Sue, we'll be seeing you soon

What's the connection: Where to begin with Sue? We bonded immediately my first few months in Portland after discovering we both lived in Sevilla. At the same time, she bonded with Geno in a whole separate world. (It took us a few months to figure out we kept talking about the same Sue.) And now, look out Croatia - we're all coming in June!

Why the visit: Well, thanks Nike setting up their European headquarters here, we end up with many cool visitors that we pretend are just her to see us. Sue is one of those. While Geno was gone for work, it worked in my favor cause I got more bonding time.

Switzerland in Town

What's the connection: Annette was a brave 16 year-old who ventured over from Switzerland to study abroad ... in Reedley! Boy did they trick her when she marked "United States" on the application. But lucky for our family, she spent a fabulous year with us.

Why the visit: Annette is now living back in Berne, Switzerland (and is laywer, wow!) and always takes any opportunity to travel with her fiance Marc. It was her first visit to Amsterdam and they covered more ground in 3 days than we have ... even checked out the Tulip Gardens outside the city. Great for us to meet Marc since we're off to their wedding in May - we approve!

Finally, a friend tall enough to be Dutch

What's the connection: Met in Portland, but as a fellow suthana' (Jaime's from Kentucky) there was an immediate connection. Her husband Matt is a great dude, and if they decide to have kids together, they will eat every other kid on the playground for lunch.

Why the visit: Jaime too works for the Swoosh and was in Amsterdam for the week we were in Portugal, but we had one night together where we grabbed some messy ribs to eat, and then tried to go to a bar that was supposedly had a bluegrass band, which is is just slightly less rare than a baseball game in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, we got the address wrong, way wrong - but that's another story.