Nikki finally arrived on Tuesday Dec 23 afternoon (our time) after a rather long travel situation at the airport in the States. She took the train in from Schiphol and Jackie and Brooklyn met her at the Eindhoven train station and walked her back to our home.
Dec 24
We drove down to Maastricht for the day since it was one of the few local places with a Christmas market still open on Christmas Eve.
First we stopped at Bisschopsmolen for pie and coffees.
Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek (Basilica of Our Lady)
Next we stopped in the Derlon Hotel to see the old Roman Ruins.
We walked through the Christmas Market in Vrijhof. It was like every other Dutch market we've been to, it just doesn't compare to Germany.
Brooklyn had to say hello to the dog in the bookstore in the old Dominican Church. The view south of Maastricht from the Sint Servaasburg (Saint Servaas Bridge) Brooklyn walking across the Sint Servaasburg (Saint Servaas Bridge)
Mommy and Brooklyn selfie on the Sint Servaasburg (Saint Servaas Bridge) Selfie on the Sint Servaasburg (Saint Servaas Bridge) in Maastricht Another view south of Maastricht from the Sint Servaasburg (Saint Servaas Bridge) The girls in Maastricht by the Sint Servaasburg
At lunch at Benice Eetcafé Lounging post lunch, someone's getting a little too comfortable Cheesin post lunch Chilling in Maastricht on Christmas Eve #dutchbrooklyn #maastricht #christmaseve2015 We continued our Christmas tradition with Brooklyn of getting to open one present on Christmas Eve.
Ooo the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set!
We spent the night assembling the Ikea play kitchen and wrapping the remaining gifts.
Looks like Santa stopped by our house tonight for Brooklyn
Dec 25
Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas baby girls She wants everyone's phone
gift opening Nikki and Brooklyn Ooo a bike My own Nativity Brooklyn opening gifts
Brooklyn's goat Christmas ornament from Vienna Brooklyn's new winter hat from Nikki Ooo a shopping cart full of crates of wooden food Christmas morning selfie! #MerryChristmas #Christmas2015 #redoverload #familysnuggles Dancing to the music on the Nativity Set
Trying out her bike...she needs to grow a few more inches... For Christmas dinner Joe made smoked chicken on the grill, green beans, Sharon's country loaf of bread, and Nikki made mac and cheese.
After Brooklyn went to bed we played Rummy 500 & watched It's a Wonderful Life.
Sat Dec 26
Loving her new baby doll from Grandma & Grandpa
Thanks for the new outfit Great Grandma Stoehr #dearlyloved
We went ice skating in Son, well Nikki skated, we watched and escorted Brooklyn to walk on the ice.
Nikki ice skating
Nikki ice skating
While Brooklyn continued to nap in the car, Joe & Nikki walked to Eindhoven Centrum with Chance.
Sun Dec 27
We drove to Brussels, Belgium for the day. As we circle around for a parking garage, we drove by the famous Manneken Pis, peeing boy statue.
Grand Place
Momma and Brooklyn selfie in Grand Place, Brussels
Final stop before getting back in the car: Belgian waffles at Maison Dandoy
The Atomium is now a symbol for Brussels. It was built for the 1958 World Fair.
A few shots of the exterior of Atomium at dusk.
At the end we took an elevator to the top atom with a panorama view.
A few shots of the exterior at night
Monday Dec 28
While Joe was at work, Jackie and Brooklyn took Nikki on the train up to Utrecht.
Domtoren
Monday Dec 28
While Joe was at work, Jackie and Brooklyn took Nikki on the train up to Utrecht.
Domtoren
Nikki and Jackie ate lunch at Restaurant Oudaen, which was an old medieval castle now brewery.
Playing with her new Ikea play kitchen, Thanks Grandpa and Grandma (Sharon)
Tuesday Dec 29
Cutest Christmas jammies, Thanks Sharon!
We went and ate lunch at La Trappe Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven, one of the few Trappist brewing monasteries outside of Belgium.
Brooklyn finally fell asleep in the car on the drive to Kinderdijk. She needed a longer nap so Nikki went to explore the windmills of Kinderdijk while Jackie stayed in the car for her to get a decent amount of sleep.
Nikki wearing wooden Dutch shoes at Kinderdijk
Brooklyn trying on shoes at Kinderdijk
Wednesday Dec 30
We took it easy today so Brooklyn could get a decent nap at home. We went to Praxis in search of cheap tulip bulbs and then to see the raised bike circle, the Hovenring.
We had to drop-off Chance early due to the New Years holiday, but it was well-worth it because it let's her avoid the crazy fireworks in the city centrum that takes place in every Dutch town. She will be much more at peace out in the countryside at Joekelz.
Thursday Dec 31
On New Years Day we drove up to Amsterdam to explore. We parked at a parking garage and walked over to Anne Franks House hoping for a short line early in the day.
Westerkerk
Wednesday Dec 30
We took it easy today so Brooklyn could get a decent nap at home. We went to Praxis in search of cheap tulip bulbs and then to see the raised bike circle, the Hovenring.
We had to drop-off Chance early due to the New Years holiday, but it was well-worth it because it let's her avoid the crazy fireworks in the city centrum that takes place in every Dutch town. She will be much more at peace out in the countryside at Joekelz.
Thursday Dec 31
On New Years Day we drove up to Amsterdam to explore. We parked at a parking garage and walked over to Anne Franks House hoping for a short line early in the day.
Westerkerk
Prinsengracht canal
There was a 2 hour line at the Anne Frank House. We journeyed on to explore Amsterdam.
We saw Niewe Kerk, Dam Square, and then walked through the Red Light District.
For lunch we went to Chinatown for some of the best duck at Wing Kee
We saw Niewe Kerk, Dam Square, and then walked through the Red Light District.
For lunch we went to Chinatown for some of the best duck at Wing Kee
First Jackie and Nikki in front of the iamsterdam sign
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