May 2009 - June 1, 2009 - Kids being kids, Guggershorn, Vevey

Another holiday gave us yet another 3 day weekend to play. We went to Vully for a spelunking trip thru a very kid-friendly cave, and had a nice lunch ...just north of Murten (Lake Morat). (I didn't have my camera for that one...grrrr....).

The next day, we got a late start with the intent of climbing the Kaiseregg again, BUT it looked a little stormy on top. Instead, we turned off the road to Schwartzee toward a little 'hill' that we always notice and believe to be so 'cute'...just see see if there was some way to 'stroll' up it. We did find it...but it turned out to be a pretty good sized little hill with a great observation deck up top. We also now know the name of the cute little hill...the Guggershorn...and apparently it's famous and the subject of many a folksong (I'll have to get a picture of it from a distance sometime so I can post it on here.)

The 3rd day, we spent exploring the Lake Geneva shore...this time walking West from Vevey. You really can't go wrong there on a nice day! In any direction, there's something fun for kids and adults... the scenery alone is enough for me. But we came upon fountains for swimming (not prepared for it with suits or anything, but lots of kids weren't... kids just stripped down and jumped in.) Parks, really nice parks are no further than a kilometer apart. Swans and birds to feed. Cyclers, roller bladers, dogs, popsicle stands, boat rides...just endless entertainment. Oh, carousels and free circuses by 8 - 12 year old kids...forgot about those. Anyway, no time on Lake Geneva has ever been boring for any of us. Pictures from it are near the end of this...

Baby Will...not quite 2 months old.

Kacey entertaining Will.

Princess nightgowns... very helpful for motivating them to get ready for bed!

Dave and Will

The initial 'ascent' up the Guggershorn... a nice fern covered 'forest.'

The forest lead to a nice field.

flowers, flowers, flowers...

breaking into a cow pasture... can't do a hike without it.

Me with Kacey and Will...

Dave and the girls at the top.

Lots of people up top spoke English...not unusual, but still surprising. A nice man offered to get a family picture of us. Here we are...

An applesauce break on a log.

Have walking stick, will walk.

Signs at the top...listing all of our options. Which way should we walk for fondue?

I'm just dying to roll down this hill...pleeeeeeeaaaase!

Okay, go for it...

Baby Will...

...just being a baby...

Cambelle and Dave near Vevey.

A rocky beach...

One of the parks we walked upon...

... and it's giant 'fountain'... which equals 'pool' for the kids.

And another park...

Kacey, riding a horse to 'Germany.'

In case it's not obvious, a slide...

And another fountain! I'll spare you from having to see another picture of them eating popsicles!

May 2009-Hot Summer days, Legoland, Payerne Pool

We've had a few hot days coincide with Catholic Holidays over here... so nice weather and Dave not working usually mean we're out and about somewhere doing something fun. And a hot day when Dave is working usually means we pull out the kiddy pool in the back and call over some friends. Below are some pictures mainly from those fun outtings.

Also, during a long weekend, we went on a 3 day trip with our friends from California, who now live near Lake Geneva... they have a 2 year old son, Jacob, and a 4 year old daughter, Eva, who are adored by our kids. We met up with them in Germany, near Munich, for a day at Legoland. Lots of fun.



Cambelle in the kiddy pool in Payerne. All she needs is a hot day and some water...then a place to crash.

Kacey at the pool...another little fish.

Cambelle met Bob the Builder at Legoland...her first time to ever see him. We saw his 4-D movie in German, so we still don't know much about ol' Bob, but she enjoyed meeting him none-the-less.

Cambelle and Jacob enjoying their swirly popsicle.

Kacey with Eva, and her parents, Mary and Dan, on the pirate ship.

Dave and Will... trying to find some shade.

Kacey in line to ride the dragon roller coaster...her first roller coaster ever.

Cambelle on the playground.

Kacey and Eva riding the Legoland train.

Cambelle and Jacob riding the Legoland train...

The big girls take over the stroller.

Some horse riding...

Some of the Lego characters...Cambelle wasn't too sure about him.

Kacey and the Lego stroller...

Will and Cambelle...Cambelle so happy to have him smile at her...

The pool party which later turned into princesses running in the field ... being chased by Charlie and Cambelle...

upcoming engineer Cambelle

A hot summer day with Molly, Benji, Charlie, Sam, Marti, April over to play.

May 2009 - More Fun, Sam's Party, Eva, Jacob, Alexandra

Dave had to leave town for a week for work. Lots of people took care of us that week and it turned out to be lots of fun with lots of time to play. We played with Mia, Fiona's daughter; Alexandra, from school; Molly, Benji, Charlie, Sam many times; Alexandra and Manuel; Eva and Jacob...our friends from California that BB met in a Fribourg Mall a year ago. Anyway, thanks to lots of nice friends, we survived the week. Our house is a disaster, but the kids had fun and mom did, too. Here are some of the pictures...most are from Sam's 1 year old B-day Party...what a good baby he was at his party!


Practicing with Will for next Winter...Katie, mom-to-be... at Sam's 1st Birthday party!

Sam and Cambelle and water...

A cold almost 1 year old, warming up with mom...Sam and Marty.

Benji enjoying the party.

Can you believe this is a cake? Sam's 1st Birthday cake... it didn't look this way for long!

Tom also practicing for next Winter... Future Dad-to-be... he and Katie need no practice.

Happy Birthday to me... Sam Billington, 1 year old on May 21, 2009.

Cambelle playing with Jacob...our new friends who live in Blonay near Vevey. They have this horrific view of Lake Geneva :-).

Kacey, Will, and Cambelle...we finally brought up Charlie's swing and everyone loves it!

Our first venture out alone to the park...we miraculously survived.

Eva (Jacob's sister) and Kacey doing the Ariel puzzle.

Cambelle and her morning time alone with all her books.

Will being entertained by the 'sugar plum fairy princess.'

Sweet Cambelle....sweet most of the time.

MMMMMM...so much for the bath tub.

Cambelle warming up...

Cambelle LOVES having water poored on her head!

A pool full of crazy kids celebrating Sam's birthday...

May 2009 - River, Water, Smiles

Just a few pictures from May 2009...

Building rock piles at the river.

Hanging out..

Cambelle enjoying Daddy putting her "feet in the creek".

Happy Kacey

Will has been smiling a few weeks now...but I just got up the energy to grab the camera today.

Cambelle playing with water.

Kacey jumping.

Kacey singing and dancing with Will.