tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69611868878232509532024-03-19T04:11:56.097+01:00Our Swiss AdventurePatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16209779424558010312noreply@blogger.comBlogger822125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-76820042782756343612010-07-25T06:37:00.003+02:002011-03-13T05:57:39.155+01:00A Perfect Piece of TimeOur new blog can be found at <a href="http://www.aperfectpieceoftime.com/">www.aperfectpieceoftime.com</a>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-86186291304319739752010-07-22T05:45:00.005+02:002010-07-22T05:57:09.697+02:00Catching up: Stop in Milan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4748968928_e24db45913.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4748968928_e24db45913.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4748331377_4151f7e3c6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4748331377_4151f7e3c6.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4748969562_b99b3bdbeb.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4748969562_b99b3bdbeb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Via train, Milan is halfway between Morges and Venice, so on the way home Pat and I made a very quick stop there before heading on to Morges. Tickets to see the <a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/milan-santa-maria-delle-grazie-last-supper">Last Supper</a> were all sold out and it was quite rainy, so we just went to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Cathedral">cathedral</a> and then to <a href="http://www.peck.it/">Peck</a> for some cheese (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrata">burrata</a>--yum!) and miscellaneous other treats. The inside of the cathedral felt very dreary and grim to me, though perhaps that was partly due to the weather? But the top of the cathedral was amazing, and we had a lot of fun wandering around up there.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-16304181543557042112010-07-20T19:55:00.000+02:002010-07-21T03:56:46.901+02:00Catching up: Venice (sans enfants!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4751860056_a0d5dcc101.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4751860056_a0d5dcc101.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />While Pat's parents were here they gave us the fabulous opportunity to spend a few days away without the children. When Pat and I had first talked about doing this, months before the moving madness began, it had seemed like such a good idea. By the time the dates for this trip rolled around I felt traveled out and I was sorely regretting having planned a trip to Venice so close to our move back to the States. But because the tickets were booked and I knew I'd probably regret it later if we didn't, we went anyway. And sure enough, looking back now, I'm so glad we went.<br /><br />It was hot, humid, rainy at times, crowded, and sooo touristy. But it was also beautiful, and amazing, and <span style="font-style: italic;">fun</span>. We got to eat at restaurants, wander the city later in the evening, indulge in gelato at least three times a day (okay, that was just me. Pat was more restrained in his gelato consumption), and even took a cheezy gondola ride, which felt exactly like a Disneyland ride for grown-ups. I was actually able to read a little about the art and architecture we saw, though I still didn't fully understand or appreciate it. My photos seem a little bit empty to me without the children, but it sure was nice to take as many photos as I wanted, when I wanted, and at as leisurely a pace as I wanted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4757617401_541f8fbfd3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4757617401_541f8fbfd3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4757422253_17dd478f44.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4757422253_17dd478f44.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4749945508_a2a192a2df.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4749945508_a2a192a2df.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4812095072_93e3f0b70a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4812095072_93e3f0b70a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4811593185_cbfc1643a2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4811593185_cbfc1643a2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Even though much of Venice was sadly over commercialized and overcrowded, in looking back over my photos I've realized that in the middle of all that there were still many completely enchanting corners.<br /><br />Thanks so much, Ann and Mike, for watching the kids for us. I know we all had a great time!<br /><br />More photos on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyfrances5/sets/72157624268966979/">Flickr</a>!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-53293839025005286292010-07-20T13:27:00.003+02:002010-07-20T13:55:12.745+02:00Catching up: Visit With Grammie and Bumpa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4811469151_33719015eb.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4748332733_93eb0ede4b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4748332733_93eb0ede4b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Pat's parents came to see us one last time in Switzerland at the beginning of June. I've just realized that the memory card that holds many of those photos (and others, like the trip my little sister and I took to Paris) is not with me. I hope that it is with all of our other stuff on the boat somewhere. Anyway, so I don't have many photos of the very nice time we had with them.