Bonjour et Au Revior

I'm learning French. LOL :) A few days late, since we're already here, but it's fun! I'm using an app called DuoLingo and it's very interactive and engages you in the learning process through your smartphone. It even has you say phrases and corrects you if you're wrong. It's refreshing to learn a new language.

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Day 4 -

I decided to get out in the morning instead of staying in, but it was still a little too chilly to play at a park. So I went to the Food Museum (Alimentarium) with Cole and Ava. We had a great time learning (a little) and playing (a lot - they have a cute kids corner area). It was not what I expected; it was much better laid out and more interactive than I thought it would be. We had planned to meet Jeff for lunch, which didn't work out, so then we were going to come back for lunch. As fate would have it, on our way out of the museum, another mom was talking to her daughter in English!! So I said hello and we introduced our children.  Her 8 month old was named Eva (pronounced Ava!). Too funny. We stayed and had lunch we Amy and her two kids (and her adopted mom, Pat). It was a chaotic meal, but it was so nice to have a little conversation in the middle of our day.

         

(above: left, Cole @ Food Museum scanning food barcodes; right, exhausting afternoon!)

Breakfast for dinner sounded really good, so I picked up a couple extra things at the corner market and started cooking as Ava went down for her nap. Cole fell asleep on the bean bag with his arms propped behind his head. Brian joined us for dinner at the apartment. We had French toast, bacon, eggs with cheese, strawberry compote and cream, and fruit. Oh, and wine. Who doesn't like wine with breakfast? :)

Day 5 -

We mosied around the apartment for a while before we got moving to go to La Maison Ou Verte. So when we got there at 10:30, we only had a few minutes for the kids to play. They are only open 9-11 on Thursdays and Fridays. I met another mom there, Catherine, who was very kind and had kids of similar ages. We talked for a few and I was able to help her with a back carry in her carrier. That was kinda cool. She invited us to a park, but it was far enough away to need a car to get to it. Not today :(

Instead, we took the funi (funicular - aka cable train) up to the top of Mt. Pelerin and Cole and Ava played at a little playground up there. Cole loved the funi ride more than the playground. We all loved seeing Daddy for lunch! Jeff was able to bring us sandwiches and we ate together (quickly, since the train time ate into lunch time) and rode the funi down together. It was a beautiful day to be on a park overlooking the Swiss alps.

(above: left, first funi ride; right, the playground with a view!)

Tonight, we walked around in Montreux and walked along the water some. It was a breathtaking sunset over the lake. We had dinner at a restaurant called La Metropole. The food was wonderful. The kids did okay, but it was really too late to be out to dinner with the. We are wayyyyyy of schedule here. Oh well :)

Right now, Ava is asleep. Jeff is snuggling Cole, I am writing this, and we are all exhausted. But filled with thankfulness for this blessing of time together. Filled with love <3