopping in the stunning Brussels Gallery Arcade
 



One of the many chocolate shops in Belgium.

Fun Fact:  Did you know that there are over 2,000 chocolate shops in Belgium!



 Brussels Grand Place



Brussels Grand Place



Brussels Grand Place




Brussels


"Performer Colin" in Brussels



Fun times in Brussels




"The Michaels" of the family at a nice pub in Brussels



Check out the gold on this building!




Brussels Grand Place




Notre Dame Church in Brussels...beautiful inside and out!



One of our favorite views of Brussels


 
Dusk shot in Brussels
 
 
Colin reading his 20 minutes with Pop

Aidan reading with Grandma upstairs

(To be continued....)

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