Training for the Tour De Flanders

Chris's solution to getting in shape is often to just sign up for the race (or ride in this case)  just signing up if the first step - the training will come.  Well Brian, Wayne and Chris will be headed to Belguim for the Tour De Flanders next weekend.  Its a 85-95 mile bike ride through the beautiful hills and terrain of Belguim.  Its a boys weekend, so surely they are thrilled.  But we will see how ready their legs are!! 

I am always impressed with Chris's ability to 'Just do it'

This is Chris last night after a 50 mile ride with Brian to Tubengin(we are hoping there was beer involved since the ride took all afternoon!). 

He was stretching his legs -  Nick joined him.  When we asked Nick to see if he could touch his head to his knees this is what happened.

Future Yoga leader maybe?? 

Bike ride this weekend and Marathon in May - bet those legs will look amazing!!  Go Chris =)

Super hero celebration

First it was Thomas, than Lighting McQueen and now its the Super friends. 

Nick and Tate cannot get enough of this phase.  They enjoy their special treats of watching the old super friends dvds (which we like too, they don't have all those crazy special effects, the computers are so OLD, and the crimes are pretty outlandish, aliens, water enemies, etc!)

Well for Tate and Anna's birthday party, Farrah and Diane put together a high energy super friends party.  The kids got to dress up and enjoy a dreary morning at a munchkin wonderland!  We have a dress up box that includes Batman, Robin and Superman.  For his party, Tate asked if he could borrow a costume.  I asked Nick and he said 'sure, he can be Robin and I will be Batman'  I said 'this is his birthday, let him be the star, he can choose' 

Meanwhile in a car across town Farrah was asking Tate, what super hero would he like to be for his birthday party.  Tates response, 'I want to be Robin and Nick will be Batman'

We are too lucky

Underdog? 

The husbands enjoyed the playground too 

This photo may show Tate & Anna while Nick is with Cassey, but we all know its the other way around=)  Beau is chatting up Macy.  I really love the super hero capes that Farrah had made for party favors.  I really need to start taking notes (or never lose her #! - as I am still in denail that my life will someday not have them in the same timezone....)

Look at that bowl of french fries in Super Brian's hands.  I am happy to say, there were a few remaining when we left the table 

Shane wore this slide out!! 

Super Girls activate! 

Thanks Farrah and Diane for hosting the perfect Saturday morning celebration.  Everyone in the family enjoyed it (and we all got naps to thank you for it!)

The faces of my boys

Yes, we have clothes for this one -but how can you resist this photo. 

Shane is a real HAM. he loves to sport his wide grin and run about the house in whatever you let him. He seems to have mastered 'thank you' in my book, but Chris isn't a believer yet. He loves drinking from a real cup (although mistakes tend to come too in the way of juice down his front....)  getting a little more finicky in the food department - but i guess that comes when you realize how good french fries are!

He has an affection for both of his animals.  If given the chance, he would feed them all day long (yes Cayman loves that idea - and grandpa roy, i know cats shouldn't be on the counter, this is a RARE moment for Cayman)

Nick finished up basketball season and is moving onto T-Ball this spring.  Maybe he is the next Bo knows....  hahha...

This photo is from Blake Wisneski's baptism - our wonderful group of families had the church to ourselves for this memorable event.  We were all proud to represent Blake's family.  The priest was just wonderful with children and Shane had no problem sitting down right next to him.  There are more photos of the children just gazing at the priest as he blesses little Blake.  He has them say 'I do' so many times we are convinced he married them all off at the same time!!

Just some fun photos for now - more to come!

Lets hit the Belguim Breweries!! All together now

As part of the McCulloughs leaving in a matter of months - they have been asked, that when planning a vacation - book for 2 families =)  We are enjoying every second of their final excursions through out Europe.  This one included a 9 passenger van and road trip through some amazing breweries (and monistaries) In Belguim.

Its Friday afternoon and off we go!

Wonderful idea to have a van that could fit all of us as we are perfectly matched.  The boys stayed up front running the Navi.  Farrah and I stayed blissfully unaware, Shane and Macy had blanket wars while Tate and Nick enjoyed several iterations of Super Friends.

Here's what a piece of chocolate can do.  Macy ate hers.  Shane used it to clean his face... 

We stayed in the town of Dinat a 10th century city - WOW  The saxaphone was invented MANY years later in the 19th century by Adolphone Sax.

bet that road took a lot of carving... 

The first night was a beer sampling coupled with Muscles - yum yum.  I think Brian used everything on the table to 'mop' up any of his remaining sause.  We all sampled the beer and the excitement grew with regards to the breweries we would be exploring.

Final stages of dinner entertainment 

Saturday started the tour.  We saw it all, meaning the first stop looked possibly like a retirement home.  We pulled up around 10am, van full of kids, trying to ask in our best french if they served beer.....  I think they looked at us like we were absolutely crazy....  that's when we need that 'we are American Tourists' sign - it explains everything right??  Here is Chris checking out another one. 

Success!!  A brewery with cheese and a playground - the most beautiful one yet! 

Our accomodations were amazing - we were in a renovated convent.

 http://www.booking.com/hotel/be/la-merveilleuse.en.html

(they just opened in May of 2010)

I am hoping Brian has a better picture of the WinoTecch - but this is from their website.  I want to capture this because the boys could not get enough of this place.  The BEST part of the entire hotel and possibly weekend.  They would stay there for hours just chatting on this 20' long couch.  They barely remembered to come back up to check in with the rest of the family.  Boy, is the beer good in belguim =)

Shane and macy enjoyed some closet time

Here is the view of Dinant from our hotel = super cute town.  we could have spent the weekend just exploring this town.

The saxaphone bridge

The last place we ate was just YUMMY and had special seating for us. 

A table for the boys,

The babies

And the big kids!

The final stop was the Orval brewery - a beer favorite for Farrah and Chris.  Before we toured the grounds Farrah gave a little teaching lesson - she has more tricks up her sleeve than any mom I know - kids are constantly entertained

The first monks arrived to the area in 1070 - however it was left empty for centuries and recently re-inhabited.  The brewery was reinhabited in 1931.  Money raised from the sale of the beer went to reconstructing the monastery which was completed in 1948

After all that Beguim beer we pointed the van in the homeward direction.  We hoped to make it all the way home - however after 3+ hours of driving realized there was a Hooters right off the highway.  Wings and fried pickles sounded awesome to everyone in the car - especially the pregnant lady!!  Yum Yum.  As we were walking by the Hooters windows Nick comments, 'they are all in their underwear'!  We had to explain that they are wearing shorts, but I tell you, he might be right!

Love this photo

Shane's face says it all (but really, he is just happy to be out of the car!)

Thanks to the McCulloughs for a beautifully planned weekend.  We enjoyed every second with you guys and you are wonderful for letting us tag along.  You guys are the true definition that everything is better with friends!

More photos from the McCulloughs

Here are some more of the hotel we stayed at