Ballenberg - Fireworks - Helicopters

The kids are on summer break and it is Swiss National Day so we have a 3 day weekend.
Sunday we went to Ballenberg. It is an open air museum where the Swiss have taken various buildings from throughout the country and rebuilt them in a HUGE museum. We made it through maybe 1/3 of the place.

The place is quite impressive. The oldest building we were in was from the Italian region of Switzerland and dates from 1515. Almost 500 years old! The above photos were from a traditional Swiss Chalet. It was fairly new, it was barely 150 years old.

If anyone does actually come to visit, this is something we will probably do.


Today is Swiss National Day, basically 4th of July Swiss style. In our continuing quest to integrate into the culture, we have purcahsed our share of celebratory explosives. This has nothing to do with the fact that the kids and I like to blow things up and is simply about cultural acceptance. We are heading over to a friends to grill and hopefully watch/launch fireworks later today.

And finally, our last adventure for the weekend. Xavier bought a remote control helicopter. On day three of owership the kids managed to put it on the roof of a neighboring apartment building. We knew the school had some ladders around so Kim and I spent about an hour figuring out how to reassemble them into an extension ladder. We carried the two 20 ft sections of ladder down to the apartment. Unfortunately the catch for the ladder was broken so we had to extend the ladder on the ground. To make a long story short, Kim is not strong/heavy enough to hold a 30 aluminum ladder on the ground while putting up or taking it down. The helicopter was rescued in the end and luckily on slight injuries were incurred.

Mountain Picnic

Our friends Werner and Dominique love to treat us, as if we remain their personal guests in Switzerland. This Sunday, they took us to the mountains for a picnic. Another lovely day with good food and friends.



Kids entering 5km path to picnic site along river










Werner manning the fire














Izzi and Todd by the river












Waterplay for Xavier and Matilda













Chow time (Dominique, Oliver, Sofie, Jeannine)

Saying Goodbye to Friends

We spent Saturday with our friends Fiona, Duncan and Mia. They are leaving Switzerland after a 4-year stint and moving to England. We had a lovely lunch, then icecream and coffee, all mixed with some strolling and browsing. It was a gorgeous summer day in beautiful Bern.


Xavier and Mia checking out the good at the Barenplatz market














Iz buying bangles



















Kids chasing giant bubbles










Posing with red cow














Alphorns taking a break

Isabella Turns 11

Isabella had 4 friends over to celebrate her birthday. The day started with a couple of games, lunch and then train/bus to the Ostermundigan outdoor pool. It was sunny, but not real hot so Izzi, Xavier and friends had the pool almost to themselves. We returned home for chocolate or cherry cake with ice cream followed by outside play. For those who slept over, there was then a light dinner and movie.



A loving thank you to Xavier for his gift












Friends in their silly garb after musical dress-up











Group-slide at the pool













Iz all smiles after sparkler of number 11 is done (X invading photo)

Johanni: Welcoming Summer

The Steiner School celebrates the start of summer each year with the Johanni fest. The 3rd class students dance around the "maypole" until the ribbons are woven together. Then each class performs traditional dances separately and together while the teachers play lovely music with their string instruments.

About 9pm, students and parents walk for about 45 minutes to reach the top of a small, forested mountain nearby where a bonfire is lit by the 6th class. Songs are sung, and tea and snacks are consumed. As the fire burns down, approaching midnight, the children who like can leap across the fire to welcome summer.

I was at home baking a cake for Isabella's birthday the next day, but Todd and the children wandered in around 12:45 very sleepy and smelling strongly of fire.

Maypole after the dancing


Xavier's class preparing to dance


Xavier in front of the bonfire after it has been lit

Down by the River

Sunday was a sunny day after several of rain, so the kids and I decided to picnic down by the Aare. Todd was home sleeping, in recovery from his 3-days at the Greenfield Festival.

Izzi and Xav wading...







Xav enjoying his chicken...













Izzi easing herself into the cold Aare...











Xavier searching for cool stones...

Circus, Circus!!

A friend gave us discount tickets to a small circus playing in Bern, so Todd took Izzi and Xavier on Sunday afternoon. They ate popcorn and cotton candy and had a thoroughly good time:)

http://www.nock.ch/