Today we had a nice hike not too far from home – a place called Niederurnen. We took a small cable car up and then we hiked on a special sculpture trail. All along the trail were wooden sculptures and the girls had to find certain numbered ones and collect a stamp. At the end…

We’ve had our moments. While I’m trying to get stuff done the girls come to me with long faces complaining that they are SO BORED! And I snap back – “it’s not my job to entertain you! Grrr!” But we’ve also had lovely weather. I’ve had some uninterrupted time to read in the hammock. We’ve…

I learned a new phrase – I think I have it right. Velo sturtz means cycling accident. Brian called Saturday morning and said “come get me, I had an accident and I’m bleeding”. His pedal broke off as he was coming down a hill and he hit the road hard. Luckily he was at the…

I started this quilt on January 20th and now it’s all done! Yay! I want to ask Brian to hold it up outside and get some full photos but in the meantime here it is! Thanks to Film in the Fridge for the inspiration and pattern instructions. I love that it is almost obnoxiously bright…

calls for cinnamon rolls.

Summer has started off swimmingly. Today we started off with chocolate pancakes. I’ve been adding a third cup of dark cocoa powder and a bit of extra milk to my regular pancake recipe. Mmmmm.  Later we got to take a dip in Lake Zurich again and it felt so good. Lake Zurich is so cherished…

Claire had her end of year piano recital on Saturday. It was held at a beautiful old villa. I’ll post a link to the video once her teacher passes it on. Claire played Waltzing Butterflies, as a duet with her teacher and Rainbow. That’s her teacher, Jana, on the right. She has learned so much in…

Not much to report from our house. The girls have one more week of school. Then I hope we’ll be spending some lazy days by the lake. Our plans for the summer are set. We’ll see friends in Wilmette and family in Michigan and then we have visitors coming to Switzerland. I have a feeling…

Brian has been working too hard. He needed this lake-side nap.

One of the cool things about the girls’ school is the fact that they get to go on some really awesome overnight trips. Bea went to the mountains early in the school year and then had a ski trip to Davos in February. Well now Claire has gotten her turn. Second graders get to just…