Mimi and PopPop en Suisse

Their first night in Switzerland

I've noticed that when people come to visit us, or when we make a trip to the US I stop posting. I'm guessing this is because I have someone new to share our lives with. I would say I would try to change it, but after three years it's not very likely.

Mimi and PopPop had their second visit to Switzerland at the end of last month. Things have changed a bit since their first visit to Basel right after Baby K was born. In fact, I told them that I really didn't have much recollection of their first visit at all. I guess it was the haze I was in after having Baby K and trying to get our feet on the ground?

Not sure, but we were very excited and happy to have them over this time around. They arrived on Saturday, and previously had let us know they wanted to hit the ground running on Sunday- get out and enjoy the mountains and scenery that surrounds Montreux, which is exactly what we did!

Small waterfall on our way up...and Tobs dashing across the bridge

I think BK and I may have taken it a little too far though, and we hiked up to Glion, just above (straight up from) Montreux. We hiked for a few hours, with Baby K riding on BK for most of the way and Tobs happy to be along for the outing as well. They were a little more jet lagged from the flight than they realized and the change in altitude was something as well. Afterwards we all came back, had a filling lunch and took a nap.

"Baby K walk" from her all the time now

Throughout the week Mimi, PopPop, Baby K and I explored a number of different sights in the area while BK worked. Although it's on our regular visitor circuit, we visited Gruyere and the Callier Chocolate factory, where we all consumed quite a bit of chocolate and cheese. If you're ever in the area, the chocolate factory is a great stop- I highly recommend. And yes, there is a tasting room at the end.

Before the tasting room...and chocolate in PopPop's hair

The next day Mimi, PopPop and I headed to Glacier 3000 while Baby K went to creche. I figured this was an activity best explored without her- although we're going back this weekend, and she's coming too. Glacier 3000 is a suspension bridge Tissot built between two peaks in a Glacier ski area 3000 meters (9800 ft) up. I've wanted to visit for a while, but for one reason or another we hadn't made it yet.

Tissot suspension bridge

It was great! It was pretty much cloudy and/or raining the entire time Mimi and PopPop were here, but once you get above the clouds the weather was amazing- cold, but amazing. You can see many of the mountain ranges and famous peaks in Switzerland from the bridge. We all really enjoyed it, and after going up to and across the bridge had lunch, then hiked around a little bit on the slopes. I liked it so much, we're going back again this weekend with friends visiting from Basel!

Mimi and PopPop on the bridge

Mimi and PopPop did have one overnight away in Leukerbad, a town known for their thermal baths not too far from Montreux. While they were gone we did some catching up and Baby K was fairly certain Mimi was "night-night" the entire time she was gone. When they returned, we explored Lausanne, visiting the cathedral and Olympic museum on a snowy Friday.

Lausanne cathedral

Saturday brought a funny/sad moment for us. BK, Baby K and I decided we would hang out at home in the morning while Mimi and PopPop got out and explored a bit. We suggested they take our car since it was (still) raining and cold, instead of navigating the bus and train system. They did, and all was good until PopPop pulled back into the garage and "rubbed the car wheel up against the stroller wheel." His words. When he backed the car out the stroller made a popping noise that needed to be investigated later.

Turns out, the stroller was done for after that. I think maybe it bent the frame and then it popped apart. It was mostly funny because I really like to give PopPop a hard time about things like this, but also sad, because I was a bit emotionally attached to the stroller. I have no idea how many miles that thing has been, but it's been a lot of places with us, and it's what we brought Baby K home in. It was kind of on it's last leg anyway, but this forced me to go ahead and give it up. Don't worry though, I've moved on and the new stroller I ordered was delivered this morning.

Sunday BK and PopPop headed to Geneva to check out the Geneva car show, which is something best experienced "without wife and child in stroller", according to BK, while Mimi, Baby K and I had an easy Sunday morning. Sunday night we took them to one of our regular places we like to eat, where Baby K discovered again that she really likes to "cheers" everyone.

