Geno the Artist

Today Geno created his first masterpiece. Picasso would have been proud. Well I suppose technically this would be his second, if you include the drawing he did on Coretta's wood floor. Thank God for washable markers!!


He spent over an hour blending colors, choosing where he would put each color on the page, and rearranging the colors on his paper. Equally important was the positioning of each crayon.

If you look at his drawing space, each color crayon is strategically placed. He had a very concentrated, serious look on his face, but would occasionally look up from his page and smile. He had a real technique going, where he would stroke each color from right to left and then make sure that he would create a few dots with the crayon as well. When I tried to pry him away from the table, he would cry.

There are two activities that really calm him: coloring and music. Throw in some muppets with music and he will sit there fascinated for quite a while. Nick and I bought the whole collection of the Muppet Shows when Coretta was little, and he loves them.

Here are some pictures of Geno hard at work!! Here is a short movie titled Geno the Artist.

Coretta's Birthday

Today is the day Coretta came into this world nine years ago at 5:30 in the morning. Coretta woke up, got ready for school, and put on a new outfit that she received for her birthday. Nick went shopping at Benetton and bought her three outfits. Yes her daddy can pick out clothes and does a fantastic job!

She also brought some German gingerbread chocolate cookies to share with her class. Although she said she didn't want to go to school on her birthday, I know she'll have a good time while there. She loves her family so much, that she wanted to be with us all day. How cute is that!

Coretta's 9th Birthday Party

Today Coretta woke up and was so excited about her birthday party. We are celebrating it early since her birthday falls on a Tuesday and Nick will soon be in Munich, Germany celebrating Octoberfest.

I allowed her to open one present early which was a set of hanging butterfly earrings so she would have something new. She also received her digital camera early for her camping trip. The rest of her gifts were a pair of rollerblades, another set of earrings, a book from her Mom and Dad, a Moebas (not sure on the spelling here) sticker book, a DVD, and three books from Grandma Marilyn, $100.00 (which has been converted to swiss francs) from Grandma and Grandpa Earnest, a Sigg and a wallet from her friend Melanie, and Barbie make up kit from her friend Noor.

At 10:00 am, Nick picked up Coretta's friends Melanie and Noor. They then went to the Tierpark Goldau to look at 900 different European animals, had lunch at Mew York Pizza, and played at the park. I think the highlight was when the girls were able to feed the animals. They were also able to choose one postcard from the gift shop to take home with them. When they returned, we had cake, opened presents, threw water balloons, and had the kids create necklaces.

We plan to take the family to McDonald's for supper and then Melanie and Coretta will spend time watching movies, creating songs for their band, and spending time together.

Coretta is very excited to have someone sleepover. We love you Coretta. Happy 9th birthday!! Thanks to everyone for their gifts and for those of you in Minnesota, California, and New Mexico who couldn't make it, we are thinking of you and will try to skype you all today.

Geno's first playdate

Geno had his first play date at the International Mums and Kids Group this morning from 9:30-11:30 am. They meet every Friday for two hours and Geno made a lot of friends. The whole play group consists of boys which is great for Geno. Nick comments that he is surrounded by women at home and would benefit from some "male bonding."

Geno rode the tricycle, played with the popping ball thing, played cars and trucks fairly well with the other boys. I must admit that I was quite nervous really. Never quite sure how he will react. For the most part he did well, only screeching a couple times out of frustration and accidentally wacking a kid in the head with a block.

We then went to McDonalds for lunch and Geno had a cheeseburger happy meal. He then was able to play on the slide and even get a balloon on a stick.

Daddy showed up with a colleague from work and sat with us as well. As you can tell from the pictures he's lovin' it. I am very proud of my little man.

Here is a Voice Thread on the history and growing up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. I find that Voicethread is a great tool to archive history, photos, loved ones in a way that other medias can't. To me, having your great grandfather, father, mother, aunt tell about their lives would prove to be a very important part of any genealogical archive. I had to create this for class, but I thought I would post it here as well.



Here is a slideshow that I recently did about my family in Switzerland. I chose to show a family member following a place we have traveled because I felt it flowed better than showing all of the family and then the places or vice versa. Enjoy!

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Create a Free Slideshow

Fall is coming to Switzerland

Today Geno and I enjoyed some fresh air outside. It was a beautiful fall like day. We spent some time out on the deck where Geno practiced riding his bike, chasing Charlie, and playing hide and seek with Mom. The weather here has been in the 50's and 60's for the highs.

Geno is in a dire need for a haircut, but we have not ventured out to find an English speaking stylist yet, and partly because Nick hates having to hold him down. Today when he woke up he was sporting the Rod Stewart hairdo and when I tried to wet it down, it still stuck straight up because of those wonderful cowlicks. Nick suggested we buy a Flowbee. I suggest we should just bite the bullet and find a stylist.

