PaPa

Brian's grandfather, Charles Caroll Burley Sr. passed away on January 2, 2011. Unfortunately due to things he could not control he was unable to make it home for the funeral. Words just can't be said as to how he felt about that, but here are some of Brian's words for the girls as to how he felt about his PaPa:



He was the hardest working man I've ever known, an incredible husband, father, grandfather, Christian, soldier, scouter, and church leader.  I have so many wonderful memories of him when I was growing up. He took us to the fair, my first Gamecock football game, the beach, fishing, everywhere.



He loved his  life and he loved watching us have our own experiences in ours. He was there to rescue me when I was in trouble, and he was there to cheer me on during my successes. I will never forget walking up into the stands when I graduated from The Citadel and seeing him standing there with tears in his eyes...I never had a doubt that he was proud of me no matter what the occasion. 







He IS such an example of how to be, how to treat others, how to raise children, how to love, and how to serve our God and our country...if I can only be half the man he was as I navigate my own life I think I'll be alright.

Belgian Love

I love that we live in Germany but are so close to the Netherlands and Belgium.  We get to experience  the different cultures without having to drive very far.  Belgium is becoming my favorite country these days.  I just love all the chocolate shops, waffles, architecture and Brian loves the beer.

We decided to do their last day trip to Leuven, Belgium so they could load up on chocolates to take back with them.



Belgian Christmas markets must last forever because yet again rides were all through the town.  I do have to say this was the prettiest one  we have seen with this church as it's backdrop.



We tried to say that they weren't working but then we broke down and let them ride this one.  Brian said the whole time they were on it Sidney was going Weee, Weee.



My mom says to me - You really like behind the back pictures.  Me - I guess I never really thought about it.  Then while I was editing the pictures from their visit I realized.

Yes I do take a lot of behind the back pictures.



But with two very active little girls unless I have them contained someway a lot of times from the front I get pictures like this.



Sometimes behind the back is  just better and I can just picture their sweet little faces.



After a very long day of traveling all of our visitors made it back to the states.  And how I combat the feeling of sometimes hating we are this far away.  I ordered a bunch of Rick Steves travel books and am starting to plan more opportunities to take my behind the back pictures.

Winter Wonderland

Last time we were in Monschau, Germany Fall was in full force.  This time the whole town was covered in snow.  So much so that I had a fun time getting my stroller through the streets.



It was beautiful and the town was kind of deserted compared to how busy it was back at Halloween.  It was our own little Winter Wonderland.



Although the streets weren't filled with people, luckily most of the shops and restaurants were open.  Jeanie and Rebecca got to enjoy their first schnitzel.



The girls playing with our hats.  My mom found it just as funny as I do that American music is played in the restaurant yet our waitress couldn't understand a thing we said.





I love LOVE my camera.  As much as I love it though it can be heavy and after Bruges I decided I needed a little break from lugging it around and I started using my point and shoot.  I really like some of the shots I was able to get from it and Carolyn got to take a couple of pictures with it as well.   She took this picture.

Back to Amsterdam, Netherlands

On New Year's Day my newly engaged cousin Rebecca (she got engaged Christmas morning) flew in.  Carolyn of course thought she was here just to visit her.



We left the girls home with Brian and we headed to Amsterdam for the day on the 2nd.  We toured the Anne Frank House something I could have never have done with the children.  No strollers allowed and there was just such a quiet, solemn atmosphere there.  The tour was so moving it made we want to go back and reread the book.  I would share pictures but cameras were not allowed.  They had the actual diaries on display and you got to go into all of the rooms where they hid.



After the Anne Frank House we went and had some lunch, almost got taken out by a couple of bikes, and then took a canal boat tour.  This was the first time I had done a day trip without the girls.  I kept feeling like I was naked (and I wasn't in the Red Light District HA) because I wasn't trying to keep up with the girls or carry all of the things we have to take around for them.  It was nice!

Bruges, Belgium

On New Year's Eve we decided to head to Bruges, Belgium for the day.  This was one of the prettiest cities we had been to.   It is called the "Venice of the North" and is known for its lace.



Here we are after we first arrived on our way to go eat mussels.    We had a great meal and my mom and even Jeanie found a Belgian Beer that they liked.



Horse and buggies were all over the city and since we were there for only a short time we had to be true tourists and take a carriage ride to see the city.



The Belfry of Bruges - 366 steps to the top where there are currently 47 bells.  You can climb to the top but we opted out of this.



Our carriage ride took us to this cute little swan pond.



Attempt at the family photo.  I think my children are boycotting posed pictures these days.



So peaceful here.



Mom and Jeanie in front of The Church of Our Lady.  After we were so impressed with the Cathedral in Aachen, we have decided we have to go in any church we can.



The Church of our Lady was just as impressive.  I just finished reading Pillars of the Earth not too long ago.  Great book!  I have thought of this book a lot as we have seen all of the churches.



This sign was shown in about 5 different languages.  What a beautifully written welcome.



This church is home to one of the few works by Michelangelo outside of Italy.
The 'Madonna and Child' (1504-05)



Carolyn was fascinated by this manager scene.  She just stood here for the longest time staring at it.



Carolyn has a Nativity scene that we let her play with at home.  I kept thinking she was going to try to touch the baby Jesus and I just didn't think the church would like that too much.  Here is Aunt Jeanie helping to make sure that didn't happen and explaining everything to her.



Then Carolyn got to help her light a candle for my grandmother, Buddie.



Lots of hugs for GG.  My mom says that this is her favorite place that we went to.  I am sure we will go back, there was way more to do than we could fit into one day.

Aachen Cathedral

We headed to Aachen, Germany for our next outing.



Gray, cloudy days have been all we have been seeing lately.  I was so excited to see blue skies and the sun.  Aachen is a cute town with lots of shopping, but we really enjoyed getting to go inside the Cathedral there.



This Cathedral began to be built back in 800 and is known as the Church of Charlemagne.



Aren't these windows gorgeous?



And when you look up you saw beautiful scenes like this.  There was mosaic work all along the ceilings.



Inside the gold case that you see under the window is the apparel of the Virgin Mary, the swaddling clothes and the loincloth of Christ, and the decapitation cloth of John the Baptist.  Every seven years there is an Aachen Pilgrimage and they display these relics.  Doesn't it seem almost surreal that those items are in that box.  The next Pilgrimage is in June 2014.  I don't think we will still be here to get to see that.



I just loved this hallway in the Cathedral.



One last picture of my own two sweet angels (well most of the time).

They're here...

Although the snow in Philadelphia almost kept them from flying into see us, we are so excited that my mom and Aunt Jeanie made it here.  On one of our first outings we decided to take them to Liege, Belgium.  Liege's Christmas Market was still going on and we wanted them to be able to experience some Gluhwein.



Carolyn had a couple of firsts - First Ferris Wheel ride



And Brian and I both got to ride with her.  Love having extra hands in town.



She had a ball but kept getting scared that her Daddy was going to fall out because he was a lot braver than I in looking over the sides.



And Carolyn also had her first Cotton Candy Cone that was HUGE.




Thankfully she had lots of other mouths that wanted some of the Cotton Candy.  This is Sidney's face no matter what you are eating.  She is such a good eater!  But who wouldn't be doing this when your sister walks up with a Cotton Candy Cone as big as you are.



One last turn on the Merry go Round.  Although I loved the Christmas Markets I am kind of looking forward to there not being a Merry go Round on every corner when we go some place.



Sidney had to have one last turn too.



Great day.  They both liked the Gluhwein, the waffles and all of the other delicious Market food.