Sunday, October 29, 2006
Speaking of Madonna...
I have a German friend who lives here permanently now. She adopted her 3 year old daughter from Chicago when she was a baby. She has now gone back there to adopt another baby.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Maryland in Pictures
We just got back from a trip to Maryland to see Walter's grandparents Marion and Nels. We also saw Walter's brother David, Aunt Carolyn and cousins Mark and Rachel. Everyone was in fine form and we had a really super time with them. Toby got to meet the MD family for the first time and Allie had his first ever sleep over (with his great g'parents!).
Nels and Marion live beside the Chesapeake. As soon as we arrived, we took a walk down to get some sun and excercise to beat the jet lag.
When waking at 4am, the boys passed time by:
Allie and Toby settled right into the routine.
Allie got to visit the library with the Great GParents. He and Toby spent many hours reading with them.
Nearly every day, the boys got to visit the local playground in the Quiet Waters Park. Somehow, Allie would get together roving bands of boys to chase stinkbug monsters (from one of the library books). The weather was beautiful except for one day, and the leaves were changing.
Walter and Nels enjoy a quiet moment.
There was a cool, big swing (probably for people with a physical handicap) that the boys could both fit on.
Allie is very good at propelling himself on the swing now.
One day, David came to the park too. Before our trip, Allie got very excited about seeing his uncle.
From LtoR: Toby, Walter, Nels, David and Allie in the Autumnal sun.
At the weekend, Carolyn had us all over for the afternoon. She did this, even though there's a huge upheaval going on at the school where she teaches: Gallaudet in Washington DC. The last few weeks have been stressful. If you're interested in the story, I would try to read past the general news, which hasn't done a very good job in capturing the real issues.
LtoR: Rachel's friend Veronica, Rachel's boyfriend Casey and Walter's cousin Rachel herself!
Rachel's brother Mark and his friend Amy.
Amy's children Lauren, Alexandra and Joey, playing with the wee boys. They spent the whole afternoon playing happily and running around the garden. They got on very well.
We also met Amy's dad, John (here with Alexandra).
Barb (a long time friend and co-worker of Carolyn) and Carolyn.
The following photos are of the night before we left. This was the night Allie slept over. We left him playing games with the G G'parents and Great Aunt Carolyn! Apparently, he went off to bed with no problems and didn't surface the next morning till 8am! I think a night not sleeping with Toby did him good. He was then treated to a cooked breakfast :)
Carolyn and boys.
Marion, Nels and boys.
The afternoon of departure.
Flying to the US (esp. DC), then flying back to Switz. via Heathrow, we got to sample the latest in Security techniques. What a polava! We went Zurich-Brussels-DC, where I took water bottles through, but wasn't allowed children's tylenol or lip balm. I was allowed a lipstick, which they didn't even look at. We queued to board the plane and were then told to go back to the gate desk to be asked those stupid secuity questions (after waiting in a long line again with 2 boys who had to get up at 4am). Why they couldn't have put up a sign to direct us there in the first place is beyond me. The only impression I have of Belges right now is that they are snits.... On the way back there was a sign saying small quantities of toiletries were allowed, but people were having them removed anyway. David had given some squishy ball toys to A n T, which had brought hours of entertainment. They brought hours more because apparently the gel substance in them isn't a concern (?!?). I think all of this is a cunning plan of the government to make it look like chaos and keep the terrorists on their toes. Here's Allie demonstrating the squishy ball:
Thanks Marion, Nels et al. for a really nice week. The boys are still talking about it, and Allie is learning to say "Grandparent en arriere" meaning great grand parent.
Nels and Marion live beside the Chesapeake. As soon as we arrived, we took a walk down to get some sun and excercise to beat the jet lag.
When waking at 4am, the boys passed time by:
Allie and Toby settled right into the routine.
Allie got to visit the library with the Great GParents. He and Toby spent many hours reading with them.
Nearly every day, the boys got to visit the local playground in the Quiet Waters Park. Somehow, Allie would get together roving bands of boys to chase stinkbug monsters (from one of the library books). The weather was beautiful except for one day, and the leaves were changing.
Walter and Nels enjoy a quiet moment.
There was a cool, big swing (probably for people with a physical handicap) that the boys could both fit on.
Allie is very good at propelling himself on the swing now.
One day, David came to the park too. Before our trip, Allie got very excited about seeing his uncle.
From LtoR: Toby, Walter, Nels, David and Allie in the Autumnal sun.
At the weekend, Carolyn had us all over for the afternoon. She did this, even though there's a huge upheaval going on at the school where she teaches: Gallaudet in Washington DC. The last few weeks have been stressful. If you're interested in the story, I would try to read past the general news, which hasn't done a very good job in capturing the real issues.
LtoR: Rachel's friend Veronica, Rachel's boyfriend Casey and Walter's cousin Rachel herself!
Rachel's brother Mark and his friend Amy.
Amy's children Lauren, Alexandra and Joey, playing with the wee boys. They spent the whole afternoon playing happily and running around the garden. They got on very well.
We also met Amy's dad, John (here with Alexandra).
Barb (a long time friend and co-worker of Carolyn) and Carolyn.
The following photos are of the night before we left. This was the night Allie slept over. We left him playing games with the G G'parents and Great Aunt Carolyn! Apparently, he went off to bed with no problems and didn't surface the next morning till 8am! I think a night not sleeping with Toby did him good. He was then treated to a cooked breakfast :)
Carolyn and boys.
Marion, Nels and boys.
The afternoon of departure.
Flying to the US (esp. DC), then flying back to Switz. via Heathrow, we got to sample the latest in Security techniques. What a polava! We went Zurich-Brussels-DC, where I took water bottles through, but wasn't allowed children's tylenol or lip balm. I was allowed a lipstick, which they didn't even look at. We queued to board the plane and were then told to go back to the gate desk to be asked those stupid secuity questions (after waiting in a long line again with 2 boys who had to get up at 4am). Why they couldn't have put up a sign to direct us there in the first place is beyond me. The only impression I have of Belges right now is that they are snits.... On the way back there was a sign saying small quantities of toiletries were allowed, but people were having them removed anyway. David had given some squishy ball toys to A n T, which had brought hours of entertainment. They brought hours more because apparently the gel substance in them isn't a concern (?!?). I think all of this is a cunning plan of the government to make it look like chaos and keep the terrorists on their toes. Here's Allie demonstrating the squishy ball:
Thanks Marion, Nels et al. for a really nice week. The boys are still talking about it, and Allie is learning to say "Grandparent en arriere" meaning great grand parent.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Those Swiss and their Drums!
Walter found this:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8809786444178529755&q=Top+Secret+Drum+Corps
Cool eh? We're going to the Tattoo next year....if we can. Tickets were sold out within hours of going on sale for this years... last year!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8809786444178529755&q=Top+Secret+Drum+Corps
Cool eh? We're going to the Tattoo next year....if we can. Tickets were sold out within hours of going on sale for this years... last year!
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