Bieter's on Location--Living the Swiss Life

Coretta Singing To Make You Feel My Love by Aedele

2011-02-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Coretta Singing Rolling in the Deep by Aedele

2011-02-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

Coretta as Zoey Redbird

2011-02-04T00:41:00.001-08:00

At Coretta's school today, students were to come to school dressed at their favorite book character. Coretta came dressed as Zoey Redbird, from the book Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast. This book is part of a new vampire series. The main character, Zoey Redbird, must move to the House of Night, which is a private boarding school where she will spend four years going through bizarre and unnameable physical changes that will eventually transform her into a vampire.

Coretta and Shen Shang Wu

2011-02-04T00:33:00.000-08:00

Coretta is in her second year of martial arts. It is a combination of Judo and Karate called Shen Shang Wu. She has really enjoyed these classes. They should be competing soon against other students throughout Switzerland.

Here is a couple of photos in her actual Shen Shang Wu uniform.

She has actually been able to use these skills recently where a gang of 8 boys were at the train station. One came towards her yelling profanities at her and went to punch her. Because of the skills she has learned, she was able to protect herself and bring the assailant down to her knees and then jump on the train home. When Coretta did come home, instead of her being scared and shaken up, she was liberated and proud of her ability to protect herself.

Three Kings Day

2011-01-07T04:34:00.001-08:00

Geno's Thoughts on Life

2011-01-05T15:16:00.001-08:00

Another interview of Geno while I was cooking. The highlight was when I asked him if he had anything to say. He replied, "Yes, please, and five." He has classified people into two categories as well. If you are a man you are cool and a super hero. If you are a woman, you are a princess, cute, and wonderful.

Conversations with Geno

2011-01-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

The clip above is an interview I did with Geno tonight while cooking supper. This is his take on his family.

13th Wedding Anniversary

2011-01-05T08:07:00.001-08:00

Nick and I have now been officially married for 13 years and together 16. I am so lucky to have him in my life. Every year I only grow to love him more and more. He bought me the beautiful Swarvoski necklace and earring set in the picture above and took me for a romantic dinner at the Tisch Bar and Restaurant. He hoped to place the present under the Christmas tree and tell me to see if Santa left me anything, but ironically enough, had taken the tree down that day.

I, however, bought him running gear, power shakes, recovery drinks, and inserts for his running shoes. Amazingly enough, he said that was the best gift he has gotten from me in years.

Heres to growing older, wiser, more wrinkled, and senile together. Being with you is still and will always be the best decision I have ever made. I love you.

Sledding in Hunenberg

2010-12-29T01:53:00.001-08:00

Today at 9 am this morning, I decided to bundle Geno, Coretta, and Charlie up to go sledding in the neighborhood. The above collage is of us spending time together in the neighborhood sledding.

The Vatican, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain

2010-12-27T00:31:00.000-08:00

The Vatican experience was really amazing. The idea that it is it's own country with 900 inhabitants is interesting, with those inhabitants being just the cardinals and the Pope intrigued me. Why always 900 inhabitants you may ask? Because the Cardinals can't marry and so when one dies, that one is replaced. This is why the population never increases. One thing that really fascinated me, was all of the private collections of the Popes. One Pope collected marble figurines of animals, another huge marble Roman statues, while another collecting maps around the world as big as the size of the wall. To me, their wealth seemed endless.

One room was dedicated to intricate tapestries of religious themes. These specific tapestries were all hung in a temperature controlled room.

Yet another room was titled the Immaculate Conception. Many people believe that the Immaculate Conception stands for the point in time when the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus, but in reality it is her birthday. In this room there is a shrine to the Virgin Mary. There are murals painted that have her depicted in the middle of the painting with Jesus and God on each side of her. Typically, the Virgin Mary is depicted to the side of Christ. In this room, every Pope has written about the Immaculate Conception in their own native tongue.

