Gramma and Grampa are here and we are having lots of fun. Frunty is so excited! We have gone to the park and running and the weather is mild and sunny. We are looking forward to a long weekend in the Ardennes.

We just got back from the airport after dropping off V and P as they continue on their around-the-world trip. We watched planes for awhile. It was a quick good-bye with tons of thank yous. Despite V's very bad cold, she woke up early to clean the entire apartment with P as well as prepare two soups (a curry lentil and a spinach potato) and two pizzas, one to eat right away and the other for our freezer. Our freezer is already bursting at the seams with food to feed us all this week. I won't have to do any cooking this week and that is the biggest gift of all that any guest could give us because it means more time to play with Frunty.



V: if you are reading this...we looked everywhere in our home for Ruby. Maybe she is in the other apartment. We will look there tomorrow.

V and I stayed home today, curling up on the couch to watch two movies, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Legally Blonde" while the guys went off to Tervuren for a little tram ride. Yesterday Daddy took the boys to Ypres while V and I went downtown for waffles. We each got a waffle covered with fresh strawberries and banana, Movenpick icecream. Delicious. Tomorrow we have to take V and P to the airport as they are on the way to Viet Nam. We will miss them and are very happy they came to visit. We will be thinking of them often as we go through the gourmet meals V cooked and put in our freezer!

Yesterday V helped me with French Time by reading two stories and the children just adore her as she has a wonderful way with them. I am sure that next week they will be asking where she is. V and P changed their tickets to stay until Monday so that we can have a fun weekend together.



Last night we went to the mall to purchase a rowing machine as my physiotherapist highly recommended me getting one. I go once a week for a treatment (massage/stretching etc.) which is entitled to all women in Belgium as part of post-natal care, 18 sessions a year. Not only do women stay up to almost one week in the hospital after giving birth here (this is normal and would be extended for c-sections) a physiotherapist visits the Mom in the hospital and begins massaging and teaching her how to stretch and do exercises to not only help her back, but strengthen the stomach muscles etc.



When I think about how no one talked to me about my own post-natal care and how I only thought about my baby and how to feed him, I am saddened. Every new Mom should be pampered and it shouldn't even be called "pampering". It should be called "normal, post-natal care". Many of us suffer with bad backs after having children. We do not know the proper way, perhaps, of how to carry our babies, how to put him/her into a car seat/stroller etc. We are always bending over changing diapers, picking our babies up etc. And there are ways to do these actions better to protect our backs. My physiotherapist is teaching me all of this and it isn't too late. Along with the massages and exercises, my back is feeling better.



I made a list of things I really miss in Toronto and I still feel homesick a lot. But I am starting to make a list of things I really like here and the post-natal care would be near the top of my list! If you are suffering with a bad back now, it might be good to get some help too.

Three cheers to V for making story time extra special this week! Thanks so much!

We are really enjoying V and P's visit and catching up on les nouvelles with them. V and I are taking turns cooking and we have had a sushi night and this evening, V will prepare her famous curry. They have also completely taken over the care and maintenance of Mowgli including thrice daily walks and letting him sleep between them over at our friends' apartment. They really love dogs and miss their own right now and Mowgli loves all the extra attention although he seems a bit pooped! They are trying to change their tickets for Viet Nam and may stay longer, we are not sure yet. In the meantime, the fun never stops and they'll be here any minute for their morning chat and to take Mowgli on another walk. It's been a good week for them to visit as Daddy is very tied up with visiting colleagues from the States. Frunty and I have been busy with our usual weekday activities.



Yesterday we went to a Chinese school to check out signing Frunty up for lessons when he is a bit older. He followed directions in Mandarin which still amazes me since I never see him use a dictionary! In the meantime, our Chinese friend is starting her own Mom-children's art class in Mandarin so Frunty will start that on Fridays in November. Better start Mandarin myself!

On Saturday we picked up our aunt and uncle from the airport in the morning and dropped off our friends at the train station in the afternoon and in between, went for pitas at the Grande Place! Yesterday we checked out the Japanese festival at their school but the line up for bentos was so long we took off for the Grande Place and ate in a cozy little restaurant that believe it or not, wasn't too smokey. Then we watched a bit of Brussel's very first marathon. I ran into my physiotherapist this morning, literally and figuratively, as I was starting my run and he ran the marathon yesterday in 3 hours something. I will go tonight for a back treatment/massage.



Tonight V is cooking one of her awesome, gourmet meals and we can't wait to eat it! I think Daddy will be tied up with colleagues from the States but maybe I can bring him home a doggy bag! V is cooking at their apartment which is really the apartment of our friends who so kindly gave us the keys and permission while they vacation in Asia!

I wanted to include this picture because Daddy particularly likes it. Here is Frunty at the Little Gym having a ball. Since we started going, Frunty has been saying words in French that we did not teach him and it is very cute. He just picks words up as all children do. We will definitely sign up for the next session after Christmas! It feels really good to find a programme your child enjoys so much.

Our newly engaged friends are here from Toronto right now and I have to say, "talk about a perfect fit, a wonderful match, an amazing couple." B...you did an awesome job! To see a couple so happy together has brought a lot of joy to us! And Frunty has taken to L's fiance very quickly and also asks L to pour juice for him and talks to her like old friends. Well, they do go way back.



We enjoyed walking around the Grande Place today. It is fun to go down there once in awhile as it really feels like Europe! We had a nice, hot drink in a little cafe and it was quaint and cozy with the fire on. Frunty enjoyed an icecream too. Visitors are fun, especially great friends.

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Well, we are very excited for many reasons! First of all, we booked our tickets to come home for Christmas! That means we are really coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can't wait to see you all and catch up. We also look forward to getting a real burger at Lick's and eating Dim Sum every chance we get in China Town.



Tomorrow our Canadian friends are arriving via Cologne! They will stay for a few days followed by our aunt and uncle from B.C./Australia, followed a few weeks later by my folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The fun never seems to stop. Don't worry, we are pacing ourselves. In between all of this, we have our English classes and in November, I will have to tell some disappointed students that I am going back to only 2 classes instead of 4 as we want to travel a bit before returning to Toronto and it is too hard to juggle 4 classes. I don't look forward to telling these students because after the last class, the bunch of girls enjoyed their snack and then ran back to the Baby Time room, sat on the couch and pleaded, "More!" Oh well, that's life!





We are off to the Little Gym today which is always exciting too because you can really see Frunty in his element!

Today was 22 degrees and we enjoyed our time at the park before coming home to our English and Art Class which is normally on Thursday but was moved to Monday because our friends are arriving from Toronto. Strange weather but ain't complaining.



Today we booked our plane tickets to come home for Christmas! That means we are really coming and not just thinking about it or hoping or wondering or contemplating or oscillating...we are really coming HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was a balmy 22 degrees and we enjoyed the park before coming home to our English Art Class!