Well tis been a while...

But we are alive and well! We had such a great time. We did a lot so I will try to keep it short. We arrived on Saturday and were welcomed by my dad, Brechje and the twins, Marc, Karen and Kairi. We had a drink and drove to SOEST, my home town. We unpacked, had dinner and went to go see my mom.

On Sunday we decided to go to HAARLEM. A cute city that holds the FRANS HALS. museum. We spend all day there and I found some cute boots. Which were very nessicary since I only brought my CHUCKS :). . At night we met up with Lotte and Gijs. Had such a good time, had a few beers and talked a lot!
Monday we had a relaxing day, we met up with my aunt and uncle around 4, had dinner and stayed at my moms.
On Tue we saw my grandparents. At night we had dinner with Lotte and Gijs and after we met up with some friends at my local. Joost, Jaccomijn, Jochum were all there. Wednesday I don’t remember.
Thu was xmas, we spent it with my mom. My brothers came over around 4-5 and we opened presents, everyone loved what we bought them. It was so nice spending all that time with everybody.
Fri morning we get a call that Brechje is sick so they will not go to Belgium that day, then my dad tells me Lucia is sick too so they wont go either. But Marc, Karen and Kairi are still going! So the 5 of us go in Marcs car. We get there at 5ish after a loooooooong drive including one accident. The house is cute and in a town of 40 people. Cornimont (sorry too small for a Wikipedia page) is the name. We unpack and have some cheese and wine. After Kairi has dinner we have dinner. We were enjoying the quiet because we get the news that everybody else is coming tomorrow! 6 more people!
The next morning we get up, eat and go to BOUILLON, a very old city with an old castle, from 988! Very pretty. We took a lot of pictures. Before noon we were back at the house to welcome the rest. Still a bit sickly, but at least we were all there. We read, talk and walk the rest of the day, have a lovely dinner at night. Sunday we go back to bouillon, but now with my dad. We visit the church and walk up to the castle again. After we enjoy a beer in a local bar. We also buy some different tasty Belgian beers for the night. At night we play games. Lucia is still sick and now marc is getting sick too. Thomas and I are surprised that we aren’t. On Monday when we drive back we are supposed to go with marc and Karen again but since marc is sick it’s not a good idea. So we call my mom and decide to stay there.
We leave the next day already for MAASTRICHT, . We find our hotel right in the center. Really cute. We start walking and find the city wall dating back 1000 years. Its beautiful just to walk around here. We find little squares and bars. Really nice. We have dinner at a pizzeria.
Wed is NYE and OUR ANNIVERSARY, during the day we walk to the CAVES, . Limestone caves, so cool. Check out the link! We both aren’t feeling well so we stay in our room until 11pm. Then we walk to a bar, have drink and find a spot on the bridge (the oldest in Holland), its getting busy and finally its midnight! HAPPY NY!!!! We walk around a bit more but its -5 and feels like -20 so we go back inside for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning we get up to take the train back. We go to Amsterdam first. To see Marc and Karens house. It’s amazing! They also have a little river running by their house which is frozen so we get on there. Thomas’ first time!
We then all drive to my mom’s for dinner. Arne and Brechje come too. It’s a very nice eve. Suzan and Hugo come over too for a tea and OLIEBOLLEN, . I am not feeling well at all so we go to bed early. Kairi is staying the night there too!
The next morning I get a call from Monique, my sister. We were supposed to meet up but she isn’t feeling well either. So we talk a little. We stay all day at my moms. We do groceries; cheese, coffee, brinta and a lot of licorice! Around 4 we say goodbye to mom, and dad picks us up. Our last day in Holland is almost over. We were supposed to meet up with friends in the local bar, but I am not well still so we decide to just stay at my dad’s. Arne and Brech come for dinner my grandma too! Some tea after and then it’s another goodbye! After dinner we wait around until bed time. Lights out at 11 and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Next morning, up early to take the train to the airport. Marc and Karen meet us there. We sit to have a drink and then the last goodbyes!!! So sad, but it also felt good to go home.
The flights were long but after a short delay in Chicago we made it. We were home and on the couch with our Katje around 9. We briefly visited the neighbors, unpacked and off to bed! So nice to be in our own bed!
We woke up at 4.30 and got up and snuggled up on the couch under blankets watching Six Feet Under. (I got him hooked!) That’s all we did all day, Six Feet Under and clean!
So Monday back to work. It was good seeing everyone again.

Now it’s Thursday and everything is back to normal. Photo's of our trip are in the top right of the screen! If you click on a photo it will get bigger.


Some possible bad news:

Galveston ISD Faces School Closures, Layoffs

Galveston ISD School FOX 26 News


HOUSTON -- The Galveston Independent School District has some tough decisions to make.

On Wednesday, about a hundred parents attended a meeting with district officials to learn which schools could close and why? All they heard were proposals and no definitive answers.

Click here to see the full video story by FOX 26's Duarte Geraldino.

Charles B. Scott Elementary School could possibly be shut down. GISD say the school has too much storm damage to allow students to walk in the building.

In total, four schools were temporarily closed because of hurricane Ike: either there was too much damage, or (like on Bolivar Peninsula) there were too few students left to justify opening the school building.

"It is getting me worried. Next thing you know they are going to get down to one or two schools. What is going to happen," says GISD parent Andre Sellers.

The district squeezed returning students into school buildings that are still operable. GISD superintendent Lynn Cleveland says if all the schools were to reopen they would be operating at just above 50% capacity.

"My recommendation is just to hold where we are until we get all the information about the existing damage of the schools," said Superintendent Cleveland, who went on to caution "that is a long process."

According to GISD, after Hurricane Ike, its enrollment dropped from 7900 students to roughly 5800 -- a figure, which suggests layoff are eminent.

"It is about 25 percent, so you would need about 25 percent less employees. We get funding based on how many students we have. The less students we have, the less funding we have," said Superintendent Cleveland as she prepared to address parents Wednesday night.

Long-time residents admit, cuts have to be made, but they also worry if GISD closes too many schools and cuts too many jobs, the stormed-damaged island will no longer be an attractive place to call home

"If the island gets back to its regular status are we going to have enough space for education," asked Sellers.

GISD is expected to decide which schools will be shutdown by the end of the month.

VIDEO