Weltklasse Zurich 2009

Letzigrund Stadium

photo courtesy of myswitzerland.com

On Friday night, my boss invited me to the Weltklasse Zurich track and field event at Letzigrund Stadium (and my angelic wife was kind enough to let me go). It was amazing to see Ussain Bolt run in person (he's like a man among boys - but those 'boys' are world class sprinters) and I also witnessed a new world record in pole vault broken by Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva.

Fast as a lightning BOLT

photo courtesy of swissinfo.ch

The thrill of knowing you're number ONE

photos courtesy of swissinfo.ch & google images

I had never been to a professional track and field event before and I was shocked by how much the athletes interacted with and fed off of the crowd. The US athletes represented well and I got to be a bit obnoxious every time they won an event, but Ussain stole the show in the final leg of the 4x100 meter relay when he caught the Americans from behind and just turned his head and laughed as he flew past him just before the finish line. On a side note, the Swiss relay team placed 6th in that race while setting a new Swiss record, I've never seen a group of athletes and fans so excited for a 6th place visit - but when your a small country, I guess that's a great feat.

The Swiss relay team

photo courtesy of swissinfo.ch

The Swiss regard this as the best track and field event in the world, and although I'm not sure I would go that far, the atmosphere was electric. For more info on the event, click here.

Photoshoot Weekend

It's 12:09am (as in midnight) as I start writing this. I want to post more frequently since mega posts are so time consuming and get old. So, in my attempt to do this, I need to post TONIGHT.

My six weeks is up and I am back to hired shoots. It's a bittersweet because I love taking photographs but I hate having the idea of more photos to edit and two kids vying for my attention while attempting to edit.

On Saturday, I shot twin, 3 month old girls while Tal took the kids to the branch "Mini MTC" day. The shoot took 3.5 hours and I was exhausted afterwards (darling girls, by the way). After a nice nap, we drove over to Rachel and Tony Mascaros to go to their town fair.

The path to the fair grounds had several small "spielplatz" or playgrounds on the way that were all made out of natural resources and were designed like bugs. This one looks like a preying mantis eating a worm! Switzerland has some of the coolest playgrounds I've ever seen. And the most dangerously fun.

We ate yummy curry for dinner and banana/nutella crepes for dessert. YUM! Kelsey ran around with a few Swiss kids and I couldn't believe how outgoing she was with them.

We went on the ferris wheel with the Mascaros at sunset. Kelsey liked it, but got tired and cold after a few rotations.

Thank you guys for a fun night!

On Sunday, we took pictures of the Aeschbacher family and Tal brought the kids so we could have our temple recommend interviews after. Here is the view of Lake Zug from the hill behind their house. Isn't it gorgeous!? This doesn't even do it justice.

At their house, Kelsey picked some apples. Here she is debating which one to pick (after getting Heidi's permission first of course!).

OUCH! Kelsey got this shiner Thursday night from tripping on the rug when running into the living room to tell us something and falling on her chin on the corner of the coffee table. Both Tally and I saw it happen and thought we would be in the ER for sure. We got lucky this time. Poor baby! After nursery today she had a black left eye. Shoulda seen the other guy.

It was fun, but now I'm tired. Aiden is doing great, growing lots, and sleeping fairly well. He's also good natured and will sit quietly for long periods, several times a day. Knock on wood. It's 12:56am and I just got told to come to bed from Tal. Nighty night!

Aiden's First Month

The first month has flown by.

At his first doctors appointment, he weighed just under 5 kilos which is almost 11 pounds. That's two additional pounds in only one month. He is 54 cm or 21.25 inches. He has broken out with acne on his face, but it comes and goes.

The Carter's NB (newborn) onesies are officially too small. I couldn't get one over his head today. I love those things! He had so many cute ones. Now we're working on 0-3's. I guess he's no longer a newborn!

He's a breastfed baby and we're still getting the hang of the nightly routine. During the day, I've got him eating every 2.5-3 hours but at night, we'll often both fall asleep mid-feed so he doesn't get a full meal and wakes up again 2 hours later. When I'm conscious enough, I'll get up with him, sit on the couch, and make sure he gets a full meal. But that hasn't been the case lately. I love how sweet he looks when he's sleeping.

He is smiling! It's not always on cue but he's done it with all three of us now. It doesn't accompany gas and it makes my heart melt! Especially when it's so big that both cheek dimples show.

All is good on the home front. There are definitely more trying/frustrating times with two, but I'm working on what to let go and what to put my foot down on. Kelsey is doing good with all the changes, but she's not even two yet. I can't blame her too much for being curious and poking his eye or screaming to wake him up. He's a pretty good sport about letting her hold him and such.

But should he be? Here's the biggest, baddest bite of (2 of 3). I heard a pain-filled shriek from him and ran over to see what had happened. It wasn't too hard to tell. Kelsey got time-out on this one. Aiden gave me a huge smile when I came over and only cried when I put him down on the couch to take this pic. Guess he wasn't too hurt.

Sometimes when it gets quiet and I don't see Kelsey, I get suspicious

This is where I've found her a few times now: hiding under the food drawer eating chocolate. It's hard to get mad when she's so clever and cute. I guess that's what happens when mom is busy with brother. {Terrible indoor lighting, needed my flash}

He can sleep anywhere, in about any position

Kelsey loves to color and I will often have her do that while I nurse or something. She likes to eat the crayons and break the pencils too.

Poke. Poke.

Waking up is hard to do

My little helper, putting the binky back in when he cries

She loves when I put him in her crib. He likes it too. Too bad I didn't get the focus right. I love his happy disposition.

