Look what we found for sale!

Today, we spent the day in Aarau, checking out a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful fabric store (good that it is not that close so that Mami is not tempted to go there too often:). On the first story of the store, they have a great selection of children's toys. As I was ready to pay for my purchases, the sales clerk just commented on how I must be tired at night with the two that I have on my hands. But then our transaction was disturbed because we saw something else for sale ... there was no price tag on it ... but ...

Bigna had managed to crawl into the window box underneath the cash register table and was sitting there, all "folded" up on a pink little car that she fancied. She even had closed the door after herself. 

Ready to climb out again.
Papi saw the pictures and commented that we should get the cute kid. I will remind him of his choice when he has to get up in the middle of the night because she is crying :)

Oh Bigna, you bring so much laughter and joy into our day! We love you!

Nostalgia

We had a busy Sunday. In the morning, we took a stroll to our nearby park to watch some mountainbikers race there. We have been hearing the announcer all weekend and finally had to check it out (besides hearing the concerts in the evening that were taking place as well and sounded like they were held right in our yard). In the afternoon, after Bigna and Mami had a much needed nap (it was an early start due to Andrin's urge to get up), we took the tram to Pratteln to visit the playground there. But it was not such any tram, but a really old tram. The first tram that we caught was the same tram that we rode after our wedding, built in 1933. The tram back was even older, built in 1912. But here are some impressions of our nostalgic tram ride:

Funny sign: Exposed  hatpins forbidden!

Cooking in the kitchen

Mami was away yesterday for another day of supervision. Luckily, everyone had a good time. Andrin and Bigna were happy to cook alongside Papi while he prepared dinner. Before that, they went to the zoo (trying to see the Orange Utans that returned to the ape house ...), had lunch there, and then went to the lab. Maybe Mami should be leaving more often so that they can have fun outings like that?!

Love Bigna's pointing finger ... Andrin insisted on getting a board and a knife to cut. He was making tomato soup,  he explained to me when I asked about his cooking adventure. 

Can you tell that Bigna loves her big brother (well, most of the time)?

Silly Bigna with Andrin's hat.

Andrin built a house for Bigna. 

Beating the heat wave ...

Well, since the children are back to school, the summer finally decided to hit Switzerland. Everyone is moaning, complaining, and trying to stay cool. The students are complaining the most because they do not get heat-free anymore ... But we have our tactics to stay cool. One of which we will introduce to you here: A visit to Opa Jumbo and his beloved swimming pool!

Andrin, the menace, with his water blaster. 

Andrin always asks to bring out the Legos while visiting. 

Three generations of Cabernards.

The proof. it was hot. 

After a big jump. 

Our little yedi. 

"Trying to read the paper, Papi?"

Loving the water and floating on her back, toes in the air.

Once a duck, always a duck ...

Can't believe how big our little girl is getting. We had the 18-month checkup at the pediatrician yesterday. She was 80 cm (31.5 inches) and 10.5 kg (23 pounds). The pediatrician was happy with her development and was laughing when he asked the question if she is able to express herself and her wishes and desires. Oh yes, she can! You have to learn that quite quickly when you have an older brother! The only concern we have is her super sensitive and dry skin. She had eczema and it seems like it is just not clearing up well. We will start with some special lotion and bath soap and will see if that will help.

Our green grass horse!

Upon our return home, Andrin discovered a new pet in our house ... Papi's research genes kicked in and he had to find out what this creature was and if it was normal that it was quite big ... Well, it turned out that it is a domestic species and not some gen-mutated monster. It is called a grass horse (I am not kidding:)!
Papi and the children went on an adventure to the nearby park to release our pet back into the wild since it started to look a little bit lethargic in his new home ...

We made it!

Against all the odds, we were on vacation for two weeks. Even though Clemens pointed out the hospital at the village where we were at and made a remark about us having to go there at least once, we did not need a trip to the ER! We stayed at Clemens' family's cottage at the Neuenburgersee. We enjoyed the water, playing at the beach, and the water some more ... Andrin had a hard time with the transition at the beginning and kept saying that he wanted to go back home, but in the end, he liked to go fishing (with his own fishing pole, thanks to Paul!), to paddle in the canoe, and to swim and especially jump from the pier. Bigna had a hard time with the mosquitoes, or better: they liked her a lot. But she LOVED the water. It was always hard getting her out of there, even though she already had blue lips!

Here are some impressions from our vacation:

Playing with legos on the porch. 

Drawing inside the house (love how polar bear has to watch ...)

We enjoyed every morning a rich brunch. We would go the local bakery in town (with our bicycles) to get fresh bred ... (which was not that fresh after all, was we had to discover ...)

Andrin enjoying a speciality ... sugar and cream cake. 

Weeding in our backyard. We did quite some work around the house. 

Enjoying a snack after a nice nap. 

We had visitors ... dormice. At night, they would balance in the beam. This was Clemens' first attempt to stop them from entering - not successful - I then went up the latter and put a board in front of the whole. For a little while, Mami was Clemens' hero because she was not afraid on the latter. 

Enjoying some oreo cookies in the morning. 

First fly fishing lesson. 

For a while, Andrin enjoyed having his dinner at a separate table. 

Eating something ... messy, at least!

On the boat to the city across the lake, Neuchatel. 

Our little explorer. 

They have these water channels all through the old city. Bigna loved them. 

Andrin built a bird house together with Papa. 

Always our swimming trunks hanging to get dry for the next day. 

Building a boat. 

Launching the boat. 

Puddles ... we had only one day of rain which is perfect for Switzerland! We took the chance and went to see Ice Age. First time for Andrin in the movie theater. 

Listening Kasperli .... Andrin could not get enough of this famous Swiss character that we put on the computer for him to listen to. (Please do not ask us if we know the stories by heart now as well ...)

Mmmh ... corn. 

Adventure in the canoe. 

Andrin felt like he had to lay down and rest. 

Warming up after a swim in the lake. 

Visit from Opa Jumbo.

You should hear the squeals and screams from this little girl. She loves the water. Loves to float, loves to paddle, loves it!

Enjoing a ride in the canoe. 

What a perfect place to be with kids. We are looking forward to another wonderful vacation next year. Clemens loves to share this place since he has so many fond memories of it himself, having spent almost every summer there as a child. He is already talking about getting another canoe because we need more room ... :) Maybe we will make it down there again before we close it down for the winter. And in the spring, we have some big projects ... cleaning and decluttering ...