Spring Break-Trois Forets Center Parcs in Moselle Lorraine, France

We had a fabulous time at a fun resort in France for the week.  The kids played to their hearts content, ate and ate, & the crashed for the night!  We had a lot more pictures of things that we did, but George's camera was stolen so this is all we have.  But not pictured was paint balling, buffet eating, more swimming, & playing.

Allison & Clara did pony rides.  For 45 minutes Elene (George's mom) & George lead them around the park.  Poor Allison said her bum was sore 1/2 way in, so George carried her and lead the pony.  Also it was freezing that day.  There was no Spring weather.

Allison getting a ride...Clara was an excellent driver.

 The swimming area was full of slides and different pools.  This was Allison's favorite.  Actually, all of them went on this one over and over again.  This is Sammy & Clara.

Getting ready for some serious ropes courses.

 Alex would try anything!

 Sammy loves the challenge.

 Allison's turn to drive.

 They could all slide down at the same time.  Makes a mommy smile seeing their kids play together.

 Climbing all over the play structured.  We couldn't even see Alex for an hour or so.

 Just some horsen around at the farm.

 This is what I did while everyone swam since I was a gimp.  Luckily, Allison can fall asleep anywhere if she is tired enough.

 Notice Allison covering her eyes...doesn't want water in them.

 Clara all by herself!

 This boy couldn't get enough of the slides.  He would only check in for a minute or two and then was off again.

 The buffet was one of our favorite places to eat.  Everyone gets to eat what they want and then endless desserts.  On the last night the kids tried them all!

On our way home we stopped at a cute little French time and wandered through the cemetery.  It was amazing!  And so beautiful!

Our last stop was Strasbourg, France just over the border from Germany.  Such a beautiful city!  Can't wait to go back and explore some more.

Winter Break-February 2013

Because I tore my ACL we were forced to spend our Winter break at home.  We filled it with movie watching, playing the snow, swimming, & going to the park.  It was a nice relaxing week!

 Allison just loves to go down this little slide all by herself and even on her stomach!

 Happy as can be!  She could do this for hours!

 Clara, Madilyn Petit, Sammy, & Allison having some fun in the kiddie pool!

 Nothing says Valentine's Day like frosting sugar cookies.

 Yummy!

 This girl ate more frosting than she actually frosted her cookies with!

 The boys could have cared less about frosting cookies and spent their time playing the Wii.  I just love the blank looks on the their faces!

 Dad brought home little chocolates for each of them for Valentine's Day...lots of love!

 Girls playing on a pirate ship trying not to slip on the ice.

 This girl loves her slides!

 Such a sweet big sister to help!

 A couple of crazy kids!

 Alex is loving his Razor these days and scooters all around doing tricks.

Such sweet kids looking over Zurichsee.

Fun in the SNOW this winter!

 Winter 2013 seemed to last forever!  But it is finally over and we are enjoying the warmth now.  We did lots of skiing, sledding, & just playing in the snow this.  Unfortunately, I tore my ACL skiing (a post to come about that later) early in the season, so spent my time as a spectator.  Here is a look back at some fun we had in the snow.

 The kids took skiing lessons for 6 weeks at Hoch Ybrig in January/February.  Allison spent time with friends or babysitters and George and I were able to ski together, at least until the accident:).

 George & I on top of Hoch Ybrig in January.

 Such a beautiful day and great views from up there!

 George & Marco (a co-worker of George's) at Hoch Ybrig on the day I tore my ACL in January.  Marco ended up helping me translate with the Swiss so I could get some help down the mountain...a real life saver!

We had tons of snow this year!  This is a little hill 10 minutes from our home that we had a great time sledding down. 

 George making his way down on the little sled.

 Allison and Sammy trying to blow a way down.

 Allison and I chilling in the snow.  I watched and took pictures since I couldn't sled.

Allison went down over and over again with her dad.  She just loves it!  The only part she didn't like was getting snow in her face.  We brought goggles for the next time.

On Friday afternoon the kids hit the tiny hills in our yard.

 You have to be quick or you slide right off into the rode:) 

 Alex & Neal all covered in snow!

 Allison, Clara, Sammy, & her friend Emily taking part in the fun.

 Sammy is such a great big sister to take Allison down over and over again.

For winter break we hung around here and went with the Petits to sled and play in the snow at Zugerberg.  It was snowing the whole time and a fog rolled in making it so you couldn't even see the top of the mountain!  But we all had a blast anyways!

 The girls having talk time in the snow!

 Daring Clara going backwards down the mountain!

All the kids warming up and getting ready to eat some lunch!

 Alex & Neal spent more time wrestling in the snow then sledding in it...boys!

 Allison getting buried in the snow.  Amy was so sweet to help us out since I couldn't walk so well with my knee.

This time we brought goggles and she loved them!

On the last day of ski school I had to stay home and George went.  Unfortunately, we didn't get such great pictures.  Here is Alex & Clara at the end of the day.  Sammy also did the lessons, but she skied from a different lift so we didn't get her picture.  They learned a lot this year and all 3 kids just love to ski!  I have to say that Sammy is better than I am and Alex is close behind.  I am sure next year Clara will be passing me up as well:).

Sammy headed off to Zug to go ice skating with her friends Isaac & Emily.  Skating is a new thing for Sammy, but they had a great time!

George took Sammy & Alex to St. Moritz in March for a ski trip.  They had a great time!

Sammy & Alex in the bobsled.  I guess they have a great course there.

Sammy & Alex on the top.

George and the kids before skiing down the mountain...isn't it beautiful!

Snow angels!

After a week in France for Spring Break George and Clara headed out for one more ski day the end of March.  Yes we still had great snow then!

Little Clara skiing down with her arms spread out to help her turn!  SO cute!

Clara & her dad...she loved the one-on-one attention!

Aren't they cute!

George's mom, Elene, was in town helping after my surgery so was able to go up and watch them ski and enjoy the beautiful Swiss alps!

As I said it was a long winter, but we had a great time in the snow!  This actually was the type of winter I thought of when I thought of living in Switzerland.  Looking forward to one last winter in the Swiss alps!