13 years ago
Friday, September 18, 2009
Trip to WI and IL
On July 25 Bud and Jane flew with Kaylin back to the states and I flew with Shane. Both flights went well. We had a great time visiting with everyone and while there we found out we were not going back to Tokyo. Just want to post a few pics of our trip back. I hardly took the camera out, but did get quite a few of the great time the kids spent with their cousins! It was so nice seeing everyone!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Edinburgh, Scotland
Wednesday was our first full day in Edinburgh
. We got on a hop on hop of double decker bus to learn a bit more about the city and find out where we wanted to go. We got off by the castle and toured it which was a city itself! After the castle we went on a whisky tour. The tour was nice, but I really don't like whisky aside from a bottle of sweet whisky that Bud bought. The following day Matt and Bud left early to go to British Open. They had to check their cameras, so no pics but they had a great time. While they were at the tournament Jane and I took the kids shopping! We found some Christmas ornaments and a great little shop with jewelry, scarves and things of that sort. We dug through our change and spent a long time playing around in that store. For dinner we picked up fish and chips and had a picnic and let the kids run around outside. The following day it was time to leave. It was a cold rainy day so we stopped at a FREE discovery museum before we went to the boat. We waited for a LONG time to get on the boat but once on we again had a lot of fun. We came back to Amsterdam and packed Matt's bags because he was set to leave for Tokyo the next day. Bill and Lauren came back from their Italy trip that night. So, Matt left, Bill and Lauren left and Bud and Jane spent the last week of their trip touring around and spending time with the kids. It was a wonderful time and so nice to have family around!
. We got on a hop on hop of double decker bus to learn a bit more about the city and find out where we wanted to go. We got off by the castle and toured it which was a city itself! After the castle we went on a whisky tour. The tour was nice, but I really don't like whisky aside from a bottle of sweet whisky that Bud bought. The following day Matt and Bud left early to go to British Open. They had to check their cameras, so no pics but they had a great time. While they were at the tournament Jane and I took the kids shopping! We found some Christmas ornaments and a great little shop with jewelry, scarves and things of that sort. We dug through our change and spent a long time playing around in that store. For dinner we picked up fish and chips and had a picnic and let the kids run around outside. The following day it was time to leave. It was a cold rainy day so we stopped at a FREE discovery museum before we went to the boat. We waited for a LONG time to get on the boat but once on we again had a lot of fun. We came back to Amsterdam and packed Matt's bags because he was set to leave for Tokyo the next day. Bill and Lauren came back from their Italy trip that night. So, Matt left, Bill and Lauren left and Bud and Jane spent the last week of their trip touring around and spending time with the kids. It was a wonderful time and so nice to have family around!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Alnwick and Bamburgh Castle
Our first stop of the day was Alnwick Castle, http://www.alnwickcastle.com/. This castle was everything I imagined a castle to be. It was awesome even before I knew that parts of Harry Potter were filmed there!
There was an area where the kids could dress up and play. There wasn't a costume small enough for Shane, but he still had a good time.
We started out by having a picnic on the castle grounds.
There was an area where the kids could dress up and play. There wasn't a costume small enough for Shane, but he still had a good time.
Dancing around the May pole.
Shane slaying the dragon!
We easily could have spent the day here, but after a couple of hours decided to go to the next spot. The kids feel asleep in the car and were still sleeping when we arrived at Bamburgh Castle, http://www.bamburghcastle.com/. Jane offered to stay in the car with the kids while Bud, Matt 
and I walked around. 
Shane slaying the dragon!
We easily could have spent the day here, but after a couple of hours decided to go to the next spot. The kids feel asleep in the car and were still sleeping when we arrived at Bamburgh Castle, http://www.bamburghcastle.com/. Jane offered to stay in the car with the kids while Bud, Matt 
and I walked around. 
We didn't go into the castle but decided we would have to stop back on our way home to see more of it. Unfortunately on our way back it was cold and rainy so we didn't stop. The kids were awake when we came back, so we all got back into the car and were on our way to Edinburgh! Kaylin got carsick on the way but did a great job of letting us know before hand!