Obviously, the Sistine Chapel was amazing. I found the mural of the Last Supper beautiful as well as the Story of the Bible painted on the panels. Symbolism in medieval art is prominent, that you could stare at one for a long period of time just trying to decipher all of the symbols and their meanings. The two main creators that were hired by the Pop himself were Michelangelo and Raphael. Michelangelo, being known for his sculptures and Raphael being known for his painting style and technique.

We also toured three basilicas that were equally important. The first being the Basilica of Saint Peter. In many of these basilicas lies the tombs of Popes and prominent male and female people who fought for and defended Catholicism. It was a pagan country until the Emperor Constantine's vision of the cross while in battle. Rumor has it, that this was when he decided to convert to Catholicism.

Coretta said that visiting the vatican was her favorite memory. She enjoys history and especially art. Our tour guide was always amazed with how attentive she was for her age. This will definitely be a memory she will remember always.

Overall, it is a must see stop if you are traveling in Rome. It is good from a religious standpoint as well as a good look into religious philosophy and history as a study.

Christmas in Rome

2010-12-26T23:29:00.001-08:00

While in Rome, we decided to tour the Colloseum. This was a three hour tour that consisted of the tour of the Colloseum, Palentine Hill, and the Trajan Markets. The Colloseum is a sight to behold. It looks so much bigger in person. While in there, we could see the four levels of seating that could house 70,000 inhabitants. These are given out by class status. For the real wealthy, they have the first level where the poor have the fourth level and so on. Although they are seated by class, the one thing that brings these groups together was the shared experience of watching the Gladiators fight each other as well as imported animals from Asia and Africa.

These animals ranged from crocodiles, bears, panthers, and tigers. The set was elaborately put together to create a real natural environment which included bushes, trees, and man-made ponds. The Gladiators themselves were slaves. They worked hard to train for these matches at the Colloseum, partly because if they won and didn't die, they were given their freedom.

Freedom and a substantial amount of money really must have drove their determination. The animals were not fed for the week before the fight to make them more predatory. The animals would then appear out of nowhere from the trapdoors below. They have nets that protect the spectators,but if this doesn't seem to hold, they have Roman soldiers stationed throughout that are ready to shoot the animal. Although this was considered a sport and form of entertainment, both the Gladiator and the animal were used and mistreated. Human Rights Activists and Animal Rights Activists would be in an uproar if this happened today.

Another interesting fact was the explanation of the toilets. The toilets were nothing but cement squares with another square size area carved out of it. The idea of every person relieving themselves essentially into the walking areas seems unsanitary and gross.

Geno seemed to enjoy this tour a lot and was able to keep up throughout the three hour tour with no problems at all. Our group of ten people in the tour really got to know each other....well they all really got to know Geno. Geno always seems shy at first, but when he warms up, his personality shines. In fact one lady asked if she could take his picture. Clearly he was absorbing all of this information, because afterwards he would not stop talking about how they fight monsters at the Colloseum.

We then spent limited time shopping and eating gelato and Roman cuisine. The waiters always seemed to ask Geno if he wanted some whiskey, and Geno would smile and say, "Just apple juice." I believe this is a memory he will remember always.

Grandma Marilyn's Gifts Arrive

2010-12-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Geno was so excited to see all of the super hero gear that Grandma Marilyn sent for him. As he would say, "They are so cool. Awesome!" Thank you Grandma! We love you!

Sledding in Zugerberg Today

2010-12-19T11:03:00.001-08:00

Today we decided to head up to Zugerberg, located in Zug, for some sledding. We arrived around 11:00 am and parked the car, and proceeded to make it to the train that takes you to the top of the mountain. This train is reclined, somewhat like a cogwheel train.

Once to the top, Nick and Geno jumped on their wooden sled, while Coretta tried to persuade me to go down the mountain with her. I told her that I would promise to do it the next time, which would give me some time, since it takes at least 20 minutes to get down the mountain. While they did that, I decided to hike in the mountains and take some pictures.

