Surviving Jet Lag

I was surprised but pleasantly so, that my parents wanted to go to Bruges their first full day in town. It was in an effort to find the sun (Leuven wasn't projected to have any until 7pm) so we found it on the radar and got on the train. It is definitely hard to adjust to the six hour time difference but I'd say a full day of activities might just be the answer. Everyone was more than ready for bed when the (Belgian) time came.

Sun: Found 

Daredevil Duck: Found

We were often blown around by the wind. I mean, thank God for that sunlight or we'd have been little icicles.

 Mom: making friends with dog owners the world over.

We found a thrift shop. I've been in Bruges four times now and walked on this street during each trip. It took my mom coming here for me to ever notice this place. I did get some pretty sweet sunglasses out of it. Chris is planning on stealing them...they're from the 1994 World Cup in the USA. He's not getting them.

The guys, waiting while we shop. As per usual.

 Mom: Okay, now it's Kelly's turn!

We've also walked by this church a bunch of times too but never been inside. Turns out it's a pretty interesting place. My mom attempted to read the prayers, that were written in Dutch, but to no avail. Also I don't think we should've been touching those.

It was a gorgeous day! Chris got his Belgian waffle and we made it back to town in time for dinner at our favorite restaurant. We've done Belgian, Italian, (really good) pizza, and most recently Mexican (which is quite possibly one of my new favorite places to get Mexican in the world. Belgium, go figure). I'm already excited about dinner tonight.

...I should probably go running. Maybe even right now. If I keep eating like this with every guest, an obviously larger Kelly will be returning to the US in December. December! I know it's only April but that already feels not so far away anymore.

Alright enough rambling, see you back here later this week for some TULIP RECAP!

Arrivals: Mom and Dad (Hanlon)

They've arrived and we've been nonstop until just abouttttt...now. See that pink sky? That was this morning's sunRISE and so we are just a bit pooped. I walked back in the apartment from my run and they're crashed on the bed, lights out. I'm trying to eat my oatmeal super quietly. You should have seen me creeping around while I made it. And now that I'm done running and almost done eating I can tell that my own nap is coming up soon so I'm going to keep this one short.

 

That's all.

Oh and this. I was scrolling through other people's posts that I missed over the weekend from blogs I follow when I came across the following picture. I almost threw up my oatmeal I was laughing so hard! And trying not to wake your sleeping parents three feet from you while laughing and simultaneously trying not to choke and die is nigh impossible. In fact I'm not sure it is possible because my Mom woke up. And then she saw this and laughed her head off too.

Please go here for more and brighten your day up a little more too. See you tomorrow with some weekend recap!

Airports

Sometimes, when Chris and I come to a month where we're going going going with trips, I feel like I'm living in an airport. After browsing through these photographs that Jeffrey Milstein took of airports from an aerial perspective, they seem like a beautiful place to be.


Newark Liberty International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport (via laughing squid)


My parents are flying through NYC on their way here. They should be landing in the next hour or so. I'm heading out the door now to meet them in arrivals. Ahhh! See you after the weekend, have great ones!

Margaret , Bruges and Sunshine II

Taking the little jaunts that we did with Margaret made me realize how much walking we do these days. 15 minutes to the train station, walk all day long around the towns, occasionally go up into the hills of a town, and at long last, 15 minutes back home at the end of the day. Sometime that last 15 minutes kills me and I turn into this tired can't-go-on mess of a human being because I just napped on the train ride home and feel that 15 more minutes of walking may ruin me. So, visitors, bring your walking shoes. And no sleeping on the trains.

Less than 18 hours until I pick my parents up at the airport! (just had to throw that in there)

Margaret, Bruges and Sunshine (part I)

Margaret kicked off our "We've Got Visitors!" section of our time here in Belgium. It's been long-awaited and I'm so glad to see familiar faces on a regular basis! It was wonderful to have someone else to share the Easter weekend with. Thanksgiving was a rather quiet affair with just Chris and I to celebrate but Easter was a different story with Margaret here. She also got to experience the fun and crazy times that are our Skype dates with the entire family (on both sides) and especially with Megan out in Spokane. I don't think Megan and I know how to be normal while we're on camera. Seriously, whenever they decide to air our episode you'll all understand and once again, I apologize.  Luckily Megan got to opt out of that at least. 

 

Yes. That is a sink made of a fish tank that you're seeing.

We went on quite a few Belgian excursions while Margaret was here. Brussels, Bruges, Leuven, Liege, and a little Heverlee. Something for every day she was here. She got to be our guinea pig visitor (besides Mike, during the Christmas season) for some of the cities I definitely want to take people to within our own country. 

Less than 48 hours, Mom and Dad!

Heading to Holland

Margaret leaves today (sad face) but my parents arrive on Friday morning (SUPER HAPPY FACE) and then we are off to Amsterdam to see the tulips on Sunday. Here's hoping that the continual frozen-tundra temperatures haven't kept the flowers hiding away!

For now, a little Holland-type scenery for your Tuesday from Bruges...

(ignore the Margaret and I, forgot these video things capture sound as well...)