Ansel's been tagged.

Elsa definitely is our artist. She's never without a notebook and a pen or set of markers.

The downside of housing such an artist is we end up washing more walls, and the way she stylizes our couch cushions with permanent ink. We thought she was getting better and taking the "world is my canvass" thing a little less literally...until she tattooed her little brother.

I'm not sure which is funnier: the fact that she placed this so perfectly between his shoulder blades, like Ansel sauntered into a tattoo parlor and asked for it, or the V-shaped angry eyebrows.

Elsa's 5!

Congratulations Sweet Elsa! She had a terrific birthday. We celebrated with all our usual family traditions. The kitchen table was decorated with gifts and the birthday ring. She learned the song "I'm Five." Her picture garland was hung and still hangs. She chose her favorite breakfast-Cinnamon Toast Crunch. And she invited some friends over for a celebration. The party was actually a week after her birthday. Birthday on the 19th and party on the 25th. Grandmas and Grandpas sent lavish gifts that also included treats for everyone. Thanks.

Her party was a hoot. We chose a magical pony theme. All the guests received headbands and tails to become magical ponies. They colored princess paper dolls because every magical pony's best friend is a princess. We played some games and then I performed some magical tricks. Definitely a highlight. ha ha. Five little girls are a breeze to entertain. Definitely the most enjoyable party for me.

Elsa has had a great year four. She has shown so much courage and strength. If I could make a peacemaker, she is definitely it. She has such a generous heart and always trying to make sure everyone is happy. What an important role she plays in our family. We love her.

Ansel is social!

The social life of the third child-or any child after the first- is really an after thought. We have recently discovered how much Ansel enjoys his buddies. Yesterday I asked Ansel if we were buddies. "Abrham's my buddy!" He quickly informed me. Then he mentioned all of his friends in nursery by name. I guess a few playdates may be headed his way.

Skiing is his passion.

Henry came home with a silver medal from his last day at ski school. He couldn't have been happier. He is totally convinced he is going to grow up and be a professional skier (and an inventor). He also enjoyed the new hat and shirt. So much he wouldn't take it off. He wore it three days and two nights in a row.

To add to his obsession he has chosen a hero.

My First Public Election!

My goal upon moving to Switzerland was to integrate myself as much into my community as possible. I know this is a difficult thing for a foreigner. When the school sent home a sheet looking for volunteers I thought, "Here's my big chance." I sent the form back with a big check on the "Yes." or "Oui."
When I had to miss the meeting because it was the same evening as the Primary activity I was pretty bummed. But then the school called me and asked me if I was still interested. Sure. Then they asked me to write an application 500 words or less why I'd be qualified for the job. Whatever this is Switzerland. The PTA could be that intense.
Three days after I submitted my application I go to pick up the kids for school and find it on the front door of the school translated into French!

Apparantly I wasn't joining the PTA but running for the school board. Rad.
Bummer, I didn't win. The election was last weekend. Apparantly voter turn out is a problem. I received 9 votes and the winner received 15. His name is M. Schweizer. Translated that means Mr. Swiss Man. I can't consider losing my first Swiss election to a man named "Swiss Man" a loss.

Bavaria

Our friend Mac back home in Chicago sent us a Flat Stanley. We were thrilled to have him join us on our trip. Here we are in front of the Neuschwanstein Castle. The kids enjoyed walking up the mountain to get to the castle. ha ha. In the castle they were thrilled to find pieces of their own lives. Elsa found her name on the walls and Henry seemed to relate to the throne (actually absent) and the jewels. He really believes he is a king!

Here we are at the Deutches Museum. It was a good time. Lots of science. Apparantly we missed some of the best things. Homemade lightning and the underground mining caves. Dang.

The hit of the Deutches Museum was this bright red fire truck. It kept all three children entertained for hours. Seriously. You could climb in it and on it and push lots of buttons.

The Glockenspiel downtown Munich. We had messed up our camera on this trip so we are working with our phone. Nice.

I think I look a little crazy in this picture. Like the stressed out woman in the church foyer that always talks way too loud. May I never be her. I think I'm appeasing Greg with a big grin for another picture. BTW-He uploaded these pictures for me weeks ago.

This is really why Henry was excited to go to Germany. He wanted one of these boxy German back packs that kids around these Euro parts carry. It was filled with lots of fun stuff like pens and colored pencils. They are crazy about colored pencils over here-plus little bags to carry them in and folders to organize them in. Yes. I'm still talking about the colored pencils.

We've succumbed to the fact that McDonalds is the most family friendly restaurant in Europe. Hence, three times in one week. This picture doesn't show us enjoying their famous fare. We are actually at a cafeteria in a department store. Those also seem to work nicely.

Why even go on a vacation if the hotel doesn't have a swimming pool. Really.

Annelie

On our recent trip to Munich (see next post) we met up with a friend from my mission. It was fun to visit with her and her family and share mission stories. We were never companions, but we had three of the same companions. She was always their favorites! She was a year ahead of me in the mission.

School. School. Ski! School. School. Ski! Church.

This is how Henry counts down his week. He's doing fine by the way. His mood has been better and there has been less struggle to go to school. He's a good boy. Elsa is also doing a good job. She had to start going two afternoons in addition to her four mornings. That's a lot for a four year old.

Henry has Cross-Country skiing on Wednesday (no school on Wednesday in Geneva). He leaves at 8:00 AM and doesn't get home until 5:00 PM. He loves it. He looks forward to it all week. Since we arrived in Switzerland in July he has wanted to be in the mountains and the snow. I'm glad it has been all that he was hoping/expecting.

Elsa and Henry had their first down-hill ski lesson this week and they loved it. Henry mastered the bunny hill and even went off and stuck the jump they had set up. Elsa was a bit more reserved, but also had a great time. She is fearless on the sled.



