Piano day — dawn to dusk!

Bea passed his second grade piano test this morning after a very early Sunday morning start (who schedules exams at 8.20 on a Sunday?), so it was no surprise that he collapsed during the concert tonight — we went to see the utterly amazing Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi who was playing in town. Bea somehow even slept through the raucous standing ovation, but he said he could hear it all with his eyes tightly shut — poor wee fella! Ili, however, was alert until the very end.

Sledging in Urnerboden

Finally got to the mountains for a spot of sledging today out at one of our favourite places — the 8km sledge run at Urnerboden near the Klausenpass! Yippee! Bea had his own sledge for the first time so it was extra funny! There's a video here and at the end of it you can see Bea's sledge start to slide away from him. Unfortunately I didn't capture the moment but Papa and Bea had to frantically run after it leaving Ili and I in stitches!

Nice spot for a picnic! And even at the top,
still not much snow.

At the top of the sledge run.

Why does snow taste so good!?

Ili much happier with her goggles — no snow
flying up in her eyes!

Bea's new sledge, with steering wheel and break.

At the bottom back in the valley —
and that's Ili in the background.

Piano concert

Bea was super nervous tonight, but he played both the Allegro and The Entertainer very well! He made a few mistakes due to his nerves I think, but his teacher was very pleased and said if he plays that well on Sunday (his piano test is at 8:30 in the morning! Yikes!) he'll have no problem passing his next grade. Bea was happy with how he did tonight too. Video now here on YouTube.

The boys wait their turn!

The mountains! The snow!

Well at least one of us four have made it to the mountains this month! Frith had a work's skiing day — with an instructor — to top up their ski skills at Andermatt.

Walking the old town - Zürich

Bea was at a friend's birthday party at a Freestyle Skatepark in the city here — which for a group of 9-year-olds meant that they took their two-wheel scooters or their skateboards and tried their luck with a few ramps and jumps. But all went well and the kids had a ball. Ili has a bit of an obsession with the city buildings as they are talking about Zürich and its history in kindergarten, so we took her to see the pretty Marc Chigall stained glass windows in one of the old city churches and wandered around having a lazy Sunday. We loved the chocolate shops getting ready for Easter already! The very Over-The-Top window decoration is outside Teuscher Chocolatier. 

Back streets of the old town, Zurich.

Spring flowers, summer fruiting lemons,
and winter pine!

Outside Teuscher's — a bit over the top?

Chocolate too pretty to eat.

Ili and Papa in the old town (this is not Bea in the pic).

Making an igloo

Snow on the ground in the city and winter is well and truly here. Bea and Ili have started making an igloo on the roof terrace.

Visiting day at Kindergarten

Open doors at Kindergarten today so Frith and I got to see what Ili get's up to.  The picture with papa is Ili with her weaving loom. Lots of emphasis on handcrafts, songs, and games.

First sledging of the year

We had planned to day trip to the mountains this weekend but only managed a little city sledging (weather not good enough in the hills!). Kids enjoyed it all the same.

Feeding the frozen birds

Birds soooo hungry and frozen they were feeding out of the kiddies hands!