Sunday 25 September 2011

Like father, like son

Photo sessions with Joseph go something like this...

Smile Joseph...

Come on smile 


Ok but next time try to look natural (yeah I know, like he knows what that means!!)


Not quite what I meant..


Nope that's not smiling that's your dog impression..



Better, nearly there, let's just try one more.. Smile :)


OK  I can see that's the best we're going to get.




Photo sessions with Nathan go something like this...

Smile..


No, that's not smiling, try again..


That's stern and moody not smiling..


That look was exactly the same as the last


Ok let's just try one more.. smile :)


OK I give up!

Loves young dream!

You know sometimes, it would be nice to get a good photo of yourself and your dishy husband...




Switzerland highlights continued

# 4 Spending time with family


It was great to spend time with my Aunty Christine, she was so kind and did everything to make sure we had a great and relaxing time. Late night chats with her and Uncle David were lovely. A bonus was that Rebecca was also on holiday there at the same time. On the Sunday we had a family meal with them and Lizzie, Frank and children, Phil and Nate's family. We had Raclette - which Nathan was in particular really pleased about.


Kenzi slightly bemused by Nathan - he definitely belonged at the childrens' table!



The 6 cousins!


Check out Grandad - we had a good chat with Grandma and Grandad via Skype!


Lizzie and family also came up to Schwarzsee on the Saturday and we had fun in the stream and messing about in Frank's boat. Ben went for a ride with Rebecca and fell asleep. Cal, Kenzi and Aaron were great company for the boys. Cal has a great imagination and created some greats stories for Joseph to tag along with.



Such as being a Triceratops...


.. and hunting in the forest for food! 



Ben crashed out,  rocked to sleep by the boat!



On Tuesday, there was sometime for fun in Aunty Christine's pool and then time to warm up in the hot tub. The hot tub was even better in the evening lit by fairy lights and the moon and child free!





I love this picture of Aaron - pity it's a little blurred


Joseph and Aaron were good pals and it was fun to see them play this game. The children were saying something in German which Joseph didn't understand, he did however get the concept that you had to run fast and then stop really quickly when the person 'on' turned round. He laughed his head off :)


Members of the family we should not forget were Sally and Duke, the dogs!! Needless to say Ben adored them and could not contain his excitement to see them everyday, they were endlessly stroked and hugged -it has to be said sometimes a little to passionately for their liking.



I Love this one of Ben and Duke

#5 Trips around Bern

Bern is a beautiful city, the old town is extremely picturesque, we took a trip there on Monday. Did some shopping ( the exchange rate to Swiss franc made our eyes water and was a natural suppressant to any urge to splash the cash!) The boys got a new Disney car - so were pleased of course (well I say that but it seems that Ben ditched his 9.90CHF (approx £8!!) car in exchange for his 1.50 CHF ice lolly somewhere on our travels)and I got a wooden cow with a bell to go on our Christmas tree as our holiday reminder. We went to see the Bern bears in their new bear park.The boys loved to see them swim and I tried not to think about how easy it would be for someone to fall over the wall and into the bear's lair.







See - the walls aren't high at all!!




Though Bern city is nice, the view of Bern and the surrounding areas, from the top of the Gurten is something else. On Tuesday, Aunty Christine dropped us off at the Gurten. We ascended via the Gurtenbahn. At the top we had a picnic and then the boys went to check out the fab park. We'd not anticipated there being water so had no change of clothes, the boys stripped down to their pants and vest and got straight in. Predictably, Joesph fell within minutes and repeated it on a number of occasions - to be fair he never complained about being wet and fortunately the sun was out and did a good job of drying him! We played for a good couple of hours on the: giant slide ;the weird and wonderful ball and cogs contraption; the ropes and the cars which went by them selves (Ben's favourite he kept making runs to get back to them!)



Joseph hitching a ride with some Swiss children




Ben's favourite and Nathan was only too pleased that he needed him to help out!








Ben making a run for the cars!!



Before we were to descend and make our way back to Aunty Christines via Tram and train, we went for the circular walk around the top of the hill and found a piece of heaven. 


The views from the other side were spectacular, the weather just perfect to highlight the contrasting colours of the blue sky next to the white snowcapped mountains, next to the green of the fields and yellow of the corn. The boys ran down and up, down and up the slopes. I could have stayed all day watching them and sitting back and taking in the sights.




  





A lovely, lovely day.

Sunday 18 September 2011

Switzerland highlights

We've just returned from an amazing week's holiday in Switzerland. I'm not entirely sure the best way to go about recording all the many memories. I'm opting for photos in no particular chronological order as pictures are worth a thousand words , so they say.


#1 Flying



Joseph being so excited to go on a plane. 

Ben was a little hyper (probably to do with all the sweets he'd had - bad parenting idea!) On the way home he screamed full on for the 10 minutes descent as he wanted to sit with me, but I was over the aisle unable to do anything, much to the disgust of the young female in front of me who kept turning and giving mucky looks - brownie points for not saying anything to her. (This isn't really a highlight just a vivid memory) 



#2 - Hospital trip


Again not really a highlight but an hour after arriving at Aunty Christine's we had to go to the hospital with Ben. In a state of extreme excitement - a mix of sweets, Sally and Duke (Aunty Christine's dogs) and being able to move around, he ran into the corner of a table and cut underneath his eye. We waited for nearly two hours. Fortunately it was apparently very 'superficial' and would heal by itself, which it did.

#3 Schwarzsee

Just the perfect setting for great family time. the boys love throwing stones in the lake, the cabin was cosey, we ate outside, it was warm and the scenery was just beautiful. I kept saying to Nathan ' I can't believe we're staying somewhere so beautiful for free'


The sound of the cow bells were in the background constantly, apart from Saturday morning when I woke up and noticed their absence, they went for milking and then came back - I loved it.


Playing pooh sticks on our walk around the lake.


Around every corner there was a new photo opportunity. The sky was blue and the clouds were white - perfect weather.


Joseph jumped at any and every opportunity to get wet!



I love this photo as it is reminiscent of one of him playing with pebbles around lake Meade in Idaho, 3 years ago. 



We all loved the toboggan run by the lake. Ben squealed with delight and loved it when we went really fast.




If you were to ask Nathan what his highlight of the whole holiday was he'd choose sailing the boats down the stream to the lake with Joseph. 




Second instalment coming soon