More sights close to home

We love the city of Nyon. Not only is it where Pete works, but it is right on the lake and only a 15 minute drive from our house. On one of our last nights together before everyone left for the States, we decided to take the family there to look around and eat at one of our favorite restaurants, La Croix Verte. They have a French chocolate lava cake (called a moelleux) that is amazing.

Jeff and Marge

My parents, me, Charlene

Alexander girls

Charlene and Christina
Eating out at La Croix Verte

Christina and Marge

Papa Jeff and Ruby

Tommy enjoying some Hawaiian pizza

Alex went a little more French with his chicken cordon bleu

Henry walking the streets of Nyon with Papa Jeff

A view of Lake Geneva at sunset

Telepherique

Just across the border into France, you can ride a cable car (telepherique) up to Mont Saleve to get a great view of Geneva. After Alex's baptism, Pete took his parents along with Alex, Charlene and Tommy to try it out. Unfortunately for them, the view wasn't as clear as they would have liked due to the erupting volcano in Iceland. Nevertheless, they said the ride up was cool and the view was still pretty amazing.

Darn that volcano!

Tommy and Alex

Grammy Margie

Pete and his Dad

Charlene and Tommy

A view of the cable lines back down the mountain

Alex's Special Day

On April 17th, Alex was baptized in Geneva, Switzerland and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was such a great day shared with family and friends, including Alex's best friend from school that Alex invited. His baptism will be another reason why Switzerland will have a special place in my heart.

Besides the baptism and the confirmation, a highlight for me was Ruby singing a solo. You can listen to the song she sang here. Although she had practiced, when we arrived at the church that morning she was so nervous she told me she wasn't going to do it. Right before it was her turn, she whispered in my ear that she was fine and would go ahead with it. It was so sweet and I wish I had it on tape. Afterward she told me the reason she sang was because she wanted Alex to know that she loved him. Those are words that melt a mother's heart!

Alex with mom and dad

Our family before the baptism

Alex and his best friend Ethan

Alex and Bishop Mongillo

Alex and Tommy

Ruby, Tommy and Alex in front of our church building in Geneva

Tommy and Alex ready to take off their ties and play

the Pete Clayton family

Aunt Charlene, Tommy, Christina, Pete, Henry, Ruby, Alex, Mama Linda and Papa John

Grammy Margie, Christina, Pete, Henry, Ruby, Alex and Papa Jeff

Alex with his Clayton grandparents

Alex with his Alexander grandparents

A Swiss Dinner Experience

For a fun night out, we decided to take our family to the Edelweiss restaurant in Geneva. It is a huge tourist trap but it is really fun. They have traditional music and food including fondue and roschti. It was a late night for the kids since it doesn't open until 7pm, but they had a blast. I've included some videos below for your listening enjoyment.

Charlene, Tommy and Alex

Fondue, mmmm

Christina and Ruby

Serenading with the alpenhorn

It's not everyday you get to hear an accordion player

Henry taking a turn on the alpenhorn

Alex was quite good at it

Annecy take 5

We love the city of Annecy, France so every time we have visitors we take them there. On this trip we had Marge and Jeff (Pete's parents) along with Charlene, Tommy and my mom and dad. Missing in this picture is Marge who was our photographer for the day.

We happened to go on a day that they were having a street market. The produce was beautiful and Marge took more pictures than were possible to post.

Check out these huge artichokes

Tommy and Charlene with the prison in the background

Charlene and Christina

Christina and Papa Jeff

Papa John and Mama Linda

Papa Jeff and Grammy Margie

Christina and Tommy in front of the statue by the cathedral

Tommy in the doorway of the cathedral

Our first view of the cathedral without scaffolding

This yellow building is one of my favorites

The canal leading to the lake

Lake Annecy

Me and Mom

Me with my parents

Me with my in-laws

Papa Jeff and Grammy Margie