We had an intense four day trip to Munich. Last Thursday we took a 4 hour train ride, complete with a three minute connection at a train station along the way. We found a place to park the stroller and found our seats and spent the rest of the morning entertaining Nora.
We stayed pretty close to the train station and things were always bustling. My sense of personal space was put to the test. We spent all day every day out of the hotel because Nora was bouncing off the wall when we were inside the hotel. The sights were incredible though and it was well worth the trip.
We took in the New Town Hall, English Garden, Deutsches museum, Residence museum and two castles to top it off -- Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.
On our trip home Sunday night the train was packed. I couldn't believe how many people were getting on and off at every little stop. I think this may have been due to the Icelandic volcano eruption and more people traveling by train to get where they need to go this past weekend.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hanging out
I feel like we're in a little world of our own these days. We've been hanging out, enjoying each others company (except for yesterday which was not a good day in the life of this temporary stay-at-home mom).
Sam went all over Zurich to pick up some used toys for Nora before we got here. (I know what you're thinking--nothing says parental love like used toys, right?) The trucks were a bit of a bust, but these blocks have been entertaining her for hours. Every day she makes something to show him while he's at work.
Train station (I think)
Tired Elmo
Nora in the stroller with the muff. (It's been cold.)
Sam went all over Zurich to pick up some used toys for Nora before we got here. (I know what you're thinking--nothing says parental love like used toys, right?) The trucks were a bit of a bust, but these blocks have been entertaining her for hours. Every day she makes something to show him while he's at work.
Train station (I think)
Sam picked up a used stroller for us. Elmo has been snoozing in the baby carrycot (since we don't need that) for days at a time. We were actually getting a little bit worried about him until Nora announced he was getting up from his 4 day nap. Thank goodness! I was worried that we'd brought him all the way to Switzerland just so he could sleep in a fancy buggy.
Tired Elmo
Nora in the stroller with the muff. (It's been cold.)I really really have to learn how to break this thing down in case we need to fold it up on a train or plane.
There are three parks/playgrounds in town. One is really nice and we picked up some sand toys because if it's not raining, I hope to hang out there often as it's only a 10 min walk from our apartment. There's another one along the Glatt River which is about a 30 minute walk for us. It's older, but a nice walk past some honey bees and geese. The third one I'm not sure you can really call a playground. It is certainly not a park. It's some climbing rope structures and a slide outside the Migro grocery store. Maybe they knew that kids would need to run around after shopping practically every other day for their supper.
Tunnel in the park in Dubendorf
Merry go round at park along the Glatt
Exploring sculpture near Dad's work
Guardian Angel in Zurich HB
Bob + Cheeto playing hot potato
There are three parks/playgrounds in town. One is really nice and we picked up some sand toys because if it's not raining, I hope to hang out there often as it's only a 10 min walk from our apartment. There's another one along the Glatt River which is about a 30 minute walk for us. It's older, but a nice walk past some honey bees and geese. The third one I'm not sure you can really call a playground. It is certainly not a park. It's some climbing rope structures and a slide outside the Migro grocery store. Maybe they knew that kids would need to run around after shopping practically every other day for their supper.
Tunnel in the park in Dubendorf
Merry go round at park along the Glatt
Exploring sculpture near Dad's workWhenever we go to the train station in Zurich, Nora points out this sculpture hanging from the ceiling. It's her favorite. It's by Niki de Saint Phalle.
Guardian Angel in Zurich HBBob and Cheeto we miss you, but not your annoying habits regarding food and interrupting our sleep. Mom and Dad, I hope they win their way back into your hearts each night with purring and much sleeping on your laps!
Bob + Cheeto playing hot potatoTook the bike for a walk
Nora and I met Sam for lunch today. She wanted to ride her bike--except she never actually rode it. She had her helmet on, but refused to get on. I ended up walking the stroller with her inside and the bike laid across the hood of the stroller. Nora took a spill this past weekend and hasn't wanted to get back on the bike since.
It's a bike with two wheels (no training wheels) and no pedals. The idea is the kid pushes along with their feet and then coasts once in awhile until they are coasting most of the time and you can move them up to a real bike.
Sam took her to the store on the bike the other day. On the way back, Nora insisted on being carried so he had to carry her + the bike + the groceries. Now I know why all the parents are wandering around pushing strollers full of groceries and bags while the kids ride their toys OR the parents are pushing strollers with kids + hauling the push toys. Kids get tired and obstinate from time to time.
