Melissa at our picnic spot It’s been another wonderful, low-stress week in Switzerland. The weather was perfect nearly all week, with temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s and clear skies.  The sky was so clear that I think this week has given us the best views of the Alps yet! Tuesday was such a nice day we just … Continue reading 19 April 2015 Update →

For the first time in a long time, we had an uneventful week.  The last few weeks have been busy with guests, planning a trip, and all the stuff that goes along with just having moved into a new apartment. It was all fun, but also a little stressful.  This week it’s been nice just … Continue reading 12 April 2015 Update →

When the Easter bunny comes to Europe instead of eggs he gives paid holidays: Good Friday and Easter Monday.  Melissa and I took advantage of the four day weekend to visit Stockholm, Sweden and the Lindholms: Olof, Catrine, Bjorn, Jacob, and Clara.  Back in 2007 Bjorn was an exchange student with the Johnsons.  Over the … Continue reading Easter in Stockholm →

It’s Tuesday.  Up until this last week I was doing well at getting my weekly updates posted every Sunday.  I think I have an OK excuse for this week though, because Melissa and I were gone from Friday until Monday visiting the Lindholms in Stockholm, Sweden.  It was a great trip and deserves its own post.  But … Continue reading 5 April 2015 Update →

Day One Wednesday March 18th our big group miraculously got ready and out the door in time to catch the 7:45 AM train to Paris.  It’s a 3 hour and 40 minute ride, that enters flat territory almost as soon as it leaves Switzerland.  If you don’t look too closely at the old buildings it looks quite … Continue reading Olson Visit March 18 to 21- Paris →

Tuesday March 17 the Olson’s visited Lucerne (or Luzern).  Like a lot of cities in Switzerland, there are different ways to spell it depending on the language.  The French and English way is Lucerne, while the German way (the language of the city) is Luzern. Our morning was slow and lazy for everyone except Melissa.  She had to go to … Continue reading Olson Visit March 17 – Lucerne →

This has been another busy week.  It started out with laundry day on Monday which only comes twice a month in our new building.  It took all day to get the eight loads we had built up through the one washer and dryer we are allowed to use.  A perk of our new apartment though is … Continue reading Kirsten’s Visit and 29 March 2015 Update →

Geneva On Sunday March 14th the good Catholics in the family woke up early, took a 15 minute walk to the city of Renens, and attended 8AM Mass.  The church architecture is a modern circular cement building; much different than the old ornate cathedrals we sight-see. The language is French, of course, but it doesn’t feel … Continue reading Olson Visit March 14 & 15 – Geneva & Alps →

Friday March 13th all the Olsons, my parents, three brothers, and one sister-in-law, came to visit.  After making the the trek from the Geneva airport to our apartment, we spent some time unpacking and I opened the “presents” they brought (two suitcases full of our stuff we just couldn’t carry with us when we moved). … Continue reading Olson Visit March 13 & 14 – Lausanne & Lavaux →

It’s been a whirlwind week of travel with the Olsons.  On Monday everyone, except Melissa, traveled to the town of Villars-sur-Ollons to ski in the Alps.  Melissa was a little nervous about her skill level, so decided to go to work instead.  She guessed correctly, the slopes had no skill level signs and were the steepest and … Continue reading 22 March 2015 Update →