Our good friends Mike and Anna are back in Spain (for a limited time only) and came to Zurich for a visit. On the way, they decided to stop in Dro, Italy to see Anna's ancestors home town. We decided we needed another trip to Italy so we met them in Vale del Sol, the Dolomite region of Italy. So I'll start with the road trip.
First off, our beloved neighbors Melanie Henkels and Torsten Kotzahn moved out on Saturday, the day we left for Italy. It will be sad not to have them as our neighbors (they saved us so many times and we had so many nice dinners together), but we are glad to still have them as friends.
1. You can't drive this on the FREEWAY! 2. So many powerlines heading up to the tops of the mountains. 3. Train in Graubunden area 4. cool mountains 5. Kelsey watching the tractor 6. Davos lake that we love 7-11. pretty cool sites 12. would be so cool to do a photoshoot here, great contrast! 13. ANOTHER windy mountain pass...I think I'm going to be sick 14. more mountain passes 15. Classic Italy. A long one-lane tunnel with no signs saying it is one lane so when two cars meet in the middle (and hopefully don't run into eachother), one has to back out. Tal won the stalemate. Who makes roads like this!? 16. a backward tricycle/motorcycle on a mountain pass.
DAVOS
We figured out that this is our FIFTH time traveling in Europe with Mike & Anna. How cool is that? We got a two bedroom apartment for two nights and met up there on Saturday night. Mike & Tal watched the BYU game starting at 1am-4:30am!! That made Sunday a late day for us. It was nice to have some R&R since both families are used to going non-stop. It was still a trip, not a vacation since it was WITH kids.
Uh-oh.
My happy little guy
While the guys went to check out nearby hikes we could do, Anna and I played with the kids at the play ground and bouncy castle. We had a little fun too.
All the cool hikes would be way too long for the kids, so we ended up just driving up to the top of a street and finding a trail. Here we are at the trail head.
The kids found a cow along the way...one their size
Little friends leading the pack
Mike & Tally with Jay & Kelsey at the top of our hike
Our little family - so many beautiful mountains around us
A cool Swiss style Italian house where we waited to be picked up by the guys after the kids were too whiney to hike back down (in fairness to them, they needed to eat and nap).
We went to dinner at one of the only places open that looked kid friendly (besides the pizza place we'd already eaten at twice). We were hoping for some good Italian pasta. I ordered the only thing on the menu that said pasta and it was NOT pasta. Luckily, because of the misunderstanding, they let me change my order to a salad. Jay & Kels had fun running around while we were still eating. Here they are at their own table.
Around noon on Monday, we got geared up for the 5 hour drive back. We decided to take the less mountainous path home but it was still pretty mountainous. Just ask Anna who's in her first trimester. We tried to stop for lunch several times but apparently lunch time is siesta time for grocery stores. There weren't any fast food restaurants along the way and we didn't want to sit down. We were grateful when we found a Lidl right before leaving Italy.
Lunch Break
We stopped just on the Swiss side of the Swiss/Italian border after having picked up some groceries. We sat by this pretty lake and ate sandwiches. We had to chase away the bees, and the geese. For some reason Kelsey got a little too confident with Jay by her side and ran right up to them. We saw this unfolding and Tal & Mike ran after the kids. Luckily a lady who was feeding the geese saw what was happening too and stepped in. It didn't "bite" her but it hissed and scared the crap out of her. I don't think she'll be doing that again soon - but I didn't think she would get this close because of past run-ins with the swans on Lake Zurich.
Kels & Jay throwing rocks in the lake
Me & Aiden taking checking out the sites
Kelsey imitating mommy who moments before had to use this alley as a toilet. I couldn't help but laugh when she just stared at me while I peed. As if it wasn't humiliating enough.
We were back on the road again, and lucky to have nice, sunny weather.
Guess what they're throwing in the lake?
These two were partners in crime and pushed each other to disobedience. In a big open field, they started running around. No problem, right? Well, pretty soon Kelsey egged Jay on to go towards these houses (further away from us). Anna and I started getting stern when calling for them (would normally work for Kels) but they pressed on. By this time, Mike & Tally started walking towards them. Then we realized the kids were headed onto a roof of a parking garage (they had climbed up a small hill that opened up to this roof). Mike & Tally sprinted - one stopping below the roof and the other starting up the hill. The kids didn't fall or jump off but they thought it was funny that dad was so anxious. They sure are pushing the limits!
You have to have a car worth over 100 G's to park in front of the casino in town.
There were at least 20.
Mike joined us soon after. He and Aiden hung out while I got to play in the water with the kids. We thought it would be too cold. The only reason Kels & I had a swimsuit was b/c they were in the bag that I always take when going to the beach.
Petting the horses. Kels is a bit afraid of horses.
The ponies switching shifts for pony rides. Kelsey was hiding behind me.
I love when having pictures of me with my kids. Moms who take the pictures are rarely in them.
Jay and Kelsey watching the monkeys
Then fighting on the train (Kelsey!)
