Change

Recently my friend Kelly made a post on her blog entitled, "Shed a tear and then feel blessed". Although it is about a totally different subject, I am echoing her sentiments.

Last week we found out that we would be saying goodbye to this:

and returning to this:

It came as quite a shock since we weren't planning on moving until the end of the year and are expecting baby #4 in July. Moving is never easy, but with 2 months notice, 3 kids, a dad traveling every other week and 1 pregnant mom, it makes it even more complicated.

I have to admit that in the first few days there were a lot of tears. It's not that I'm not excited to be back with family and friends or to have some of the conveniences I have been missing. I'm sad because it's the end of another chapter in the book of my life.

It's hard to know that we will have to say goodbye to friends that we will probably never see again. It's made worse by the suddenness, especially for a person like me who avoids surprises and change at all costs. I will miss the beauty, the diversity and the simplicity that Switzerland has given our family. I know that this experience has changed me and our family for the good.

In less than two months, I will invite the movers into our house and we will begin to prepare for the next amazing adventure that will become part of our story. Like before, it will be filled with challenges and heartaches, but it will also be full of fun, excitement and happiness.

Until then, we will keep you posted as we finish what has been a crazy, wonderful ride. A bientot!

Blogging for Pete

While we've been living abroad, Pete has flown all over Europe for work. I'm always trying to get him to take the camera and blog about his travels. Unfortunately, he doesn't look at his trips in the same light. To be fair, he is usually working long days and it is unusual for him to be able to get out and see any part of the city he's in. Nevertheless, recently he had a trip that I could not ignore. I've decided to post about it even though it was a couple of months ago because honestly the pictures are cool and I wish I could have gone too.

In January, he ended up in Moscow for work. This was not just another work trip because his sister Heather and her family live there. Unfortunately, he was only there for a few days and didn't have too much time to visit with them. They were nice enough to meet him at his hotel (not close for them) and take him to Red Square and out to dinner so he could experience a little of the city. It was FREEZING cold and DARK and after hearing Pete's stories of his trip (for example: it took him about 2 hours to go 20 miles for a meeting), huge kudos to my sister-in-law for living there the past 3 years. She's a lot tougher than I am.

Abby, Allyson, Pete and Rachel in Red Square

A closer picture with Saint Basil's Cathedral in the background

Pete and Heather at the Starlite Diner

Finally

We have tried several times over the last couple years to visit Bern. It is less than 15 minutes from the Swiss temple, but every time we've been to the temple it's been cold and rainy. Until now. The last weekend in February we finally made it and it was beautiful. The weather was pleasant and Pete now has a new favorite Swiss city.

Christina, Pete, Henry and Ruby in front of one of the famous statues found around the old town of Bern

There are 11 of these throughout the city and they are all different.
You can check out some of them here.
Alex thought they were awesome and tried taking pictures of all of them.

Pete and the kids in front of the Rathaus (town hall)

A closer look at the cool clock on the front

Kirche St Peter-und St Paul

Alex, Pete and Henry on Kramgasse Street which houses an apartment where Albert Einstein lived from 1903-1905. It is now a museum.

Alex, Ruby and Pete with Munster in the background

Munster is one of Switzerland's great Gothic cathedrals

I though these doors were amazing

Henry at the front entrance of Munster

Alex took pictures of the gargoyles that he thought were really cool

The entrance to Munster has a depiction of the last judgment up top

Here you will notice the saved on the left and the "other guys" on the right

Alex pointing things out to Ruby and Pete. The kids were really engrossed in this.

The Zytglogge is the clock tower that was once used as a prison

Alex, Pete and Ruby in front of the Zytglogge

Pete and the kids on Marktgasse Street which is the city's main shopping district

Pete and the kids in front of the Federal Assembly building

Switzerland is represented by the initials CH. It took us a while to realize that stood for Confoederatio Helvetica.

The Swiss National Bank

Henry looking tired and done with Bern

The end of winter 2010?

With a few more snow storms, the kids had the chance to ski and sled a couple more days, thanks to a willing Pete. The first trip we took on a Saturday in February with just our family.

Pete and Henry

Pete doing most of the work

Henry giving up his skis to make snow bunnies as he calls them

Alex decked out and ready to go

Ruby figuring out the tow rope on her own

Our cute ski bunny

2 years and 2 feet apart

Alex calling it quits for the day

Alex

Ruby


Henry

Trip #2 was in March, and Pete accompanied two other dads and their children. It was snowy and cold (21 degrees) and afterward Alex and Ruby were ready to trade their skis in for spring weather and bikes.

