TOO MUCH

Okay, so I have never been good at being on top of computer things, like e-mail, facebook, or up loading photos.  SO why did I think I could keep up with a blog.  I had this idea that I would have time because I was going to "stay at home" or because I would be in a new country where they do not speak English?  Well, that seems funny now.  I am seem to be keeping VERY busy with taking/picking up Elizabeth from school, grocery store, cooking, baby gym, Kindermusik, play dates, laundry, cooking (yes it should be on here twice!), cleaning the house, organizing and just playing with the kids and blogging has been on the end of the list.  We have been in Switzerland now a total of 3 months (as of last Wednesday) and the house has come along.  I am still working on getting pictures put up and decorations but we are settled!  I think (hope) we have put together our LAST piece of IKEA furniture for a while!  Anyway - there are several posts that I will be trying to put up in the near future - lots has happened in the last two months.   Saying goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa, Elizabeth's first day of school, new cars, a day at the park, Mimi and Papa being here (several posts there), Elizabeth's fourth birthday, Cheese and Chocolate factories, oh and so many more!  So PLEASE stay with me.  I WILL get caught up....at some point.

Love, Nikki

New Year's Day!

Okay so I know....I am two months behind????  Here is what we did on New Year's Day!  We started with a quick movie!  Then we decided to walk down the stairs on the other side of the vineyard to the Vufflens Chateau!  We stopped counting steps on about 100! 

 Here is a picture of the house from the other side of the vineyard - we are on the stairs going down!

 Here is the other side of the Chateau!

 This is the little bridge at the bottom of the hill over the creek.  It will be a fun place for the kids to play when it gets a little warmer!

 This is the view from the apartment building in our village.  There are archways into the building.  Isn't this an amazing picture!

 Then we topped off the night with Fondue!  Our first time doing it at home!  Here is what you need...

1. BREAD (cut into pieces!)

2. White wine - you can put a little into the fondue and it is also what the Swiss drink with their fondue.

 3.  Fondue, family and Friends!  It was wonderful and a perfect end to the first day of the new year! 

Happy New Year to all of you!  Happy 2011 - wishing you a good one!

Love, Nikki

Ouchy

This is Ouchy.  It is right on Lake Leman (Lake Geneva).  It is a port village and very popular in the summer!  Nathan and I stayed at the Movenpick Hotel which is right in this area.  It is a great place with beautiful scenery, toys for the kids to play on, markets/paddle boats/food vendors all in the summer! 

Ouchy (Lausanne) is also the home of the Olympic Museum and CIO (International Olympic Committee).  The kids are standing in front of the Olympic flame.  It is a really neat sight and museum!

Great pic!  Wish it was not so foggy so you could see France.  We had a great time.

This is one of the play structures for the kids.  The kids had a GREAT time playing.

They are going to feed the CRAZY birds!

WOW - lots of swans.  They were beautiful.  This man must do this often - the swans knew what to do.

Home - the kids are SOOO glad that daddy is home every night! 

Wrestling

More wrestling!

Zach has started liking chicken - this is his first chicken leg - he HAD to do it himself.  I cannot believe he is getting so big.  Where does the time go? 

Love, Nikki

Time?!?

I am not sure if this is a question or a statement but where does it go???  I cannot believe it is February.  I am WAY behind on posting and will try to catch up this week.  It is 1:30 a.m. here and the Superbowl is on the the T.V. thanks to a slingbox.  There are 6 minutes left in the second quarter and I am tired - my bed is calling and I think it will be okay if I find out tomorrow who won the game.

Love, Nikki

St. Cergue (28.12.2010)

 Yep, those are ski boots.  We went up to St. Cergue (a town in the mountain with ski slopes and only 30 minutes from our house) just to see what it was like.  We had planned on trying to get skis on Elizabeth and maybe getting skis on the adults (other than me!).  We ended up finding out that the lifts in St. Cergue were not running because there was not enough snow but they had this wonderful "bowl" like area with a park that we let the Zach sled and Elizabeth try out skis! 

 Zach LOVED the sledding.  He would go down the hill and when he wanted to be done he would just roll off the sled, get up and start the hike back up the hill!  Of course someone (mostly Grandpa) would have to go down to get the sled! 

Elizabeth wore the skis for about 30 minutes.  She went from loving it to not so much several times - but she did try and did a few feet on her own.  We will continue to work on it!  We ate pizza at a little restaurant, which was wonderful and then went back out to play in the snow.  It was a great day. 

Love, Nikki

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas.  We had a wonderful one.  We got to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa!  It was SO wonderful to have them here in our new home.  We woke up EARLY (per Elizabeth) and opened presents, then played in the snow with new sleds, stuffed our Turkey (yes, they have frozen ones around the holidays - small but GOOD), and played.  It was a wonderful day.  Hope yours was wonderful too!

Love, Nikki

Dress up and Santa's cookies

Dress up and fashion shows are our life!  Even before she gets done eating dinner, she asks if she can have a fashion show!  This was her latest outfit for Christmas eve!

 Here is Zach eating the cookies we put out for Santa!  He loves sugar cookies!!!!

 This is what we left out.....cookies and milk for Santa, oats and carrots for the reindeer!  Merry Christmas to all!!!

Love, Nikki