Bea went bowling, Ili to the museum

Bea was invited to a bowling alley with a friends (no pix), so he was out for the afternoon. Ili took a trip out on her bike — she's very good and super speedy already— and a trip to the museum with papa.

Jumping in the woods

Perhaps the last sunny day of summer when the lovely people at the garden put the Blasio (bouncy castle-type-thingey) up at the weekend for the kiddies?

Woods

Kindergarten still get the monthly visit up in the woods, and here's Ili (with a very proud brother) after meeting her in the playground. She was exhausted!

Bouldering Wall

Wednesday afternoons are free from afternoon school (for all Zürich kids). Last year we had piano slap-bang in the middle on the afternoon, so were always limited by what activities we could squeeze in. This term is different and Bea can head straight to piano after school swimming (literally across the road) and we have the rest of the afternoon free. This week, Chris took him to a climbing wall in town.

Girls in the garden

Took one of Ili's friends up to the garden today (they ended up in neighbouring Kindergartens — we hoped they'd be together), and I took Bea up separately after his afternoon school for some fresh air!

All fruity at the garden

Spent the weekend at the garden. Starting to get some apples now!

Late night at Theatre Spektakel

Took the boat across to Theatre Spektakel this afternoon — in fact jumped on the wrong boat, so ending up having a tourist trip around the lake beforehand . . . Doh! Sunny afternoon and warm evening out watching the free shows. A great fire juggler (who was actually English with some funny banter) was the star, although Bea loved the magician and he is still trying to work out how he managed to pull a ball out of Bea's head. At one point in the show it appeared the magician had stolen Frith's wallet, but all trickery. . .

Kindergarten going well

As the week has gone on, Ili has definitely settled in more to Kindergarten. After tears at the beginning, she's actually going with a smile on her face now. She loved the gym on Wednesday, and yesterday there was a cute moment as all the children from the Kindergarten and the school met in the main hall as a welcome event for all the new children. Bea saw Ili — Ili saw Bea, and they both had their individual stories to tell afterwards. Lovely to think of them at the same school. All the school and Kindergarten children decorated their individual flags (as they do at the beginning of every school year) which later hang above the school playground showing them to all be an equal part in the school. Here's a picture from mid-week outside the KiGa doors. This morning Ili walked with her little friend again, and they seemed to find all the cats possible in the neighbourhood, it's a surprise they ever got there.

Big brother and Theatre Spektakel

Bea is such a good big brother. Here he is waiting for Ili in the cloakroom (as was I obviously!) for her to finish her second day. Today it was a full day. Ili came out into the playground and burst into tears (her one friend there wouldn't play with her, so I guess she felt lonely — Oh, the tough life of a 5-year-old!), hopefully it will get better. The annual Theatre Spektakel is on by the lake, so we spend the afternoon there watching the free street theatre which although it's not the same quality as the Edinburgh Fringe, it's always worth a watch.

Ili's first day at Kindergarten (Kinski)

Back to school today for Bea after the summer hols and into second grade. All seemed to go well for him and he summed it up as "exhausting but fun". Ili too had a big day at the start of Kindergarten, although it was only for a short spell (10:30–12) and with parents in tow for backup. She seemed completely petrified, but convinced me that she understood what was being spoken — although like Bea's early days at Kindergarten she whispered not a word. Tomorrow is more of a test for her, as it's for the whole morning and without parental support. Good luck Ili!