Car-Free Day in Brussels

Sunday was car-free day within Brussels. And seeing as how we fall in the city limits by just a few blocks, that meant no driving for us. But since TJ had to go to work on Sunday, and I had to take Amelia to a party, we had to park my car down the road, officially out of city limits. (Yes, there were police officers and barricades at each street that entered into city limits.)

It was a beautiful day, and we had such a fun time. I had bought Jack a well-used bicycle the day before at a sale at the British school, so the kids put on their helmets, and we took to the streets. If you had to drive, you had to get special permission. Taxis and buses were still allowed, but the streets were essentially void of cars. The kids toodled around the neighborhood -- very suspicious that I was actually letting them ride in the street. Kids were drawing on the street, and neighbors had brought out tables, chairs and beverages of choice and were just spending the day in the street.

After a bit of bike riding, I put the kids in the wagon and took them down to Stockel to get some snacks. Clearly, wagons aren't big in Europe, as we had all sorts of folks pointing at us (or at the wagon) and talking about it. We got some wonderful goodies at the bakery, a big bowl of frites and had a mini picnic, watching the bicyclists, roller bladers and horseback riders go by. Later, when TJ returned, we took the kids on our bikes on Tervurenlaan (think Manchester Road in STL or Fairfax Parkway in VA). It was such fun.

Later, I took Amelia to the birthday party, which was at a Gymboree-like place. The kids were having a blast. Partway into the party, a little girl came out with a bloody nose. I commented to some of the other moms that Amelia has been getting a lot of bloody noses lately (picking? dry air? who knows why). No sooner were the words out of my mouth, than they bring out Amelia with ... a bloody nose. It quickly stopped, and she rushed back into the party

Amelia and Jack were drawing pictures over the weekend, and I was enthusiastically commenting on Jack's scribbles on a picture. Amelia said "You're just saying it because you he's your kid, right?" She's becoming a little too smart for her own good....