It's a bike with two wheels (no training wheels) and no pedals. The idea is the kid pushes along with their feet and then coasts once in awhile until they are coasting most of the time and you can move them up to a real bike.
Sam took her to the store on the bike the other day. On the way back, Nora insisted on being carried so he had to carry her + the bike + the groceries. Now I know why all the parents are wandering around pushing strollers full of groceries and bags while the kids ride their toys OR the parents are pushing strollers with kids + hauling the push toys. Kids get tired and obstinate from time to time.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Happy Belated Easter!
The Easter bunny paid us a visit in Switzerland. He stopped by with a Raclette grill, some lovely tulips, duplos and a princess tent (which I have showed relatively little interest in, but Mom says brightens the room). Did he come to your house?
Tamales
Dad made us fruit tamales for dinner the day we got here. They were yummy. I hope we have them again soon. I helped!
Making fruit tamales with Dad
Eating the tamales. Sometimes she picks out raisins and won't eat them.
Sometimes she asks for more. Are all kids this fickle about food?
Eating the tamales. Sometimes she picks out raisins and won't eat them.
Sometimes she asks for more. Are all kids this fickle about food?
Better late than never
We're a little behind on posting because we've been busy enjoying some family time. I thought I would have more time here and I do, but it's me and Nora time and me and Sam time and family time. It's been a nice change of pace.
Nora and I have been spending our days at the park, going for walks and grocery shopping - a lot. You can only take home what you can fit in the stroller and the backpack, but that's ok. Time is something I have a lot of right now.
Oh I did laundry too. My nice, Italian-only speaking neighbor helped me with the washing machine. We talked quite a bit and understood very little, but she was still really nice. The same can be said about the butcher at the Turkish? grocery store I went to in Wallisellen where I bought a bunch of meat on Thursday. They were having an Easter sale and Sam assured me this was a real steal on chicken and hamburger. We have quite a bit now. Nora slept through the entire trip which was great.
All the fresh air and outdoor time has made for a super sleeper Nora. Wow, that girl can snore on. I explained the rules of sleeping in a big girl bed. You must stay on the bed, close your eyes and try to go to sleep. If you really can't sleep, looking at books might be an option, but you can't come out of your room until Mom says naptime is over. She's been taking great naps and sleeping until around 7AM in the morning. We're keeping her up until 8pm in the hopes that we don't have to keep her quiet in the morning. Quiet hours are from 10pm until 7am. It's hard to keep a two year old quiet and it stresses us all out.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
Nora and I have been spending our days at the park, going for walks and grocery shopping - a lot. You can only take home what you can fit in the stroller and the backpack, but that's ok. Time is something I have a lot of right now.
Oh I did laundry too. My nice, Italian-only speaking neighbor helped me with the washing machine. We talked quite a bit and understood very little, but she was still really nice. The same can be said about the butcher at the Turkish? grocery store I went to in Wallisellen where I bought a bunch of meat on Thursday. They were having an Easter sale and Sam assured me this was a real steal on chicken and hamburger. We have quite a bit now. Nora slept through the entire trip which was great.
All the fresh air and outdoor time has made for a super sleeper Nora. Wow, that girl can snore on. I explained the rules of sleeping in a big girl bed. You must stay on the bed, close your eyes and try to go to sleep. If you really can't sleep, looking at books might be an option, but you can't come out of your room until Mom says naptime is over. She's been taking great naps and sleeping until around 7AM in the morning. We're keeping her up until 8pm in the hopes that we don't have to keep her quiet in the morning. Quiet hours are from 10pm until 7am. It's hard to keep a two year old quiet and it stresses us all out.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
Swiss Air rocked my world
The nice stewardess gave me this finger puppet.
I also got a coloring book, colored pencils and a 9 piece puzzle Mom is still working on.
Mom's note - Apparently Swiss Air knows that if the kids on the plane are happy, fellow travelers are happy too. I wonder what they'll dole out on the way home? Will we end up with matching puppets? Nora has taken comfort in sleeping with her tiny airplane every night (and her quilt, her baby, the baby's blanket and blankie.)
Mom's note - Apparently Swiss Air knows that if the kids on the plane are happy, fellow travelers are happy too. I wonder what they'll dole out on the way home? Will we end up with matching puppets? Nora has taken comfort in sleeping with her tiny airplane every night (and her quilt, her baby, the baby's blanket and blankie.)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Frequently asked questions
Q: How was the flight?
A: Great, thanks for asking. Nora fell asleep after dinner and did not wake up until I picked her up to leave the plane 6 hours later.
Q: What is worse than taking a toddler to the bathroom on a plane?
