Pack It Up, Pack It In

Let me begin by saying that we have a great moving crew taking care of getting our things from Geneva to Atlanta!  They have worked hard, are very friendly and doing a super job.

They are loading the last of the boxes as I type.  We had our final dinner from our Geneva kitchen on the patio last night (wait a minute...does this mean I can go back to not cooking???). And yesterday, even the sheep arrived to tell us good bye.

Geof is really going to miss these sheep.


Now we just have to close up our suitcases and head to the hotel for the next week and a half.  But first, Joshua had to scrub his own bathroom because if the cleaning crew were to see it, they surely would notify the Swiss authorities!

Hees Town

Most people go to Amsterdam for, well, a lot of things.  But this weekend, the Voorhees went to Amsterdam to return to the Mother Country!  Yep, we rented a car and drove to the town where the Voorhees ancestors lived before they immigrated to America in 1660.  

It is still farm land, just like it has been for about 1000 years.  We also went to the nearby town, Ruinen, where the church is still standing that the original Voorhees family attended.  They actually had to pay rent for use of the farm land to the church prior to the reformation.  After the reformation, they had to pay the government.  The church then became the Dutch Reformed Church and this is where the family worshipped.  So apparently, our forefathers were Presbyterian.  I am not making this up!!Check the website, www.vanvoorhees.org.

This was a memorial outside the church remembering the Jewish members of the community who were taken and killed by the Nazi's in World War 2.

Speaking of which, we also took a very sobering tour of the Anne Frank House, the home where the Frank family lived and hid before they were discovered by the Nazis and taken to concentration camps where they all, except the father, eventually died.

And here is Jackson, eating traditional "Voorhees" food at the McDonalds where his ancestors actually ate over 400 years ago.  It was delicious.

We did lots of other really fun things in Amsterdam,

Like drink Starbucks

And visited the Van Gogh museum, where there was a bar and live music, of course. 

This is our ship! Can you see the name?

We had a great dinner at the Hard Rock and got to join in the excitement as the city got ready for Holland verses the Danish in the Euro Cup.  Sadly, they lost-but it was fun to see everybody in their orange spirit wear!

We are certainly getting excited about eating American food again!

We certainly enjoyed this beautiful city, but I am a little relieved to say that the next time we get on a plane, it will be headed to the good ole US of A!

D-Day

We have been on a lot of trips while we have lived here in Europe, but few have had the impact that standing on the beaches of Normandy on June 6th had on Jackson, Kathryn and Joshua.  Geof made it a priority for them to be there on the 68th Anniversary of the storming of the beaches; the day thousands of American soldiers gave their lives in order to liberate France from Nazi control.

They were able to walk the beaches of Omaha, Utah and Pointe Du Hoc.

They had the privilege of shaking hands with men who survived that day...

and meet the General who spoke during the ceremony.  He gave the kids some great advice,"Life is hard. So study hard, because it is even harder if your stupid."  I have so much respect for a man who isn't afraid to tell it like it is!

They walked through the bunkers that harbored the Nazi soldiers and the kids were able to see first hand why it was such a significant accomplishment for the allied forces to finally gain control of the beaches.

But most importantly, they counted the crosses that marked the great cost of that victory.

I have to hand it to Geof, he is a really great dad.  Although he thought the Eiffel Tower was fun and the Colosseum cool, this historical lesson was the most important to him.  At the D-Day Memorial our children learned of true sacrifice, service and freedom.  And after living in a foreign country for over a year, we are all more proud than ever to be Americans!

International Day

With about 80 different nationalities represented at College Du Leman, every day seems like International Day at the children's school!  Saturday however, the school celebrated the many countries represented by their students and hosted an official "International Day" festival.  It was complete with food from all over the world, a parade of nations and a talent show, which Kathryn performed in along side a her best dancing buddies.  We had beautiful weather and got to wear our 4th of July gear early!

Getting ready for the parade

We saw some beautiful traditional costumes...

and some beautiful girls do a cute dance routine to "Firework."

Jackson and his classmate, Big Matt.

Loving all the free food!

Our friend, Bev, served up some royal British snacks in honor  of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this weekend.

Indian dance performers at the talent show.