Sabbath in the Netherlands

Yesterday we helped Emma pick out an indoor play tent and green tractor with farm animals with money from Opa and Oma. She's having so much fun playing with them and has really taken ownership of them. We aren't to go into the tent or play with the tractor unless she says it's okay. Oh boy!

We enjoyed a Sabbath afternoon bike ride to a children's farm with Opa and Oma. Emma just loved seeing all the farm animals. Maybe she will be a vet some day.

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Back to Winterswijk

What joy to be back home with Opa and Oma. The kids woke up at 6am ready to go rent bicycles again. They call them "Freedom Bikes" because they have the freedom to ride all over town just the two of them. Oma gave them each a Euro to ride to town and get their own ice creams at the fancy gellato shop. They asked Oma to come with them as they were leaving the house. She realized they wanted her along so she could order their ice cream for them. She told them they had to do it on their own. Marcus did it in Dutch and Alex in English and it went just fine. Marcus ended up with a cone instead of in a cup, but tomorrow he says he will make sure he gets his in a cup. So fun to see them get their own wings.

The weather is so wonderful we are enjoying our meals on the patio.

Emma has enjoyed playing with Opa "Pappa" in the sandbox.

Passing through Germany

We stopped at a rest stop/restaurant and found a great sign that said these three parking spots near the front door were for women drivers. What a wonderful country.

We also ran into some guys that had just participated in Carbage Run. It's the third year that carbage has been held (carbagerun.nl). You must register your car that cost less than 500 Euro and be part of the daily route which includes activities and prizes. This year 250 cars went from the Netherlands to Bergen, Norway. What a hoot!

Two gorgeous days in Legoland

What a dream for the boys to spend two days in Legoland Denmark. It brought back many memories for me when I was a kid. We had beautiful sunshine and fun hearing German, Danish, Norwegian, English, Swedish, and Dutch being spoken all around us.

We stayed at a fantastic Legoland Village Family Hostel. There were lego play tables in each room, with lego coat hooks, door knobs, door signs, and more. There was a delicious dinner and breakfast buffet included in our room. Other things at the hostel were a Duplo playground, pedal cars, mini golf, pony rides, video games, a pool table, and more. What a dream vacation spot for a family with a huge water park next door.

Emma fell in love with the Danish boy mannequin in the Lego clothes store. We turned around and found her kissing the mannequin.

Ferry trip from Norway to Denmark

Well, it was time to move on to another country and we boarded our ferry trip for a 17 hour ride to Denmark. We had a cozy little cabin with an outside window and delicous buffets, kids' playroom, magic show, and the sighting of a tall ship sailing by. This time we asked to borrow a baby bed and it fit just right without an inch (oops I mean centimeter) to spare.

Bergen

What a fun time we had in Bergen. We hired a private tour guide for two hours(this was her second summer coming to work from Spain) and she told us so many interesting facts about Bergen, the German Hanseatic League, the country of Norway and their royal family. It was just fascinating and worth every penny. The buildings that are leaning a bit are over three hundred years old.

The boys found a gate they thought was very interesting. Hmmm...

Marcel found his dream car and of all colors - ORANGE. What a true Dutchman.

Can you believe a McDonald's in such a cute building?

Drive to Bergen through the fjords

We woke up at 5:30am to prepare for our 8 hour journey to Bergen, Norway as the first ferry left Molde at 7:30am. What fun driving along refective waters, steep cliffs, fjords and quaint villages. We even came across two herds of goats in the middle of the main highway. All in all, we took 2 cruise ships, 9 ferries, and 2 viking ships while on our adventure in Norway.