<br /><br />We did one day trip to Zermatt, in hopes of getting a glimpse of the Matterhorn before we left. Unfortunately it was behind clouds the whole time, so it turned out to be another one of the gazillion Switzerland things we had to leave undone. But fun was still had--a scenic train ride, riding the cable car, hot chocolate at the top, sausages for lunch...good times. You might notice that we seem one short in the photos. This is because Muriel stayed behind with our babysitter, Audrey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4811469151_33719015eb.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4811469151_33719015eb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4812092022_3bdc37986b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4812092022_3bdc37986b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4812092448_7b1eb2b5bd.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4812092448_7b1eb2b5bd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4748912362_510297685b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4748912362_510297685b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-73744035173260537282010-07-05T05:52:00.000+02:002010-07-05T05:53:01.926+02:00iPhone Images From Our Last Days in Switzerland<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/4730549463_bae8f97c1d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 371px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/4730549463_bae8f97c1d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">view from our hotel</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4760867867_3975d9f149.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4756909853_9b0c73b1c3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4756909853_9b0c73b1c3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rowan and Niamh with our lovely babysitter, Audrey<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4761255511_9046417dfe.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4761255511_9046417dfe.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1106/4730499883_d662ac9c8e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1106/4730499883_d662ac9c8e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">napping in the hotel</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4757570234_5c858ea703.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4757570234_5c858ea703.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">R. in front of our hotel, the <a href="http://www.hotel-mont-blanc.ch/">Mont-Blanc</a></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4760867867_3975d9f149.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4760867867_3975d9f149.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">the street our old apartment was on</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1065/4730491531_5bda072004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1065/4730491531_5bda072004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Muriel, Zoe, and Niamh</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4754013493_85f30fa64c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4754013493_85f30fa64c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">playground antics</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4754655992_b11eae59bc.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4754655992_b11eae59bc.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rowan with Julie, a friend from school</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4761240347_01cf366f82.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4761240347_01cf366f82.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">goodbye</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Though our Swiss Adventure is over, this blog isn't quite done, as my big plans to get completely caught up before we left failed. So stay tuned!<br /></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-81693504385841743172010-07-04T22:03:00.005+02:002010-07-04T22:34:00.565+02:00Last Saturday in SwitzerlandOn Saturday we went to the market in Morges and got some snacks for the kids before taking the train to Lausanne.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4760978685_e568726e94.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4760978685_e568726e94.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After making a few farewell stops (chocolate shop, toy store, <a href="http://www.laduree.fr/">Ladurée</a>, chocolate shop), we took the metro down to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouchy">Ouchy</a> and caught a boat back to Morges.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4759470122_5441c9fe9a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4759470122_5441c9fe9a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4761635414_ab1185746b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4761635414_ab1185746b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4760991781_5161415c53.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4760991781_5161415c53.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">a view of Morges we didn't often see<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Then in the afternoon our friends, the Girardins, drove all the way from the Jura for one last visit in Morges with us. It was so nice to see them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4758840693_62eb782d4b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4758840693_62eb782d4b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4758842299_d517732ce2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4758842299_d517732ce2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-40751533912160150662010-07-01T19:55:00.006+02:002010-07-01T20:52:10.013+02:00Goodbye Apartment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4752424240_500874df34.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4752424240_500874df34.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />As I write this there is likely a new family getting settled into our apartment. We had our inspection and handed over the keys yesterday, and I believe the new family was to move in today. It feels so strange!