We had another proud moment of Geno at the Outlet Store yesterday. Instead of bringing the stroller, I allowed him to roam the aisles. He went straight for the barbie purse and put on a fake pearl necklace. He looked so proud. People around us started to laugh.

The plants on the patio are starting to turn those pretty orange colors, so I took a picture of them as well. 

Coretta's 9th Birthday

My little girl is turning nine on September 30th. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday that I was up in the middle of the night rocking her back to sleep. I remember her first cry, her first word, her first fall, her first disappointment, her first crush. I remember everything as if it was yesterday. I sure hope that we remain this close in the teenage years. The bond we have is very special. It is
such a gift to have her in my life. I am so proud of the person she has become.

My Daughter

She is kind and considerate and always includes others.
She is a leader and uses her leadership to lead in a positive manner
She is bright, charismatic, clever, witty, and funny.
She has a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off her back.
She is happy and full of life and energy.
She is a great sister and is patient with her brother.
She loves me unconditionally.
She is an artist, a scientist, a nature lover.
She is a biker and a pet lover.
She wants to be a scientist, doctor, astronaut, artist, and a writer.
She sets high goals for herself and achieves them.
She makes me proud each and every day.
She makes my life so much richer by just knowing her.

I love you Coretta...with all of my heart!

For Coretta's birthday she has decided to have a sleepover with two of her friends. They plan to visit Goldau Tierpark where you can see and interact with 900 different animals and be taken on a guided tour through their habitat. Afterwards, they plan to have lunch there and play at the playground. Then they will take the train home, we'll have supper and eat cake, watch movies, have snacks, and do some crafts. Coretta is pretty excited.

Family Outing

Today after dropping Coretta off at her friends house for her day trip in Germany, we went into Zug to do a little shopping for Geno since many of his clothes are too small, especially his shoes. We jumped on the bus in Hunenberg, and Geno was all smiles enjoying his lollipop.

Then as we are getting on the train into Zug, he started with that insistent screech that Nick and I have grown so fond of. He kept screeching, and screeching, and screeching. Once there we looked at a few stores and bought Geno somes clothes and a new pair of vans (since his feet are so wide these work very well).

We then walked through the Nevadst Passage with Geno again insisting on his incessant screeching while onlookers look at me as if to say "Can that women get control of her child?" or even better look as if to say "What is wrong with him?"

We then get some curry Thai (which unbelievably is one of Geno's favorites) and find a seat outside. Geno then pours Coke all the way down the front of his shirt because he insists on holding the bottle himself.

Then I had some woman approach me speaking in German working at a booth that was decorated with several balloons. I very graciously explain that I cannot speak German, so she conveniently speaks to me in English (I find that a lot here). I envy their ability here to weave in and out of three languages with ease. She then reads to me several philosophical quotes, gives Geno a balloon and hands me one to let go into the sky to touch another person. I believe my quotation was "Humor is like the wind, it always comes back at you." Hey Tom, being the philosopher you are, what does this mean?

After this, another well meaning German woman comes up and offers my son a blue balloon dog she created and he naturally tries to eat it. Another family looks in horror as he pops it with his teeth. As the saying goes, it is clear that my son is Ford tough.

We then decide that we should get home, Nick and I both trying to recover from illness, and Geno getting that look in his eye like a volcano ready to erupt in full throttle tantrum at any minute. He did not disappoint. I prayed that the train would go faster and faster. It was seriously the longest ten minutes ever.

Next, we get on to the bus to Hunenberg and at this point Geno is arching his back, crying at the top of his lungs, pulling my hair out in clumps and Nick standing 100 yards away so that onlookers will not associate US with him. I think he forgot that he is pushing a stroller with no kid in it. Guilty to any passersby that he IS with us.

I then motion to Nick that I am getting off the bus and walking home. Baffled by Nick's defiance, he doesn't follow until he sees Geno sitting on the floor, crying, and refusing to get up. I later found out that the only reason he did get off was because he didn't have the house key. How loving. We then walk home from Cham and vow that we are not ready for this kind of trip quite yet.

Europa Park

Tomorrow morning, we are driving Coretta to her friend Melanie's house for a full day at Europa Park in Germany. Coretta will leave around 7:30 am and will get back around 9:30 or 1o:oo pm. Although she was not happy with me, I made her go to bed early since she just got back from Leysin and needs to catch up on her rest.