Matt did a really good job of driving on the "wrong" side of the road and we arrived at the Holyrood Aparthotel. It was a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment that worked out PERFECTLY for all of us. Edinburgh will be the next post.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Scotland July 13 (Day 1)
To get things straight since I did the last post a little out of order, The Heineken Experience was on Friday along with dinner out with Bill and Lauren, Antwerp was on Saturday. Sunday, July 12th Bill and Lauren were leaving for Italy and the next day (Monday) we were leaving for our trip. Everyone was getting ready for the day, showers were being taken, dishwasher and washing machine running, general running around. Well, the power kept going off. We thought it was just because so much was on, but Matt went downstairs to find that the cap of a pipe burst open. Water was pouring all over the electrical socket. Oh wait, it wasn't water, it was sewage. Fantastic. Sewage leaking into our basement on a SUNDAY when everything is closed. Even better! Matt was able to get a hold of the maintenance guy who gave us a number for a plumber who was not too excited to come here for a small problem like ours! We were told not to use the toilet or showers on one half of the house until they came back the next day.
I had to take a picture of what Bud did on his European vacation.
Gross! Thank you so much Bud!!!
The next day, the day we are to to leave for Scotland, we crossed our fingers that they would be back to figure out the problem before we had to leave. Luckily the arrived about 9:30 and lifted up a few of the cement blocks right outside our house and found that the roots from the tree were going into the pipe and blocking it up. So, they cut the roots, filled up the whole and covered it back up. It looked like like the sidewalk was not even dug up. They came in and sucked up the rest of the wetness and off they went.
Bud, Jane, Matt, the kids and I left around 1:30 for our trip. We piled into the car and drove to Imuijen to board the ferry. A ferry is an understatement! It looked more like a cruise ship! We waited in line for about 2 hours before we could get on. Let me tell you, we were packed in like sardines! There was probably 2-3 feet of space on the right side of the car and maybe a foot on the left and JUST enough room to open the trunk. We took all of our bags out and went into the main part of the ship.
We dropped our bags of in our rooms. Kaylin was happy to bunk with mana and papa and we walked around the ship. There were restaurants, bars, a duty free shop and a place for the kids to play. That night we ate dinner and sat on the
deck. 
We had a great night and were up early the next
I had to take a picture of what Bud did on his European vacation.
Gross! Thank you so much Bud!!!
The next day, the day we are to to leave for Scotland, we crossed our fingers that they would be back to figure out the problem before we had to leave. Luckily the arrived about 9:30 and lifted up a few of the cement blocks right outside our house and found that the roots from the tree were going into the pipe and blocking it up. So, they cut the roots, filled up the whole and covered it back up. It looked like like the sidewalk was not even dug up. They came in and sucked up the rest of the wetness and off they went.
Bud, Jane, Matt, the kids and I left around 1:30 for our trip. We piled into the car and drove to Imuijen to board the ferry. A ferry is an understatement! It looked more like a cruise ship! We waited in line for about 2 hours before we could get on. Let me tell you, we were packed in like sardines! There was probably 2-3 feet of space on the right side of the car and maybe a foot on the left and JUST enough room to open the trunk. We took all of our bags out and went into the main part of the ship.
We dropped our bags of in our rooms. Kaylin was happy to bunk with mana and papa and we walked around the ship. There were restaurants, bars, a duty free shop and a place for the kids to play. That night we ate dinner and sat on the
deck. 
We had a great night and were up early the next
morning. We docked in New Castle, England around 10. It took us no time at all to get off the ship. Since it is only about a 2 hour drive from New Castle to Edinburgh we decided to tour Alnwick Castle and stop and just look at Bamburgh Castle. Both are breath taking and will be in the next post! :)
Here the kids are dancing.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Heineken Experience
For those of you that don't know we are back in Amsterdam. About a week after Matt came to Wisconsin we found out that we wouldn't be going back to Tokyo. I am so happy we didn't have to do 2 more 12 hour flights, but at the same time we put a lot of sight seeing off so there is a lot we didn't see.
I am now about 2 months behind on the blog so I am going to start off with the Heineken Experience. Bud, Jane, Bill, Lauren and Matt went to take the tour on July 10. I stayed back at the house with the kids since we had been there before. The kids were able to nap here and I did a few things around the house.
