Keep on moving

Forgetful

Bea had a birthday party to attend today for Theodore—the little boy who looked after him in his first year at Kindergarten, Sorry Bea, but mama and papa forgot! I've made apologies to the mother, and we're arranging a special playdate (with present!)

Autumnal Art

Ili spent the morning with one of our new neighbours. Jonah has just turned two and besotted with Ili. Spent time out in the park this afternoon with a couple of friends from Kindergarten (and mothers), and we got creative with the autumn colours.

Christmas singing

Every week from now until Christmas, one of our neighbours is hosting a Christmas carol session in their apartment, so Bea and I went along this evening. Bea knows a few tunes already — I know none (Googled them all when we got back). All good German practice, which is just as well as our German teacher has quit on us (she's going back to Germany).

Leaning German Christmas Carols.

Piano progress

Here's the latest tune that Bea has been playing, which has four fingers played simultaneously. He has no problems learning new notes, and his teacher is happy with his progress—he just needs to do those 10 minutes per day. We can whiz back now that Bea has his new scooter and they are both on wheels. Double trouble!

Another day, another dance

Ili has her Tuesday music and dance session at 3:30, and Bea normally joins in for a while — along with other big brothers — before his group starts at 4:30. Here they both are . . .!

Post party

We took more birthday cakes in for the children's znuni (elevenses) today, and Bea looked absolutely exhausted and yawned his way through the morning. No big birthday ritual at Kindergarten (like last year), as they currently have a relief teacher as Frau Da Mutten is surfing in Hawaii for six weeks! I didn't think he'd make it to football this afternoon, but he was determined to go.

Birthday Boy

Wow. Can't believe Bea has turned six! He started his birthday morning hunting for the presents we'd hidden around the apartment, and he now has even more wheels (skateboard and new scooter) to whizz around on. Then onto party preparations and making the cake. He drew me a sketch of a three-teared, chocolate and vanilla cake, with a big number six —so that's what he got — and he helped me decorate it. Party was actually great fun, and we were able to have games here, and in the old apartment. Traditional party games (apple bobbing, musical cushions), with some local variations they play at Kindergarten, made it fun for all the kids, and they all enjoyed — no squabbles, problems, just lots of laughter. Bea had a ball!

A good reason to dance

Here's Ili doing a twirl in her new leotard. No frills, no lace — very cute.

Old friend

Antonia came over for a playdate this afternoon, and as Bea hasn't been seeing her on a weekly basis this term, they were both very happy to see each other.

Soon six

After Bea's fifth birthday party ending up with his friend breaking an arm, I wasn't overly excited at the thought of another. But on hearing him telling his friends on the way to school excitedly that he was soon to be six and was having a party, we had to get those last minute party invites out, and all eight invited agreed to come!

Night on the terrace

We're still loving the roof terrace, and after being out in the fresh autumn air on a manic scoot back from Bea's piano lesson (where he's still progressing very well), we all went up to the roof to see the city skyline.

Banging the drum

It's becoming noticeable now how Ili is starting to understand Swiss-German, and she has uttered a few short phrases lately. And she loves the singing! Here she is banging the drum to a song about an Affe (monkey) at our Tuesday Swiss-German singing group.

The Turnip Parade

It's not often you start the day carving turnips, but here in Switzerland it happens at least once a year in November. So this morning we created our own unique designs of 'vegetable lanterns' for this evening's parade whilst sitting on the hard floor in Kindergarden for a couple of hours. The best bit is, of course, after dark where Bea's school is the start and end point for several other local schools to meet, sing and walk — very slowly — through the local neighbourhood on the Räbeliechli Umzug. Unfortunately, one of Bea's lanterns dropped off the cart somewhere (minor pandemonium followed), but luckily we had another — phew! The Kindergarden children push the cart, and this year Bea was one of those keen enough to push it all the way round.

Neeps!

It's that time of year in Zurich when the turnip lantern parades start! By now, we're even starting to know the songs so we might be able to yodel along with the children tomorrow night as they have their school Räbeliechtli parade. It's actually quite cute, and a lot of fun for the little ones. Here's Bea and papa starting on their first lantern, and I will go to Kindergarden tomorrow with Bea to carve his Räbe for the Kindergarten lantern wagon.