"Cheers Daddy"

One other thing- Baby K also got her first haircut. I knew that Mimi wanted to be the one to cut her hair for the first time, but also knew that I couldn't wait until May to get it cut. So we cut it the Sunday they arrived. It was just a trim, as we didn't want to take any length off, but it is much more manageable now and not so mullety.

First time in Mimi's chair

Mimi and PopPop are back and recovered from their trip and we are back in the swing of things as well. We have a busy few months from now until our trip to the US in May. I'll do my best to keep you updated!

All the grandmothers!

Rochers de Naye

Our life has felt like a bit of a whirlwind lately. Maybe not so much for BK, as he's still been working away as usual, but Baby K and I have been traveling around and doing stuff with all the grandmothers. It's been really fun, and I'm so thankful Baby K has had some one-on-one time with her grandmothers and great-grandmother!

Heading home from the airport

My mom was up last, arriving in Switzerland just a couple of days after Nani and NeeNee departed. My days in between included a little catching up on things and one day with five hours of French lessons to attempt to catch up with those as well. Baby K and I headed to the airport Friday afternoon to pick her up!

Hiking up the 1055 steps

My mom has been to visit us five times now, so her visits are a bit more relaxed, as she's here to do a little sightseeing, but mostly just to spend time with us. We mostly stayed in this area, and she and I even enjoyed a couple of days just the two of us, when Baby K went to creche. Over the weekend, she got settled and we pretty much stayed in Montreux. We hiked the 1000 stairs Saturday afternoon, then went to dinner at Le Museum Restaurant for some typical Swiss fare. Sunday was a gloomy, rainy day, but we did venture out briefly to take the funicular in Vevey and make a stop at Hotel Kempinski.

Baby K lunching with her baby

Monday was a sick day for Baby K, as her teeth were really bothering her. Tuesday she was better and while she went to creche, my mom and I spent the day in Geneva exploring. We went to the Red Cross Museum, stopped by the UN, and visited the cathedral.

Photo identification project

Restoring family links section of museum

Statues who represent those who have lost everything, have no rights

I would highly recommend the Red Cross Museum if you're in Geneva. I think it is a great exhibit on war, peace, human dignity, and atrocities that have occurred throughout the world. There are three primary sections in the museum, one on family links, one on natural disasters, and one on human dignity. There are great interactive aspects of the exhibitions that allow witnesses to speak directly to you about their experience. Go if you get the chance.

Three legged chair in front of UN- signifying stance against land mines

We didn't go inside the UN, just walked around the area. For our last little bit of the day we went to Geneva's old town to see the cathedral. I think the lake probably gets most of the attention in Geneva, but it's old town is quite charming and has a pretty large and historic cathedral. I would really like to go back and spend more time in the city exploring more.

St. Pierre Cathedral

Inside St. Pierre

The next day we decided to go to the Zoo de Servion. It was a bit different from going to the zoo in Fort Worth, as it was sunny, but around 38 degrees and windy. We bundled up and enjoyed our chilly little outing. I love the zoos in Europe because you can get really close to the animals and they typically seem to be really active.

Playing at the zoo

Up close and personal with the animals

Zip lining at the zoo

Thursday Baby K went back to creche again and mom and I went up to Rochers de Naye. BK, Baby K and I went up with Nani and NeeNee, but I also wanted to take my mom up, as she had never been and it's an easy trip from Montreux. In the week since we went up with Nani and NeeNee it had snowed, and without Baby K we were able to do a bit more hiking around.

Horn player and flag thrower greeting the train

View from the top

View from the top

Winter is well on its way!

Hiking around, looking down into the valley

Friday morning mom headed back to the airport to catch her flight home. It was a really quick trip, but also a really good one. There were two little ones (Abbs and LJ) eagerly awaiting her arrival back at DFW. They were excited that Mawmaw got to see Baby K, but much happier to have her back with them again.

Waiting for her train

We have about a month long break for visitors, then my sister and her husband are making the trip across the pond to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. No more trips scheduled this year, but still plenty coming up to keep us busy!

