We love to go wandering.....

Since our original plans of heading to Italy for a few days were put on hold...due to the cars dash board having a few to many lights flashing and is only able to be checked out after the kids start school. We thought we would crack into a few of the walks up in the hills behind our house.

We choose a simple 5.5km loop promising spectacular views and a few hours adventuring as a family. So we packed up a picnic lunch and headed for the hills.

The kids and I have managed to meet lots of great people and see and do a lot of wonderful things while Tim was preparing the New Zealand team for the Olympics, but it was really special to be discovering new areas of Leysin with him as a family.

As promised the meadows were bathed in beautiful sunlight, sweet petite wild strawberries and raspberries bordered the well maintained paths and the grand forest sections provided some much needed shade and even an educational yarn or two from Tim to keep the kids on their toes.

 

 

 

Jack and Jess are starting to learn and understand the rules of hiking, and respect for the weather and its ability to change with in minutes, that it wont be long before we can adventure further into the mountains surrounding the Berneuse (2042m above sea level).

My man cave, by Jack

I brought this painting from a second hand shop in Switzerland. I used my going away money from Grandma and Grandad. I think it was a good investment.

 

My duvet from New Zealand makes my room feel like home. I have some tadpoles in the glass bowl by my bed so I can watch them change each day. I also had a newt...but he has gone missing. I think he escaped in the night.

 

My bookshelf holds all my treasures. Books, Lego and toys.

 

 

I also have an armory for all my weapons!

 

My room is great because it is half under ground. It has a small window that gets sun in the afternoon and I have a double bed to stretch out in.

My Swiss bedroom by Jessica

I have two soft single beds and my favourite duvet cover from home. We brought a flower light from Ikea which lights up my wall a pretty pink colour.

 

 

 

My pet tadpoles (in the old wine bottle) from a pond up on the Berneuse mountain behind our house.

 

 

 

This is a  chair that some students didn't want anymore. It is now my big soft reading chair.

 

I love my new room because it has a nice view to the mountains and it is bigger than Jacks.

Havent we been here before....

Yep we have! The Kuklos above Leysin looking down on Corbreyier

and then 6 years and 3 months later.

and ironically we also did Gruyere in the same weekend both times

Then

and now

 

 



The only thing is I am trying to figure out where my blonde wife went! TC

Busy week with Tim

Hi there everybody.
We have had a busy week and a half since Tim has joined us. We have finalised our residency with a trip to Lausanne to complete our biometric testing...photos, finger prints and signatures. We are now in the system!
And after a few trips to Ikea (I think Tim is grateful it is 60km down the road...wont be 'just popping in', to spend up large) we are now sorted and settled in.
School starts on Monday for the 'new' year and the kids are looking forward to catching up with all their new friends they have made over the summer.
I will get myself sorted today and post a few stories about our exploration of the walking tracks in hills behind our house.
Thanks for checking up on us,
Fee

Welcome home dad!

Our dad came back from the Olympics today.

Jessie and I were so excited.

Poor mum though, as we both work up really early ready for our drive to Geneva Airport.

Unfortunately we had to wait for ages till we could see him as he didn't arrive till 2.20 in the afternoon.

Jessie and I made this welcome home sign. The cards in the back ground have all sorts of kiwiana pictures on them.

Yay. Dads back!

Jessie picked some flowers and got a the glasses ready for a toast. So many options.

Dad is all ours for the next 2 weeks before we start school. I thin we might go camping in Italy for a few days.

Jessie and I got some really cool presents from the Olympics and posters signed by all the track riders.

Its great to have dad home.

From Jack.

Party on the lake.

We had the pleasure of being invited to a secret location on lake Geneva, just past Montreux, to help a friend of Jack and Jessies, Micheal, celebrate his birthday.
It was an amaing spot! Sourrounded by laughing kids and relaxed parents, and of course cake!
What more could you ask for.