With all of the excitement surrounding the move we sort of forgot we had kids. This does happen on occassion. So we decided to take some time off from moving to have some fun with the kids.
One evening last week we headed down to the Herbstmesse (fall festival) in Basel with the kids. For two weeks in the fall much of the city is taken over by games, rides, vendors, etc.
The kids really enjoy it - this is the fourth year that we have been able to take part in the festivities.
You can check out years past here. It is fun to look back and see how much the kids have grown...
It was Seth's fourth year on Calypso - a tradition now.
Fiona even decided to give it a go and loved it -we have been on a few more times since.
It was a Wednesday afternoon so we walked right on the ferris wheel - no lines - for a great sunset view.
Then of course the slides... Fiona can do it on her own now. It is real sweet - I told Seth to watch out for her and every time they march up to the top he makes sure she is OK. Maybe there is a chance they'll get along!!
Some swings (yawn..) - I think they have outgrown these. They won't even consider the little ride around cars anymore.
Then the kids tricked me into going on a ride called Swing Out or Spin Out...it is right across from the Munster.
I had seen it before but didn't really recall what it did. It wasn't in motion as we walked up to it - and being a slow evening the ticket seller called us over. I asked if it was fine for little Fiona to go on for a ride. The lady selling the tickets laughed and said of course. I assume she would have said the same for a newborn or a puppy... Seth was on the ride a few says earlier with Aimee so I figured OK - lets give it a try... All three of hopped into a car - the one with the American flag in fact. Oh dear. I thought I was going to be sick - it sped up and slowed down and threw us in the air for a good long time - I swear when the fair is slow the ride operators hit the button marked 'long program'. The kids loved it - I got off and couldn't walk straight for about 10 minutes.... Then off to the bumper cars!!
It is funny to think back to when Seth wasn't even allowed on the little motorcycles that go around a fixed motorized track. Now the kids can really enjoy the fair. Soon they won't even need me to go on the rides...
Of course we nearly forgot about Halloween in all the moving excitement. Luckily Seth selected Halloween as his 'special day' project at school.
In the first grade kids are required to select a holiday, complete a poster on the holiday and then do a presentation on the holiday. This holiday is supposed to be something special to your family or related to your country. Of course Seth chose Arbor Day. While this did originate in the US and I like gardening - we don't really do much for Arbor Day. I think it is great that Seth recognizes the importance of planting trees but I wasn't quite sure about presenting Arbor Day. So I suggested Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July, and even Presidents Day.. No, NO, NO and NO!!! So we finally agreed upon Halloween. He liked it, the teachers liked it, easy enough to present.
We kicked off the weekend Seth's Halloween presentation to the class. Then Seth went to a lovely party in the afternoon on Saturday followed by some real trick or treating!
As usual we let the kids decide on their own (about an hour before the party) what they wanted to be... Seth came up with 'an American football fan' and Fiona dressed as 'Fancy Nancy'
We opted out of our own neighborhood this year and visited some friends who live in a very contained expat area. It was great - the kids went from door to door - loads of candy - tons of friends. A really perfect Halloween for a 6 year old and a 4 year old. Even better than I remember as a kid...but that was a while ago.
We had a nice little impromptu party with friends that even included bobbing (or 'dunking?' according to our Scottish friends...) for apples. Haven't done that in years!
Both kids said it was the best Halloween ever!
We finished off the weekend with a nice fall walk in the woods on the Swiss/French border near Oltingue. A lovely little loop with a nice area to rest at the end.
I especially enjoyed the fact that there were old border markers all along the route.
The kids loved that they could be in Switzerland one second and then in France. Here they have a foot in both countries. I guess that pretty much sums up our life right now...
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