I then proceeded to meet them where they would be, and get on the wooden sled and go down the mountain. The older I get, the less of a risk-taker I become, so this was hard for me. What if I lose control of the sled? What if I fall over the cliff? What if someone bumps into me? How bad will I get hurt? are all questions coming to my mind at this moment.

Once down the hill, I felt a liberating feeling come over me. The smooth gliding of the sled on the snow, the scenery, the quiet. Quickly I experienced what it was like to go fast, out of control, and fend for myself which means I needed to learn quick how to move the sled right, left, and stop. They have several bumps strategically placed on the course with patches of ice around the corners of the road. It's like nascar on ice.

We made our way back to the cogwheel train, that brings us back to the mountain to do it all over again. This time Geno and Nick went down together. Geno, who used to be afraid of sledding last year, has become quite the adventurer. He and Nick were going down the hill, and he is screaming, "Faster! Faster!" At one point, they actually hit the boards of the side of the cliff, and Geno loving every minute of it. Even when he almost fell off he was laughing and having a good time.

Coretta then decided to stay later with Sophia, and Evelina while Nick, Geno, and I went home. What a wonderful experience that has taught me that losing some control can be a good thing.

Geno's 4th Birthday!

2010-12-18T10:44:00.001-08:00

Geno's 4th Birthday is on December 22nd, but since we will be on a plane to Rome, we decided to celebrate it a few days early. The day was filled with sledding, eating lasagna and cake, and playing with his presents. He even helped Mommy make his cake. He received a Monster Truck remote control vehicle, a mix and match game, Mr. Potato Head from Toy Story 3, Movie Night Playdough Set, and 6 puzzle books from Coretta. After a bath, he was able to slip into some new flannel pajamas before crawling into his bed. I think Geno enjoyed his day very much. Above is a slide show of pictures taken of the day, and below is actual video of Geno opening his presents. Enjoy!

Coretta's Fifth Grade Christmas Luncheon

2010-12-18T00:15:00.001-08:00

The parents and teachers of the fifth grade, 100 students in total, had a Christmas luncheon organized by parent volunteers. The tables were set up with red tablecloths and festive decor, and we served all students a buffet that included hotdogs, chicken strips, salad, Swedish meatballs, chocolate pancakes, pasta, sushi, as well as an array of desserts. The students really enjoyed it and I was happy to help.

Crystal--A Year in Status

2010-12-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

Facebook has come out with an application which will pull random statuses from the past year and putting them together, as a year in the life of that person. Below is what mine looked like. Cheers!

Coretta's First Concert in the Campus Choir for the Opening Ceremonies of the Baarburg Building

2010-12-12T14:29:00.001-08:00

At the International School of Zug, they had a wonderful evening that celebrated the new opening of the middle school this year. Students played flutes and violins as guests came in and drank wine and champagne. they then walked downstairs to a beautifully set table of appetizers.

When the concert started, it was filled with drama, choir, and ballet performances by students in the school. It was a great night that featured a lot of talented students.

Coretta Singing Santa Lucia in Swedish

2010-12-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

Coretta's voice has really developed this year with some training in the campus choir. It amazes me how beautifully she can sing and her confidence has bloomed. Her choir teacher, Mr. Smith, asked Coretta to sing two solos at one of their private performances for several professional musicians in Switzerland. She is currently the head of the soprano group which has 15 students. the campus choir has a total of 100 students.

Coretta's Mini Solos in Choir Concert Tonight

2010-12-10T11:12:00.001-08:00

Trimming the Christmas Tree

2010-12-09T12:49:00.001-08:00

This November, the kids and I decided to trim our tree. I had bought some very pretty hand painted bulbs and a few other ornaments to add to our tree. This year I decided to go with a color scheme: red, white, and gold. Geno never really seemed to grasp the concept, but broke a couple ornaments along the way. Once the tree was trimmed, I took some pictures of the kids, including Charlie. We then ended the evening by sipping hot chocolates and watching the movie Elf. Perfect way to end the night.

