Autumn

Here every day is an autumn day, with leaves falling from trees and fog in the mornings obscuring faraway places. These are both obsessions of Bluet's (along with convertible cars not having roofs, where the petrol goes in cars, and whether cars have run out of petrol or not, or if the bus/tram has broken down (usually no, it is just stopped to let people on and off). Every day we talk of these things.

We also got Bluet her first duvet, which she loved so much she got into bed during the day. Several times. With dirty feet.

Here, Bluet waits for the tram in a most sensible fashion

And we found that if we walk up the hill from our house, and to the right a bit, you can see cows, and then if you go a little further there is a restaurant with a spectacular view of Zurich (if it isn't too foggy). We have now been twice, once with fog, once without.

We also found some new playgrounds - one with a 'death slide' for beginners, and a swing which had Ilona on it first, and then Bluet asked to join her.

There is also, across the other side of the river, the biggest, fanciest model railway you have ever seen. Sadly it has never been running when we have walked past, but Bluet loves to look at the bridges, tracks and the engine shed where the trains sleep at night. She even asked whether the trains needed to keep the doors open at night to let in a little light, just how she likes it.

Then there is the park by the river, where we have been many times. The other day Ilona practiced for when she owns her first motorcycle, whilst Bluet watched the ducks

Or sometimes we play in the garden. Here Bluet is playing with her wheelbarrow under the quince tree

And finally today we went to a park by the side of the river that turned out to have wild animals, like pigs and chickens and goats, and plenty of places for Ilona to stand.

And then we go home

So here we are

We have finally arrived in Zurich (well, to be honest, we have been here since Thursday morning). But first, let's recap last week. We were given the choice of where to have the visa appointment for the Americans amongst us - I think it was Atlanta, LA, Chicago or New York, so obviously we chose the world's greatest city. We then decided to use this as an opportunity to spend a bit more time in NYC. Initially we were all going to go for ~4 days, but then owing to a delay in getting the visa appointment I wound up with 5 nights in New York by myself before Emily and the kids arrived - and they were happy too, because it was an extra 5 nights for them in Missouri. Whilst in New York on my own I walked about a lot, went to the baseball game, did some record shopping and caught up with friends.

For my birthday, I was one of the few people at a Mets game

Then when Bluet, Ilona and Emily arrived, we had a couple more days of fun. I took Bluet to FAO Schwarz, the giant toy store of 'Big' fame, where Bluet played on (and loved) the giant piano. But even more than that she was fascinated by the life size lego models of Emmet and Stylewild from the lego movie, especially as they had been glued together so she couldn't take them apart. Apologies for the chronological messiness of all this.

For two nights we stayed in a hotel on Times Square (the worst part of Manhattan - I think this was the first time we ever took Bluet there) where Bluet was fascinated by the telephone, and permitted to jump on the bed.

And Ilona got to swing for the first time - and liked it as much as Bluet ever did

Bluet found some bubbles

And then we hung out with our friends who have twin girls a little younger than Bluet (the next day Bluet went to their third birthday party at a dance studio, which she loved. Bluet was delighted to discover they were also fans of Peppa pig. 

New York is tiring for babies

Bluet at the dance studio

Bluet post visa interview

Bluet pre visa interview

Lunch at PQ

Also, Ilona is getting very good at sitting up, and her first tooth has broken through

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Bluet's Big Girl Bed

Now that Bluet is 2 (2!) she has moved from her cot to a big bed. The other day as she was sitting on it she said 'Bluet is a big girl', so I think she knows she is growing up. Anyway, three days in, and she has only fallen out of bed one time - otherwise, she has slept as long as she used to in the cot. Probably because she has so much space to stretch out, and is therefore very comfortable.