Saturday at the beach - the beach we went to near our place was equipped with a pool, fountains to play in, sandboxes, a playground and swim area. The kids were able to run free. The best part was they actually serve beer!

Our family in Weggis, on Lake Lucern. I met my new friend Lisa, from Highlands Ranch in the Post Office the month before we were leaving. She overheard me while I was trying to get my mail forwarded here and came up to me to introduce herself. Small world! She was born in Switzerland and vacations there every summer with her family. So we met up with her and her family and enjoyed the day with them at Lake Lucern. A truly breathtaking setting. Our temporary place was only a 15 minute drive to their house. Its amazing where you will meet new friends.




So after the long weekend, I am now back into reality and feel like I am in a somewhat of solitary confinement because of the lack of English speaking people around here. It is hard for me since I am usually always busy with friends and family and things to do...so, it is getting lonely and may be this way until we move into our new place in the more international town. I hope and pray to meet moms from the kids school when they start on Aug 12th...it is an international school and I have heard there are other American families there. I miss the social interaction that was my daily routine in the US!!

Hi all - click on pics and they will come up full screen

We met up with another expat Colorado family this week - Ella and her new freind, Irini! They had fun actually speaking English to each other.
My kids after meeting our new friends - they were so tired and slept the entire train ride home and for another 2hours at our condo. That was the first moment during the day I had alone!


Little kitty in the street by our park and the COOP, one of the local gorcery stores we walk to.


Ella and Charlie in Lachen on Lake Zurich, about 5 min from Pfaffikon where Ryan works, we took the afternoon and looked for houses and cars and made a pit stop to play and eat dinner.



Charlie with his new scooter in Lachen - he is the scooter boy - He rode it for hours. He kept taking our neighbors scooter at our place here(there is a large outdoor area everyone parks their bikes) So I decided to buy one for him. My best purchase yet!

My tree hugger always trying to find the trees to climb....

In Zug for the afternoon

Happy 2nd Birthday Charlie!!!! Hi Guys, this is Cheech talking, I had a really fun birthday. We started out at the bakery and I picked out my own treat. Then I knocked over a huge tray of chocolates. We went to the park by our apartment with some friends we made that live a couple units down from us. They speak German so I just played in the sandbox and ignored them. haha
After my sugar high from the bakery, I was tired to I then took a 3 hour nap;) I love being 2.

We then took the train into Zug which is about 10 minutes from us. We played on the teetertotters and in some little fountains. I met some English speaking friends from Kenya and Ella and I played with for 2 hours. They were so fun and silly and sweet and we hope to meet up with them again!



My birthday hat - only cost 1 swiss frank.

My candle and "birthday cake" - it was a chocolate ladybug.

On the way home we had to make a stop at the market for dinner. Here is me with Ella with our mini-carts. Lots of kids here shop with their own little carts. We went nuts. My mom had a hard time controlling us. Next time I think we'll be strapped in the stroller..... Click on the picture and look at the fire in my eyes. I am so excited I could burst.
Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! It was a fun day. I went to bed early.

Heyeveryone--If you click on any of the pictures, they come up full screen. Then just click the "back' button to get back to the webpage. Then you can see them better since they are so small.

The Family in Luzern for the day. Charlie's hair is so curly here! Mine is out of control. Will someone please send me some frizz-ease;)

Ella watching the boats and running through the park.

Today we went to Luzern, a beautiful city on lake Lucern with mountains all around - about 15 minutes from us. We didnt realize we were so close to a big city and I imagine I will be coming here much more often while we are in our temp housing and living so close.

Getting Gelato, Charlie climbed onto the counter! Ella in the Luzern city church.


Feeding the Swans, they were very "friendly" trying to get food from anyone they could.

I think Luzern is considered a large city in Switzerland and was really hopping for a Sunday! Usually on Sunday, especially in the small towns there is not much (if anything) open. But in the larger towns there are lots of restuarants, coffee shops and gifts shops open. There was even a Starbucks! Yeah for me. The weather was cloudy but warm. It was just so beautiful even for a cloudy day.

This bridge I am standing in front of is constructed of all wood and goes over the entire river to take you to the other side - the amazing thing about it is it has flowers along both sides the entire length of the bridge. The top of the bridge has moss growing on it that was lime green. It was quite spectacular.

We walked on it and the kids had fun running along it. Every one here stares at us, we arent sure if its because our kids are crazy or our teeth are so white. haha I think that is how most people here know if you are from the US if you have white, straight teeth. I think people here just stare more in general though. There are no "personal space" issues - they just stand close and dont mind looking at you even if you know they are looking at you - they just keep looking. I should just stare at them back and see what happens.

Me and Ella on the bridge. Ryan trying to control the kids as they try to jump into the river to "get" the swans.

We had lunch at a little Irish Pub on the water and the guys there spoke Engligh and were really funny. There was a sign up in there that says "better start drinking now to beat the Christmas rush". The kids had fun playing in the bathroom of all places because it was so little and different. The smallest things amuse them, which is nice for us. Ella was entranced by a snail this morning outside on our patio and played with it for about an hour.