This is what a 2 year old looks like

As you are probably aware, yesterday was Ilona's 2nd birthday. As it was also a work day, our time for celebration was limited, but she did get to open presents in bed in the morning (and more after we got home, which she very much enjoyed), and eat some birthday carrot cake, blowing out the candles all by herself

(She also got to wait for Bluet to walk to school)

A modicum of snow

When we woke up on Sunday morning and looked out across the garden, we discovered that it had snowed in the night. Bluet, of course, was delighted and excited. Ilona was only excited because Bluet was excited, as until now she had no idea what snow was. Sadly it had not snowed that much, and it soon melted away, but before it did we had time to go to the school playground and build the world's smallest snowman. Happy winter, everyone!

Also, Bluet ate some garden snow

World's smallest snowman

The Gallery

Since Bluet got back from York, and was inspired by Della, her favourite hobby is to draw. For hours she draws various things. A new thing every day, and the pieces of paper with sketches on them accumulate all over the house. Ilona also likes to sit and draw, so often they will both quietly sit around the table drawing with crayons or pencils. Here are some of our favourites

Bluet and Ilona eating dinner

Our garden

Butterfly and Aeroplane

Last weekend we went to the Pirate playground (which is near our first Switzerland house) and found some abandoned chalk lying around, so Bluet and Ilona decorated the tables.

Afterwards, both kids were covered in chalk, ready for the journey home

Bicycle Rider

The last few weeks, Bluet has more or less mastered riding her bike. Last Saturday she was very excited to work out how to steer and go round in circles

A walk down the river

A couple of Sundays ago, we went to the playground by the river with animals; sadly most of  the animals (chickens, goats and rabbits) had gone away for the winter, but we still enjoyed the pigs. You may recognize it from last year - we haven't been there for a while. As you can see it is beginning to get cold, and as it was 9AM, we had the whole place to ourselves for a while

Compare and contrast, the same swing (at the flag playground) today and September last year

halloween 2015

Obvs this weekend it was halloween. I bought the biggest pumpkin I could find in Zurich, and carved it Saturday afternoon (pictured above). Emily had found some other parents and kids to trick or treat with, so she took Bluet and Ilona while I waited for other parties of kids and parents to come calling for sweets. I think we had 5 groups visiting our house, I hope some were genuinely scared by our giant pumpkin. Bluet decided she wanted to dress as a princess. Sadly the only photo I took is the one above, but Bluet did draw a picture of herself trick or treating, which is more or less as good. Also, a witch and a skellington.

Ilona got to dress as a zebra because we already had a zebra costume (see halloweens passim). Anyway, as she was the cutest zebra anyone had ever seen, she got plenty of treats.