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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Antwerp, Belgium

On July 11 we decided to take a trip to Antwerp, Belgium, a 2 hour train ride away. We left the house at about 8am to catch the 8:55 am train. Bud, Jane, Bill , Lauren, Matt, me, the kids and SO much STUFF. I tell you, traveling with 2 small kids can be difficult! I try not to pack so much stuff, but it never fails that when I don't bring something then we need it. The train was pretty uneventful asside from it being so full, by the end people were standing in the isles. Luckily we were on early enough to get seats. We got off the train, made bathroom breaks where the newbies were exposed to the european way of having to pay to use the bathroom. LOL!

We walked around the town, had lunch where Jane tried another European hamburger only to be disappointed that it didn't taste good in Belgium either, lol, raced in and out of the rain, bought some great chocolate and had free ice cream! A very nice day!

Going Home

On Friday, July 3rd we left to come back to Amsterdam. We took the 11:15 KLM direct flight...12 hours of pure joy! LOL!! The airport is about 1 1/2 hours from where we are staying so we left to catch the bus at 7:15. Arrived at the airport, checked in and waited to board the plane. We were allowed on first just because we had the kids and Shane's carseat. We went to our seats to find out that they wouldn't let us use the carseat because it wasn't approved. I told them that the KLM website specifically said the model of our carseat was approved. I told the attendent that I wasn't trying to cause a problem, but I wouldn't have brought it if we wouldn't be allowed to use it. I agree with them that incase of impact the carseat would tip forward because it isn't attached at the top. We told them that we were allowed to use it on the way to Tokyo during the flight, but had to hold Shane during take off and landing. So, finally they agreed to that. I understand that they are looking out for our safety, so I wasn't upset just worried that we would have to try to contain Shane in our laps the entire flight...which we pretty much ended up doing anyway!





Luckily there were many open seats, so we had a total of 6 seats for us and the crew was very helpful in asking a couple to move to another row so we could all be together.





Once we were up in the air we realized that this was the first flight we had taken with the kids that wasn't overnight. It was smack dab in the middle of the day and Shane wanted NOTHING to do with sitting still. Kaylin did really well and watched her movies and ate her snacks with a few minor rough patches. Shane was a different story. He probobly slept for a total of 3 hours and for over half of the flight either Matt or I was carrying him through out the plane and part of that time he was squirming around trying to get down. Lets just say there were a few tense moments between Matt and I. I couldn't get off that plane fast enough. The entire flight I was thinking there is NO WAY I can fly back to the states by myself with both kids. It just isn't physically possible. So, we talked with Matt's work and they were able to get Kaylin on the flight with Bud and Jane and I will take Shane by myself and we will have a credit to use within 1 year for Kaylin's cancelled flight on KLM.





Right before landing we stuffed Shane full of fruit snacks because that was the only way he would sit still so they could land!


It was great to see Bill at the airport and to see Lauren when we came back to the house. It feels SO good to be here. We arrived about 4 and just relaxed and talked the rest of the night. Lauren made us chicken and pasta for dinner and both Bill and Lauren have been so helpful with the kids. Both Bill and Lauren were both up the first night when Kaylin woke up so Matt brought her downstairs and they watched Strawberry Shortcake a bunch of times with her and Kaylin fell asleep cuddling with Aunt Lauren and last night Bill took Kaylin up to be and read her stories and she fell asleep. The also have been pushing the strollers and helping out above and beyond! Thank you!!


Here is Kaylin painting with the paints and cutouts that Bill and Lauren brought her.
















On Saturday we met up with some people from Matt's work and my friend Lucy and her family at Vondel Park to celebrate the 4th. It was a beautiful day and it was so nice to see see everyone.



Kaylin decked out in her 4th of July outfit, hat that Bill and Lauren brought, sparkly pink sweater and her 2 different shoes.






















Here is Shane with his hat

































Between Sunday and Thursday, when Bud and Jane arrived we went to the Albert Cuyp Market and walked around in the center, Bill and Lauren took a few side trips, the kids and I went to a playgroup.




The morning Bud and Jane arrived Kaylin colored a picture and I took her with me to pick them up. I wanted to bring Shane too, but he was napping so I held myself back from waking him up. We arrived at the airport probably 1 minute from Kaylin getting carsick. I was so worried on the way because I didn't bring any extra clothes, diapers or wipes with me, so I don't know what I would have done if she got sick.


Kaylin brought the picture she colored with us and we were able to look through the window into the baggage claim and saw them waiting for their bags. It was fun waiting for them!


We came back to the house and like it was with my parents it felt like Christmas! Lots of new clothes, some toys and Cheerios!! Yeah!
















Lauren painting Kaylin's nails and teaching her out to blow on them. Kaylin LOVED it! :)























We all have been having so much fun and it is so nice to have family around.

On Friday, Bill and Lauren took Matt and I out for dinner while Bud and Jane stayed with the kids. It was so nice to have dinner and drinks with them.

The next day we took a day trip to Antwerp, Belgium. That will be the next post!