Claire, Ruby and Elsa

Alex

Henry

Last trip up the hill

What happens when dads try to be kids
(our friend Mark)

Henry showing Pete how to sled without a sled

Thoughts on school

Recently I was reading an email thread from some friends in California about schools. They were discussing budget cuts to music and art, increased class size, fund raising, etc. As I read through these emails it suddenly dawned on me that in the not too distant future, I would be dealing with all of these issues. That's where the sadness came in.

I love the school here in Switzerland. I feel like my kids are getting the kind of education that I had when I was young. They go to the gym once a week to play games, but also to learn how to balance on a beam, climb a rope, use the rings, etc. They have music every week and the kindergartners even go to a dance/music class once a week. They have art once a week where they paint, draw, color and even sew. When's the last time your child came home from school with something like this:

What exactly is it? I'm not sure, but it makes a great holiday decoration. The best part is that Alex made everything on it. If you look closely you'll see that he:

Sewed this snowman, complete with buttons

Cut shapes out of wood, glued pieces together and then strung them together with wire

For crying out loud, there's even a real dried orange on here that he said they sliced up in class

Among other things, at school the kids have:
*made vegetable soup
*made bread
*gone sledding and ice skating
*gone hiking and had a picnic in the woods
*had swimming once a week at the town pool adjacent to the school
*put on a musical play complete with costumes and props that they made and painted themselves

As if all of that isn't enough, I love it that here they let kids be kids. The curriculum is structured so that until mid-2nd grade the kids aren't overloaded with homework. At recess the kids go outside and run around no matter what the weather, snow included. Here it's OK for teachers to hug their students or reprimand them without fearing a lawsuit. They do old-fashioned things like cursive and penmanship tests and Alex and Ruby have had to memorize many poems and songs. There is no such thing as the PTA or fundraisers.

Is it perfect? Of course not. I hate it that I can't take them out of school when I want. Later on down the road the kids are tracked into programs. At the young age of 12, some kids head down the college road while others take the garbage collector route. Insane? Definitely.

But for our family, at this point, it has been lovely. Alex and Ruby walk to and from school together and have become friends with all of the crossing guards. They have friends and get along great with their teachers. I've even grown accustomed to the kids coming home for lunch and I think I will miss it in the States (as will Alex and Ruby once they realize they have to eat sandwiches everyday for lunch). Hopefully I will appreciate the time we have left and gear up for all of the jog-a-thons and bake sales I have been missing. Oh, and is it too early to start collecting Box Tops?

Party time

We have come to discover that birthday parties are a big deal in our village. Not in the American (rent a small circus and have pony rides) way, more in the number and duration of the parties. Ruby and Alex seem to be attending countless parties all of which are a minimum of 2 1/2 hours. For example, this week Alex has a birthday party that begins at 11:45 am and ends at 5pm. Maybe it's just me, but I find that a little long. It's also amusing to me that the kids usually pass out the invitations at school whether or not everyone in their class is invited. Apparently nobody here is too worried about hurt feelings.

Alex and Ruby hate to miss these parties even though a majority of them are glorified play dates. After one party I asked Alex what he did for 3 hours. His answer, "We played outside on his swing set, played inside with his toys, looked at some books, and oh yah had some cake." They have done some interesting things like making bread and candles and as you can see from the picture, Ruby recently attended a party where the mom painted all of the kids' faces. I hate to be the party pooper in our family, but as Alex's birthday approaches I'm trying not to be pressured into throwing another party like last year. After all, I don't think too many 8 year old boys would find it amusing to play pin-the-baby on the mommy's belly. Like I said, maybe it's just me.

Birthday presents

Do you ever wonder what to get your children for their birthdays? Of course my kids are always asking for things, but in the back of my mind I'm usually thinking, "Will they even play with that for more than a week?" or "Is it worth the money?".

Ruby has always been rather easy to shop for because all she wants is things related to her babies: new outfits, bottles, strollers, carriers, etc. This year I think I've really outdone myself though. I'm not sure that I will ever be able to top this birthday present...unless she gets a new car for her 16th birthday which is highly unlikely. I know she will play with this gift and I know it is definitely worth the money. For her 6th birthday, Ruby will be receiving a...

...little sister!

In case you think I'm trying to pull a fast one on you (like last year), here is a really crazy ultrasound picture with no alterations. Our latest addition should be here on or around July 19th. With 2 boys and 2 girls, I'm starting to feel a little like Jerry Seinfield when Kramer declared that he was "Even Steven".