Christmas Letter 2016

This time last year we were announcing our 2nd pregnancy with Brooklyn becoming a big sister in June 2016. Time sure has flown!
Even with 2 young children, we have taken advantage of living in the Netherlands and seeing as much of Europe as we can while we are here.

In January we began the 2016 New Year in Barcelona with Joe's cousin Nikki to see massive La Sagrada Familia & other famous Gaudi architecture pieces.

In March & April we took a big trip (2nd baby-moon) to Slovenia & Croatia with stops in Lake Bled, Vintgar Gorge, Rovinj, Split, Hvar, Krka National Park & the highlight Plitvice Lakes National Park. It was a wonderful nature trip as opposed to the traditional big European city trips.

In May we took 1 last road-trip away before baby #2 to Normandy, France to see some D-Day sights, the island abbey Mont St-Michel & Etretat. 

Jackie’s parents Rick & Sharon arrived from NC on June 19, 1 day before the due date! Due to Jackie’s quick labor June 20, we had a true Dutch home birth experience with our midwife! Caleb Dai Liang entered the world at 9:55am weighing 3450g (7lbs 10oz). We appreciated the 1 week of help from the kraamzorg nurse & 2 weeks with grandparents helping us adjust to being parents of 2 under the age of 2.

In July, Joe's sister, brother-in-law & their 3 kids visited for a few weeks. We joined them on German Fairy Tale Route in Hamelin, Polle Castle, Bodenwerder & Bremen. Brooklyn & Caleb enjoyed lots of cousin playtime at Scheveningen & Zeeland Aquadelta vacation park. 

In August more visitors continued, with a relaxing weekend with Wes & Lauren Moyer from Knoxville, TN on Texel Island. Jason & Jamie Morin from Seattle, WA visited us in Eindhoven. We joined the Morins in Luxembourg City with a stop in Bastogne for more WWII Battle of the Bulge remembrance.

September we took our next big trip of the year with the Potters from Raleigh, NC (& Taiwan). Matt, Sunny, Joe & Jackie took 4 kids under the age of 2 to Rothenburg, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle and Oktoberfest! Yes we took our little ones to the biggest beer festival in the world! The Bavarian weather was crummy, but we had such a great time! We continued our road-trip further into Austria to Hallstatt, Eagles Nest & Salzburg. It was great to be in this beautiful mountainous area.

October we had a low-key 2nd birthday for Brooklyn. We flew back to North Carolina for 2 weeks to introduce fun-loving, easy-going baby Caleb to family & friends. We spent a weekend at a Blue Ridge Mountain cabin with college friends for Joe’s 35th birthday.

In November we spent a cozy weekend away in the Ardennes Mountains of Belgium. 

We began celebrating the Holiday season with Dutch Sinterklaas & a weekend at GermanChristmas Markets in Mainz, Frankfurt & Bernkastel-Kues. We are looking forward to family time at home in Eindhoven for Christmas as we recharge for the next year.

Joe’s 3 year work contract is up May 2017. We are still unsure of our future plans, but will be sure to keep everyone up to date about where our family lands next.

All Our Love,

Joe, Jackie, Brooklyn, Caleb and Chance Liang

Liang Christmas Letter 2015

December 2015

Well we had a lot on our plate last year with a 2 month old, so we never got around to writing a synopsis letter for 2014 before Christmas like we usually do each year to include with our Christmas card. Here is a link to the blog post of 2014 Year in Review written later: http://jackieandjoeliang.blogspot.nl/2015/01/christmas-letter-2014-year-in-review.html

For those of you that haven’t noticed, we moved from the Puget Sound, Washington area in the U.S. to Eindhoven, Netherlands in May 2014 for Joe’s work on a 3 year long expat contract through his company, Cummins. Joe has taken on a larger role in Cummins engine aftertreatment program with their European customer, DAF, to meet the latest emission testing. Jackie began a work sabbatical from architecture as she prepared to become a stay-at-home mom with the arrival of their baby girl in early October 2014. 

We are truly enjoying our life here in the Netherlands. We’ve been able to see a lot of Europe in the past year. Brooklyn, now 14 months old has now been to 10 countries: the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Taiwan and Austria. It’s a good thing this foreign Dutch-born girl was given extra pages in her U.S. passport! As the weeks go by it’s amazing all the new things Brooklyn is learning to do. She definitely keeps us on our toes these days.

This year I’m going to summarize the year in a David Letterman-style Top Ten List.

