First Day of School

 
All three "big kids" at school all day now.  I still can't believe Matthew is big enough to do this (well, by UK standards anyway).  Just me and Will now, good thing another one is on the way!! 

Goodbye Summer

I really felt like this was our first official summer holiday since it was our first time breaking from school.  It went entirely too fast, in my opinion (a mere 6 weeks here in the UK).  We tried to keep it simple and relaxing with lots of pajama days, but got excited about ticking off our own "Summer Ideas Checklist." 

 

 
We celebrated our last day of summer vacation at Clacton-on-the-Sea, flying kites, collecting shells and playing with friends.  After dark, we had one last late night using up our firework reserve and sending off a lantern.  Goodbye Summer, we already miss you!
 

Our Big News...

 

We thought it about time to reveal why we haven't blogged in almost 4 months.
Baby #5 expected February 12, 2012!

See catch up posts below

Summer Holiday 2011

Breaking up the long drive to Switzerland, we spent Monday and Tuesday at Disneyland Paris

 
Beach and boat playgrounds at the Zurichsee

 

 

Baar Pool

We hit Switzerland right during their end of summer heat wave and spent a little time almost every day (including my birthday) at our favorite pool

 
Knonau (next two collages as well)
Parks, playgrounds, clock tower, the stream, the soccer field and visiting old friends.  We spent more than a few days reliving our old fairy tale life in this little town we loved so much

 
Engelberg
Back to one of our favorite mountain spots.  Funny, I was pregnant with Will the last time we visited this mountain

 
More Knonau:  Pride Rock 
(Added bonuses: Matthew has perfected peeing in the bushes on this trip...that little white bum was too cute not to capture, a few times!)  Also, Will has learned "thumbs up" but only puts his thumb up a quarter of the time)

 
Flying children 

 
Zug & The Zugersee
(Can you tell in the top right I am a little paranoid now when we feed the ducks?  See below post re: Andrew swimming with fish) 

 
Lenzburg Castle

 
Last stop to break up the drive back to England:  Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany

Feeding Ducks

 
We saved our bread scraps for nearly two weeks in preparation to feed the ducks.  We arrived right at dinner time and received quite a gathering (including some new babies), until Andrew decided to fall headfirst into the duck pond and scare them all away.  Initial shock and tears turned into laughter and even boasting the following day.  "I fell into a duck pond and talked to the fish and had to wear Daddy's shirt!"  Luckily, the pond was only a few feet deep and Anthony was quick to fish out our little guy! 

Reptile Day

 

Our neighborhood park hosted lots of summer events this week, including Reptile Day.  I was amazed at how brave Andrew and Brooke were, standing in line over and over again to hold each reptile!  Favorites: Python and "Boa Constructor." 

Slumber Party

 
School is out!  We celebrated by building an enormous den in our living room; the kids slept in it for an entire week before we took it down (pillow fights are mandatory for slumber parties)! 

Sports Day

 
For our stake sports day our family chose to be Team Swiss.  Matthew proved excellent at the egg and spoon race (holding it on with both hands really helped!), and Andrew and Brooke seemed born to be three-legged race partners (being twins having anything to do with it?)! 

Last Day of School

 
Andrew and Brooke's last day of Reception (kindergarten) and Matthew's last day at Rainbow's pre-school.  They seemed to have grown up so much this year!
After our very short summer holiday, Matthew will be joining the older two at Primary school. 

Camping

 
Anthony took the older 3 kids out on their first camp-out (not in our backyard).  They have definitely inherited his Colorado love for camping!   

Silverstone F1

 
A work event gave Anthony a close up look at the world of Formula 1 and Michael Schumacher's car. 

Berry Picking

 

Another repeat event from last summer.  This year we added cherries and plums to our usual strawberries and raspberries, and Matthew made friends with a goat he named Brownie.

Three Foot People Festival

 
The kids loved this festival so much last year that I felt it my motherly duty to take Andrew and Brooke out of school for the last year they could attend.
Face painting (a scorpion, lion and Batman), play-dough cupcakes, enormous sand pit, coloring, crafts, petting zoo, mad-science show, puppet and musical performances.
Another successful year for our little people under 3 Ft!     

Double Pacifier

 
Completely addicted.

Little Golfers

 
The kids love to join Anthony at the driving range.  Andrew is especially showing interest and loves to wear his hat, glove and favorite "woosh" shirt.  His favorite part is playing in the sand. 

Hampstead Heath

 
A fun day at an amazing park in London. 

Matthew's 4th Birthday

 

Matthew's 4th birthday party was a success with movie making, movie trivia, and popcorn goodie bags. Happy Birthday Matthew!

Colchester Zoo