Hump Day(s) in Belgium

Don't read too far into it. Wednesday is quite simply the "hump" in the middle of the week, and it's often my most challenging day as a parent. I don't really know why... maybe it's purely psychological. But that didn't stop us from getting out and about a bit. We went to our gym to work out (where Lukas cried hysterically after being left at childcare), then headed out to Bambini's (the indoor play area in Vlissingen) to meet some local Moms & Tots. You might find it a bit dull to merit space in this blog of adventures, but Lukas loves it, and it sure is nice to see how other mothers are faring on the (sometimes turbulent) sea of parenthood.

Tuesday, however, was a bit more adventuresome. We went shopping at one of Europe's largest shopping malls, the Wijnegem Shopping Center on the outskirts of Antwerp (about 45 minutes from our home here in Zeeland). It's pretty intimidating, even for me (and coming from the shopping mecca of Central Florida... that says a lot). The stores are awesome, though, with something for every taste, and there are also plenty of distractions for the kids. And although my toddler apparently found it to be the ideal venue for a tantrum, I suppose I overdid it a bit.

So the question is, do I spend a day at home today, giving Lukas a break from the go-go-go, or do I head into Middelburg, to finish up Christmas shopping and visit the bank? The jury's still out, but I'll keep you posted on the verdict (and the aftermath of the trial). :-)

In the meantime, please check out this incredible website: http://mugproject.ning.com/
The guy who started it is a personal friend of my sister up in Boston, and if you've ever lived in the U.S. (or live there now), you can probably fathom the massive amounts of trees that fuel the Starbucks "coffee-to-go" phenomenom. But Starbucks (and the Starbucks concept) has spread its wings and flown to Europe, which means that "The Mug Project" has relevance on this side of the Atlantic, as well. So what are you waiting for? "Get your mug on", and pass it on!