Voetbal ( Football )

So we didn't get to watch the super bowl this year and we didn't get to see the world series or basketball finals. But that doesn't mean we have been deprived of sports we just had to change what sport we were watching. We just had to switch to Soccer (Voetbal). Tonight was the Euro Cup Football (soccer) championship. (For those that don't know I think America is the only place that soccer is called soccer, everywhere else it is called football). The Euro Cup occurs 1 time every 4 years. We happen to be luckly enough to get to experience it this year.



It has been full of excitement. Kaitlyn has been excitedly watching every Netherlands game and cheering them on. This soccer season was a lot of fun. The Netherlands was doing really well in the play offs. Everyone was watching the games. Every night they played and they scored a point all the neighbors would run out side and blow there air horns. Brian and I of course were new to the soccer traditions and at the first game of the season were unaware of what was going to happen and thought we could just go to bed like normal. But since the games start at 9:00 pm. We learned quickly there was no sleeping on game night so we quickly gave in and began watching too. Unfortunately, 2 weeks ago the Netherlands lost the Russians and got kicked out of the finals. The Russians lost to Spain who is played Germany for the Final tonight. Everyone says that Germany is always in the finals. My German friends set me straight tonight and said no, Germany has only gone to the finals 6 times in the last 30 or so years... Well if they play games every 4 years and they have gone to the finals 6 times that covers 24 years. So I think Germany is always in the Finals.



All of my Netherlands friends wanted to make it to the finals to play against Germany this year. I guess the last time they played against Germany in 1976 they barely lost and they are really upset about that. They say there are more people in the Netherlands mad at Germany about the 1976 game then they are about WWII.



Yes, I know soccer is thought of as a boring sport but you know it is really fun to watch when you are with everyone else. So tonight's game was Germany against Spain for the European Championship. We all went to Ulrike's house. She is a big German fan since that is her home country. The girls were so excited to be able to stay up late and watch soccer with their friends. I was torn and not sure who to cheer for since Ulrike was from Germany and my other friend Marta was from Spain. Spain won however. So Ulrike and Johannes (her husband) were very dissapointed. But now I can congraduate Marta tomorrow when I see her.



I have taken a few pictures of all of us together to share with you.

All the kids so Excited to watch the game.

All of us out side chatting.

All of the kids together for a photo.

Brooke being a Ham and getting attention from my friend Erna.

Brianna wanted a photo too and she is showing off her chips.

Everyone chatting (because the game was really slow no one was scoring they were both really good teams.)

Brianna Hanging out with dad.

Brooke is up to more Tricks. My friend Erna just for the record is a lot taller than Brian.

Brooke playing the drums to cheer on the German Team.

All of the kids are so tired and ready to go to sleep.

Anyways, that is some of our Dutch fun this week.