netherlands with lindsey

as posted earlier, we were able to go to the temple in the netherlands. there is a bridge behind the temple that leads to the cutest street full of bakeries, shops and bike riding. we even saw an authentic windmill.
when we got home from the temple we headed to the grand place to show lindsey what it looks like at night. we even brought our ipods along to create some "theme" music for the event

day number 3 {friday}

today was major shopping day. we spent the morning searching the mall for awesome deals. and enjoying yummy ice creams cones during max's lunch break. the rest of the day was spent exploring the city.

{had to make a grand place stop}

{our cute christmas craft that cost 1.50}

{being a little weird in front of the atomium}

{spinach pizza for dinner, interesting..}

day 2 with lindsey

day 2 jet lag set in a little but we managed to have one of the best days ever. thursdays are my most favorite day of the week here because of the market by my house. lindsey ended up with some killer deals....{purse on shoulder: 5 euros. bag in hang containing new coat: 10 euros. dessert that ended up being really good: 2 euros. only the beginning of what was to become much more shopping}

{best frit shop in brussels. conveniently located on the street where we live. martin is the man who makes the frites, everyday during lunch and at night...and he always has a smile on his face}
{the intersection close to our house}

{i took lindsey grocery shopping at lunch because it's one of my most favorite things to do here. this is me in the chocolate aisle....so much to choose from...and i am just struggling having to try it all to find the very best :)}

{the only bad thing about grocery shopping is the carrying of the heavy shopping bags back to the apartment...its about a 20 minute journey}

{signature pose}{us at the park by my house}

{lindsey took a picture of every meal we had. i don't know why cause they really are nothing great. but this is our favorite. curry chicken. french bread. and rice with some sort of yummy chinese sauce we miraculously found}

{she is such a good hairstylist we just had to fly her all the way out to brussels to give max a MUCH needed haircut}

the week and 1/2 of lindsey

lindsey left this morning...it was a very lonely ride home from the airport...i quite enjoyed having some to accompany me everywhere i went...but now it's back to the books for some serious studying..

she arrived about a week and a half ago. max and i had to race from the charleroi airport (about an hour south of the brussels international airport) to pick lindsey up....we were traveling home from barcelona and we were worried she would get lost...or need something...she had to wait two hours for us...but everything was a success...i almost cried when i saw her. it felt incredibly good to be able to see my best friend/family/someone who had just come from home....

this is what we did on DAY 1:

{airport pickup}

{parc de bruxelles}

{so happy to be together. and i know my head thing and scarf don't match..but i was pretty tired}

{she was pretty awstruck by our favorite place: grand place}

{the first waffle, always the best}


{making our favorite treat. crepes with speculoos...}

possibly having too much fun

this occured after the chocolate factory....apparently we had a little too much sugar

christmas is here

the stores are glimmering with the sights, sounds and smells of christmas
i guess there is nothing holding me back from celebrating this new christmas season

i love to see the temple

we went to the hague netherlands temple today. it was absolutely wonderful. one of my most favorite things we have done and lindsey got to come with us. it really made me appreciate having at least 5 temples within a 1/2 hour range. we were able to see a couple sealed who had been married for 39 years and were baptized a year ago. it was a very neat experience to see the joy on their faces as they were sealed for not just time but eternity....what a great blessings temples are.

barcelona trip

I have no idea why I can't write above the picture for a little introduction..but i am too tired to figure it out. these are just some of the pictures from barcelona. it was fabulous. we went with two other couples we met here in brussels. also because i am tired i am not even going to attempt to put the pictures in pleasing order.

cool castle on top of a beautiful hill. the jews used this to defend themselves against the christians

beautiful barcelona sunset

the bike gang again

beautiful church again on top of a hill...with a HUGE Jesus statue on top.

our "borrowed" garbage sacks. we used these in the hostel showers so we wouldn't have to step on the shower floors.

some gaudi

me sitting on some gaudi

loved seeing palm trees

more gaudi

view of barcelona with sagrada familia

sagrada familia

our bird friends