A: Taking her to the bathroom on the bus (twice).
Q: What about the bathroom on a train?
A: Haven't tried that yet, but I'll keep you posted.
Q: Are you jet lagged?
A: Well Nora and I did sleep until 10:30 AM Mon, which I don't think has EVER happened before, so I would say YES.
Q: Here's the big one - How did you manage your bags?
A: I practiced walking around my kitchen with my backpack on, pulling two suitcases strapped together and pushing the stroller. The practice paid off. However, I only had to walk 25 yards from the sidewalk into the Swiss Air Counter. There was no line and we were checked in by 4pm. For reference, I wasn't even supposed to get off the bus until 4:05.
Q: Did Nora dominate the Little Tykes play structure in Terminal 5?
A: You bet she did. We saw two other kids there, but Nora was running circles around them and constantly changing Elmo's (pretend) diaper.
Q: How is the guesthouse?
A: We are adjusting to sharing walls with people. Luckily when Nora was very tired (and very LOUD) most people were out of town for the 4 day weekend. They all returned last night. Nora is much more subdued when she gets her beauty sleep.
Q: How is she doing sleeping in a bed instead of a crib?
A: Pretty well. Surprisingly, she has not tried getting out of it on her own. She cried hard 5 mins the first night and whimpered for 2 mins the second night. The first night she was up for.. at least 1.5 hours in the middle of the night, fidgeting, trying to go back to sleep while we alternated between sternly telling her there were people trying to sleep on the other side of the wall and trying to comfort her by rubbing her back. Mostly I just curled up at the end of her bed and tried to go to sleep myself. Last night she woke up again in the middle of the night, but I promised her we would go to the park today IF she went back to sleep without any help. It worked and she is still sleeping. It is 8AM. OMG.
Q: What have you been doing since your arrival?
A: Monday we took the train into Zurich and spend the day walking along Lake Zurich. We saw lots of doggies, which we tried to tell Nora were hounds, but she got upset at us trying to teach her a new word. We thought if she said "Gruezi hound" instead of "Hi doggie," wouldn't that be nice.
Q: What is the weather like?
A: It's supposed to be around 60 today. I heard it was 70 yesterday at home.
A: Great, thanks for asking. Nora fell asleep after dinner and did not wake up until I picked her up to leave the plane 6 hours later.
Q: What is worse than taking a toddler to the bathroom on a plane?
A: Taking her to the bathroom on the bus (twice).
Q: What about the bathroom on a train?
A: Haven't tried that yet, but I'll keep you posted.
Q: Are you jet lagged?
A: Well Nora and I did sleep until 10:30 AM Mon, which I don't think has EVER happened before, so I would say YES.
Q: Here's the big one - How did you manage your bags?
A: I practiced walking around my kitchen with my backpack on, pulling two suitcases strapped together and pushing the stroller. The practice paid off. However, I only had to walk 25 yards from the sidewalk into the Swiss Air Counter. There was no line and we were checked in by 4pm. For reference, I wasn't even supposed to get off the bus until 4:05.
Q: Did Nora dominate the Little Tykes play structure in Terminal 5?
A: You bet she did. We saw two other kids there, but Nora was running circles around them and constantly changing Elmo's (pretend) diaper.
Q: How is the guesthouse?
A: We are adjusting to sharing walls with people. Luckily when Nora was very tired (and very LOUD) most people were out of town for the 4 day weekend. They all returned last night. Nora is much more subdued when she gets her beauty sleep.
Q: How is she doing sleeping in a bed instead of a crib?
A: Pretty well. Surprisingly, she has not tried getting out of it on her own. She cried hard 5 mins the first night and whimpered for 2 mins the second night. The first night she was up for.. at least 1.5 hours in the middle of the night, fidgeting, trying to go back to sleep while we alternated between sternly telling her there were people trying to sleep on the other side of the wall and trying to comfort her by rubbing her back. Mostly I just curled up at the end of her bed and tried to go to sleep myself. Last night she woke up again in the middle of the night, but I promised her we would go to the park today IF she went back to sleep without any help. It worked and she is still sleeping. It is 8AM. OMG.
Q: What have you been doing since your arrival?
A: Monday we took the train into Zurich and spend the day walking along Lake Zurich. We saw lots of doggies, which we tried to tell Nora were hounds, but she got upset at us trying to teach her a new word. We thought if she said "Gruezi hound" instead of "Hi doggie," wouldn't that be nice.
Q: What is the weather like?
A: It's supposed to be around 60 today. I heard it was 70 yesterday at home.
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