<br /><br />The inspection went pretty well, with only one thing I feel we are being unfairly charged for (the paint on the ceiling above our shower is peeling). But even that is not a big deal, because apparently it's standard that insurance covers most damages to the apartment. <br /><br />I do not know if it is like this in other European countries, but in Switzerland your apartment/house is supposed to be in pristine condition when you move out. We have heard horror stories of landlords going through with white gloves, counting dents in the floor, or even requiring that the entire apartment be refloored. With that in mind, most expats hire a cleaning service to get the job done. Do most Swiss as well? I don't know. I have been wondering if there's some sort of racket going on to take advantage of harried expats who don't have the energy to fight.<br /><br />Anyway, It cost us 1,700 CHF ($1,600) to have our four bedroom apartment cleaned. This did not include the window blinds. They would have been an extra 200 CHF. I was not there when Pat got this quote and decided that cleaning the blinds would be easy, and we could do it ourselves, no problem. He bristled when I got angry at this, and insisted I wouldn't have to worry about it, he'd do it all by himself. In retrospect, I believe I can safely say he's learned<br />a) in regards to cleaning, one should listen to the person who does the majority of the cleaning in the family (AKA <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>)<br />b) ten hours of cleaning blinds in the midst of relocation madness is worth 200 CHF<br /><br />From other families we have heard of quotes ranging from 1,500 CHF to 4,000 CHF, so I guess all in all it's not too bad, if you look at it as just another part of the exorbitant cost of living in Switzerland. And the apartment really was spotless when I went back to look at it one last time yesterday morning.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-55778122719988621702010-07-01T14:48:00.003+02:002010-07-01T20:53:45.573+02:00Quiet Time at Hotel Mont-Blanc...not so quiet:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rv3Xkt4O1jo&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rv3Xkt4O1jo&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />have just been informed that "adan" (aidan? adam?) is a boy at niamh's school who speaks english. hmmm...i didn't know that any of the kids there spoke english.</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-84762971240396788812010-06-30T13:18:00.002+02:002010-06-30T13:27:56.864+02:00Morges Book ClubMonday was my last time going to the Morges book club. In fact, it was not only my last time, it was also two other members' last time as well, and we are all leaving within days of each other. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4748382764_49e206ab1a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4748382764_49e206ab1a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4745840706_d203436cb1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4745840706_d203436cb1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It was a great evening with talking, eating, and drinking wine late into the night. I will definitely miss being part of such a nice group! More pictures are on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyfrances5/sets/72157624389788468/">Flickr</a>.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-39792767649539995562010-06-29T21:30:00.008+02:002010-06-29T22:00:59.740+02:00End of the Year Spectacle (the sequel)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4746769386_d8f092e6eb.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4746769386_d8f092e6eb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Last night Rowan had another end of the year spectacle at school. The first one happened when my sister, Georgia, and I were in Paris. I was so sad to have missed it, so was glad that they had another one. The first, that I missed, took place in Ro's classroom, and was only his class. This one involved the entire school. He was so nervous that he ordered Pat and the girls to stay home, and only allowed me to come. In spite of his fears he did really great, and there were no tears at this one, like there was at the last.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here are a couple of not-so-good videos, for those who are interested:<br /></div><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDw9qhyd2gk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDw9qhyd2gk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CGY-neiG6IM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CGY-neiG6IM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4746757046_17b8a5c469.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4746757046_17b8a5c469.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Afterward he and I celebrated with some ice cream at the stand across the street from our hotel</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4746067243_7c11480157.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4746067243_7c11480157.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4746086867_4b3ef371e2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4746086867_4b3ef371e2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4746715312_b9d2f8fe76.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4746715312_b9d2f8fe76.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Three cheers for a successful evening!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There are a few more photos up on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyfrances5/sets/72157624261273591/">Flickr</a>. <br /></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-20954958352214274142010-06-27T19:32:00.012+02:002010-06-28T05:13:41.370+02:00Catching Up: Neuschwanstein & Playmobil FunParkIn May (Really? Only May? This trip seems ages ago.) we took a road trip over the Ascension holiday to Neuschwanstein and the Playmobil FunPark.