We met up with some friends for skiing and of course ended the day with some delicious hot chocolate.

As for church. . . it is their day to speak English freely with friends. They've never enjoyed church as much. In fact yesterday ended up being there for six hours. When we were finally ready to go, I couldn't find them anywhere. Apparantly there was a video broadcast for the YAs and Henry and Elsa had sat down on the last row to watch it. They just hadn't had enough. ha ha.

Aujourd'hui c'est la rentree

They say the newness of a move abroad wears off at about six months. That is the expat trend. Henry is definitely following the trend. The last two weeks before Christmas break he really didn't want to go to school (except for his intense French school-where he's with a few other kids learning French together). Now that the break is over, he still is having a hard time. This isn't normal I don't like school. It's lonelier and sadder than that. It's been sad to see him struggle. Gratefully, we make it out the door. Even if we are a few minutes late.

Monday afternoon I encouraged him to go promising he'd come home to these-

It worked.

This morning was harder. I try not to bribe. He has to go to school.

When he came home he was fine, and laughing with his sister.

In the break down of all former relationships if this one is strengthened, it is worth it.

Henry is a happy well-liked boy. His family has will buoy his confidence and he'll have friends at school soon.

Ansel and the Dress-Up Chest

There really wasn't ever any question whether he would love it as much as his siblings. Here is some proof.

Most of the time we're just grateful he'll put clothes on!

Has anyone had a child completely potty-trained, but won't wear underwear? I'm not too worried. He's barely two.

Since we're on the topic of "The Booch," each of our children has enjoyed the paci. And, we have taken similar pictures of each of them with the pacis in their mouth. Ansel took it up a notch by successful shoving three in his mouth. Ahhh, for the love of a paci-or "babi" as Ansel would say.

l'Escalade

We had the privilege of enjoying another Swiss Holiday this year. The city of Geneva celebrates their success over an invasion from the French. A very worthy cause I would have to agree!
We began with a history lesson and tour of the city with Sophie. She is the lovely lady that helped us get settled here. Shops all over are filled with these chocolate pots.

The tradition goes something like this: The French were nearing the outer walls of Geneva. A lady was preparing some soup and heard the intruders. So. . . she poured the soup on their heads and deterred them from making it up any further. Apparantly it also bought the neighbors some time to get the ammo ready. Here's to soup for ammo!
Now they celebrate with chocolate pots that they fill with marzipan vegetables.

On the day of l'Escalade, it was December 12. Everyone eats vegetable soup. At Henry and Elsa's school the kids all brought vegetables and they cut them up and made the soup to serve at the party.
Apparantly soup wasn't enough for this party. They also sold hot dogs-which were very popular. Can you find Elsa and Henry in this crowd?

The afternoon was freezing! We ended up leaving the playground early. The whole thing was on the playground. Poor Ansel was sooo cold.

After school we had a party at our house with some friends. I forgot to take pictures. It was more of the Christmas variety.

After our party was over we head straight to the church for more veggie soup and a celebration with the Stake.
Somehow the dressing-up for children invaded the Escalade tradition. (I bet they were jealous of our Halloween). The kids really don't need a reason to dress-up. They had a great time.

So count them, three parties in one day! What fun.

We waited until Liz and Chris arrived on Monday the 15th to break our own pot of chocolate.

Escalade was a good time. Maybe next year we'll join much of the others in the city for the fun run!

The Last Day of Fall

I've got a lot of catching-up to do. The Holidays have kept us very busy.

We spent one of our last fall days at the neighborhood park climbing trees and building in the sand. We like the neighborhood park. They've got a great tire swing and a wading pool in the summer. There is also a great promenade for bike riding. We'll try that out when it gets a little warmer. Elsa rode her bike the other day. Ansel got a like a bike for Christmas. He's looking forward to trying it out.

Now that most of our activities are sledding, skiing, ice skating and indoors. These fall days seem so far away.

Christmas Cards

We're about to take the holiday cards down. It was such a thrill to receive so many over our first December abroad. Thanks to all of you who sent your trans-Atlantic joy. You made our holidays great!

Can spot yours in this picture?

February Plans

The kids have an entire week off school in February. It's also the week of Elsa's birthday. So we've book a hotel near the Neuschwanstein Castle, and a few days in Munich. We made sure the hotel in Munich has a pool. For the kids, pools are the trip highlights no matter where we go. We were hoping to do a tour of the BMW factory, too (Rick Steves says it's very cool - you get close enough to get hit by sparks from the welding bots). But we found out the minimum age to take a tour is 7. Maybe Greg and Henry can go and Henry can stand on his tip toes. We're really looking forward to this!

 

Family in Town

We've had Greg's mom and sister in town for the past week. Liz has to leave tomorrow to get back to her husband in LA. But Chris is staying with us until the 29th! We've been visiting Geneva and the surrounding areas almost non-stop. Chris and Liz spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Geneva. Thursday they took the train to Chamonix and Mont Blanc. Friday we went to the Christmas market in Montreaux. Saturday, we drove to Bern. And Sunday afternoon we went to Annecy, France.

Chris and Liz in downtown Geneva

Liz and Elsa

Greg, Henry and Ansel in Bern.

(These streets are full of statues that look like something from a Tim Burton movie: a bear wearing a knight's helmet, a gryphon, Moses with rays of light that look like moose antlers. But our favorite was the statue of the man eating babies for lunch. I'll post that one soon.)

Elsa in the pews

Elsa in the Münster Cathedral 

This was the runner-up photo for the holiday card. Yep, this was the second-best pose we could get our kids to take. Compared to the others ones, this one makes us look halfway normal.

Christmas is coming

Sunset from our balcony