Maria

Not sure if I've mentioned it on the blog, but since February this year Ili has spent time with a Swiss-German babysitter, Maria, every Monday morning for an hour, and then again on Tuesday morning where another mother and I share Maria and both girls play together (all in Swiss-German). Ili loves Maria, and hid her shoes so she couldn't leave the other week! It's all to help with her language before Kindergarten. And was such a nice day, I skipped my German evening class and we had dinner out at the new garden. The kids love it there and have already seen lizards, slow worms (blind snakes), grass snakes, birds  . . . .

Back outside

Recently felt like we've been in winter hibernation again, but the sun came back this week and many of the kids have been back out in the Hof to play. Ili is still a little shy (due to the language), but she loves Tilia (left) who should be in her Kindergarten class (and we find out which Kindergarten Ili will go to in a few weeks).

New allotment!

We've got a new allotment! It's up on Zuriberg not far from the edge of the forest where we've wanted one for some time, so offers much more space for the kids to explore. And it has a little hut, so we've somewhere to dine out! Yippee! Took Frith and Ili to see it for the first time tonight (Bea and I inspected it yesterday), and everyone loves it! It already has lots of soft fruits, a cherry and a plum tree.

St Gallen and the kittens

We spent most of the day at friends in St Gallen, which is about an hour from Zurich near Lake Constance (they moved out of town to get a house with generous garden), and the highlight for the children was definitely the week-old kittens they had. They were totally potty about them, Ili in particular couldn't put them down.

Saturday circus then pedalo

There was a free elephant performance early Saturday morning at the circus in the center of town, and the kids were keen to go. They loved it, we found it horrendous. It's no life for an elephant. Never again. Luckily, it was a beautiful day so we walked lakeside and took a pedalo out on the lake which was infinitely better. The kids did a spot of tree climbing after by the lake too. In the evening we had a joint birthday party of friends turning 50! Wow, we felt old.

Hair one minute. . .

Time for the snip!

Easter egg treasure hunt -

More France pix to come later . . . .

France - Easter and spring break

Arrived in France for the spring break! Garden was overgrown, but all good for lizard and insect spotting for the kids. Took breakfast in the village cafe the first morning, which has now been taken over by a French couple (previously managed by English), so has a more authentic atmosphere.

Rock hopping Friday

It's the second Friday on the trot we've headed down to be by the lake in this wonderful weather. I tried to tempt the children to have a pedalo ride with me, but they refused. I'll work on them and we'll have one soon though! We lazed away the whole afternoon watching boats, ducks with ducklings, grebes diving and and spending a good time paddling and rock hopping. We took supper by the lake, and while I was happily sinking a few Friday beers, Bea kept disappearing up a yew tree. Then more ice creams, park . . . . and was dark when we got home.

Watching the pedalos going out.

Rock-hopping.

 

 

Our most favourite, well-frequented
Italian ice-cream stall by the lake.

Lakeside supper. French fries, of course!

Spot Bea up a yew tree.

Thursday Spielgruppe

Ili has been able to play outside a great deal with her Spielgruppe this spring, it's been great. Here's she is with a few of the others girls in her group making a flower-coated sandcastle.

Playing chess

Another sign that Bea is growing up too fast, when he starts playing chess with his friends at lunchtime! 

Friday lakeside

It's been a few weeks since our last jaunt along the lake and it was another perfect day for it today. The mere mention of our favourite Italian ice-cream wagon is enough to tempt the children and send them grabbing their bikes/scooters. This time, not so many buskers to entertain us, but we met a cool guy creating enormous bubbles which amazed Bea and Ili. He was selling the kit so we bagged one, and we've been big-bubble-making too this weekend.

Bea on the bouldering wall by the lake.

New clothes!

Speaks for itself!

Up a tree

It was an insane 21 degrees here today (uh, it's Spring?), and here's Bea up a tree in the shade cooling off after piano.

Sledging in Urnerboden

Amazing summer-like weather this week! But no lazy Sunday for us today, as we headed out to the mountains close the famous Klausen Pass to see if there was enough snow for a final sledge (didn't take skiis, but wish we had). We went to a small village called Urnerboden, with a tiny cable car to ship us up to the start of the 8km sledging run down. Up the top it was stunning with views for miles, and we just hung out while the kids messed (and ate) the snow and spotted animal tracks in the snow. Snow was still quite deep at the top, but as the day went on, it was melting fast so the sledging down was pretty hard work at times. More walking, pulling, and crashing than effortless gliding down. Stopped lots on the way down just to enjoy. Probably the last snow trip of the season?

The very old cable car up!

Just a few meters from the top (and only) station.

Bea on a grassy patch. No Alpine flowers yet. . .

The start of the sledge run.
Only saw three others sledging, and a
handful of skiiers all day.

The start of the snowman.

And it gets bigger, and bigger . . .

That's Bea, sliding down the bank. . .

Not sure what Frith was trying to prove!

Back down at the bottom again.

Bea trying to make an iceberg float downstream.