Doings

Well, it's been pretty mellow around here lately. All of our visitors have gone home, and the temperature is warming up. So, last Saturday we were feeling a little lazy, and decided to get up and check out another local castle.

Burg Trips is located in the town of Geilenkirchen, about 15 minutes from our house. It is now a retirement home, but visitors can still admire it's beauty- if only from afar. Only visitors to the residents can see the inside.

Surrounding the castle there are several walkways and bike paths that meander through rose gardens and beautifully up kept lawns. The castle is surrounded by a moat which is now home to many ducks and a swan family. Luckily for us, the swans are used to people, and will let you come quite close- providing you have a snack for them. W. was in love their babies, and wanted to follow them into the water.

As many of you know, we have the tiniest of back yards. However, our neighbors have a huge yard. Horses, dogs, a cat, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs and children fill the area. Well last weekend there was an addition to their amazing play area; a pool. It's summer holiday here, and so the kids are out for the next six weeks. Heaven for W. since there is usually always someone around for her to play with. With the addition of the pool, the kids are always out in back, and W. is right there wanting to be in the action. The children are good natured about it, and play with her for a little while before they go back into their crazy wild ways. W. loves it, and anytime she hears voices outside she gets a huge grin on her face and shouts 'kids!'

We've also been working on potty training and art. Sometimes at the same time. Potty training is not so bad, providing W. is not wearing any pants. As soon as something covers her bum, then she forgets all about it. So, this summer we have joined the bare bottomed club, and walk around with out anything on. Well W. has a shirt on usually. And I almost always have something on... ok this post is getting out of hand...

Thorn, NL

Today we took a trip. A girls only trip. Not saying that we wouldn't allow any boys to go with us, but there were none to be had, so we were off on our own. I had been hearing about a little town in Holland for a while now, and we decided that today was the day to check it out. What a wonderful treat we were exposed to. Thorn NL, is a beautiful little village just outside of Eindhoven and Maastricht situated on the Maas River. This little village boasts a pretty little church that dates back to the 10th century. The church has been built up and added on, but once was part of an abby. We were able to tour the church, and view it's museum quality artifacts, and explore the crypts... they even had mummies! W. enjoyed the many stairs there were to climb- they are all about her level, and her aunt Allison who's visting fell in love with the surrounding houses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorn_(Netherlands)

After such an exhusting trek through the church, we had to stop at The Pannekoekenbakker http://www.pannekoekenbakker-thorn.nl/ and stuff ourselves with the most amazing pancakes. Now these are not your American style butter and syrup pancakes (though they have those too). These are the pancakes dreams are made of. With over 300 topping choices, these crepe style pancakes fill you up and do not leave you wanting.

With so much good food, we needed a few moments to collect ourselves and tour the village to burn those delicious callories. Fortunately Thorn is picturesque, and we had no problem enjoying ourselves as we toured the streets. Many houses have the dates they were built published on their door frames, but even when they didn't, you could tell that you were looking at old rather then new. Unlike most villages we've seen in the Neatherlands, Thorn has a unique architecture, white washed buildings, and interesting shops. This is one place that we'll definately be going back to.

Old Abby wall (800's)