Sam turns 7

I recently noticed that Sam skips a lot. He skips while going to school, he skips going to the tram, he skips when we tour different cities, and he really skips in the mall when he gets to go to the toy store. After observing him for a bit I realized that Sam skips when he is happy.

It is the best feeling seeing Sam so happy and content. We've seen a lot of growth from him during this past year, and we're really proud of how much he has embraced our move and new life here. Switzerland seems to have brought out a more confident and adventurous side of Sam. He revels in our explorations, has a running tab of the countries he's visited, and he loves those European castles. As for me, I love Sam's dimpled little grin.

For Sam's birthday we had a party at our house with the boys from his school class (the kids were well enough to have it on the date originally planned). It was the typical birthday fare with games and cake, and everyone seemed to have good time. The funniest part was that 8 of the 9 boys gave Sam lego...I assume he talks about his lego obsession at school a lot. He was in heaven. I also loved hearing all of those little boys saying, "Samuel! Samuel!" in their different little accents. Too cute.

What a lucky family we are to have been given such a wonderful little boy.

Sick once more

It's two days before Sam's birthday party and I'm sitting in my living room with my two youngest. Both have fevers and each has thrown up during the past 2 days. In the past, the "old me" would have been frantically disinfecting the entire house and stressing over whether the party will have to be canceled. Just ask any close relative to confirm this. Instead, the kids are plopped in front of a movie, and I'm feeling pretty calm about everything.

I realized recently that I'm starting to not stress so much over the little things which are out of my control. Whether this is due to our lifestyle change, or just because I'm growing up more, I'm not sure. Either way, it feels pretty liberating to feel this way.

I'm sure little Sammy will have his party, whether it's this week or the next. For the moment I'm going to sit and watch Finding Nemo with my kids and enjoy the fact that the pinata which I put many, many hours of blood, sweat and tears into making, might have another week to live.

I was going to do a "how to" post about making a pinata, so here you go: go to Target and buy one for $15. That is, unless you live in a country where they do not sell pinatas. Gluing on all of those little pieces of tissue paper was not fun. Oh the thing we do for love.

Playtime for the kiddos

Ok Ashley Anne, this is for you...

Sam before his oh-so-desperately-needed haircut. Homeboy
just doesn't have the locks to pull off long hair.

I love how focused Luke is in this picture.

And while I'm on the subject of play, I forgot to add these from our Zurich trip a couple of weeks ago. This playground was inside the train we rode on, on the second floor. We were completely shocked when we saw it! Never has a train ride gone by so quickly for us. Ingenious.

Zurich for a day

We only live an hour away from Zurich, but up until 2 weeks ago, Andrew and I had never been. No, I take that back. I have been there to pick up people from the airport, and Andrew is a frequent patron of both the Zurich train station and airport. We've also driven through the city a few times on the way to other places, but we had never actually walked through Zurich and enjoyed the sites.

We finally made it to Zurich this past weekend and we found it beautiful, diverse and just large enough to fill up a whole day. Now I understand why people love this city so much. We also lucked out with beautiful weather (upper 50's and sunny!),

The clock tower in the right picture below is the largest in Europe. Andrew and Sam also climbed to the top of the cathedral in the left picture below.

The Walkers Take Europe

Last year we spent half of our Christmas vacation at my parents' home in New Jersey. If someone had told us then that the following year we would all be spending Christmas together in Switzerland, we would have just laughed.

It amazes me how unexpected life can be.

Despite the distance, this year we were fortunate enough to host Christmas with my mom, dad, brother Joe and sisters Ashley and Becca. For two weeks we were spoiled by their company, and now that it's over I feel robbed and cheated. It all went by WAY too quickly. We toured around, shopped the Christmas markets, played in the snow, watched lots of American movies, ate way too much chocolate, and of course, celebrated Christmas. I also tried my hand at making fondue, but that was a complete failure. It turns out that wine is absolutely a necessary component when making fondue. We also kept up our tradition of passing around a virus, but miraculously it was not my kids who got everyone sick (cough, cough, Ashley). Even with the virus though, I don't think we could have had a better time.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD for making this trip happen! We love you guys...now please hurry and visit us again soon!

Arlesheim, Switzerland

Strasbourg, France


Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg, France


Freiburg, Germany




Lucerne








Montreux






Sion, Switzerland








Brigg, Switzerland

The Queen Bee turns 2

Afton oh Afton, how could I adequately describe you? You walk around in your little 2 1/2-foot frame like you rule the world. You eat more food than either of your brothers (combined). Most days you obviously prefer your father, and while in his arms, you glare at me with a self-satisfied look. You think that anyone over the age of 60 was placed on this earth to dote over you, and you run around church acting like a wild-woman.

But when you are sweet, oh how my heart melts.

Seriously, we are crazy about this little girl. She is busting with her own personality and brings so much laughter and joy into our home. She gets so excited over small things, loves to play with her big brothers, and yaps every waking hour now that she has discovered the world of words. Life without this little firecracker would certainly be dull.

Happy Birthday Baby girl- we love you!

opening presents



And lastly, my all-time favorite picture of Afton. Didn't I tell you she liked to eat?