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle">Neuschwanstein</a> was fun to see, though it did rain the whole time we were there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4627593846_d97f4d90e0.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4627593846_d97f4d90e0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It was also one of the most touristy places we have visited. The courtyard was packed and there were tours going through at very regular intervals. In fact, I don't think there could have been more than five minutes between tours because Rowan and I stopped for a couple of minutes to linger over the "cave", and in that short time the next tour caught up to us and we'd lost our tour group.<br /><br />Anyway, in preparation for our visit Rowan and Niamh (mostly Rowan) watched <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chitty-Bang-Full-Screen/dp/0792839749/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1277660876&sr=8-1">Chitty Chitty Bang Bang</a> and read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Ludwigs-Castle-Germanys-Neuschwanstein/dp/1597160024/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277659869&sr=1-2-spell">King Ludwig's Castle</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-His-Castle-Neuschwanstein-Architecture/dp/379132487X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277659869&sr=1-3-spell">The King and his Castle</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Biestys-Castles-Meredith-Hooper/dp/B000KHXC3A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277660594&sr=1-1">Stephen Biesty's Castles</a>. I recommend <span style="font-style: italic;">The King and his Castle</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Stephen Biesty's Castles</span>, but was not so impressed with <span style="font-style: italic;">King Ludwig's Castle</span>. But I'm afraid that not having looked at them in a while, as well as not having them on hand, I can't get more detailed on the books than that! One or more of the books mention the King Ludwig loved the story of St. George and the Dragon, and at least one of them had a picture of the wall in the castle on which a mural of St. George is painted. So knowing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saint-George-Dragon-Margaret-Hodges/dp/0316367958/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277661170&sr=8-1">that story</a> definitely helped keep Ro interested while touring the castle. But even with all our preparation, I'm afraid that the children's favorite part was probably not <span style="font-style: italic;">seeing</span> the castle, but riding in a carriage up <span style="font-style: italic;">to</span> the castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/4625639981_aaa29f276d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/4625639981_aaa29f276d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In fact, poor Neuschwanstein was not even the 2nd star of the show, because everyone's favorite part of the weekend was the <a href="http://store.playmobilusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Link-Page?cid=START_ZIRNDORF">Playmobil FunPark</a>. Though the kids haven't been exposed to much Playmobil yet, Pat has very fond Playmobil memories, and was quite interested in going. It is a three hour drive from Neuschwanstein, and five hours from Morges. Because of the amount of driving involved we'd decided not to go, until my friend <a href="http://ourswissadventure.famillemccann.net/2010/05/random-things.html">Laurie</a> visited. Before coming to Switzerland, she and her children had stopped at the FunPark, and she couldn't stop raving about how wonderful it was for young children. When she pointed out that it was also the only one in the <span style="font-style: italic;">entire</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">world</span> (none of the other parks have the outside play areas, which is really what made it all worthwile), we were convinced.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4626291992_f5512e2689.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4626291992_f5512e2689.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I took a lot of photos at the park, but in looking back over them, I feel that I did not do a good job at all of capturing the park as a whole. It was huge, and there was just so much for the kids to do. There are no rides like at Disneyland, it was instead more like a giant playground, Playmobil-style. I wish we could have stayed for one more day. Thanks Laurie, for talking us into it!<br /><br />More photos from our trip can be found, as always, on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyfrances5/sets/72157623984056529/">flickr</a>.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-83404306335383083772010-06-26T22:00:00.005+02:002010-06-27T20:37:06.192+02:00Packed Up<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/4731128034_0981c9f042.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/4731128034_0981c9f042.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">a few select items waiting to be boxed up for the air shipment<br /></span></div><br />The movers finished packing up today and the apartment is almost empty, except for a few items we still need to take to the hotel and very large herd of dust bunnies.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4735929351_f5273ae3aa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4735929351_f5273ae3aa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Niamh was too tired to be bothered by dust bunnies (the photo has been carefully framed to hide them), and took a nap on the bare floor. She's been running a fever all day. Rowan had it first on Monday night, then Muriel got, it. Fingers crossed that it stops at Niamh. She seems okay as long we keep up the children's motrin.