Wow another year went by and I pretty much stunk at keeping this blogging thing going. Sorry about that. Thank goodness for Facebook I guess? But really where does the time go? Looking back on 2018, the things we enjoyed most were 1) a long warm summer; 2) a steady stream of visitors; 3) an exciting adventure for Alison; 4) expanding our businesses and 5) our continued health.
So on with the Recap.
 |
| Ski vacation Austria Feb 2018 |
2018 started like most the past few years, a quiet Christmas followed by snow and skiing. In early February we went back to Austria for the 4th year in a row for our annual ski holiday.
We were first visited by my sweet friend and former co-worker Jenny and her friend, Beth, who were traveling around Europe. They stopped in for a couple of nights and we showed them around our town including the chocolate factory (a favorite local attraction).
 |
| Jungendfest 2018 |
June was a busy month for visitors. Our good friends, Jack and Rosy stopped by for a quick visit on their whirlwind tour of Europe. They were treated to not one but two official Swiss party experiences in one day, along with some local site seeing.
Yulia, a former volleyball friend of Erik's and who we went to Russia with a crazy long time ago, stopped by on her way back from Russia for a night or two.
We met The Kuca's in gorgeous Lauterbrunnen for a day hike on their Europe anniversary trip. We got caught in quite a downpour that day while hiking, that we weren't remotely prepared, but made for an exciting story.
My mom and Mike visited right before school was out in July and stayed for almost 3 weeks. They were able to enjoy one of the warmest summers we could recall. They also got the pleasure of experiencing Jugendfest, tons of day trips and museum visits and a 3 day side trip to Vienna. Erik and I were also able to go away for two nights to see Jack Johnson at the Moon & Stars concert in Locarno. It was so much fun.
 |
| Enjoying the famous sachertorte in Vienna with my mom |
Merrill & Markee swung by for a few nights after they visited her family in the Czech Republic. We loved that their Christmas card this year was a picture of them taken in the Swiss Alps during their trip.
Emily, Elliot and Will stopped by for a few days while Emily was doing a brief sabbatical in Germany. Which coincidentally was one of Erik and I's first trips to Europe together way back in 2006. Miles and Will really hit it off and everyone was sad to say goodbye.
The kids are doing great. Alison just turned 8 in November and is excelling at math in the 2nd grade. She has a great group of friends both locals and expats she enjoys playing with. In addition, she takes singing, violin, tennis and dance lessons during the week. Miles will turn 7 in May and is finishing his last year of Kindergarten. He will start first grade in the fall. He enjoys playing chess, reading and anything involving Ninjago or Minecraft. They are both really great kids who still love to play legos together and go hiking and biking.
Erik and I both expanded our businesses last year. Erik has been obtaining steady consulting work in the US and laying the groundwork for acquiring clients here. He also keeps busy managing our various real estate investments. I finished my Health Coaching Certification last year and am happily taking clients now. Our businesses outgrew our cozy apartment last year, so we set up shop in a cute little office in town that we share together. The 5 minute commute (walk) to work is tough but luckily it is also close to school so the kids can come over when they are finished with school and do their homework. The new office gave us space to breath, but also allowed Alison to have her own room finally. So a big overhaul was done (while Erik was in the US in May) and I set up the office and Alison's new bedroom with lots of help from my friends.
 |
| Dijon, France |
I visited Spain and London this year as part of a business trip, as well as had a fun girls weekend in Krakow, Poland. The kids and I did a long weekend in Dijon, France as part of a EUU (European Unitarian Universalist) retreat which was really nice.
We took full advantage of the long warm summer here for some hiking, camping, swimming and biking adventures. Not quite as many as we would've have liked to but someone has to work, right?
 |
| Wrap Party for Jill |
BUT THE BIG NEWS FROM 2018 .... drum roll please...... For all of September and October, Ali and I were on location in the Jura (French speaking part) region of Switzerland while she filmed a MOVIE!! Yes a real movie, with other professional actors from the US. How did that happen you ask? Well I'll leave those details for another future blog post (it's a long story). Needless to say it was an awesome experience, one we will never forget. And if all goes well the movie, titled "Jill" will be out at the end of this year. PS Ali plays young Jill in the movie.
During filming in October, Erik and Miles spent 3 weeks in the US, a trip that was booked for all of us before Alison got her big movie part. They had a ton of fun visiting friends and family between North Carolina and Florida and thankfully avoiding the big hurricane.
The winter holidays were very low key this year. We always enjoy the winter traditions that start in November with the turnip parade, Samiclaus on the 6th of December, Christmas markets, ice skating, Christmas and Boxing Day. So far the weather this winter has been a bit dreary, but we are looking forward to some skiing in a few weeks, as well as a fun filled trip to NYC and DC in April. In conjunction with Doterra, I am headed to Lesvos, Greece in early February to volunteer at the refugee center there. There is talk of a much needed beach vacation for the summer, which is common talk in the gray winter months around here.
And that about wraps up our year. Please know we miss and love you and appreciate all of you who call, write, send us a card or keep in touch with us in any way, shape or form. Visitors are always welcome with a warm fondue or raclette dinner (we've gone so Swiss).
Have a great year!
 |
| Snow is fun |
 |
| Sledding adventures |
 |
| Ali's downhill slalom with poles this year |
 |
| Miles downhill slalom |
 |
| Blue eyed boy |
 |
| Celebrating someone's 80th birthday |
 |
| 1st day of school August 2018 |
 |
| Ali and her movie dad, Tom Pelphrey |
 |
| Her own dressing room |
 |
| Susan and us in Lauterbrunnen |
 |
| Fondue with friends |
 |
| Jenny & Beth at the Chocolate museum |
|
| Dijon, France |
 |
| Alsace, France |
 |
| Susan & snow in Lauterbrunnen |
 |
| Our mud run team grew this year |
 |
| Ticino with Erik |
 |
| Yulia in the Alps |
 |
| Kids museum fun |
 |
| Vienna |
 |
| Vienna art exhibit |
|
| Enjoying sachertorte in Vienna with my mom |
 |
| Summer fun |
 |
| Lucerne with my mom |
 |
| Summer fun with M & M |
|
| Her dressing room |
 |
| Halloween 2018 |
 |
| Fondue with friends |
 |
| Christmas morning 2018 |
