For 6 months now Owen and I pack up on Wednesday morning and head to a mommy and me swim class with some friends. I wanted to do something with Owen on our morning together while Jackson was at school and I wanted it to be out of the house and away from my other distractions. I wanted him to feel like I was really focusing on him for a bit.

Our swim mornings started out with 2 little boys enjoying milk and bread together, along with their bedhead. While the mommies chat away.

We reluctantly broke up the fun 2nd breakfast time and headed out to Heimburg about 20 minutes from us. They have a nice indoor pool and a wonderful baby class. The teacher is so creative. Miss Lisa (pronounced more like Liesel from the Sound of Music only without the “l” at the end. follow me?)  was super sweet and patient with the kids and tolerated lots of mom chatting.  Owen’s favorite activity what when she would give each child a plastic watering pail and one child would hold a clear umbrella over their head while the others showered him. Each week she had something new to show them. I don’t know if Owen learned a bit but he sure had fun!

forgive the foggy lens…the pool was so warm my lens wouldn’t clear…some people add these special effects! these are our steamy shots in the pool!

after swim class the boys would hop in and out of the lockers while we gathered our things.

And we would round them up, walk coral them out to the car, and hope the whole way home that we could successfully keep them awake so that they wouldn’t spoil their naps. Owen was very successful in thwarting my no sleep plans. he typically crashed within minutes of his snack.

Now I realize this all sounds so fun and innocent, so what could be the drama around going to swim class….

this just about sums to up! Swim class in Switzerland has been quite the cultural experience with nudity. Luckily Owen and I have found a little dressing room so I can be confident about my lack of confidence. Sheesh. My friend Nina and I giggle our way through the locker room as people very slowly shower and dress and lather lotion and dry their hair without a teeny tiny glimmer of feeling immodest. Now I am not talking about the typical American locker room experience where you turn your back, change your clothes quickly but make every effort to almost stay clothes while you maneuver the switch. You know where everyone is completely aware of everyone changing but no one looking and chatting. I am talking about people chatting and talking and taking their time….no one’s back turned!  I oscillate between feeling like it’s totally crazy and really kind of refreshing that people appear to have healthy self images and don’t feel like they have to be perfect to be seen. The refreshing part has yet to infuse confidence into me but I can see how it might be a good thing. for them! As I slipped my shoes off most weeks Owen stood wide eyed and mouth open as these women young and old got dressed. He had never seen such a sight. I decided that no matter how much Jackson would love a swim class as well it just was not worth it here. Not worth the risk of being sent out of Switzerland because my 4 year old could just not filter such an experience!!

Yesterday we joined friends in celebrating their daughter Anna’s first birthday!  They decided it might be fun to hike to the glassbrunnen which is just on the other side of Bern. It is a spring that runs through the woods and according to our Swiss expert there is no known source for this particular spring.  Turns out I got 90% people pictures and not one of the fresh spring.

We met late morning and walked through the woods to the spring. When we arrived we found a spot to begin collecting wood and building a fire for a bbq. We have to remember to do things like this is VA because it’s so easy to overlook what’s in your own backyard!

Owen wasn’t quite himself yesterday…turns out he woke up this morning with another stinky cold…or rather he was up throughout the night unable to breath and coughing.

stick bread!

the birthday girl!

every trip to the woods requires at least one child to have a potty emergency, right?!

we felt like we were in an episode of Pioneer Woman! I just watched her make banana boats on her show a few weeks ago!  turns out they do them here too! yum!

Happy Birthday, Anna! Congrats to Daniela and Miguel for surviving your first year as parents! Thanks for including us in your birthday adventure!

You haven’t heard from me lately…sorry, the weather has us a bit distracted. It is still chilly this week but it is super sunny and we have been outside as much as possible. Yesterday we took a long walk with a friend along some fields where a shepherd was grazing his sheep. The boys love nothing more than getting muddy and sweaty so it was right up their alley. We came home and I immediately begged Seth to start dinner so I could shower off the smells of the fields. We have busted out the big bucket of toys for the atrium and the boys have reclaimed their little boy kingdom out there. I will give them a few weeks to play “Lord of the flies” before I reclaim it for pretty potted plants!

For about an hour this morning I got a burst of energy and cleaned out a couple more closets.  I was in such a great mood thinking it was FRIDAY. Turns out it’s only Thursday. But the sun is shining and a couple more closets are sorted as a result of my day of the week confusion.

Here are a few pictures from our week…

it was new crayon and marker day in our house today…tossed all the old crusty markers and brought out the new packs I was saving for such a time as this. This is big stuff folks!

and someone (who shall remain nameless) COULD NOT resist the urge to feel off all of the papers of our fresh, new, pretty crayons. It is kind of one of those letting them mix the playdough colors moments of motherhood.

my new thyme plant is climbing towards the window!  she can’t wait to live in the atrium!

this is blurry but I have to include it because it is a miracle in our house…Owen is smiling between bites of Barefoot Contessa’s lentil soup!  I have to share the recipe because everyone in the house enjoyed it and Owen requested it today for lunch!!! Here ya go…Lentil Sausage Soup . It has some kick so if your family doesn’t love a little kick just reduce the pepper. Honestly, Owen is FUSSY about food and I assumed a lentil soup, green lentils at that would scare him away. Nope! Try it!

and while we are talking food I should tell you that Seth brought back some of these goodies from Trader Joe’s. So yum. Thanks, Seth.

So, I have inspired you with not so much and told you nothing exciting today.  I guess I shared a recipe! That’s something. Hope you are all well and enjoying Spring wherever you may be!

…every single pair of Jackson’s jeans have a hole worn in them…it’s time for shorts

…i replaced the dried up winter greens in the house with forsythia and pussy willows!

…we burned the last of our hot chocolate candle today..it’s time for something fresh and new!

…we are antsier than ever for the weather to warm up so we can officially tuck the coats, gloves and hats away!

…the atrium is begging for some pots spilling over with flowers. (you mean you didn’t know an atrium can talk?! ours can…unfortunately I am the only one that hears it begging for pots of flowers)

…it’s still light when Seth comes home! Bring on the evening walks!

This new season brings us closer to our upcoming move which means I need to get in gear with sorting through and getting rid of things we don’t need. We will be downsizing on space and I want to take only the necessities!  We are getting into that funny time when everyone knows we are leaving soon and that is all they want to talk about. Most people assume we are already on our way out and our friends back home know we are coming back. It is hard feeling some days like we are neither here nor there. Fortunately we have some time left here to enjoy the friendships we have here and to Swiss spring and part of the summer before we have to brace for going back to fix up our home!

You may have seen my little bit on Spring over at World Moms Blog earlier this week. We are ready for it!

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow” -Proverb

Happy Friday, y’all! Only 11 hours until date night here in Switzerland!! We can make it!