First Day of School

The girls attend an international school called College du Leman. It's a short drive from our home in the town of Versoix. We sure have been blessed with good teachers and this year is the same. Anna is in 3rd grade with Mrs. Valentine and Kate is in 1st grade with Ms. Karen. The curriculum is very similar to our curriculum in Dubai except that they get French language lessons instead of Arabic. I think they are finding French to come a bit more quickly! They've made friends quickly and are settling in nicely.

Unpacking Surprises

"Why. . . why they do this? Why put this on outside? Why not crate it? Everything from the US same, same," plus more Albanian expletives that we don't want to publish! This table that we bought in Jordan has a long story that we could tell you when you have the time. Let's just say that it cost us more to arrive  in Switzerland than it cost us to purchase, but we LOVE it and it reminds us of a country that we adore.

Our First Visitors- The Stover Family!!

We were so thrilled to have the Stover's visit us on route back to Dubai from the States. We had been in our house only one week, had only sparse rental furniture, but couldn't have been happier to see good friends that remind us of our Dubai 'home'. No kitchen cooking necessary when you have a fondue pot! That, after the girls enjoyed a cool dip in Lake Geneva. Can you come back again next fall?

We call Switzerland Home

Our new home is about 20k from Geneva heading north on Lake Geneva, situated between our small town, Crans Pres Celigny and a larger town, Nyon. We are just a few minutes walk from the lake and on a clear day we can see Mt. Blanc from our bedroom window. This is a picture of the front of our house, the port just across the street, and a view from the top of the town of Nyon. We are enjoying the change of scenery and are astounded by the beauty of this country.  C'est the belle vie, huh?

Transitions: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado

Maria with Anna and Kate in front of their cabin at Geneva Glen Camp
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park

Jean, Pamela, and Maria in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park
Pamela, Cousins Michelle and Jasper (asleep), and Maria in Glenwood Canyon
Pamela, Uncle Dan, and Maria at Windy Point, above Alma, Colorado, with Bristlecone Pines
Maria at Kite Lake at the base of four Colorado 14ers

Cousins in Colorado: Anna, Hallie, Pearl, Kate, Henry, and Mitchel.

Al, Pamela, and Steve meet their 2nd Grade teacher, Ruth Birge, at the Ripon Historical Society.

Steve makes ice cream with niece Sophie and daughter Anna.

Grandpa Bill made a treasure hunt in the woods for Henry, Sophie, Kate, Amanda, and Anna.

Are you sure that toy is on the roof? Could it be in the bushes?

A weekend break in Ripon gave Steve and Maria a chance to sit down...a rare moment!

The summer blew by fast and furious, but we got to see nearly all family and friends. The girls spent a week at the Vittone Grandparent's little house in Northern Wisconsin while Steve and Maria packed the MN and got ready for renters. We also had a weekend in Wisconsin for a fun Woolley family gathering Afterwards, we topped the summer off with two weeks in Colorado. Kate and Anna enjoyed their time at camp while mom hung out with Grandma, Pamela and Uncle Dan. (Steve was in Switzerland setting up the beginnings of our new home and starting his new assignment with Honeywell.) No time for a breather as we were off to Switzerland by mid-August. 

Traveling Home: Brussels 2010

Like previous summers, we break-up our trip home with a stop in Belgium to see Pamela and Henry. This is the first time the entire family was together for our summer trip - usually Maria and the girls head home earlier to get a jump-start on summer activities, while Steve is left to steam in the Dubai summer (with all the other bachelors in Dubai). For people interested in history and food, Belgium is a great place to visit. This summer Pamela planned a wonderfull two day adventure to Ypres, a lovely town in Flanders and the site of some of the most brutal battles of the Great War. We spent the two days taking a tour of the local cemetaries, trenches and museum. We observed the moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate - it was very moving. The comprehension of the purpose and magnitude of the event weighed heavily on all of us - Kate stopped to say a prayer.

The weather was fantistic - though got to be a bit on the warm side (warm for European and US standards - certainly nothing compared to Dubai). We enjoyed eating outside and taking in the fresh air and blue skies. Henry enjoyed 1kg of Mussels, a favorite food. We finished with a 4th of July barbeque with Pamela's friends.

Good Bye Dubai

After 2.5 years, we are leaving Dubai. It's hard to believe we've been in Dubai for as long as we have. The kids have grown in so many ways; their parents have too. It is a bittersweet departure for us. We leave behind so many good friends, colleagues, and those that helped make our lives easier. But we bring with us a better understanding of the Middle East, its people and the many cultures found there. We are comforted to know that for many of our closer friends, this is not the end of our friendship but simple a farewell for now. That is a difficult concept for Anna and Kate, who had to say good bye to BFF's Avery, Crosby, Hollis, Stephanie and Riley. But the world is getting smaller. Former Dubai friends Scott Grishom (Steve's travel buddy to Lebanon and Thailand) and Christi Miles are moving to Zurich in June.

We pray for Dubai, the Middle East, and the peoples living there. We have genuine affection for the Region and look forward to return to the Middle East to see the many of the people and places we grew to love.