Laowai

Brian and Bea had another little weekend adventure this time to Zug. They came back with some more interesting photos. Brian has his pass that makes any train travel in Switzerland free and kids under 6 are free so taking these trips is really easy for the two of them. I’m so glad they go because it give me a little (almost) alone time and I can spend some time focusing on Claire. Brian comes back with tired shoulders because he indulges Bea in shoulder rides. Here are the photos – starting with another example of Switzerland’s extremely picturesque playgrounds.

She’s sitting up nicely, constantly looking for new toys to put in her mouth, quick to smile and delightfully agreeable 99% of the time. 

Claire at eight months

Bea at eight months

We went sled shopping today and now we just need some snow. Thanks to Grandpa and Gramma C. for funding the shopping trip. 

And another appreciated Christmas gift from Grandpa and Gramma C. – matching pajamas.

Note to Brian – it’s never to early to think about my next birthday gift:

http://www.pigeontail.com/pigeontail/Papervore_H.html

 

The Papervore from Pigeontail Design on Vimeo.

 

Which of my daughters wins the ugly baby contest in these photos?

Here’s Bea after a night of too much drinking:

And here’s our poor Claire after one too many Christmas cookies:

I’m sure that these are much more amusing to me than to anyone out there. I don’t know why, but I just look at them and crack up – every time.

Sorry girls. You are beautiful babies 99.999% of the time.

Here’s Bea cutting some carrots that she then did not eat. But the cool thing here is her little practice knife that Grandma J. gave her for Christmas. It looks like a doggy complete with a wiggly tail. And check out the piggy cutting board that Brian gave me. His name is Horace.

On New Year’s day we went to a place high above Zurich for a little hike. Bea and Brian climbed the big tower – up up up into the fog.

Last time we climbed that tower this was the view.

Bea has been doing some painting. She has a distinctive style of non-overlapping lines. The black dots in this painting are ants.

Here’s another bit of artwork that she made back at Gramma and Grandpa C.’s. I think they are jelly fish.

I’m working on our photo album for 2010 and gathering up the Christmas decorations to be put away. Bea’s playgroup starts back up on Monday so we’ll really be back to our routine.

In 2010 I made a few shirts, Swiss bread, a strappy onesie for Claire, a kitty costume, some shorts that were never worn, several dresses, some bugs, a baby blanket, bananna bread, a bunny and a baby. 

I’m ready to wrap up 2010. It was a huge year for us – filled with so many new experiences and lots of smiles. We are spending the first few days of 2011 recovering from jetlag. Bea was still on Michigan time on New year’s Eve so she had no problem staying up to watch fireworks at midnight. In 2011 I’m hoping for more smiles, more chances to make things and not so much moving and packing up of our household.

Happy New Year!

We sure do appreciate your efforts and those of your Star Alliance partners in storing our clothes and Christmas gifts for us in an undisclosed location. And now as a bonus, we are looking forward to trying to figure out how to get our loot home. Special kudos for providing absolutely no information at any point in the last twelve days.