Background

December 3, 2011

Traffic stop in Holland today

On our way back from the Branch Christmas Party I was taken on a detour to a side road where several of the Holland Police were standing. After coming to a complete stop I was asked to take a alcohol breathing test. I had to blow into a tube. Since my three youngest kids were in the car and on the edge of their seats waiting for the results, its a good thing that it came back negative. Who would have thought I would have my first alcohol breathing test with my kids in the car and in another country besides the USA.  It seems we get to have exciting events like this on a weekly basis here. Last week it was animal control and now this. I wonder what next week will bring?

Thanksgiving 2011


Our first adventure in Europe since we arrived here in Holland. We went with some friends to the christmas market in Koln, Germany. One of the most exciting moments of this trip was on the autobon. A mini van going over 100mph! Who would have thought. We spent two days here shopping, eating, and freezing to death. Man it is cold in Germany and we were lucky there was no snow.
This is the "Kolner Don Catherdral" in Koln. In english it means "The high cathedral of Saints Peter and Maria". It was constructed in 1248 and wasn't finished until 1880. It is 516 ft. tall. This is a gothic looking church and it certainly has that look on the outside. It's a Roman Catholic Church and is Germany's most visited landmark and attracts 20,000 people a day.
 
Here we are inside the Cathedral. This is the first time the boys have been inside a Cathedral that is this old.

You can see the Cathedral in the back of the boys here. These are all the Christmas shops within the Market. The boys loved the crepes, this yummy rope licorice stuffed with white cream filling, toasted almonds, and the bitter hot chocolate. Collin was his typical self that day. A screaming lunatic being pushed down the aisle by a very quiet, yet "I've had it" father.

This was about the only attraction that brought Collins happy demeanor to a crashing holt. See the black statue holding the clock? If you drop a coin in the black can in front of him, he will start tap dancing and then straighten back up to his statue form.  We all really enjoyed watching this man perform his act.


This is another christmas market in Koln, but it's the Medieval Market. There was no electricity at this market and all the shop workers were dressed in this time period. They even had a merry-go-round that you had to hand crank yourself for it to work. The boys even got to do some gambling on mouse. You had to guess which house the mouse would run into. Needless to say, no one won. It was a lot of fun watching it though.

November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

Here's Dan's story:

Picture a family trip in a European sized "multi-purpose vehicle". Now picture said family sitting in a traffic jam on the freeway for well over an hour in said MPV. By this time everyone is starving and there is no end in sight. GPS says a restaurant awaits at the next exit. Takes another 20 min to go the 1/4 mile to that next exit. Restaurant has chandeliers hanging from ceiling which translates to no way are children let alone adults in jeans getting in. And no they won't deliver food to the back door for any price. Server on a smoke break near our boys who are peeing in the bushes says there is a "chicken place" down the road more suitable for families. "Can't miss it. Just look for the giant chicken".

We find the chicken. Unload our MPV and approach. Chicken place looks closed but that is okay because there is another place next store. Enter Gonzales Barbecue restaurant. That's right. A Mexican Barbecue restaurant somewhere off some exit on the way from The Netherlands to Germinary ( that is Collin speak for Germany). Did I mention that it is Thanksgiving?

We are on a role at this point but it doesn't matter because bladders are no longer near exploding and I would settle for a piece of bread. This Mexican Barbecue Restaurant has several tables set up surrounding gas fired BBQ coals. Picture Benihana's but with coals not griddles, fake plastic cactus and sombreros on the wall but with an English pub vibe near the bar and a Sizzler buffet set up. It gets better.

You know you're in trouble when the server points to said Sizzler looking buffet and announces "everyone is going to cook their own dinner". Collin and Jake McGhie - the 4 yr olds in the bunch - ( we are traveling with a great family in our branch) are just now getting over the fact that there are steak knives at their place setting. When told we are going to take long metal objects and stick meat on them and cook our food over the fire they decide it is more like Xmas than Thanksgiving.

Our crowd of 12 ( each family has 4 kids somewhat close in age) sets off to distinguish the meat from the chicken from the fish. Did I mention that there is Indian and Japanese flavored raw stuff and who knows how many other styles at this United Nations Sizzler buffet of uncooked food? Don't forget you are at the Gonzales Barbecue restaurant. Don't see anything you like? That's okay there are French fries. Guess what anyone under 12 ate for most of their dinner?

We made the most of it, found some things down right tasty, and ended up leaving our new found Mexican BBQ joint thinking we just may have found a new Thanksgiving tradition while in Europe. In the coming years when I wake up on Thanksgiving with an insatiable craving for Curry flavored chicken cooked on meat skewer along side some teriyaki beef you'll know why.....

Love to all.

Dan