Stormin' Normandy

We decided to test out Tate's traveling abilities to make sure she really is our child....turns out, she is. We hit the road on our 7 hour journey to Normandy, France with Tate passed out in the car, and managed to make it with only 2 pitstops...thanks to Tate's love for Vitamin D drops (dutch recommend 10 a day). We called the charming town of Honfleur home for 3 nights. A special treat was dad meeting up with us from his 4-day blitz tour of the UK. We toured Omaha Beach (one of several D-day beach landing spots) and American Cemetery - all too powerful for words. Here are a few facts to remind you of the intense planning and sacrifice that went into D-Day (June 6, 1944):

• British, Canadian, American and Commonwealth troops.
  
• 4,000 ships in the fleet
  
• 5,800 bomber planes
  
• 4,900 fighter planes
  
• 153,000 troops


• 20,000 vehicles
  
• 11,000 casualities
  
• 2,500 dead
  
  Now that's intense ... and they did it with no email or cell phones. Blows my mind how they pulled it off. On the way back home, we wanted to make sure Pop got a taste of Belgium, so we stopped over in Ghent to stuff our faces with the best waffle in the world. Click here for some pics.

Hello Tate!

We did it ... had ourselves a baby. Tate Sierra Willis joined us at the crack of dawn on August 13 (no, it wasn't a Friday). She weighed in at 6.7 pounds, and about 19 inches tall. After a longer than expected stay in the hospital due to blood infection, we were overjoyed to bring her home to our sun filled apartment 4 days later. She's now happy and healthy and rapidly gaining weight in attempt to catch up in size to the larger dutch babies.

Thanks to the help of a dutch provided nurse the first week and Gene taking advantage of dutch parental leave benefits with a month off, we're adjusting well to the day in life of babyville (or as Gene calls it, Diaperland). We're loving watching her grow, make weird faces at us and sleep through every loud noise that happens outside our apartment. She's actually a huge fan of being outside, even conquered the tram (public transport) perfectly.

Here's some link to many pics - we're trying our best to keep them limited to the best ones to keep you coming back for more:

Click here for Week #1

Click here for Week #2

Click here for 1 Month

Lovin' Summer

Ireland - Gene took a quick weekend trip to Dublin to visit good friend Brian (aka Ireland) and his fabulous wife Kate. 24 hours to catch up over some fine Irish brews and tour the city.

Ijburg - Who knew that in Amsterdam there was a little beach front property ... we're a bit slow and finally discovered this little North Sea cove, complete with a funky Bohemian restaurant for dinner. Only 15 minutes by car (big day for us, rental)

'Lil Willis - Most of the summer has been spent enjoying the sun in Amsterdam (yes, that's right people, we have sun - even got ourselves tan!) and hanging out with friends and visitors. The little Willis is expected very soon ...Aug 21 is the big day. Pic is at 37 weeks - lots of baby going on there!