5:29 AM

Just about ready to get the kids for the trip back to the States. See you all in 24 hours!

Greatest Food Ever

Had dinner at a friend of Kim's the other week. They made raclette. Basically, a block of cheese under a broiler, when the top is appropriately gooey, scrape it on bread and eat it. This is not something I should have been made aware of.

Apartment Fever

It's been raining here since Sunday. Both Xavier and Izzi were to have end-of-year picnics but they've been postponed until next week, meaning they'll miss out. Xavier started running a fever on Tuesday evening and continues in his prone position on the sofa as I write this. We're all anxious for the rain to pass and hoping that the sun is waiting for us in Minnesota.

Xavier's Room

Finally, a long overdue post of Xavier's bedroom. The room was originally arranged differently, but we changed it in an attempt to make more space for legos. Not sure that was achieved, but here it is.

Xavier named his desk and chair within hours after arriving in Switzerland: Bob for the desk and John for the chair. (Same names as a couple of his make-believe construction workers back when he ran a construction site in the upstairs of our home in Minneapolis.)

You will of course notice that the walls are bare (same as the rest of our apartment thus far), but the floor quite cluttered.

Bratwurst in Bern

Isabella and I spent most of the day in Bern, doing a little souvenir shopping. She couldn't resist the smell of Bratwurst, so we stopped so she could partake.

Bern's streets are lined with 16th century fountains. Izzi posed for a photo in front of one of an armoured bear.

Cooling Down

Bern's Bundesplatz, or Federal Square, is covered with a fountain containing 26 water jets that rise from the square's pavement. The fountain runs almost every day in spring and summer. It's been hot this last week, so Izzi and Xavier have had the chance to enjoy the fountain when we've been in Bern.