Summer in Switzerland Part 2

Enjoying Daddy's day off with ice cream and syrup

We had some very warm weather over the last week or so.  It even got into the low 90's for a couple of days.  But mostly it was in the high 70's and 80's.  So I know I've said it before but the summer is really nice here.  The weather (when it isn't raining or below 70 degrees) is just really enjoyable.  I was a little nervous when the temperatures starting creeping up into the 80's that we would be miserably hot in our apartment with no A/C but it is really quite pleasant.  The apartments are built really well and end up staying cool for most of the day.  We keep the windows and sliding doors open day and night. We pull the shades down on the sunny side in the morning to keep the sun out and do the same on the other side in the afternoon.  Our porch is equipped with nice shades that we roll up and down almost every day. It is actually quite effective since the temperatures dip in the evening, the apartment stays nice and cool.  The only drawback to the windows being open all the time is that there are no screens, so the flies, bees, fruit flies and even a small bird (yes it has happened) can fly right into the apartment and annoy you.  But luckily this isn't Florida where that wouldn't be tolerable  - we manage as the flies are big and slow.  It is funny to see Alison's reaction to the fly situation as she watches us swatting at them so she likes to yell FLY but sounds more like "Fry" and swing her arms around like we do.  She is so funny.

Potty time

So a little persons update:  Alison just continues to amaze and entertain us everyday.  She is talking up a storm and repeating everything you say as well as saying words that I have no idea how she learned.  She has started to go pee pee in the potty.  We aren't forcing it on her just offering it to her when she wants. Some days she will go 3 or 4 times and others none.  She is still a little daredevil running wild on the playgrounds of Switzerland and just going non stop morning to night.  She loves bugs, reading, tea time and playing her little piano.  She laughs so much more now and just does the goofiest things. She loves to hide things and then pull them out and shout "DATADA!".  She is recognizing letters already and loves to rough house with her Daddy.

Miles continues to be just an amazingly cool baby.  He doesn't cry too much, only when he gets over tired and then it is never for very long.  He is still so small but growing steadily.  He loves to be "carried" in the baby wrap close to mama.  He has started cooing and smiling a bit more.  He loves to sleep which I am not complaining about - just wish he would eat a little more in addition to sleeping.  I know some moms are going to hate me for this (and I hope I don't jinx it by putting it in writing) but I think he would sleep through the night if I let him.  Seriously he gets up 1-2 times a night and mostly because I wake him to feed him.  I can't wait to see what kind of person he is going to be.  If he is going to be nutty like his sister, then we will have our hands full.

Ali the daredevil

Last week we did several things with our friends from playgroup.  The Monday playgroup is officially on holiday as is most of Switzerland since the children are on summer holiday.  But for some of the moms who are still around, we are getting together on random days at different places around town.  On Thursday we met at a really nice playground that is run by local moms, located in the next town over.  It was recently redone and includes a nice tree house now.  The ladies all brought picnic items for lunch that we all shared potluck style on a big blanket.  Then on Friday we ran into them again at the pool.

Daddy and Ali at the pool

Alison had so much fun playing with her dad at the pool.  Erik took Friday off since the weather was so nice and he has been working so much lately. We had a really great family day, starting with the pool and lunch with our friends.  We then went to the Altstadt for ice cream before dinner - something I've always wanted to do.  Erik and I even got both kids in bed by 8pm that night and enjoyed a movie.  Something we hadn't done in months.

The weekend however was not so glamorous. Not sure what the Swiss have against the weekends but it just seems the nice weather peters out just in time for the weekend.  Hence why Erik took advantage of the sunny day off on Friday. The picture of the forecast from my iPhone was taken on Thursday.  Thursday and Friday the temperature reached 90 degrees.  And then on Sunday it didn't get out of the 60's and it rained.  Today (Monday) it was 77 degrees.  So as you can see they are kind of bad about predicting the weather other than you can always count on the weekends being not as nice as during the week.  Poor Erik.

Erik offered real key lime pie to his coworkers on his birthday

Ali enjoys breakfast with Daddy

Miles at the pool

Goodbye MeeMee

We sadly said Goodbye to my mom last week, affectionately known as "MeeMee" to Alison.  It was so great having her here.  I felt like I could rest and spent some one on one time with Alison all while juggling a newborn.  Erik and I even got out on a date or two, as well as a leisurely walk in the evening. But alas she could not stay forever and returned home to her beloved log cabin and husband Mikey.  Special thanks to Mikey for doing without her for so long.  We sure appreciated her around here. Next time please come with.

