Summer Games 2008

Chamonix, France -- site of the 1924 Winter Olympics

Guess Who?

In an effort to help the kids learn the language, we bought a couple of Leapster and Leap Pad games in French. We also thought it would be fun to make them practice their french while playing Guess Who? A couple of days ago while I was folding laundry, this is what I heard:

Alex: Est-que tu a les cheveux jeune? (Do you have yellow hair?)

Ruby: Non! (With a very thick french accent)

Alex: Ruby, you don't have to play in french. You can speak English if you want to.

Ruby: Oh ok, then no!

summertime

A few days ago we woke up to a cold, grey day. After Pete left for work, I told the kids that it was probably going to rain and that we would be spending the day inside. They hustled down to the basement for some of their favorite imaginative play. About an hour later, after I put Henry down for his nap, I could hear their voices outside. I looked outside to see them dressed head-to-toe in their winter gear, boots and all. Can it really be August?

Gharst Mania

We were so excited to have Aunt Allison and Uncle Greg come to visit for a week...especially after such a sad end to our Paris trip. We definitely needed a boost and they delivered. Right off the bat they surprised us with the fabulous news that they are expecting a baby girl on Christmas day! Even though they waited almost 5 months to give us the news, I can't really complain because we received it in person.

Henry, Christina and Allison at the Botanical Gardens in Geneva
Alex enjoyed watching "Cars" with Greg

Ruby and Alex had so much fun. Allison and Greg included them in so many activities including cards, movies, wiffle ball, swimming at the pool....even cooking. While they were here we went to Nyon, Rolle, Morges, Annecy and Geneva for the annual fair. Luckily for us they put up with rainy weather, cranky kids and early morning wake-ups. Unfortunately, Pete was laid up with the stomach flu for a couple of days, but we made the best of it. We were all sad to see them go. As we drove away from the airport Alex said it best, "If it weren't for you mom, I wish I was going with them on the plane."

Ruby and Alex had their first taste of coconut milk-neither one of them liked it

(notice Greg and Allison in the background of each picture)

Ruby tries milking a "cow"
Alex had a little bit better technique
Alex and Ruby went with Pete on a few rides at the fair in Geneva

You can see that they are both braver than their mom

Alex update

There are 3 things I have learned since our trip to Paris:

1. It's not what you know, it's who you know.

Thanks to our friend Fredric for his knowledge of Paris hospitals.

2. Kids heal amazingly fast.

Thanks to my dad and brother for making sure the stitches came out when they needed to.

3. Men think scars are cool.

Thanks to all the males out there who have eased my mind on the subject and helped me realize what a cool kid I have.

2 days before

2 hours after

10 days later

3 weeks later
Alex told me he is probably going to be doing most of his smiles

with his mouth shut..at least until a couple of teeth come in.

Luxembourg Garden

Paris Day 1 continued.....after the Eiffel Tower we all met up for lunch and then headed across town to see Luxembourg Garden. It was about a ten minute walk to the metro station, a five minute metro ride and then a ten minute walk to our destination.

Alex and Ruby were so excited to take a train "under the city".
Ruby and Alex in front of the fountain "Marie de Medicis". She was the widow of Henri IV who had the palace and surrounding gardens built to replicate her childhood home in Florence.
Alex and "Flat Jake" in front of Luxembourg Palace

Henry and Pete Ruby-doo

As soon as Alex got his boat he asked, "Hey, where's the remote control?"
Once he got the hang of it he had a great time chasing it around the fountain.

Ruby had a turn too, but quickly lost interest.

Another view of the gardens

There is also a great playground for kids.

It was just like park day....only I couldn't understand what anyone was saying.

This picture doesn't look like much....
...but Alex had actually climbed to the top of an "Eiffel Tower".
Ruby tried her best...
...but Mommy had to save her.

Another cool European playground ride...unfortunately this was the end of our Paris fun.

Next stop: Necker Hospital

La Tour Eiffel

Day 1 in Paris started with a trip to the Eiffel Tower. Conveniently for those in our family who are afraid of heights, it was Henry's nap time when it was our turn to go to the top.

"I'm on top of the world lookin' down on creation ..."

Alex and Ruby loved being 1,000 feet above Paris with only this fence preventing them from playing Peter Pan -- Christina's worst nightmare.
Second Platform -- photo by Alex
Photo by Ruby

There is a post office on the first platform that post marks mail, "Paris Tour Eiffel". We thought this would be a memorable and cheap souvenir.
We will always have Paris.

Paris

We promised Alex and Ruby when we moved to Switzerland that we would take them to see the Eiffel Tower. We figured this summer would be as good as any, and so Pete took the week off and we headed to Paris. 6 hours, 2 movies, 3 leapster games, a 30 minute road detour and 1 lunch stop later we were there.

After about 2 1/2 hours of driving, we pulled over at a rest-stop to eat lunch.
One of our first views of the Eiffel Tower.

We stayed in a little hotel about a ten minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.

photo by Ruby
You'll notice the razor scooters that were brilliant at first but later turned the trip upside down.

Picnic dinner next to the Eiffel Tower for FHE

Alex: "How long would it take me to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower?"
Ruby: "This ice cream sure is yummy!"
photo by Alex