Europark is what Disneyland or Disneyworld is to us in the United States. They have an Italian, Russian, French, Spain, Portugese, Scandinavian featured sections to the amusement park. They have rollercoasters, tilt a whirls, swing chairs, and anything you can think of. Not only that, but Coretta will be able to visit another country--Germany. She must bring her passport and her B permit since they will be crossing into another country. The best part is that Germany is only an hour and a half away!

Geno is 20 months old

He can stack a tower of seven, look confidently over at his Mom and Dad and then crash them to the ground.
He can open and close any door in the house with ease.
He can eat the bar soap and shampoo and carry Coretta's purse around the house confidently jumping on his train as if he is going to work.
He can try to break the mirrored jewelry box.
He can comb his hair.
He can flirt with girls just as good as anyone.


He can put his hands in the toilet water, decide to climb in the tub or his toy box and get stuck, crying for help.
He can pull the toilet paper off the roll while carrying the phone with him calling random people (what a multi-tasker).
He can and will try to ride Charlie like a horse.
He can kiss everything and anything he is NOT supposed to be touching.
He can crawl through the bottom of the book shelf.
He can climb into the computer chair and try to open files.
He can sit for a very short while watch Sesame Street, Dora, or The Muppet Show (he carries the Muppet show DVD case with him wherever he goes).
He can listen to any kind of music and dance to it.
He can run and run and run until he falls down.
He can and will eat dog food, mix the water and dog food, open and close the fridge taking things out (not always putting them back in), and share his food with Charlie.
He can give you kisses when he knows he is in trouble.
He can say Mow which can mean multiple things such as Mom, milk, or more.
He can squeal, scream, and grunt for any number of purposes at very inconvenient times.
He can turn on and off the computer at will (which includes the lights as well).
He can give the best hugs in the whole entire world.
He can eat ice cream sandwiches in three bites.
He can crawl up the slide and down the slide.
He can show his love of life with the the best belly laugh.
He can brighten my day just by his smile.

Coretta's trip from Leysin told through the voice of her mother

Coretta arrived in Baar, Switzerland at approximately 6:00 pm yesterday on the double decker coach bus.

As all the parents rallied around the two coach buses that held approximately eighty tired and weary third graders, Coretta's brother Geno was in a full throttle tantrum (I am assuming so excited to see his sister after four days, he could hardly contain himself) which meant I would have limited time to find her amongst the sea of faces before it got real ugly.

Once off the bus my tired traveler hopped into the car and off we sped to Hunenberg, Switzerland to look at all of her pictures and hear about her travels.

What I gleaned from this precocious third grader goes something like this. When they arrived in Leysin, they ate lunch and were able to create their own sandwiches and choose from an array of snacks.

They then checked into their dormitory style rooms that had two bunk beds that housed four girls comfortably. They then went on a seven hour hike in the wilderness with their camp counselor Snowflake. Yes I said Snowflake. Apparently they do not give out their real names. Not quite sure why, but it seemed to work for the third graders they were in charge of for the day.

She also learned that some plants and flowers can be dangerous, and if touched could cause you harm, especially if eaten.

At night they usually stayed up until 9 pm eating smores, singing camp songs, and creating skits in groups of four for the counselors, other kids, and their teachers in hopes to show off their creative and talented side.

The next day, they awoke to the sound of their teachers shouting, "Rise and shine girls!!" and then having these same teachers abruptly turn the bright florescent lights on without warning. Coretta was not a fan of this wake up call, but being a teacher myself, I am sure the teachers gleaned a little guilty pleasure out of this.

They then ate and took off to do a little rock climbing, which is now one of Coretta's new interests. They had to wear protective yellow helmets and were hoisted on ropes to climb the mountain. Although Coretta was worried about this part of the trip, she conquered that fear just like her mother conquered her fear of heights. Remember the old, rickety rope bridge over the lake that I walked on camping two years ago? Yeah, how could my family forget. The things you will do for your kids. Needless to say, my daughter is becoming a little thrill seeker just like her Dad.

Coretta took many pictures of her friends, the mountains, flowers, and rocks. She is really becoming the little photographer. She even created some videos with her classmates as well. All of the pictures in this entry are Coretta originals and were taken with her new digital camera. As Coretta would say, they are all rights reserved.

Although she came home tired and dirty, I believe she had a great time and really had the time to get to know her classmates. It is great to have her back home once again. We missed her!

My Suisse doctor

Today I had an appointment with my Suisse doctor Mr. Godly or Frau Reto Godly to be more formal. I jumped in my car and plugged the address in the navigation system. When I got to my destination, I am in the middle of the street with no parking in sight. I then decide to park at the Metalli and then walk in the general area in hopes that I will find it.