<br /><br />This afternoon I took the kids to the beach, leaving Pat behind to work on the apartment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4736591534_fff25cfa78.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4736591534_fff25cfa78.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4736596284_5eb3fb5bf9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4736596284_5eb3fb5bf9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Niamh obviously feeling much better</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But by dinnertime Niamh was burning up, and was sick enough that she not only didn't eat dinner, but couldn't even manage ice cream afterward. So I took Ro and Muriel outside the hotel for some ice cream while Pat stayed behind with Niamh.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4735944407_5a96588948.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4735944407_5a96588948.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4735962667_7746da38ac.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4735962667_7746da38ac.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rowan showed Muriel how to walk through the sprinkler puddles, leaving footprints like a dog. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4735968427_79f1d44f10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4735968427_79f1d44f10.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I have to say that this all looks fairly idyllic from the photos, but the reality has not been so much fun. Sick kids, Muriel not sleeping at night, living in a hotel, moving stress, and Rowan throwing the worst tantrums I have ever seen every thirty minutes or so, all have me looking forward very much to putting this all behind us.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-80550672642345764472010-06-20T08:04:00.003+02:002010-06-20T12:43:52.374+02:00Goods ShipmentEmily and I are trying to get a bit organized before the movers come to pack everything on Thursday. They will return on Saturday to load the truck. The air shipment will travel via Zurich and should arrive in Loveland on July 12th. I don't understand why it takes so long if traveling by air.<br /><br />Our sea shipment will cross the ocean aboard the <a href="http://www.cma-cgm.com/ProductsServices/ContainerShipping/VesselFleet/Vessel_Cma_Cgm_Rossini_9280639.aspx">CMA CGM Rossini</a>. The ship will depart Bremerhaven on July 4th and should arrive in Houston on July 27th. Customs clearance and delivery should occur by August 13th. Anyone want to take bets on when it will actually arrive?Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16209779424558010312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-47664475111807092472010-06-09T06:03:00.002+02:002010-06-09T06:09:09.199+02:00Niamh's PistolThe kids made lego pistols today. Niamh's can be seen below. The picture was taken prior to adding the trigger guard, but after adding the pilot.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xhPVz50pG9Y/TA8SwYm9tAI/AAAAAAAABpw/pqnYGzW1HOg/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480619893982082050" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xhPVz50pG9Y/TA8SwYm9tAI/AAAAAAAABpw/pqnYGzW1HOg/s400/IMG_0227.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16209779424558010312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-88300260195569545772010-06-02T13:47:00.002+02:002010-06-02T13:56:15.257+02:00Rental in Loveland<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 375px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4662416465_c1725b5df3.jpg" border="0" />We submitted an application for a rental house yesterday and should hear back sometime on Thursday. <br /><br />The rental market for larger houses is very tight here. Agencies were calling and cancelling our appointments all morning, as their houses were now off the market. The general hypothesis is that people are being kicked out of their house due to foreclosure and are now looking to rent.<br /><br />The house we are moving into has four bedrooms, three of which are fairly small. Rowan and Nimah might end up in bunk beds. The backyard is currently only partially fenced, but the agency indicated they would fence the rest if we asked them to. <br /><br />The house is located <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3298+williamsburg,+loveland,+co&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.978077,89.384766&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=3298+Williamsburg+St,+Loveland,+Larimer,+Colorado+80538&t=h&z=16">here</a>.Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16209779424558010312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-11192149387345283762010-05-24T05:49:00.007+02:002010-05-24T07:44:19.987+02:00Niamh Turns FourNiamh turned four years old yesterday!!!! She had a good day, I think, marred only by the fact that Pat had to leave at 8am to catch a flight to the States. So we had cupcakes for breakfast! Her favorite part of the day was probably getting her beloved pink scooter, which she has been wanting for well over a year. We did go to the park with it for a bit in the morning, but she spent most of her day on the balcony with her scooter, talking away to herself the whole time. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4633871587_33a1aff788.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4633895657_dce8710cd2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4633895657_dce8710cd2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4633887589_07ed74903f.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4633887589_07ed74903f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4633902043_f5a488054d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4633902043_f5a488054d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/4634478210_8fa79d623b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/4634478210_8fa79d623b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4633871587_33a1aff788.