Then banding together when other kids tried to come on. Only moments later, Jay is protecting Kelsey!
We finally made it home to Zurich. We didn't pack in too many sites for the week, which was nice. We stayed up way too late talking. Jay would just sleep in our bed, Aiden in the living room until they went down to the basement apartment. It worked perfectly. Thanks for being such a good sleeper Jay. Aiden would have loved being held, but this was soon after his circumcision.
THE BEACH
Anna and I took the kids to the beach on one of the last days it was open for the year. Of course Heinz was there and he and I took the kids on the windsurfboard.
PILATUS
On Thursday, we went past Lucern to Alpnachstadt where the cogwheel train takes you up to Mt. Pilatus. I went once before with my cousin Aubrey, but that was before I had Kelsey. It was great to have an excuse to go again. On the way there, I knew of the Lucern speed camera, and carefully slowed down and even pointed it out to M&A. I guess I was feeling a little too proud of myself because only minutes later, when going through a tunnel, I was blitzed. And with M&A following behind I figured they were too. I was so mad at myself! I hate wasting money on tickets. I am happy to report, the ticket was only 20CHF (about $20)!! I've never seen or heard of one being so low. Thank you Canton Lucern (can you believe I just said that!?)!!
Kelsey pushed her straw into the juice box. Nice one.
Such beautiful views
I met an old Swiss man at the top (who had hiked from the bottom to the top) while Mike, Anna, Jay & Kels hiked around to get better views. He offered to take my picture, which I gladly accepted. We started out speaking German but when he found out (easily) I spoke English, he started telling me about his trip to the states back in the day. He had been to California, which is always a fun talking point. Then, at the end of the conversation, he said maybe the language in heaven will be English. I laughed and said maybe it will be Swiss German, or another language entirely. We said goodbye, and I was struck at the mention of heaven. It's not often you hear about heaven, or anything religious, when talking to strangers here.
Me and the kids with the cogwheel train behind us
EINSIEDELN
I L-O-V-E this picture. It's not often that you get a good picture when you turn the camera over to a stranger. Especially when they are an old lady, and especially when it's the big Nikon. She held down the shutter and got about 20 pictures in 5 seconds. Fine with me! I love that Jay and Kelsey are holding hands and the little looks on their faces. All the adults are looking, no eyes closed, smiles, great scenery. Best of all, great company. I was glad Tal got to take the day off.
Kelsey catching up to Jay
And then catching a ride
Switzerland.
I love this picture Anna took of Kels.
More rock throwing. Jay, Kelsey could do this all day long with you.
Collecting leaves, flowers, rocks...and she doesn't care that everyone else is so far ahead.
She's exploring.
A family photo op
The Connellys made it up to the top and RAN back down (some of the way). Jay started lagging and so Mike would say, "hey Jay, look at this rock up here...oh, and look at that rock way over there!" He did this for awhile and I was so impressed by this little game/trick. I'll put it in my hat box for later.
The big Catholic church that is a mecca for some. Considering Einsiedeln is a small town, it's a pretty big, ornate and colorful church. Is that little fern starting to turn? Oh, and that little red train followed us halfway home. I was surprised that we were neck and neck with it until we veered off from its path.
RAPPERSWIL ZOO
Tal and Mike were supposed to do a triathlon together. That was one of the reasons they planned the trip. Unfortunately, Mike got sick with strep throat two weeks before and wasn't even sure if he'd be able to come to Switzerland at all. After ruling out Swine Flu and getting the antibiotics from the doc, they were still able to come. But Mike was in no shape for a triathlon. So, the boys took a 40km bike ride past Rapperswil while Anna and I took the kids to the zoo in Rapperswil. Only we took the car. We packed all the kids up and away we went. Pretty soon we wont be able to do this! Anna is pregnant and we are so excited to see the next Connelly child. We can't wait to find out if it will be a boy or a girl. Aiden's hoping for a girl.
Watching the sea lion show
Our friends, Derek & Mary Staples who just moved here from SLC, babysat for us while we went to dinner together. It was SO very great of them to do that for us. It was nice to have a couple hours to just hang out and not have to break up fights over toys, listen to whiney kids, or be constantly distracted in conversation. We ate at Marcos pasta place, but Marco wasn't there that night.
That night Mary & Derek joined our party and we watched the BYU Football game until we were all way to tired to function. M&D spent the night on our couches and went to church with us the next day with the Connellys. After church, we said goodbye to the Connellys. I love this pic of Jay hugging Kelsey (as he was told) and Kelsey playing hard to get.
Thanks for the great time guys, it was so easy having you here. You're like family. I guess our European adventures are over for now...until 2013!! Can't wait to meet up with you again in the states. Good luck on the move! Oh, and D&M...the only thing that could have made this weekend better (besides the kids not squabbling over toys - we semi-neglected them though) is if you were here! Soon we wont have the cool European life either ;).
Such a fun weekend, but so tiring. These boys took a much needed Sunday nap.
