Uncle Tim's visit and OKTOBERFEST!

Well, it's the first few days of October and we here in Belgium are finally getting a taste of summer.  The weather the past week and a half or so has been absolutely beautiful - unlike anything we've seen for a stretch like this since spring.  It was a great time for some visitors!  My brother Tim and his girlfriend Amanda arrived a couple of weeks ago to spend some time with us as well as a whirlwind tour of a few European cities.  They got in on a Thursday morning and Friday morning, those two, Scott and myself left for Munich and the first weekend of Oktoberfest.  Our friends offered to watch the boys for the long weekend - an incredible gift!  We hope to pay them back in the next few months or two and take their girls for a weekend.

We didn't arrive in Munich until almost 9pm - it was quite a drive - so just found ourselves a nice little German restaurant and some schnitzel and turned in early, as we knew Saturday was going to be a long day.  On a side note, at this nice little German restaurant in this small little German town I ran into somebody that I knew from Dyersville - small world!  I was just saying that morning how everywhere we go I'm always waiting to run into someone I know - how cool it would be to see someone from home halfway around the world...and what do you know?!

Friday morning started early - we knew we had to get to Oktoberfest early if wanted to stand a chance at finding a seat inside a tent.  So early we went.  It was actually pretty slick - our hotel was near the airport, so we were able to take the hotel shuttle to the airport and the train into the city.  From there we simply followed all the people in dirndls and lederhosen off the train and to the festivities.  Oktoberfest looks a lot like a state fair - with a midway and all.  The 'tents' are actually buildings made to look like tents.  We didn't have tickets (apparently you have to either a.)get them about a year in advance; b.)pay an exorbitant amount of money to get them late in the game or c.)inherit them - seriously, like Yankees season tickets).  Anyway, we didn't really know where we wanted to go, so we just picked a line - and at 7:30AM, we were among at least a couple hundred people waiting for the same tent.  Just shy of two hours later, after being packed in a line with these people who have absolutely no respect for appropriate personal space, this lady comes out and starts yelling that the tent is already full.  What?!  So we, along with hundreds of others, made a mad dash for another tent, where we had no trouble getting in, but couldn't find a spot free among THOUSANDS.  At this point, it's only 10AM - beer isn't even served until noon when the festival actually starts.  We found out later that the tent we first chose was the main one where the ceremonial first keg is tapped, etc. - so full of politicians and important people - just bad luck!  So we decided to just take a seat outside - even though it was sprinkling on and off and we were disappointed we didn't get a place inside.  I'll be forever grateful to this American woman who almost insisted we sit - even though at the time there was barely anyone around.  She swore that in a few hours the place would be hopping, and we'd be thankful we did, and besides, waitresses apparently wouldn't serve you unless you had a seat.  Two hours, three brats and a pretzel later she was right - the place was packed.  We didn't get our first beers however until about 1pm!  Craziness ensued, and the next thing I knew, our time was up and we were heading out.  ('Tent times' are from noon to 6pm or 6 to midnight).  Didn't think I was going to make it there for a minute, but I rallied:)  It was sooo fun - I soaked up every minute of my kid-free weekend.  I would absolutely love to go back to Oktoberfest sometime - but would definitely want to spend a few more days there.

Dinner Friday night - after a very looong drive.

The morning started off wet and dreary.

The Hippodrome - apparently the tent for celebrities - we didn't even try to get in.

The line we waited in for close to two hours.

The inside of the Paulaner tent.

A seat!  Sunshine!  The day was starting to look up.

No lederhosen, but an appropriate hat.  Speaking of lederhosen, a shocking amount of people actually wear them - lederhosen for men and dirndls for the ladies.

The ceremonial first parade - bringing in the kegs.

Statue of Princess Therese overlooking the festivities - Oktoberfest commemorates her wedding to Prince Ludwig I every year - what an anniversary celebration!

First beers..finally...8 hours after waking up that morning...

Our waitress - yes, she actually carried all of these at once.  The waitresses all were wearing wrist guards.

The tent we ended up at - Paulaner - great beer, and that says a lot coming from me, as I'm a huge beer weenie.  

The man on the right is a fellow air force guy - served with Tim in Honduras - totally random - very nice guy!  The people behind us were from Fargo.  It's incredible the people you meet - it's so fun listening to all the different stories.  

