To Lausanne

On Monday we took Auntie Katie to Lausanne, where I made her pose for a lot of photos at the cathedral! She was such a good sport! The cathedral was our main stop, and after that we just did a little shopping before heading home...chocolate shop, toy stores, souvenirs, H&M....fun, fun!

A Day In Zurich

We went to Zurich for the first time last Friday (July 31st) with Auntie Katie. During the 2.5 hour train ride there we were fortunate enough to catch a train with a super cool playground for the kids (we had been able to ride once before with the Kershners), which made the time pass very quickly.

Our first stop was the Saurier Museum Aathal, which our little dino-lover enjoyed a lot. We then went into the old part of Zurich for a bit. It was not nearly as impressive as I'd imagined it would be. I'm sure there's cool parts we didn't know about, but what we did manage to see didn't inspire me to take photos (being exhausted by the three little once didn't help any on the photo front). I think the only photo that got taken in Zurich was done so by Pat. Anyway, it was still a good time, and I'm glad we went!

on the train

in the family car on the train

at the dinosaur museum--they had a bunch of stamps that you could use to make dino footprints in the sand

Swiss National Day

Just a few pictures from the festivities in Morges for Swiss National Day.

We started the day off going to the park and then the market.

The castle was set up with all sorts of activities for children. Live music, lots of bouncy castles divided into different age groups and a big variety of games. The kids had a blast and mostly just wanted to play on the bouncy castles.

That evening there was lots of activity down at the lake. Auntie Katie was so sweet, and stayed home with the kids (sleeping and terrified of fireworks) while Pat and I checked things out.

I loved these lanterns that many kids were carrying around.

There was a bonfire out on the lake

The restaurants were festively decorated and packed with people.

There was a spot all gated off and watched over by firemen where you could bring your own fireworks and set them off. The majority of the participants seemed to be 11-18 year old boys.

I have really got to remember to take the filter off my 50mm lens when I'm taking photos in darker settings (notice the same random green lights I got at Notre Dame in Paris).

Some of the fireworks were so loud, I was sure we'd have awake and frightened kids by the time we got home. But they thankfully slept right through it all. I really hope next year that we can take them down! Auntie Katie suggested noise blocking headphones for Rowan, which I think we'll have to try.

Aathal Bahnhof

The train station near the dinosaur museum was quite small. It felt very remote for being only 26 minutes from Zurich.

The train station at Aathal.

Only two departures in each direction per hour.

Auntie Katie, Niamh, Rowan, and Emily waiting for the train.

A train departs the station.

The train network for Zurich.

Climate Guide

We need to do this the next time we are in the Jungfrau region.

Castle Time!

It looks like we'll be visiting some castles in late August.

Happy 1st of August!

There have been a ton of Swiss pride food products for sale the past couple of days, but these chickens were the best. Pat and I both thought separately that they needed to be blogged about.

More information about Swiss National Day here.

Not sure what we'll do today--we're pretty tired after our trip to Zurich yesterday (pics to come). There are sure to be fireworks at the lake later, but Rowan is terrified of them, so we will probably have to skip the display.

This isn't good news.

Will Skype disappear?

Auntie Katie is Here!

It's been kind of a crazy day, so this will be a short post. Auntie Katie arrived today safe and sound, though perhaps a bit exhausted. The kids are having a blast with her. Here is Rowan playing with her small camera--he adores it!


We're so glad she's here to stay for two whole weeks!

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

2007

2009
(no, the matching outfits were not planned)

Okay, to be fair to Niamh I have to say that the poor child has been stuck pushing Rowan in the cart all summer. She will cheerfully push him as long as he wants, but when she wants to be pushed he generally won't do it. So sad to hear from inside "Rowan, push me please? Rowan! Rowan? Somebody push me please!" Having a younger sibling has it's benefits.

At the Park

Just some photos from a morning at the park last week. Hard to believe from these rather idyllic looking photos that it ended with us leaving because Rowan couldn't stop his temper tantrum, and then Niamh picking up where Rowan left off as we walked home. Pat, who was home for lunch, was able to hear us coming from quite far away. Fun times!

Muriel enjoyed snacking on everything that was on the ground. I can't wait until she's past this stage. I'm pretty tolerant--leaves? yes. sticks? yes. grass? not so bad. cigarette butts? yuck.

Niamh just learned how to do this rope climb by herself.

Muriel wishes she could hang with the big kids

Peeking at Mama through the steps

Sunday Morning at the Lake

The weather cleared up enough (finally!) for us to go to the beach on Sunday.






Pat got rowdy and went into the water for a bit. That shadowy head in the water (messing around with camera settings while taking photos in the bright sunlight wasn't the best idea--I couldn't see how any of the pictures were turning out) a little way out is him. Neither Rowan or Niamh could be persuaded to join in on the crazy swimming action. It was warm, but not that warm!


Muriel is at a very frustrating age for going to a rocky beach. She picked up rocks and put them into her mouth faster than I could take them out.

The beautiful weather on Sunday really made me think that the weather this week was going to be better, but as I'm writing this post it's raining outside yet again and I can hear the rumble of thunder every so often.

Ready for the Tour!

Rowan watched the Tour de France on the TV yesterday and this morning he rode his bike around the balcony yelling that he was winning the race. Here is a picture of him showing us how the racers had their hands on the handlebars.

A morning stroll!

Muriel is showing some interest in walking.

More cake photos

Here are a few more photos from Emily's birthday. Somehow we didn't get a picture of Niamh licking the frosting off the cake while decorating it.

Blowing out the candles (above)

Showing off the final product (below)

Checking out the candles (above)

Decorating the cake (below)

Making a birthday cake

The kids and I made a birthday cake for Emily today. Here are a few photos.

rainy spell

Last Wednesday was hot and sticky, and Pat worked from home in the afternoon to watch Muriel while I took the older two kids to the pool. It was lovely, but that night (at least I think it was that night, all the days blur together so I can't remember much of anything with any degree of certainty) the thunder and rain came, and stayed with us off and on through the weekend.

We did however make to to the beach for a little bit on both Saturday and Sunday during some clear patches. The pool (right next to the beach), which had been full of laughter and splahes only a few days ago, was silent.


But the kids enjoyed having the beach almost to themselves, and didn't seem to mind wearing rainboots and raincoats in the middle of July.