Always Wear Clean Underwear

Sitting on the rocks near the boat dock

Tuesday morning I looked in my bin of clothes, and there was no more clean underwear. That means laundry day. It also meant I had an excuse to just stay home (or near to home).

After putting in my first batch of clothes, we went out for a 90 minute excursion to pass the time. We headed down toward the park. It was a gorgeous day. We walked around the boat dock, where we found our two favorite swans hanging out. They swam right next to us as we walked. They probably thought we were going to give them some food. I told the girls that the swans must just really like us.

Katherine found a stick and pretended to be an old lady with a cane. It was pretty funny.

I love this little lakeside home and boat dock.

I think these guys are the coolest looking ducks on the lake.

To finish of our day of cleaning, Ellie decided to brush her teeth in the bathtub!

Metropole 3000

Home Sweet Home
(The ground level patio is ours)

Doesn't Metropole 3000 just sound so futuristic? I think it does. Really, it's just a big shopping mall in Lausanne.

Katherine has either grown an inch and "filled out" in the legs since we arrived in Switzerland, or I shrunk her pants. It is NOT a good thing to shrink pants when we only brought 3 pair with us! The situation called for a shopping trip to H&M. A friend from church suggested the Metropole 3000 location because they have a HUGE section for children. It was wonderful. We found some cute pink corduroy pants, a couple shirts and some much needed socks.

There was a cafeteria style restaurant in the mall, so I thought we should give it a try. Well, it wasn't exactly a success. Really, in general, eating out has not been a success with the girls. Katherine threw a fit because the only vacant table was near someone eating fish, so it smelled. Well, I ordered trout, so tough beans. I let the girls pick their food. Katherine picked carrots, peas, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple and french fries. I just gave Ellie what Katherine picked. Katherine ate the fruit and fries (the carrots and peas were not seasoned to her liking). Ellie ate about 5 french fries then claimed they were "yucky." I had trout with rice and brussel sprouts, and of course as much of the girls leftover food as I could eat. I would say it was pretty good food, and very reasonably priced.

I was frustrated with the non-eating by a grumpy Ellie, and tried to get home quickly before I lost patience. She ate two hot dogs when we got home . . . the hot dogs here have a thick skin. My girls gag on the skin, so I have to peel it. It's lovely when I have to do it in public. Anything to get them to eat.

Katherine got pants, and Ellie finally ate. Successful Monday.

Lunch with New Friends

Sunday afternoon was one of my favorite Switzerland experiences so far. I think it is because we got to do something that felt a little bit like home. I'm sad to say that I forgot to take pictures.

A couple from church, Fabio and Elodie, invited us to eat lunch with them on Sunday. They borrowed their parents car, complete with car seats, so they could drive us to their home. So kind! It was a beautiful sunny day, which was good because they didn't have a house key and we were locked out. We waited about 20 minutes for Fabio's parents to bring a key. They got out toys for the girls to play with while we waited for the food to cook. They don't have children yet, but they certainly have the equipment to entertain children at their home.

Fabio's parents are both from Italy, and Elodie told me they eat pasta at least 3 times a week. We ate pasta with a wonderful red sauce with green olives. After they cleared our pasta bowls, they brought out a yummy salad. I've never had pasta as a first course, then salad. I wouldn't have eaten so much pasta had I known there would be salad! For dessert we had Swiss ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce. They even had sprinkles for the girls :) I was a little sad we didn't have a Swiss "dish," but it was a very yummy meal, and I am so grateful they invited us over!

Katherine was dying to go for a walk (she had overheard Elodie talk about her traditional Sunday walk with Fabio). We set out for a long and beautiful walk. Fabio and Elodie live on a hillside above a river. We walked down to the river and wandered through the woods a bit before heading home. Katherine was a rock star walker - she made it nearly the entire way. Fabio showed us the "wild garlic" that was beginning to sprout up all over the floor of the woods. Elodie pointed out the cutest little white flowers that looked just like bells. We hadn't yet had the opportunity to get out and walk in the countryside, and I loved it. Being without a car, we spend our time where the trains and buses take us. I'm grateful to have seen, smelled, and experienced a little bit of the beautiful Swiss-French countryside.

It's getting to be spring here, and it feels good. The crocuses are blooming everywhere, and people are beginning to put their flower planters out with pansies. I hope that it's beginning to be spring in Madison, WI. I don't want to go back to dreary weather. I'm ready for some green grass/trees, warm, blue sky days!