2015 Top Ten Highlights:

1) For Easter in April we visited Paris, France

2) While Dad worked in the US for a week in April, Mom & Brooklyn enjoyed family time in North Carolina

3) A week in May in Interlaken, Luzern & rode the Bernina Express through the Alps in Switzerland

4) A week in Italy in Cinque Terre & heavenly Tuscany

5) A trip the end of July to Copenhagen, Denmark

6) In early September we enjoyed the Stoehr grandparents visit & explored the Netherlands & Rhine Valley, Germany together

7) Jackie’s sister & brother-in-law traveled southern Netherlands, Antwerp & Aachen also in September

8) Celebrating 1 year since Brooklyn’s birth (Oct 6, 2014)

9) 2 weeks in October in Taiwan visiting with family and friends

10) Anticipated arrival of Baby #2 June 20, 2016!

We hope that you all are finding peace this Holiday season. Our hearts are bursting with joy and life and could not be more thankful for such a blessed year in 2015. Jesus is the reason for the season and we will not forget that. May the peace of Christ find you this holiday season and in the upcoming year to come. As we excitedly begin our own Christmas traditions as a family as we spend it in the Netherlands, we wish you a merry, merry time with family and friends near and far. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and that home is where the heart is. We often get asked where is home and we have a hard time answering…Taiwan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Charleston, Seattle, Eindhoven? Although all these places have been home for us at some point, this year we are embracing home as a family in Eindhoven, Netherlands. May you feel at home this Christmas wherever this letter finds you.

All Our Love,

Joe, Jackie, Brooklyn, Baby #2 & Chance Liang

Holiday week 2015

Dec 23-Dec 31

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!

Christmas morning gift opening with coffee, presents and A Christmas Story movie
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

Nap time in the travel tent in preparation for our trip to Barcelona

We skyped the Shugarts household for gift opening (our afternoon, their morning). Since we were busy watching the ipad screen, we didn't get any photos of her opening her gifts from them.
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 holding Brooklyn on the ice

Brooklyn and Momma watching the ice skaters

Momma walking Brooklyn on the ice

Nikki holding Brooklyn on the ice

Brooklyn found a hole her height to peak through and watch the ice skaters

Nikki, Brooklyn and Jackie at the ice ring

Brooklyn on the ice with Nikki

Brooklyn fell asleep in the car so we drove around a little showing Nikki the windmill in Neunen and the Helmond castle.
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

Horse-drawn carriage in Grand Place

We had lunch at Le Roy D'Espagne: mussels, lasagna bolgonese, etc.
Momma and Brooklyn selfie in Grand Place, Brussels

Selfie in Grand Square

Next we walked around a bit and then enjoyed drinks at Delirium Cafe.
Final stop before getting back in the car: Belgian waffles at Maison Dandoy

Brooklyn fell asleep in the car on the way to the Atomium. Joe stayed in the car with her while Nikki and Jackie went in the museum.
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.

We walked from exhibit to exhibit in many of the atom spheres, connected by escalators and stairs with many viewpoints outside.

There was a permanent exhibition about the history of the building. Then there were a few temporary exhibits that really didn't really compare to the permanent one.
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

Domtoren, Domplein and Domkerk, the only remaining functioning part of the church that still stands after the 1674 storm that took down the nave that connected the tower.

Domkerk Interior (St Martin's Cathedral)

Domtuin Cloister

While walking, Brooklyn fell asleep in the stroller before we got to lunch.
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!

Jackie and Brooklyn went to morning swimming lessons while Nikki slept in.
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

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

Brooklyn now wants to try to use her own utensil herself at every meal

After lunch we went to take the Gary Line #1 Canal Cruise tour departing from the Damrak

Brooklyn walking around waiting for Canal Cruise time

Brooklyn trying on mommy's sunglasses

Amsterdam canal boat

Amsterdam canal cruise selfie

Girls on the Amsterdam canal tour

Mint Hotel, now a Doubletree by Hilton

Scheepvaarthuis

Waalseilandgracht

Montelbaanstoren, a tower built in 1561 as part of the Amsterdam wall

canal houses

Brooklyn insisted on holding the selfie stick for most of the tour which created some interesting shots...

Brooklyn listening to the commentary

The Golden Bend of the Herengracht canal where you can see 7 bridges in a row

Mansions along the Herengracht canal

Brooklyn sticking her head out the window like a dog

Huis van Bartolotti whose facade curves with the canal

along the Herengracht canal

EYE - New Dutch Film Institute by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, represents the visual landmark of the new Amstrdam Noord quarter.

Muziek Gebouw Aan 'tIj & Bimhuis

St Nicholas

Amsterdam Centraal station

We took a tram down to the Van Gogh Museum.
First Jackie and Nikki in front of the iamsterdam sign

Inside the Van Gogh Museum

With an early morning flight out the next morning we were rather lame on New Years Eve and went to bed well before midnight. Our crazy Dutch neighbors made sure we knew it was New Years with their endless fireworks throughout the night.