Four generations take Switzerland

Now that we've had a day or so to get Mawmaw settled in, I thought I would tell you about the rest of our time with NeeNee and Nani. So many grandmothers, so little time! If only we had more time with all of them!

When we returned to Switzerland from London, we enjoyed an afternoon at home getting settled and grilled for dinner that night. We wanted to have an easy night to recover from the hustle and bustle of London and get ready for a day trip to Basel the next day.

Road trip to Basel!

We took a day trip to Basel so we could show NeeNee where we lived and played during our first year-and-a-half in Switzerland. On our way there we stopped in Fribourg so that Nani and NeeNee could see where BK works now. It was also good for Baby K to get out and stretch her legs a bit a little ways into our trip.

Visiting our Basel apartment

In Basel we had lunch at the pizzaria we used to frequent, then headed up to Munsterplatz to visit the church and square. Kate enjoyed running around the church, and I think NeeNee and Nani enjoyed seeing the inside and outside, including some tombs from the 900s. From there we walked down to Marktplatz, then across Mittlebrucke to take a walk by the Rhein. We showed NeeNee where we used to live, then made one last stop at Novartis so she could also see where BK used to work. After that we headed back to Montreux for the night.

Cloud waterfall at Rochers de Naye

Hiking up to the top!

Sunday morning we left the Montreux train station and rode the Golden Pass train up to Rochers de Naye. This is somewhere we had never been before, but have wanted to go for a while. Rochers de Naye is above Montreux, at an elevation of 6200 feet. You pass through a number of mountain stops on the train, go though the clouds, and arrive at Rochers de Naye above the clouds.

Everyone at the top

The views are really amazing when the clouds clear; you have a 360 degree view from the top. We saw a really unique "cloud waterfall" of moving clouds in the mountains as well. NeeNee was such a trooper and hiked right up to the top of Rochers de Naye to take in the views as well. We had lunch on the train on the way down, then all came back to the house to rest. That evening we had a babysitter for Kate and went up to Hostellerie de Caux for fondue, to have a taste of something traditionally Swiss.

A traditional Swiss dinner

Monday was Nani and NeeNee's last full day in Montreux. BK even took the day off! The weather was chilly, but the sun was out and it was a really nice day, so we decided to take a lake cruise around our end of the lake, including briefly going across to France. After nap time we went around the lake a bit to Chateau de Chillon, then walked back to Montreux to have dinner at one of the restaurants we like to frequent.

Nani and Kate on the boat

Inside Chateau de Chillon

The next morning it was back to the grind for BK, and NeeNee, Nani, Baby K and I had an easy morning at home before they caught the train to Geneva to fly back to the US. NeeNee walked Tobs one last time, with all of us enjoying a stroll down our street, up above the lake. Baby K and I helped Nani and NeeNee down to the station, and off they went, back to London, then on to the US.

On our last walk together for this trip

We loved getting to share our life with Nani and NeeNee and can't wait to see them soon at Christmas!

Mom comes to visit!

Living in Switzerland is absolutely the experience of a lifetime. The downside though is that we are really far away from our families. And even though we go back to Texas twice a year, it is great having people come visit us too. Our latest visitor...my mom and her friend TP! Yay!

Baby K and I took the train and picked my mom and TP up in Geneva and were pretty much go, go, go the whole time they were here. BK and I have recently learned the importance of taking the train that has a family car, which is exactly what my mom, TP, Baby K and I did to get back home. My mom and Baby K were both very happy, as the playing could commence!

On the train back to Montreux

The first day I went to language class and they recovered from travel a bit, then we explored around Montreux. It takes a while to get acclimated to all the hills...especially the huge one you have to climb to get to our house!

View from Gruyere castle

Their second day here we wanted a day to really experience Switzerland, so we headed to the Callier chocolate factory, Gruyere, and Fribourg. Unfortunately the Callier factory was closed, so we got back in the car and went to Gruyere. There, we enjoyed seeing the castle and amazing views, ate some Gruyere fondue for lunch, and "toured" the cheese factory.