Christmas Market in Baar Switzerland

2010-12-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

Geno, Nick, and I decided to drive into the village of Baar for their Christmas Market this year. Geno was upset because he thought he was going to see Santa. He was easily assuaged by bratwarts, petting zoos, and the playground in no time. Nick drank gluwein which is a hot wine spiced and spiked with rum or kirsch. I, on the other hand, enjoyed looking at the stalls at this market looking at all of the knitted goods, jewelery, candles, pottery, wooden toys, and ornaments. Always great people watching.

Geno Finally Has a Big Boy Bed

2010-12-09T12:45:00.001-08:00

Geno's big bed finally came today. I think I may have been more excited than Geno, who already hates bedtime and anything associated with it. I guess in a way it symbolizes another milestone of my baby boy getting bigger. I decided to go into Steinhausen to see if I could find any reasonable bedding to go with his new bed. Every store I went in wanted roughly 75 CHF for a duvet and pillow. Finally, I lucked out when I stopped at Aldi. I found a blue flannel duvet with space aliens and dogs on it that matched his room, and it only cost 19.99. I also found a matching rug for 30 CHF. I couldn't wait to get it on his bed. I found what we rarely find: A Switzerland deal.

Once home, I de-cluttered some of the things in his room, re-evaluating the amount of toys were of current interest or not, and discarding the latter. Once the duvet and pillow were on the bed and the rugs laid in place, his room was coming together. I now only need to purchase some curtains and some wall decorations, and it will be done.

Tonight was his first night in his big bed and he slept soundly.

Christmas Market in Colmar France

2010-12-09T12:43:00.001-08:00

A few of my friends and I decided to travel to Colmar France for the day to take in the Christmas markets and to get into the Christmas spirit. They have several stalls set up where artisans sell their handiworks. To me, this is one of the highlights of the Christmas season. They have Christmas ornaments, toys, sweaters, pyramids, and so many other things.

Christmas Market in Konstanz Germany

2010-12-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

This by far has to be one of the best Christmas markets I have ever been to. They are set up all around the train station as well as several more near the lake. Here I bought my first German pyramid. When you light the candles, the manger scene moves on the bottom. I also bought a wooden smoker of Santa which the Germans are also known for. You stick a incense cone into it and the smoke blows through Santa's mouth. Very clever.

Coretta's Campus Choir Concert

2010-12-08T02:32:00.000-08:00

Coretta auditioned for the Campus Choir this year, and made it. They travel throughout Switzerland, and their first performance was for the opening of the Baarburg building at the International School of Zug and Lucerne. Below are two videos of the 100 person choir singing for the concert.

Decorating Christmas Cookies 2010

2010-12-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

Last night, the kids decorated their Christmas sugar cookies. Geno likes to refer to this activity as "painting cookies." Although he enjoys the painting part, he will not eat a sugar cookie to save his life. Coretta on the other hand, can't get enough of them. Here is a slideshow of their creations and talent.

November in Cham Switzerland

2010-11-13T08:52:00.001-08:00

November in Switzerland has been unseasonably warm. The weather on this particular day was 60 degrees and sunny, and Geno was running around in just a tshirt. It is amazing how mild the winters are here compared to Minnesota. Geno had a great time feeding the ducks and swans and playing with his friend Cameron. Here is a slideshow from the day.

International School of Zug and Lucern's Annual Trunk and Treat

2010-11-06T15:20:00.001-07:00

Trunk or treat is an annual celebration at the International School of Zug. Since Halloween is not really celebrated in Switzerland, the school does a nice job of creating a fun and safe atmosphere for kids to play and go trick or treating. Parents volunteer to give up their time to decorate their trunks up for Halloween and pass out candy. Many people(including adults) dress up for this event which adds to it's appeal.

