Happy Birthday, Cole!

Today is Cole's 33rd birthday! This past year has been a pretty crazy one for Cole; lots of ups and downs, full of risks, successes, failures, frustrations, and excitement. This year I have watched Cole pursue dreams, I have seen doors close, I have seen doors open, then close again, and I have seen failure. He has been fearless, not spooked by challenges or other difficult things that have come his way. Through it all, I have seen a man of integrity, a man who loves and cares for his family, and a man who has held his head high, even when things have been emotionally tough. I am so thankful for Cole and the many, many years I have been able to spend with him.

We had a birthday dinner tonight for Cole. He chose what he wanted and we ate together, talked about our days, and celebrated. At the end of dinner, I asked the boys to each name something they were thankful for about daddy. Cameron said, "I am thankful that daddy brings home money, that he brings the bacon." Harrison said, I am thankful that daddy is like me." I loved their responses because, in their own ways, they were saying that they love daddy because daddy takes care of them and makes them feel loved, protected, and secure in who they are.

For his birthday, Cole fulfilled an almost three year old desire to visit Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren. I am not a beer connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but this is apparently the beer to have in Belgium, possibly the best in the world (according to Cole). You can't buy this beer in any other stores, although you can occasionally find it in a bar for an outrageous price. Anyway, the monks brew the beer at the monastery and sell it to support and sustain themselves (no more, no less). To purchase the beer, you have to call on certain days, during certain hours to make an appointment. If you are even able to get through, you have to make an appointment during one of their rare opening times to pick up the beer. Additionally, you have to give your license plate number and you can only purchase two crates per license plate once you're there. Long story short(ish), Cole has been wanting to go for a really long time and hasn't been able to for one reason or another, so you can imagine how excited he was when he finally got through and was given an appointment the day before his birthday! He made the hour long journey to West Flanders yesterday to pick up his two crates. The monestary is in the middle of nowhere and you are not allowed to visit the brewery, so you literally pull into a drive thru where they check your license plate, then bring you your crates.

The drive thru

After Cole picked up his crates, he went to the visitors center to pick up the proper accompanying Westvleteren glasses to go along with his beer. He also found a bit of excess beer and grabbed that up while he was there. He was very excited when he got home! Needless to say, I think this was a good birthday!

Happy birthday to my love, my best friend, and the best life adventure partner I could ever imagine!

Plane Rides, Family, Friends, and a Wedding!

We made the long trek back home a couple weeks ago for my sister-in-laws wedding. Of course we couldn't just go back for the wedding, so we decided to make the trip a bit longer to visit family and friends while we were there. We really enjoyed this trip home. It was a relaxing trip because we decided not to pack it so full with visits, errands, etc. Instead, we had some very special times with friends and family and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful weather. It was a little nerve-racking to plan and prepare for this trip. The boys are pretty much pros at traveling, but I didn't know at all what to expect from Zoe and her schedule (eating and sleeping). Thankfully she was a champ and did a great job!

We left Brussels in the morning and took the nearly nine hour flight to our first destination. As I said before, the boys are pros, but Zoe did great too. She took two naps totaling almost six hours and ate three times. She was otherwise her happy self and didn't cause any problems at all.

Sleeping in her seat next to me

Happy as usual

After a short layover, we arrived home around 8:00pm EST (2:00am CET). We were greeted by our wonderfully gracious and generous hosts, Steve and Debbie, at the airport with car seats and toys (from other incredibly generous friends). They helped us get our ridiculous amount of bags to the car and then we headed to their house where they fed us and then sent us to bed. Zoe ate one more time that evening and then slept from 9:30 until 6:30 the next morning. Since I normally feed her in Belgium between 7:00 and 7:30, she was immediately close to a normal schedule from the first day there. The next morning, Steve and Debbie had breakfast for us and we had a nice morning catching up with them.

Steve, Harrison and Zoe

Here are some other highlights from our time home. 

Our Shepherding Group had a little get together for us on the Sunday after we arrived. It was a great time to catch up with friends, but the highlight of the night was my sister, Jessi, meeting Zoe for the first time. There were definitely tears!! I also got to see her cute little baby bump for the first time in person.

Cameron and Harrison with their friends

Uncle Jack 

I mentioned before that we took time to enjoy the beautiful weather! The boys loved playing outside.

Time with friends

Cameron and Lydia spent a good portion of the day playing house. It was super cute!

They went on a date 

Harrison and Annabelle

Wrestling with Nate

All the kiddos

Silly faces

Jamie came to visit us! We sure do miss her in Gent!!

Harrison and Zoe fell asleep outside

Karis joined them. They slept for two hours outside.

My other sister, Pauline, also came to see us and met Zoe for the first time.

Hanging out with Jessi and Jack

Playing cards with Jessi

Cooper had to go to the vet, so Cameron went along

No trip home would be complete without a trip to Dairy Queen with Jessi and Jack

After ten days, we headed to Kentucky for Julianna and Jordan's wedding.

Waiting to board the plane

We were greeted at the airport in Kentucky by Cole's parents and sisters. This was the first time Cole's dad and sisters met Zoe.

 On top of seeing so many of Cole's family members, the boys really enjoyed swimming at the hotel.

My parents also came to Kentucky to spend some time with us as well as help us with the kids during the wedding.

Snuggles with grandma

And of course, the reason for the trip home, Julianna and Jordan's wedding

All dressed up and ready to go!

Love my little family!

Cole and the beautiful bride

Cameron wanted to take a picture.

Nana

Papa

Cole's family 

Waiting for the wedding to start

Happy Zoe and Lisa

The happy couple

Love these handsome little guys!

Cousins

My love

Dancing!

We had so much fun at the wedding and really enjoyed catching up with family that we don't get to see as often as we would like. The following day, we enjoyed a nice brunch with family before heading to the airport to come back to Belgium.

We had another really good flight on the way home. Zoe spent the majority of the flight in the bassinet sleeping. 

She held my hand the entire ride home from the airport

The adjustment back to Belgian time was a bit more difficult for Zoe, but thankfully she was back on track after a few days. Although we had a great trip and made lots of wonderful memories, we are happy to be back!