'I love that frog and toucan! Waz up, guys?'

Our friends Jasmine and Loic came over for a visit. Jasmine loved holding the baby.

Loic liked it too, but only for a few seconds. He was so sweet to him, which is good since he's going to be a big brother again soon!

Tuckered out from having visitors

Aiden had this really bad rash on his arms, chest, and thighs for at least two weeks. I think it was at least partially due to heat. It's been pretty hot and we both fall asleep snuggling at night. Poor summer baby!

I love how he always manages to sneak those little toes out of the swaddle

Our Little Sports Star

My friend Tanya let me borrow her baseball, mitt & football for these pics. If he grows up to be like his dad, he'll be a huge sports fan (esp. BYU Football), and love to play these games. I just need to get him with a soccer ball and basketball and we'll have our "bases" covered. Lee, (Tal's dad) I hope you notice that it's a catcher's mitt, since you used to play. Maybe your grandson will be a catcher too oneday.

I hope he does grows up to be like his dad, whose name he shares. Tal is a great, adoring daddy. I treasure this sweet picture.

The great thing about being a photographer is that you can take pictures of your own kids. The bad thing is you can go overboard, which I DEFINITELY did this month. My poor baby kept getting woken up in the middle of his naps by a beanie being put on his head or his face suddenly being placed on a tough catcher's mitt. I guess it will make up for the amount of pictures I wont be taking of him compared to Kelsey at his age.

I need your opinion (just comment or send me an email). Which picture(s) is/are your favorite that would be best for his announcement? I have three different drafts of his announcement and I can't decide. Thanks in advance!

Grandma's Trip to see Aiden & Kelsey

WARNING! PICTURE OVERLOAD!

My SIL had this warning on her blog and I thought I should adopt it as well.

Except it may get redundant.

I need an editor.

Cuddling with Mimi (grandma). I wasn't sure how she would take to my mom since she hadn't seen her in awhile. Well, no worries there. She cuddled right up and let my mom just hold her and take care of her when I was in the hospital. This pic is from the first day my mom got into town.

Quality Coloring Time
Kelsey was so excited to get kisses from Grandma

Bedtime Stories

While I was in the hospital, my mom took Kelsey to the beach almost every day. Here are her pictures with the friends she made (our friends too).

Thalwil, Switzerland

We took a walk to one of our favorite parks. This is a steep hill so my mom and I pushed the stroller together.

This is a common activity in my daily life. Chasing after Krazy Kelsey!

The View from the top - this is what should have been in the background behind my mom but was blown out. I only had the P&S with me.

I'm not sure he likes all this attention

Feeding the Swiss cows

Hitching a ride on front - my "double" stroller

Lenzburg Castle

Playing "kokoos" with Grammie in the little huts. This must have been where the commoners lived ;).

The road less traveled

The Castle Guards

There is a children's play place with some of the coolest dress up and play toys I've ever seen. Oh to be a child in Switzerland! There is a creative area where the kids can do crafts. Kelsey made a pink princess crown. Ta-da!

It really was like stepping back in time. I guess they have a "festival" on Saturdays where everyone dresses up and shows what life might have been like back in the day. The picture on the bottom right is of the dragon. Kelsey was curious, but mostly freaked out by it.

Cool bridge

One tired little princess

Bern, Switzerland

We stopped by the temple to show my mom and to snap a family photo. Once we got into the city of Bern, Kelsey wouldn't leave the crown in the car.

Princess ruling on her throne

A gust of wind blew the away

Many tears were shed

Until a nice lady made her day

One month later, she's STILL wearing it! Just yesterday she wore it to the beach. Imagine her in just swim bottoms, pink crocs and a pink princess crown - too cute. And she picked it.

Funny story here...

So we were walking to Einstein's old house and Tal turns to me and says, "okay, do you know where it is since you wanted to go to it?" He was literally standing where he is for this picture and I just busted up laughing. "Honey, you're standing right in front of it." I'm glad it was him, not me.

A close-up of my sweet babe

I set Aiden down in the stroller next to Kels for a minute and he stayed asleep. Kels loves being next to him.

Kelsey watching the clock chime and the little man go in a circle. It really wasn't all that exciting.

Rapperswil, Switzerland

Aiden, enjoying the view...

...of the back of his eyelids!

Everyone kept saying there was no way my mom could be my mom, that she must be my sister. Seriously, I heard it over and over this trip. My mom is such a babe.

Such a good little helper

These letters spell out Fuer Werk or "Fire Work" (my mom guessed it, she's so good at German). Here's Kelsey telling us what letters these are. Tal & Kels played hide and seek between letters. Too fun.

Rhinefalls, Switzerland

The hot grandma with her grandbabies. It was SO hot this day and we were melting.

We got someone to take a pic for us

Kels looking at all the fish and ducks in the water below

Zurich, Switzerland

Our favorite little pizza joint, Grottino 85. The pizza man makes your pizza right in front of you and you get to choose what goes on it. He made this one for Kelsey...and told my mom when to take the picture - like we need a picture of pizza dough! Then we forgot to get a pic of the final product, which leave you to imagine what it must have looked like.

Thalwil, Switzerland

Kelsey took this pic of my mom - she'll love this

Kels is wearing the dress my mom bought for her. It's a bit big right now which is perfect. I just wanted her to wear it for my mom. Isn't it cute!?

Saying goodbye to Mimi at the airport. I bawled my eyes out all the way home.

Thanks again, mom! I loved having you here and wish you could have stayed even longer. Thank you for taking your two weeks off for me.

How does a child ever repay their mother for all that they do from infancy through adulthood?