The tour really is a great one. I recommend it to anyone coming to Amsterdam.
A few of you may have received a video made by Bud and Jane and Bill and Lauren!
They went on a virtual ride and finished the tour with a few Heinekens.
I am now about 2 months behind on the blog so I am going to start off with the Heineken Experience. Bud, Jane, Bill, Lauren and Matt went to take the tour on July 10. I stayed back at the house with the kids since we had been there before. The kids were able to nap here and I did a few things around the house.
The tour really is a great one. I recommend it to anyone coming to Amsterdam.
A few of you may have received a video made by Bud and Jane and Bill and Lauren!
They went on a virtual ride and finished the tour with a few Heinekens.
Friday, August 7, 2009
SOOO behind
I am obviously WAYYYY behind on updating the blog and I am in danger of the whole thing becoming overwhelming. Oh the pictures to go through!
Where are we now? For the past 2 weeks the kids and I have been staying at my parents house, but will be moving over to Bud and Jane's for the remainder (2 weeks) of our vacation. Matt has been in Tokyo and will be here tomorrow!
What have we done since the last post? Well, enough that I am going to have to break this post into 2 (or more) separate posts. I will give a general rundown...Matt, me, the kids,Bud and Jane took an awesome trip to Edinburgh, Scotland which involved castles, a ferry (more like a cruise ship!), double decker bus and did I mention castles!? So cool! Oh by the way we left a day after our basement flooded with sewage! Fantastic.
We came back to Amsterdam and that night Bill and Lauren came back from a great trip to Italy, (they have some AWESOME pictures!), Matt left the following day for Tokyo, Bill and Lauren left the day after he did and then Bud and Jane toured the city, played with the kids and unknotted a VERY knotted ball of yarn for me. :)
Ok so that was a week and then we left to come back to the US. Here is the breakdown; from Tokyo we were in Amsterdam for a total of 2 weeks and 1 week in Scotland. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that when Kaylin was asked where she lived she immediately replied "on an airplane." Yep, that was like a kick in the stomach, but cute at the same time.
Kaylin flew with Bud and Jane and I flew with Shane who for about 10 minutes was on Stand By for the flight.
The past two weeks have been wonderfully relaxing. Friends, family, a yard to play in, TARGET!! a grocery store that is 10 times bigger than the one I am used to shopping in! All to come in more detail later.
The next post will be on our trip to Scotland. I really just wrote this as an outline to help kick me into gear. Blogging just was at the bottom end of my list the last few weeks.
Where are we now? For the past 2 weeks the kids and I have been staying at my parents house, but will be moving over to Bud and Jane's for the remainder (2 weeks) of our vacation. Matt has been in Tokyo and will be here tomorrow!
What have we done since the last post? Well, enough that I am going to have to break this post into 2 (or more) separate posts. I will give a general rundown...Matt, me, the kids,Bud and Jane took an awesome trip to Edinburgh, Scotland which involved castles, a ferry (more like a cruise ship!), double decker bus and did I mention castles!? So cool! Oh by the way we left a day after our basement flooded with sewage! Fantastic.
We came back to Amsterdam and that night Bill and Lauren came back from a great trip to Italy, (they have some AWESOME pictures!), Matt left the following day for Tokyo, Bill and Lauren left the day after he did and then Bud and Jane toured the city, played with the kids and unknotted a VERY knotted ball of yarn for me. :)
Ok so that was a week and then we left to come back to the US. Here is the breakdown; from Tokyo we were in Amsterdam for a total of 2 weeks and 1 week in Scotland. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that when Kaylin was asked where she lived she immediately replied "on an airplane." Yep, that was like a kick in the stomach, but cute at the same time.
Kaylin flew with Bud and Jane and I flew with Shane who for about 10 minutes was on Stand By for the flight.
The past two weeks have been wonderfully relaxing. Friends, family, a yard to play in, TARGET!! a grocery store that is 10 times bigger than the one I am used to shopping in! All to come in more detail later.
The next post will be on our trip to Scotland. I really just wrote this as an outline to help kick me into gear. Blogging just was at the bottom end of my list the last few weeks.
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