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4633871587_33a1aff788.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4633855335_ddd76b3133.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4633855335_ddd76b3133.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-3198783529576243232010-05-13T04:56:00.008+02:002010-05-13T06:24:28.391+02:00Random ThingsThe whirlwind before our departure from Switzerland has started, making me too exhausted to do any posting lately. Pat was traveling for business for two weeks, we showed our apartment to a million different people, 3/4 of whom seemed desperate to get the place (The company who own the building have finally decided on someone. hooray! Now if the calls from people wanting to see the place would just stop...), had some lovely visitors from out-of-town, and now Pat and the kids have a few days off for the Ascension holiday, so we are headed off to Germany/Austria. I have a ton of photos I've been meaning to post, but for now I'll just post a few random ones I've taken since returning from Provence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4547728283_3cdda122f9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4547728283_3cdda122f9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4548360058_f8bf2d200d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4548360058_f8bf2d200d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4548454672_7dc5ca0fc5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4548454672_7dc5ca0fc5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rowan and his classmates were in a parade for the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.morges-tourisme.ch/fr/floralies_nature/tulip">tulip festival</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Here he is with his friend Sébastien.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4548319376_486fb24535.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4548319376_486fb24535.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Muriel at the park one morning.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4547774403_62cc7fd019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4547774403_62cc7fd019.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our friends, the Girardins, stopped by another morning for a quick visit. <br /> </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/4558823018_9c1dc425fb.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/4558823018_9c1dc425fb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rowan and Niamh and their friend Ben playing in the sprinklers at our apartment complex.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4548454672_7dc5ca0fc5.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4602226552_922bbf17f8.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4601645263_bf9cb01b7b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4601645263_bf9cb01b7b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I took the kids to the park early one morning specifically looking for that nice golden morning light. I found it, but getting the kids to sit still, not make funny faces at the camera, and face the proper direction for the right light turned out to be more difficult than I thought. This was the best I got. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4602226552_922bbf17f8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4602226552_922bbf17f8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Four of six Blaukopfs came for a visit, all the way from Israel! We were so happy to see them again before leaving.</span> <br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-35333209037574608462010-05-09T17:37:00.004+02:002010-05-09T17:53:21.429+02:00May 7,1943<div align="center">I realize I'm a few days late with this, but better late than never. I believe Friday was the 67th anniversary of when my grandparents first met. The picture below is from that evening. </div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xhPVz50pG9Y/S-bYiWMoJfI/AAAAAAAABpk/b4fyyvElkeM/s1600/scan0068.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469296882073740786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xhPVz50pG9Y/S-bYiWMoJfI/AAAAAAAABpk/b4fyyvElkeM/s400/scan0068.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16209779424558010312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-48201611349677975492010-04-23T11:37:00.003+02:002010-04-23T11:40:35.251+02:00Making progressWe are slowly making progress on the move back to the US.<br /><ul><li>We will be house/apartment hunting in Loveland the 1st week of June</li><li>The movers are coming to do a preliminary review of our stuff on May 19th</li><li>The movers will be back on the 24th and 25th of June to pack and move our stuff.</li><li>Our apartment is<a href="http://www.comptoir-immo.ch/Accueil/Location/tabid/60/cat/app/Default.aspx#list"> listed</a> for rent</li></ul>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16209779424558010312noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-15944784242325329982010-04-18T20:51:00.004+02:002010-04-18T21:26:39.115+02:00Our Sablet GîteThe <a href="http://www.gite.com/gite.com/index.php">house</a> we stayed at in Sablet was right next door to a winery, <a href="http://domainedepiaugier.com/en_index.htm">Domaine de Piaugier</a>. Not being into wine at all we can't comment on that, but the house was practically perfect. It was actually a converted barn, one half of the house still being used as a barn. It had three large bedrooms, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, a great yard....everything a family with three small children could want. It was definitely one of the best places we've stayed in during our travels. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4519555869_d3e1b3d223.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4519555869_d3e1b3d223.