Not normally a smoker, but thought this was a pretty cool picture.

Our new German friend - he crammed into the spot next to us - didn't speak a word of English, but we all became fast friends:)

The next morning, Amanda and Tim headed to Berlin by train and Scott and I headed back to Brussels.    My one day of fun resulted in one week of not feeling so hot - lots of bugs seem to be flying around right now - but also a sad testament to how often I don't actually get out anymore!  Tim and Amanda arrived back in Brussels Tuesday night, and apart from travelling to Amsterdam for a full day and Brugge for half a day, we just hung out around here.  The boys, of course, were in heaven - taking full advantage of having Uncle Tim around.  Tim probably 'wrestled' more those few days than he has since he was their age.  Bo ended up with some kind of stomach bug Wednesday...and, as we all made it days later without getting the same thing I thought the rest of us were in the clear.  Couldn't have been more wrong.  All four of us adults ended up sick on Sunday - the day Tim and Amanda left.  A terrible going away present for the two of them:(

Tim and Amanda with the boys in front of Parc Cinquantenaire

Grand Palace - Brussels

Mannequin Pis - always a must-see; always underwhelming

Listening to a concert at the Grand Palace

Our visitors stole our money during a hot game of Tripoley.

We've been trying to soak up as much sun as possible here during the last week - trips to the park after school are a daily occurrence and last much longer than I ever anticipate.  It still stays light here pretty late - until after eight.  Bo has successfully started school two mornings a week.  He seems to do ok - no crying or anything when we drop him off - just a pathetically sad face.  He usually is crying, however, when I pick him up - I'm told (at least I think that's what she's saying) that they have recess right before I pick him up, and he gets to see Will, which is great.  But when he has to part from him it becomes a problem - hopefully he'll get used to it soon.  Will seems to be doing well so far this year - what a difference a year makes!  Scott and I have actually over-heard him speaking French to kids at parks lately - which nearly made me fall over the first time!  He actually seems to be enjoying school some and we don't have the drama so far that we did sometimes last year.

First day of school.

Not overly excited.

It's incredible what nice weather can do for one's mood - I find myself liking Belgium a whole lot better lately.  I've been trying keep in mind that this is our last year here - this time next year we'll be back to what's familiar to us - and trying not to waste time missing home.  I do love living in the city - I love the business of it, and the constant 'things' that just go on here - random street festivals, etc.  The other day I was walking with Bo to his music class - it was a beautiful, sunny morning, but you could still smell fall in the air, and, as we were walking, the various shops were opening up - the butcher, the bakery, the little corner market, the flower shop...I found myself humming 'Who are the people in your neighborhood?' the rest of the day.  Although I know I grumble some about what we don't have here - a yard, for a glaring example, I really do like our life here - it's completely different than anything we've ever known - and, more than likely, will ever know again.

Will started soccer the week we were at Oktoberfest - but our friends were able to take him since their daughter plays as well.  He really likes it - especially winning.  We've had to have a talk or two about sportsmanship...  Although they don't officially keep score, he knows exactly the score after each game, and he'll definitely tell you.  His team so far is (unofficially) undefeated.  He scored three goals last week - which he was quite proud of.  

Celebrating a goal.  Although it's an English-language league, many nationalities are represented.  It's quite interesting sitting on the sidelines and hearing about five different languages being spoken/yelled at by the parents to the kids on the field!

Go Blue Knights!

Yesterday we headed to a pumpkin festival being held in a cute little village south of the city.  It wasn't the familiar pumpkin patch we know and love, but it was pretty cute - and they had some fun things for the kids, including this horse show - which was kind of cool...and a little weird...

These were 'dancing horses'

Bo will (hopefully!) get his cast off tomorrow at his orthopedic appointment.  I'm a little nervous to find out what's going on underneath that thing...it's seen it's fair share of many things a cast should never see - sand, bathwater, puke...it's so disgusting...

Hopefully this week will see a continuation of this amazing weather - although I don't think it's supposed to last.  We have a busy few weeks coming up, with various activities planned - music class, swimming lessons, etc.  Next week Scott leaves for Budapest for the week and the following week my mom comes for a visit.  Woohoo!