Munich Surfers

Rob attended a conference in Munich this weekend and before leaving he was able to stop by to see the surfers on the river Eisbach. Just past a bridge close to the Haus der Kunst museum, the river forms a standing wave and surfers take their turns riding it. Here's the video he captured. Toward the end of the video (49 sec.), Rob pans to the left and you get a great view of the bridge that turns this river into a wave.

Happy Halloween

Grace wanted to go as an owl for Halloween this year. I found an online tutorial for the costume and voila. Grace remembers how much her late Nana loved birds and this was her ode to her grandmother. There was also a party at her school today complete with snacks. We made monster fingers and cut out cheese (Swiss no less) in the shapes of rats and spooky cats. Oddly, every little girl sans Grace and her classmate Malina dressed up as witches. I think because the Swiss don't normally celebrate Halloween a variety in costume choices isn't available. Just guessing. I look forward to seeing what Ella, Owen, Laynie, Katie, and Grace's other friends back home dressed up as for the occaison.

A Birthday Party

One of Grace's classmates celebrated his 4th birthday party today at a park in the woods. It was very special and so much fun. This party had all the right components necessary for fun:

rainbow slide = check
homemade themed cake = check
roasted marshmellows = check
fire cooked hotdogs = check
soccer field = check
spiked spiced apple cider (for the parents) = check

It was a cold but the fire (and cider) took care of the chill. I'm thinking of coming back to the same park for Grace's 5th and making it a sledding party.

The little houses you see in the background with their own gardens are a staple in Zürich. It's rare for one to have the space to cultivate a garden so folks pay for a teeny tiny plot of land to grow vegetables or flowers. I love how much these spaces are loved by their owners and can't help but take pics when I see them. The park jutted up against a row of these gardens.

Dinner Table Art

We invited Rob's cousins over for dinner this weekend and I decided to dress our table like they do at The Macaroni Grill or any restaurant that's extremely family friendly. Truth be told, I forgot to wash our tablecloth. I should do that more often. Here's Ally the afternoon after adding what she can before it's gone.

Räbeliechtliumzug (Autumn Turnip Walks)

The Swiss don't celebrate Halloween but they do practice their own tradition to celebrate this time of year. The hallowing and carving of turnips by school children is a beautiful example. The large turnips are hallowed out and then parents help carve the outside of the turnip with beautiful and festive designs. Great care is take to not puncture the turnip. Candles or more a more practical battery operated candle is placed inside and there is a parade complete with drummers. We are very excited to participate and will take more pics soon.

pic by post406/flickr

pic by .781/flickr

Staying Warm

I think winter has arrived. The high is 41 today and we're scrambling to dig out our gloves and hats before we take another walk in the woods. Cold weather means more time indoors which in turn means more board games (Grace loves Sorry!), puzzles, art, and museums/kid spaces. I actually love cold weather and I am really excited because this will be the year Grace learns how to ski. In the Alps.

While Rob was in Spain a few years back, he picked up a memory game from The Alhambra. Grace and I played several times the other day and she's really good! Ally prefers using Dot markers and by using I mean eating. The last few pics are from Kindercity which is an edutainment center. The globe pictured has metal connections all over it and when you plug in one of the phones provided, you are greeted by someone in the language spoken in that country.

Thanks, Dad!

It's been two weeks since my mother passed away and  when I talk to my Dad (almost daily now), I can hear in his voice the finality of the situation. I know he misses Mom and I can't imagine what it feels like to wake up every morning in the home you shared with your love for over three decades and not see them. But then I realize he does see her. He sees her in all of the quirky knickknacks one can find at every turn or in every drawer of their four story home. You can't miss how much she enjoyed antique china or her beautiful collection of glass vases and fruit bowls. Then there is her turtle collection. Anyone who thinks they love turtles had not met my Mother.

My Dad has been and continues to be a source of strength during this time and someone I can talk to and still feel close to my Mom. I witnessed the bond they shared and I can't remember a time when they didn't present a united front. That was probably one of their favorite pet phrases as parents when explaining why we wouldn't be able to divide and conquer them with our asinine requests as teenagers. They always stood together come what may and even in my Mother's death, his memory serves us well in remembering some of the best parts of her. I miss my Mom terribly but I miss my Mom with my Dad most.