Month: March 2008
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So Close, But Yet So Flooded!
We were so close to being “nearly done” with Switzerland. The paintings we shipped over from Lubbock arrived on Wednesday, the carpenter hung them on Thursday, and on Friday, the electrician was due to install the final lights. No more bare bulbs! The electrician (Stéphane) turned up with his trusty assistant (EA), who was maybe…
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Where is Annika?
A friend actually had a look at my blog yesterday (surely a first!) and remarked that there were no recent pictures of Annika. I have now added a couple, but it is a bit difficult to find them. Right now, Christopher seems to be the most interesting – and willing – subject. Invite him to…
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Feeling Sorry for Myself
So here I sit in Switzerland. If I just look outside, there’s more than a meter of fresh snow on the ground, plus dustings of light powder the past two days. The sun is out, there’s not a cloud in the sky, the temps are just below freezing, and the slopes are brilliant. So why…
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Babysitting and iPods
One huge benefit about Switzerland is the access to babysitting. Swiss Mountain Sports has been outstanding in providing great ski schools (5 kids per class max) and a high level of customer service. Of course, with three kids booked, two weeks a year or more, the Neils are now known. Even better, the ski instructors…
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Easter and Swiss Neighbors
Some parts of Switzerland are a bit of a culture shock for a Texan. Like neighborly-ness. (Or maybe some of our neighbors just need a life…) We bought our apartment a bit over a year ago, and we are the only non-Swiss family among the 5 apartments. Since then, have managed to – successfully –…
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The Sock Plot
Socks are a disposable item in our house, not due to lack of effort! H&M must have a plot to get us – I bought days-of-the-week socks for Benjamin – 7 pairs, all different. I bought two sets, so at least we would double our chances of finding sock friends, and then found myself in…
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The Dot System
If I only had one child, I wonder how easy it would be… only one set of small socks to sort in the laundry, only one size of outerwear, only one pair of mittens… Somehow, having three calls for new systems of organization that are still in development, at least at our house. Like clothes…
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A Threesome Two Ways
Annika has had a really tough time in school this year. I thought she might have developed a food allergy, since she kept getting sent home with tummy aches, but I have since realized that it has more to do with her social life than with diet. She is in a threesome, and for girls,…
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That Little Guy Can Read!
Benjamin and I had a great weekend in London. I thought he would hit it off with my friend’s two boys – one who is just a few months older, and one who is about 9 months younger – and I was right. Benjamin fit right in, and had a blast playing with the guys.…
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Would You Insure Him?
Yes, Benjamin needs glasses. No big surprise, since David and I are both near-sighted. In the Swedish system, we have to go to a “gate keeper” to get a “remiss” for further care. Truthfully, with their family history of glasses and orthodontics, our kids should have received their “remiss” at birth… We went to the…