Belgium...Genc & the Gravensteen Castle

After a good nights sleep, dressed, checked out, breakfast and then headed for Genc. Another beautiful city.....but more rain than the previous day.

After a walk to the plaza we headed for the castle. It was built as a castle and later used as a prison. Many, many, many circular steps...up and up we went. The torture displays were terrible to think about.

This view is from the tippy, tippy top of the castle, as Ashley called it.
The frame was built for display, but the blade was for reals.
This is just a few of the torture displayed


The kitchen
This is the 'toilet'....yuk! On top of the castle and would drop down to the water.


Back to the streets of Genc on our way back home.

Belgium....Bruges or Brugge

Ben and Ruth were our tour guides as we headed for Belgium. There car fits '5' and so we followed behind them in our rent-a-car. Being in a small car, little lanes, rain, wind, not familiar with the area...was a challenge. But Ben was so patient and helpful to see that we were safe and had a good time.

The Hotel was great...very luxerious.

The scenery was beautiful and reminded by Ben that some of these buildings were here before Columbus...amazing!
Lace is beautiful!

Beautiful church's on almost every corner. The bell tower was awesome.

We enjoyed a horse and carriage ride with the family...Aiden's first horsey ride.


Chocoholic.....lots of wonderful chocolate every where, but I'm being very careful and still losing weight thanks to the stair climbing and walking here in Holland.

Busy days

Ashley and Kate love it when grandpa or grandma read them stories. Each week while Ashley is in ballet, Kate and Ruth go to the school library to check out books.

This is the way babies are weighed in Holland....Sanna taught us so much


Second bath while Ashley and Kate watched.
Family night was Thursday since baby and mom were in the hospital Monday night. Ben and Ruth wanted the girls to learn their phone number.....so we had cupcakes made up with the numbers and played "Safety Kids" CD to learn it.
We mostly have had rain, but one day it started snowing....

HAPPY TO BE HOME...Baby Aiden and Ruth

The day started with Ashley getting ready for school in celebration "Global Village Day" where all the children dressed to represent their country...notice the red, white, and blue for USA

When she got home there was a surprise waiting for her....

We were excited that the doctor felt confident little Aiden was ready to go home this morning. Grandpa, Kate, and I were sitting in the front room Wednesday afternoon when we saw Ben's car pull up. He took a little while coming in and left the door open "did you bring us something home special Ben"? Then soon walked in Ruth carrying little Aiden. Kate started jumping around. When Ashley came home from school she was thrilled.

The kraamzorg was here within ten minutes after their arrival home. She is awesome, took charge explaining things, giving Ruth a nap, bathing little Aiden [which still had not been bathed since birth]. She will come 5 hours each day through Sunday. The girls totally like her, especially since she makes such good snacks and is so nice.

Now this evening we are sitting around watching the girls take turns feeding Aiden his special supplement....then Ruth will finish the job. He has been quite alert, looking around and listening to all the strange new sounds of his sisters. So fun to watch their excitement.

Holland 2011

We arrived Thursday, went home to unpack, go to Ashley's ballet class and Kate to Library, then back to their home. Before going to bed Kate had to show me all the toys they were saving for their new little Aiden.

Two girls no longer fit on mommy's lap. Ashley was talking to Aiden and telling him to please come out and play with her and gave him a kiss.
Getting ready for bed has a regular routine: PJ, potty, brush teeth while Ruth and Ben sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", clean up room, choose two books or I-pad story.....
then they sit on daddy's lap for story time, scripture study, kneel for prayer, tuck into bed, lights out, and sing songs. Amazing...and they go right to sleep.

CHIMPIE CHAMP was a very fun Saturday activity. Ruth told the girls that we had a fun trip planned and would not tell her where....but Ashley said, "fun place is ChimpieChamp" and she guessed it right on. Wish you could have all seen grandpa and Ben climbing, sliding, jumping with the girls. Even Ruth decided to slowly jump on the trampoline in hopes it would help little Aiden to drop and make his appearance...seemed to work. Kate was afraid of the trampoline, but grandma slowly encouraged her and she said, "this is fun".

Kate really liked playing with the huge lego's, so the family decided to build a tower with her daddy inside. Ashley, "daddy, daddy where are you"? Then the big break through....

Saturday night Ruth was having some back pain so they decided Ben better get his haircut right away.

And a good thing as they headed for hospital just a few hours later....


SUNDAY - Even though it was Sunday, Ruth did have to labor most of the day. Little Aiden Martijn Harrell was born at 2:17 Holland time, 6 lbs and 19 inches long. That evening we were able to visit and each got to hold little Aiden.

MONDAY...Ashley was very excited about going to school today to share her valentines and heart cookies with her friends and tell them about her new baby brother, Aiden. After she returned from school Ben took us all over to the hospital to celebrate Valentines Day with Ruth and Aiden. They gave the girls special books which showed pictures of the first two years of their lives. I enjoyed holding little Aiden so Ruth and Ben could spend time with the girls. Dad was our photographer. We later returned home for a special Valenines Dinner and celebration.




Only 5 hours sleep Saturday night and 4 hours sleep Sunday night...by Monday both Ben and Ruth were a little haggered.