Alison at the kiddie pool

Looking back I feel like we did quite a bit while my mom was here. As I mentioned before the weather is a bit unpredictable around here.  Some days it is cold and rainy while other days are sunny and beautiful.  So we tried to get out on the nice days as much as we could.  In the last week or two before Mom left we went back to our favorite pool on a super nice day (I think mom had a hankering for their french fries), we visited IKEA (meatballs), and we went on walks to our favorite playgrounds and green markets.  Mom and I even got out for a little shopping and quick dinner in Aarau one evening while Erik watched the kids.  In addition, Erik and I took Alison to the Swiss Circus last Sunday while Mom stayed with Miles.

But it wasn't so much all the things we did but the things Mom did for us.  She played with Alison while I adjusted to having a new little one, she did loads and loads of laundry and she cooked and cleaned. She watched Miles so I could spend some one on one time with Alison. She watched both kids so Erik and I could go out for a date or two. She let me nap and made awesome sandwiches for lunch. She helped lug all the gear you have to take with you when you have two kids and she sat in the backseat between two car seats when we went on weekend outings.  She chased Alison and sang songs and read books over and over again.  She played endless hours of hidey tent and loved every second of it (except for that one time). She was/is supportive and loving and caring.  And for all that I am most appreciative.

Circus Knie Big Top

Alison was definitely a bit cranky the first few days after mom left as I'm sure she was having a hard time dealing with her feelings.  In addition, Erik was out of town for a few days which probably didn't help. She still asks for MeeMee when we are setting the table or riding in the car.  We hope MeeMee comes back for an extended stay next summer and brings Grandpa.

Well I quickly fell into a pretty good routine with the kiddos all to myself.  I somehow managed to have them in bed by 8:30 as well as napping at the same time in the afternoon.  I know it was a fluke but it was nice to have some quiet time for a change.

Nothing really new to report other than the weather has been gorgeous. And just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to my mom for all her help and support over the last two months.  It was nice for so many reasons, but mainly it was just nice to have a friend around to talk to and do things with.  And Yes I will admit it was especially nice that she helped with the dishes and laundry.

THANK YOU MOM!!! 

We love you and miss you around here.

Special shout out to all our friends and loved ones having birthdays this month - Elaine, Chris, Aunt Diane, Kim, Debby, Wendy, Erik, Rachel, Leslie and Kai - Happy Birthday to all of you!!  Also thinking about our friends who are having/had babies this month - Emily, Wendy, Galina - you go gals!  We can't wait to meet the new little ones next time we are in town.

Next up - Grandpa Warm is coming to visit in September.  We can't wait and hope the weather is nice.

I will let the pictures do most of the talking this time around.

MeeMee and Alison on playground

Ali being a goofball

For MeeMee

Altstadt Lenzburg - market day

Our favorite vendor

Laundry day (just in case you miss it mom)

Sunday morning crepes and birchermuesli

Miles

Proud (and dapper) Papa

Alison

Alison gets to hold a kitty

Another playground

MeeMee reading bedtime stories

Cool playground at Zurich airport

Date Night at Hotel Krone

My other man

First day mom is gone the kitchen is a mess

Swiss version of a water table

Picnic lunch with Erik on his birthday

Miles and his friend Thomas

Jugendfest 2012

Ali dressed in her blue and white Lenzburg colors

It is late Sunday night and we are all exhausted from the past week's festivities.  It was our town's annual Jugendfest, aka Youth Festival and it was lots of fun.  It started last Sunday evening with a concert at the Schloss.  We sort of missed that event as we spent the day at the Wildnispark which required lots of walking and got back a bit late in the day, so we were all tired.  We were also unsure of the dress code since we had not been to an event at the castle, so we chickened out.  But starting Monday there was a "disco" every night for kids with different hours dedicated to different age groups.  From 6 - 7:30pm the younger kids could dance on an outdoor stage with instructors directing them.

Dancing at the Disco

We took Alison up on Wednesday night after the Rotary Club's community fish fry.  At first I think she was a bit shell shocked as I'm not sure she has ever seen that many kids in one place.  But after a few songs she started getting the hang of it and was soon in the middle of the pack dancing up a storm. It was really cute to see all the little kids dancing in rhythm.

