My mister makes pancakes better than yours!

When Dan is home he likes to take a turn to make breakfast for the kids.  So I have to say I was impressed the other day when Dan made the kids these pancakes.  Another good thing about it is they want him to make them from now on because mom can't make them look that cool.

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Except for one kiddo . . . Devyn didn't appreciate that Dan blended in some blueberries in the pancakes this time.

The last few months I've really got the kids involved with dinner clean-up!  It's the best thing and we never forget, nor will I ever!   They all have a job every night and the best thing is I never have to clean up dinner anymore.  Even Ethan who is only 3 can rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher when it's his turn and even get it started.  I'm so proud of my kiddos!   Maybe I should have a few more of them . . . . actually I think a total of four will be perfect! 

St. Nicholas

For the first half of December Dan was back in Belgium finishing up some work before the end of the year. The fun part about his trip was they were able to be there for their big Christmas celebration when St. Nicholas comes. He comes on December 6th or the evening before while the kids are sleeping in their beds. Who is he? He was a man who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy and then he became a Catholic Bishop. He arrives in Belgium from Spain on a steamship and rides his white horse around to all the kids homes. The kids leave hay & carrots in their shoes for his horse. Saint Nicholas will leave the children a chocolate inital letter (like my kids received) and gifts. Another fun part of St. Nicholas is his assistant Black Pete. Instead of having elves like our Santa Claus he has black pete who helps him.

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Here are some of his low quality pictures he brought back to show me. He thought he was being nice leaving the camera home with me, but I have TWO cameras.

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These are Belgian Chocolate St. Nicholas figures and also a speculos St. Nicholas a gift they recieved when they got to Belgium.

Dan saw St. Nicholas him self along with 2 helpers.

I so wish you could see these pictures better.
A silhouette of the Cathedral in Antwerp

Here they have ice skating around a famous fountain in Antwerp

(so cool to see this place during a different season)

Christmas

Bunch of santas on a run.

Ordering the BEST Belgian waffles ever!

You have no idea!

Of course Dan would rather be home, and we would rather have him here. But if he is going to be gone he knows he must take pictures for me to see the place. I was so excited to see pictures of this trip because I was at the exact same place months earlier. Just wish they were better quality, but I will take what I can get.