Last skiing of the season?

The snow has started to melt in the mountains, so perhaps the last few weeks of skiing might be here already. We had an invitation to join friends in the mountains at their chalet this weekend in Obersaxen, but decided that just the boys would go as the weather has dramatically changed (the sun has gone again), so not much fun for the younger children hanging around waiting for their big brothers to finish their ski runs in the cold. And the boys had a great time! They stayed overnight in the chalet on Friday to get the quiet slopes in the morning. Up until now, Bea has only done the "blue" (beginner) runs, but progressed to the "red" (intermediate) runs with his friend this weekend, and had some good tips from his friend's papa (Swiss, and whose been skiing basically since he was walking). It was great fun for Bea to ski with a friend, and boosted his confidence as he's not much behind in ability. All was good, and we all got together for supper back in Zurich (fondue, of course).

Tennis knock around

Been amazingly hot all week. Summer-like heat for sure. Lucky for us in the school playground where Bea has his piano lesson, they've recently revamped the sports track and field area, which now has a rudimentary tennis court. No net yet, but a good surface and a marked court. So, we took the rackets with us, and after piano had a knock around. Bea was hot!

Construction

I thought my days getting rooted in the street watching big machinery with Bea (diggers, dumpers, dustbin wagons, tractors, road sweepers, etc. etc. etc.) were over (thankfully). But no. Got stuck again today watching mighty big machines. He could have stayed for hours I'm sure. . . . nothing better for me to do than take a piccie.

Visiting day

Visiting day for parents at the school today, here's a few pics from the morning. Interesting to see what they get up to.

Outside in the "pausi" (breaktime).

Bea is in the middle (blue shirt), hanging on the parallel bars.

Climbing the wall bars.

Back in the woods

The cheapskates visit to the zoo! This is the perimeter fence around the tigers, which is accessible from the woods in Zuriberg, where you can see the tigers closer than from inside the zoo. Adds another dimension to a regular Sunday walk in the woods.

Ili

Just a cute picture of Ili.

Lakeside

We headed down to the lake to enjoy the sunshine on the bikes/scooters this afternoon. It felt like summer, with the buskers — Bea enjoyed the little jazz ensemble — and of course ice cream!

Day off school, yippee!

A school training day today, so school was out, and as it weirdly feels like summer is here we spoiled ourselves this morning with a trip to the Zurich Thermal Spa (Hurlimann) which are housed in a renovated brewery. One of the Google headquarters are just next door (tough life for Goggle techies). The pools are pretty funky -- although debatable how much swimming you can do -- and have a mediation pool (no-one meditates while Bea and Ili are in there!), several barrel-type pools indoors that you can swim between, and the unique pool on the roof (you take the elevator up), so you can lounge in 35 degree water, taking in the views of the city, and today we really enjoyed the sun spending three hours dipping from pool to pool. Then in the afternoon we headed up to the woods in Zuriberg, I was looking forward to the Spring walk (saw plenty of birds, flowers, etc), but the kids were on a mission to bring back frogspawn and to check for any tadpoles. Bea loves the frogs, and there were ample of them croaking and spawning away! So, with Bea's little takeaway tub of frogs eggs safely back home, he'll be watching the life cycle of the frog again.

Outside the Hurlimann Spa, Zurich.

Better than school . . . .?

Cooling off, before jumping back in. . . .

The rooftop pool of the Hurlimann Spa, Zurich.

The indoor pools (there are three like this).
Bea is on the left sitting in the bubble jets.

Zuriberg woods, close to the "wald sofa"
where Bea's Kindergarten group used to visit.

Spot Bea and Ili up the top.

Collecting frogspawn.

Memory Lane.

In a whistle stop trip to Edinburgh, we stumbled by (weary from exhaustion, rather than inebriation this time) the first pub we took Bea into on the Shore. Many memories came flooding back of those precious first few months of Bea's early days.

Bit of a Sushi thing

We've a bit of a Sushi thing going on at the moment, and here's the beginning of a birthday supper spread (made myself). Chopsticks at the ready!!

Bang the drum

Ili's regular Monday morning music and singing class in Swiss German. I'm sure we both must have learned something by now!

Double birthday party

Both Bea and Ili were at friend's birthday parties this Saturday so were out most of the day. So, no pics. 

Roof picnic

Just chillin' on the roof before Bea's piano lesson. Perhaps he should have been practicing. . . he he he.

Kindergarten Application

Ili posting her Kindergarten application basically saying we won't be paying the thousands to attend a private or International school, but are happy with the one in our neighbourhood! It will be another landmark moment, and is only six months away!

Sunday in the Park

We all took our bikes over to Irchel Park (only 20 minutes ride away). Ili is digging her like-a-bike at the moment, and were blessed with sunshine on our first weekend back. Here's a cool pic of Bea on some stepping stones in the little lake in the park.