On Thursday they started the rehearsals for the parade and maneuvers. Let me back up and explain what Jugendfest is - or at least my understanding of it.  It is basically a 400 year old tradition of celebrating the youth in the town.  It coincides with the end of the school year and the beginning of their four week summer break. There were numerous events going on throughout the week but I am just highlighting some of the ones we attended. In addition, the town was decorated to the nines, with all the fountains being transformed into various themes and just an abundance of beautiful flowers everywhere.  You could just feel the pride that every business, civic organization and towns person put into this event.  The whole town was just abuzz all week.

Drummers

We heard drumming around town for a few days and on Thursday night were able to see the marching bands practicing.  Alison's new favorite words "drums", "loud", "cannon" and "boom".  She really got a kick out of seeing and hearing the drummers.  That night our little town was transformed into a good old fashion street party with bands, street food and lots of partying.  That was the night we could hear classic American rock n roll from our apartment into the wee hours of the morning. In addition, a carnival/fair type atmosphere was set up (for the kids) complete with amusement rides. The kids fair and adult street party went on for a couple of nights.

The parade

The peak of the event is the formal parade on Friday morning.  All the school age young people dress in white, carry flowers and march through the town.  It sounds so simple but it was really quite beautiful and moving.   The days festivities culminate in an evening lantern parade for the children (they all make their own) along with an impressive fireworks display from the castle.

This year was extra special as it also included the open air maneuvers that they do every other year. Seriously we were warned of this but really had no idea what to expect.  Well for starters we heard the cannon go off a couple of times throughout the week.  It was hard not to hear it as it sounded like it was right outside our window.  Turns out it wasn't too far away as it was on the hillside of the schloss closest to our apartment. On Friday morning we were startled out of bed at 6am by the official start to the maneuvers which meant cannon fire every few minutes. Just as you would doze back off to sleep another "boom".  Luckily it only lasted for about 20 minutes and miraculously didn't wake up the kiddos.  The maneuvers is a celebration of the youth cadet corps that emerged in the second half of the 18th Century in Switzerland.  Back in the day it was a time honored tradition that offered a valuable learning experience for school age boys to learn military maneuvers as well as some type of social training.  Over the decades it went through many iterations but was officially disbanded in 1974 except for the every other year reenactments during the Youth Festival.  Today it is a strictly voluntary event that includes the students (boys and girls) as well as adults from the local civic organizations.  It basically looked like an excuse for everyone involved to get dressed up in some crazy costumes - everything from Indians, Arabs, chefs, pirates, kilts with bagpipes, you name it.  They basically got to dress up, run around with guns, march through town and reenact a fake battle out in a big field.  Sounds like a blast to me.



We didn't go and see the actual maneuvers that afternoon but we could hear it from our apartment.  We did wonder back into the town center later in the day to see all the different groups coming back from maneuvers.  That was a site to see and a treat for Alison as it was complete with more drummers as well as folks on horses.

Sadly it rained Friday night and the lantern festival was cancelled.  I am sure there were a ton of disappointed children as I saw some of their lanterns throughout the week and they were quite elaborate.  We did however watch the very impressive fireworks display from the comfort of our bedroom window.  It ended with what looked like fireworks cascading off the end of the castle.

Ali playing with other kids before the parade

I was so impressed with this display of dedication and honor for the youth in our town.  Fortunately one of the ladies at our playgroup on Monday told me that everyone gets dressed up for the parade especially the children and carry flowers.  Since she was helping make the arrangements for the children on her street, she made Alison a little corsage and bouquet of flowers which I thought was super sweet.  It was just a nice event and an amazing show of appreciation, not to mention just fun for the whole family.  Unfortunately Erik missed all but the fireworks display as he had been in Germany most of the week.  So hopefully he won't miss it next year.

In early August they will have another festival for the youth called the Gaulklerfest.  Which basically from what I have learned looks like several days of street artists, performers, comedians, etc. Again it is geared toward the young but has fun for all ages mixed in.  I love this town.

Well that is all from here this week.  Sadly my mom will be leaving, heading back to North Carolina in a few days.  We are all going to miss her very much around here.  And I am quickly going to learn what it is like to take care of two children completely on my own.  Erik is traveling out of town this week, leaving the same day my mom leaves.  If I don't post in a while you will know why.

Miss you all.

Enjoying the community fish fry

The local church beautifully decorated

Street party