Vacation!

Happy Mother's day!!!

It was our first European vacation in four years. We really enjoyed it. We bombed down to Switzerland - the Volvo had no trouble coping with the autobahn. Didn't find the governed speed of the car...we topped out around 210kph. It only took us 8 hours in total to get there, and that includes a couple long stops.

We had a really nice time visiting Claire. Great food, beautiful town, walks in the mountains, and we didn't even get rained on although it was threatening for pretty much the whole time. The highlight of our time there was Naomi's birthday present. Claire made all the arrangements for a Camaro for the day! Naomi drove 272km in it, and some of the roads were pretty scary for her. My favorite wound around a beautiful lake in the mountains, a curvy James Bond like experience.

Claire also took us to a beautiful little monastery tucked into a canyon. It was a really cool thing to see - although the girls had more fun playing in the field of flowers nearby. On our way out of the country we stopped in Lausanne to visit one of my friends from the Peace Corps. It was fun to see him after so many years!

We spent a few nights in France. Found a really nice wooden house on the end of a road to stay on. It overlooked a beautiful little town. For some reason I am always surprised by how much better the food is there. Towards the end of the trip the girls were really ready to come home. It was a bit of a rough transition to come back into this country that shouts at you from the highway. Everything so much closer together, rude drivers, and bad food. It was good to be home though!

For the last few days we have been hanging out with some friends, enjoying the nice weather outside, and updating the website. Nice to reflect back on a year of projects!

Taking a break from the car tour around the lake.

Helping to make dinner.

Naomi's birthday present!

Cathedral in Nancy.

Playing in the field by the canyon monastery.

Cathedral in Nancy.

Climbing the cathedral tower in Claire's town, Solothurn.

Visiting a Swiss cheese factory.

Walking back from the canyon monastery.

Auntie Claire's baby-sitting skills. 

The view from the back of our house in France - sun came out as soon as we left Switzerland.

Time for goodbyes!

Cathedral in Nancy.

The only bit of sunshine we got in Solothurn. 

Naomi's birthday dinner at a yummy Greek restaurant.

Walking across the bridge in Solothurn. 

The view from the cathedral tower in Solothurn.

Sleeping on Auntie Claire's floor.

The canyon monastery.

The most recent update to the website.

Inside of the cathedral in Solothurn.

Our last dinner with Claire.

French raspberry pie.

The girls did great in the car!

A little coming home present.