Once in the general vicinity I had a hard time finding it. The street numbers are not marked so well and tend to be set off from the other buildings. I did, however find it with 15 minutes to spare. I hate being late so no matter what I am always early. I went into the elevator to the sixth floor, got out and opened the door to the office. Once in, I was asked to fill out information about myself and wait in the lobby. A few minutes later I hear, "Frau Bieter." I got up and proceeded into the doctor's office. He asked me what I came in for today which I stated that I needed some prescriptions refilled from the United States. He looked at my prescriptions, grabbed a couple big drug books, and filled out the information. You see, the same prescription you have in the United States, may not be the same in Switzerland. Once we talked about this, and got the prescriptions, he handed me two of them right away. He says that here in Switzerland we charge the health insurance companies. He also stated that if I had a Swiss health card all prescriptions would be free. Universal healthcare I thought to myself. What a dream. No wonder everyone is so happy.

I then walked out of the doctor's office to refill my other two prescriptions at the Apothke (pharmacy) down the street. I handed them the medications I needed and within seconds, literally, she had my medications there for me to purchase. What? No waiting, coming back later? Amazing. The price for the prescriptions was 143 CHF which I then save the receipt and get reinbursed for it from the company. Not bad. Not bad until I realize that I do not have enough money. I told them I would go and get money and be right back. I went to the cash machine, put in my pin number. Next thing I know they have taken my card and will not give it back because I put in the wrong pin. Since I have had this sinus cold, I have been in a fog. I then went home, and plan to get the prescriptions tomorrow and will call the bank to send me a new card.

The tooth fairy comes to Switzerland

Carefully placed under a pillow of white
Lay one little tooth as she turned out the light;
Her eyes closed in slumber, a smile on her face,
Covered up to her chin with a quilt momma made.

Quietly hovering above her sweet head, A room full of fairies looked down on her bed,
Little gold bags were carried by some,
While others had wands that glowed like the sun. Each one had a job to fulfill in the night,
Some brought gold coins and others brought light;
Together they worked as they flitted about,
Replacing the tooth with some coins to be found.

Their job was complete as she let out a sigh,
They floated to the ceiling way up high,
Out of the window and into the night,
The tooth fairies flew leaving behind such delight.

Coretta was having a lot of trouble eating her corn on the cob last night because one of her eye teeth was hanging there ready top fall out. Nick and I told her that she should try to get it out before she goes into the mountains for the next four days. Coretta came back a few minutes later with the tooth in hand.

She decided that she would write the tooth fairy a letter. She was a little concerned that the tooth fairy may not be able to find her all the way in Switzerland. That night she tucked her letter and her tooth safely underneath her pillow and went to sleep.

In the morning, her letter was still there, but she had left Coretta 10 francs. Coretta came to the conclusion that the tooth fairy could not read her letter since it wasn't in German!!

Coretta leaves for Leysin

This morning, the monkey alarm clock awoke my darling daughter up at 6:25 am and we were out the door at 7:30 am making our way to the school.  She was going to leave around half past eight in the morning.  

When we got there, you could see lots of children with their parents and suitcases dropping them off for their first excursion in the wilderness and mountains without their parents.  Coretta and Noor took a picture together at the front of the school and then we walked up to the classroom where I would then have to leave Coretta in Mrs. Wunderlin's hands for the next four days and four nights.  It stated on the board that the children should leave their bags downstairs, go to the bathroom, and then say goodbye to their parents.  Some parents tended to linger a little bit longer.  Not sure who this was harder on, the kids or the parents.  While Coretta is there, she will receive a letter from both her parents which should give her some comfort when she is feeling homesick.

She seems to be very excited about this experience and will give her a chance to better know her classmates as they go hiking, swimming, rock climbing, make smores, sing songs, explore nature, and learn from one another.  I am very happy that she has the opportunity.  The only place I went for school outside of Detroit Lakes, MN was Fargo, North Dakota to the Shrine Circus.  This definitely tops anything her parents were able to do.  I wonder where they will go next?

Rainy Day in Switzerland

On Saturday, Coretta and I went out for a mother/daughter date to have lunch while Nick, Geno and Charlie stayed back.  Coretta and I decided to go to Zugerland and eat at the Migros Restaraunt.  It is comparable to the Old Country Buffet in the United States, except that you pay for each item you choose instead of paying one flat rate.  Coretta loved the strawberry layered cake the best.  In Coretta's words, "It is to die for!"  

Even though it was a cold, rainy day,  Nick decided to take Geno and Charlie for a walk through the woods.  That proved to be a struggle because Geno is not too fond of his frog rain jacket and boots.  He looked at me as if to say, "Really Mom, a frog suit.  I look ridiculous!"