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/4514847640_1eef5a006b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/4514847640_1eef5a006b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4531383923_df30f5097f.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4531383923_df30f5097f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />There are more pictures of the house and the rest of our trip up on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyfrances5/sets/72157623802212872/">Flickr</a>.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-31474013620772910062010-04-17T20:53:00.006+02:002010-04-17T21:21:03.957+02:00Roman Ruins OverloadWe were really excited about all the Roman ruins when we first got to Provence. <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4519094467_9a7af5c09b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4519094467_9a7af5c09b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">at La Villasse in <a href="http://www.vaison-la-romaine.com/spip.php?rubrique255">Vaison la Romaine</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4520184792_12d2b4b002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4520184792_12d2b4b002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">At the Nîmes <a href="http://www.arenes-nimes.com/en/nimes/">arena</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4527947498_55e4f4f7a8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4527947498_55e4f4f7a8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Under <a href="http://www.beyond.fr/sites/pontjulien.html">Pont St. Julien</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4520972459_5cef841d80.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4520972459_5cef841d80.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Posing for Rowan in front of <a href="http://www.pontdugard.fr/index.php?langue=GB">Pont du Gard</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4528225875_b5d6fbd094.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4528225875_b5d6fbd094.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">At the <a href="http://www.theatre-antique.com/en/orange/">theatre</a> in Orange</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4520951635_8e2302b338.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4520951635_8e2302b338.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Outside the arena in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arles">Arles</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our excitement had definitely waned by the end of the trip. On our last day when we visited the arena in Arles, I think Pat and I both secretly echoed Ro's sentiments: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Another</span> arena???" <br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-20679980832867800572010-04-15T05:17:00.006+02:002010-04-24T15:10:28.947+02:00Olive Tree Love<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4520921155_d150930138.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4520921155_d150930138.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sablet</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4520929175_0e6f8ea109.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4520929175_0e6f8ea109.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">just outside of Sablet</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4520921155_d150930138.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4520913975_307c285c8e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4520913975_307c285c8e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">near <a href="http://www.pontdugard.fr/index.php?langue=GB">Pont du Gard</a></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4521572022_4589ff9bc3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4521572022_4589ff9bc3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">view of <a href="http://www.lesbauxdeprovence.com/">Les Baux</a> from an olive grove</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Wonder if there's any way an olive tree could survive a Colorado winter?<br /></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-1769240070054478892010-04-14T03:00:00.005+02:002010-04-14T03:00:00.400+02:00No Training Wheels!For Rowan's 5th birthday last November, one of his gifts was a balance bike. We should have gotten him one sooner, as he was almost too big for it at that time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4518207039_73190d7075.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4518207039_73190d7075.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>He's used it off and on throughout the winter, but because of the cold weather didn't ride it very much until a month or so ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4518931332_ca04655825.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4518931332_ca04655825.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>He's had a bike with training wheels for almost a year now, rarely rode it, but yesterday asked us to take the training wheels off of it. Within just a few minutes of getting outside on his newly two-wheeled bike he was riding without assistance. Those balance bikes really do work!<br /><br />There was a little of this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4518990802_1e680c9365.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4518990802_1e680c9365.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />But mostly a lot of this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Esf6Yk9MjZY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Esf6Yk9MjZY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object></div><br /><br />He's so proud of himself!