Mom and TP being "cheesy"

I like the village of Gruyere, but I'm not so sure about the cheese factory. There wasn't much to said tour; only 12 stops in two rooms as the entire tour. I feel certain there must be better tours out there about Gruyere cheese. We did get to see the cheese maker doing something to the Gruyere cheese, but I honestly am not even sure I know exactly what he was doing.

Cheese factory

The next day I went back to language class and they came with me to Lausanne. We spent the afternoon enjoying nice weather next to the lake and touring the Olympic Museum. I would highly recommend the Olympic Museum if you get a chance. It has lots of interactive exhibits and touches on a variety of areas all related to the Olympics (Greek Olympics, modern Olympics, history of various sports, highlights of games, marketing, testing your physical ability). You really need a few hours to do the whole thing, but it's well worth the time.

Cycling sculpture outside Olympic Museum

Baby K gets the Gold!

With Switzerland comes neutrality, and with that comes some significant world events. While we were in Lausanne the US-Iran nuclear talks were happening at the Beaux-Rivage Palace. There were tons of media and police in the area, as this hotel happens to be next to the Olympic Museum. When we asked what was going on, one of the camera men told us that Jim Carey was here. We really thought, "Wow, all this security for Jim Carey...since when does he need snipers on the roof." A bit later we realized it was actually John Kerry. Good thing that guy was behind the camera.

The next day was Baby K's birthday. It's still kind of weird to say that we have a one-year-old. I hope her birthday was good; I would assume so, as she got to open presents, go to playgroup and have them sing to her, have lunch with everyone, devour a cupcake, FaceTime with family, and then start her first weekend away from BK and me. Not too bad for a first birthday!

Sitting in her new TCU chair from Mawmaw (my mom)

BK and I enjoyed our weekend in Burgundy, and I think my mom, TP, and Baby K enjoyed their weekend in Montreux together. I think they did some strolling, survived the grocery store, did lots of playing, and practiced Baby K's walking quite a bit. I think I may have emphasized how I like a schedule a little too much, as my mom wrote down what and when Baby K did everything over the weekend. I appreciated it, but for the record, did not request it. I would post a picture, but I don't think they sent any. More on our trip to Burgundy later.

Us enjoying Baby K's birthday weekend

It's crazy how fast time passes when people come to visit. The next few days we spent some more time in Montreux, including seeing Chateau de Chillion. If you like castles and fortress-type things, you should go see Chateau de Chillion. Not only does it have amazing views of the lake, I think it's around 1000 years old, which is just crazy.

Outside of Chateau de Chillion

Climbing all over the castle

We finished up their trip with a day trip to Nyon and Yviore, France, which are just across the lake from one another. We left the house in the morning and got to Nyon a bit earlier than we had to catch the ferry. I made the mistake of telling my mom and TP that they could go look around in a store for a minute...then we missed the ferry over to Yviore. They came out of the store to find me pointing to the ferry that had just left.

Getting some energy out in Nyon

It all turned out great though, we had lunch by the lake (filet de perche- a local specialty) then caught the ferry over to Yviore. Yviore is a little medieval village also on the shore of Lake Geneva. Summer is the high season, so some of the shops were not open yet, but things were starting to come back to life as we approach spring and Easter. The time we had there ended up being perfect and just enough to walk around and enjoy the sites, but not have too much time to kill.

Chateau in Yviore Botanic Gardens

Cobblestone streets with tons of flowers in bloom

We headed back to Montreux and they got ready to leave the next morning. They caught the train to head back to Geneva, then back to Texas. I think they should be about recovered now, and their legs returning to normal after climbing a hill to get to anywhere we were going. I'm sure my mom and TP have other stories to tell about the trip as well. I can think of a few myself, but I'll let them divulge what they want to their friends!

A few days after they left we were on to our next adventure in Istanbul. It's a long weekend here, so hopefully I can find some time to delve into that one too!