Joshua Turns 9!

Happy Birthday Joshua!  Each birthday has been special here in Geneva and this one was no exception as Nana and Papa were able to be here to help Joshua celebrate.  Last week we took in cupcakes to his class mates before they let out for Spring Break.  Then, on his actual birthday, we went bowling in the afternoon and Geof surprised us and came over with us for a little while.  We had cookie cake after dinner and Josh got some great gifts.  We are so proud of what an amazing young man Joshua is.  He works hard all the time at whatever he is doing and never gives up.  He is caring and thoughtful and is always ready to have fun.  He has done beautifully this year at the international school even though it has been a challenge and he misses home.  Josh has turned into a great reader, a super speller, and is still a whiz at math.  At home, if he is not asleep, he is bouncing a basketball or running in the yard.  He is growing up to be a young man of strong character and determination and we can't wait to see the awesome plans God has for his life.  We love you Josh and are so thankful you are our son!  

Joshua handing out cupcakes alongside his 3rd grade teacher, Mr Pryke.

Nana and Papa's European Vacation

What a trip!!  My mom and stepdad came over to visit and we crammed in every bit of Europe we could fit in 10 days!  We  had a great time and were so excited to show them what our life has been like over here for the past year.

We had clear weather the first few days they were here, so we drove up the Jura Mountains  to get a better look.  Mount Blanc is so impressive, this picture doesn't do it justice, but at least you get the idea.

We went to the market in Ferney, France

We walked up a thousand hills and steps.

If Geof's job doesn't work out in Atlanta, we are going to move to Paris and become professional tour guides.  We love it and are good at it!  We can get 7 people to every major site in less than 2 days-just don't plan on sitting down.

City lights from our hotel

The staircase at the hotel was similar to one in the Borne Identity, so the boys did a re-enactment.

Yvoire, France

The Chillon Castle in Montreaux

We had a flat on the way home and had to be towed.  The service man couldn't fix the car that day, so he drove us to the train station in his paddy wagon and then we took the train back to Geneva.  Always an adventure!

We made it home to dye Easter Eggs.

Pretty in pink.

Nana made a yummy bunny cake with the girls.

What a great time we had with them!  It was a blessing from the minute they got here and it makes us all miss being close to our family.  We are already counting the days until we see them again this summer!

Happy Birthday Mom

I turned 39 (!) in March and Sarah, Charlotte and Becky made me a great birthday dinner and cake on their last night with us.  

 Kathryn and Sarah made me one of the greatest gifts ever; they took all of my recipes out of the ziploc bag that I shove them in, typed them up and organized them in a beautiful cookbook.

Jackson gave me chocolate (always a safe bet for me), Joshua made me a lovely and creative necklace out of a broken set of earphones and Kami drew me picture and wrote me a note that promised to love me forever.  My Georgia girls gave me some beautiful jewelry from a favorite hometown shop, Nest Feathers, and everyone brought my secret obession-Starburst Jellybeans!  It was a great birthday.

We didn't have a "9" candle, so I blew out a "38" on my cake.  I think that means I get to be 38 another year.

CMPC comes to Switzerland

We had the huge privilege of visiting with our friends (and Sarah Beth's family) in March.  Becky, Charlotte, Emily and Will all made the journey over the Atlantic to share with Sarah her experiences over the past few months and we got to tag along.  Becky and Charlotte are my precious friends and I treasure all of the time I got to spend with them.  I also loved watching Sarah and Emily together; sisters who have been apart for a while always stick so close together once they are reunited-it's like they were little girls again.  Jackson, Joshua and Will secretly just wanted us to leave them alone so they could play basketball, but they tolerated all of us girls dragging them all over the place very politely.  We laughed our way through Switzerland and France and cried as we sent Sarah back home with her family.  Life without Sarah is a little sad, but we are excited for her to get back to the states and start her teaching career.  We love and miss you SB!!

Road trip to Paris when Kami threw up on Charlotte.

Will, Sarah, Charlotte, and Emily at the Louvre

Emily, Becky, Charlotte, Will, SB, and Kami at lunch in Montmarte

Sarah and Kathryn at the Chocolate Festival

I have never seen so much chocolate in one place.

Busted!

I told Sarah she might meet her knight in shining armor in Switzerland....she just didn't know it would be Lord Farquad!

                 Sisters....doesn't get much better than this!

Kami, the soccer player

Kamryn is playing soccer in Switzerland!  Although it is called "football" here and she is the only girl, she is doing a great job kicking it around with all the boys.  She'll be ready in the fall to play on a team in the U.S!