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-86408316784479330932010-04-13T20:52:00.003+02:002010-04-14T07:12:50.955+02:00Cassis and Calanque Port-PinSablet is in the Côtes du Rhône region of Provence, which was unfortunately an hour and forty-five minutes from my favorite place we visited. <a href="http://www.ot-cassis.com/index_us.php"> Cassis</a> is a little village by the Mediterranean, which <a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/">Rick Steves</a> says is a poor man's St-Tropez (don't know anything about St-Tropez, but assuming it means not very glitzy), and popular with the French. I dragged Pat and the kids there to see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calanque">calanques</a>. Calanques are inlets created by the steep sides of cliffs that line the shore of parts of the Mediterranean.<br /><br />Our first stop upon arrival in Cassis was the Tourist Information Office to see if any of the three calanques were doable with three small children. Thankfully we were assured that the kids could make it to the second calanque, Port-Pin, with no problem (the first, Port-Miou, was just a dock for boats). The third calanque, Calanque d'En-Vau, would be too long (at two hours each way from Cassis) and too hard. It is supposed to be the most spectacular of the three, so I was a little disappointed, though not surprised.<br /><br />Most of the way to Calanque Port-Pin was ridiculously easy, but about ten minutes or so before we reached it the path became very rocky. The rocks were extremely smooth and slippery, and Ro and Niamh both found it quite difficult.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4516685107_190813382b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4516685107_190813382b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It was well worth it though. Calanque Port-Pin was amazing (how I wish we could have gone on to d'En-Vau!). The photos I took didn't turn out so great and hardly capture the beauty of the clear, sparkling blue water. Maybe because we were there when the sun was directly overhead?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4516936546_81f4784fdd.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4516936546_81f4784fdd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/4517602288_3d339b30bf.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/4517602288_3d339b30bf.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4517597164_707da29232.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4517597164_707da29232.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Niamh tripped in the water while wading, so we stripped her down to her skivvies and laid the wet clothes out in the sun to dry. Didn't work so well, and she had to hike back to Cassis in a wet dress.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4515784088_8f6433bdaa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4515784088_8f6433bdaa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Muriel and I on the way back to Cassis.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4516950478_f8b904797f.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4516950478_f8b904797f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After we returned to Cassis, we stopped Plage du Bestouan, the beach across the street from where our car was parked, for much deserved ice-cream and some more play time. Rowan was in heaven playing in the waves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4516998342_cd8999c8e8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4516998342_cd8999c8e8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Niamh and Muriel went down to the water for a bit, but were mostly happy to just sit and play in the sand/rocks.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961186887823250953.post-36582447699412663502010-04-12T20:04:00.011+02:002010-04-12T21:50:37.773+02:00Back to MorgesWe arrived home in Morges yesterday afternoon after a windy, but uneventful drive home. Sunday was for sure the day with the strongest infamous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral_%28wind%29">mistral</a> wind, and it must have followed us all the way to Morges as it's been quite windy here as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4514860633_941c2aea1f.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4514860633_941c2aea1f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We made a couple of stops on the way. One was a rest area for lunch, and a little bit of playing (too windy to stay out for very long). In the above photo Rowan is demonstrating his jumping skills. He was SO proud of himself for jumping off the third rung of the ladder. Perhaps it was less of a <span style="font-style: italic;">jump</span> though, and more of a <span style="font-style: italic;">drop</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4515488814_20d0275df9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4515488814_20d0275df9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The other stop we made was just outside Montélimar at what appeared to be an aire (service station/rest area) centered completely around the sale of nougat. I wish I had thought to take a photo, it was tourism at it's finest. There were several restaurants, bathrooms, a play area (I think), and a gas station, all of which were obviously there to get people to stop in and shop at the nougat boutique.<br /><br />Though I'm sure it wasn't Montélimar's best nougat (I'd imagine you have to go into town for the quality stuff), it was still fun to see all the different kinds, flavors, and brands. Most had nuts, which I do not at all like in sweet things, but I was able to find a small selection sans nuts. I got lavender honey, orange flower honey, licorice, raspberry, anise, mint, and lemon. And that's not even all the flavors that were available! Anyway, I found the last two paragraphs in this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont%C3%A9limar">Wikipedia entry on Montélimar</a> very interesting. The nougat aire makes more sense now.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00317854460541934424noreply@blogger.com1