February 2013. Skiing with the Grandies.

Here is a recap of our adventures with Baldy and Elvis.

The anticipation waiting at the airport was almost to much for the kids who couldn't keep their hands off Grandma in the back seat of the car on the drive back from Geneva.
The private ski lessons with Granddad, and  bedtime stories each night with Grandma made up for the nine months between cuddles.

Enjoy!

See you next winter guys!

No Excuses!

Quote by Stephen King

I could say that our neighbors dog ate our computers (and that's not fair on Penny, the pup next door, she is far to well behaved to do that), or I have been having a sabbatical from electronic devices (I did for a few weeks after loosing my cell phone to the snow gods while trying to ski powder...its amazing how good skiers make it look so effortless!) or even that I lost all my fingers to frost bite (though some days up the mountain I had minute glimpses in to what being 'really cold' was all about).
Alas I just haven't got around to posting anything since the start of the year.
As we all know time just sometimes slips by and before you know it months have passed as we are busy living our lives.

So my mission over the next few weeks is to recap the first four months of 2013.

Enjoy!

Anzac Day

Lest we forget

We are never too far from home to remember where we come from.

Rounding up 2012!

Well what a year we have had!

 Loads of travel, exploration, adventure and some very steep learning curves. Not that we would change any of it.

 

 

Our first white Christmas was spent skyping family and friends while we opened their respective presents. It was almost like we were together....

 

 

The kids were spoilt rotten and had a blast exploring the pile of colourful presents lurking under the tree.

 

I just love this photo....pure happiness!!!

Jess got a new smaller guitar to jam away with Tim.

 

Jess had the honour of setting the Christmas lunch table, complete with place settings.

Love her writing!

Boxing Day and yet again the Carswells are cutting the first tracks through the soft new snow.

 

 

The kids ordering up hot chocolates and mulled wines all round.

 

 Sitting at Les Furs with Les Diablerets on the other side of the valley.

 

 

New Years Eve in Switzerland = the roll over for the New Year back home, so the kids and I toasted in 2013 with them, while enjoying a lovely lunch in the sun.

Someone is becoming a little bit European.

 

 

 

2013 is promising to be yet another big year for us. Filled with family visits, adverntures and hard work. Things we are all looking forward to.

 

We want to wish you a very sucessful, happy and safe 2013.

All the very best,

 

The Carswells.



First day on the Slopes!!! By Jack

This is how we got to the telecabine...we just ski from our steps down the road to the lifts!

We were on top of the Berneuse by 8.50am on opening day!

The wind was blowing and it was extremely cold but the snow was like fluffy cotton balls and we had the whole run to our selves. Which was lucky because we haven't skied for a year and a half so it took a while to remember what we had to do. 

After lunch we went back up and skied some more. The weather was soooo much better! We skied on the 6km run back down to Leysin and caught the Telecabine back up to the top again.

From this weekend all the runs are now open and we can go and explore all of the mountain.

Jessie and I will get to ski with school one a week and on Wednesday afternoons with mum.

We are also going to do ski school on Saturday mornings!!! 

I love winter!

By Jack Carswell.

St Nicolas Day, December 6th. By Jessica

Today was St Nicolas Day. 

A very popular Christmas celebration by children all around Europe.

So Jack and I thought we had better check it out. 

All the children got a goodie bag filed with nuts, chocolates,fruit and bread.

We also got to enjoy a yummy hot chocolate from the pot behind me.

These are some of the horses from the stables I ride at.

They had to put blankets over the horses while they were waiting to keep them warm in the snow.

The horse and sleigh heads down to the lower village to share and celebrate with other children. 

What a nice surprise for Jack and I to be a part of.

By Jessica.

December and winter has well and truly arrived!

The village is shrouded in a glistening white coat and there is a gleaming light when it is sunny.  The blanket of snow deadens all noise so that the joyful shouts of the children and adults alike, as they pull their sledges up the hills and have fun in the white splendor can be heard all the better. When there is a lot of snow Jack and Jess like to jump off high walls landing in the soft, deep snow.  Here and there the first Christmas decorations hesitantly appear, a few candles, fir branches or wreaths.  The kids spent Sunday morning dressing the Christmas tree (thanks to Leilani and Sequoia) while it snowed heavily in the back ground. With such a mix in cultures and Christmas beliefs we thought we would stick to our roots and put the tree up in early December, and besides, its our first white Christmas.  What better way to spend the morning than drinking hot chocolates laced with marshmallows,  dressing the tree in pajamas and watching the giant snow flakes drift by the window. In the first weeks of December there is often a lot of snow, and it can be very cold. You could go skiing everywhere at this time, but the skiing season doesn't usually start until the second weekend in December.  You are all alone as the ski lifts are still closed. There is something magical about the untouched countryside covered in fresh snow.  Where the snow cannons had until now given nature a helping hand, they are now superfluous as enough snow is falling itself overnight.  The Christmas markets are also in full swing and we had the pleasure of discovering the magical atmosphere of the famous Montreux Christmas Market. With its countless attractions and more than 140 decorated chalets all overflowing with gifts and the scent of glorious Christmas fare.