Geno wasn't quite sure what we were doing when we showed up and he was wearing his Spider Man costume. I gave him his Halloween bag and told him to say "trick or treat" to each car and that they would then give him candy. At first, he just wanted to hold the candy in his hand, in awe that he was getting free candy. He soon warmed up to the idea and was so excited to get a full bag of treats.

International School of Zug and Lucern's 5th Grade Halloween Party

2010-11-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

Over Halloween, I had the privilege of volunteering in Coretta's classroom which consisted of facilitating different games for 100 students. Each group of fifth graders would cycle through each fifth grade classroom for twenty minute slots.

I really enjoyed myself getting to meet so many of the wonderful fifth graders. They had activities such as Pin the Mouth on the Pumpkin, Eyeball Race Relays, Mummy Wrapping Contests, and Haunted Story Time.

Other volunteers facilitated arts and crafts such as creating your own bat and popcorn hands. Here is a slide show from Coretta's classroom throughout the day.

Coretta as Kesha

2010-11-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Coretta was invited to a Hollywood themed sleep over and she was told to dress like Kesha. this is what she came up with. Below is a short slideshow of her outfit.

Geno and Mommy's Trip to Jukerfarmart

2010-10-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

Geno and I decided to drive about an hour away to take a look at the Jucker Farm outside of Zurich. We have been told that they sell many pumpkins, gourds, squashes, and have a theme where they create statues out of pumpkins for all to see. This years theme was dinosaurs. Throughout the farm, you could see very intricate designs of dinosaurs made out of all sizes of pumpkins and they even had a pumpkin throne you could sit on.

Geno specifically liked the croissants and apple cider as well as playing in the hay maze created. Above is a slideshow of pictures from our day at the farm where I brought home pumpkins and pumpkin beer.

Family Trip to Bescanon France

2010-10-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

Besacon France was a great trip. We spent time shopping as well as touring the Citadel where we saw several museums such as the most visited one, The French Resistance Museum. It is here where we saw actual Nazi regime china, original swastikas and stars of david as well as ration cards and several other memorabillia. To date, this was the best exhibit I have seen on the Holocaust and if you have the chance to see it, it is worth the stop.

Come in Star Commander!

2010-10-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Geno latest fixation is on Toy Story movies. He loves all of the characters and can recite the lines word for word. His favorite character is Buzz Light Year who is a space ranger whose catchphrase is "to infinity and beyond." Buzz Light Year is given to a young kid as a present, and the other toys are worried that they will be replaced if the toy is more special. This makes the cowboy toy named Woody nervous and tries to make Buzz Light go away. The other side note is that all of the toys realize they are toys, except for Buzz Light Year who really thinks he is a space ranger.

Geno will walk around the house pretending that he, too, is a superhero like Buzz Light Year. Today I bought him some pajamas with Buzz Light Year and he couldn't wait to get them on. When we were at the store last week, he saw the life size action figure of Buzz Light Year and this has become a great reward to dangle in front of him to be good until his birthday.

School is going well for him at Children's World which is a montessori based preschool in a bilingual environment. He is well liked and has several friends. His teacher has told me that he understands everything said to him in German and it will be just a matter of time until he speaks German as well.

He is still in speech therapy, but the focus has shifted away from speech and more on his fine motor skills. He still has some difficulty in cutting and holding a pencil, but in time that will come around too.

Overall, he is just a well rounded, secure, physical three and a half year old boy.

Coretta's New Haircut

2010-10-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Since Coretta has had the last week off from school, we decided to have a Mom/Daughter Day in Zug. That would include starting our morning at Starbucks, getting her hair done, shopping, and having lunch. Coretta bought a Snoopy t-shirt, a winter hat, and some leather boots. I love being able to have this time alone with my special girl. It can be hard when the weeks get busier and busier, but such a priority. By next year when she is in middle school, I will have to pencil in time to spend with her. I cherish this time more than she realizes. I love you Coretta.

Family Trip to Annecy France

2010-10-18T00:14:00.001-07:00

Last week, the family and I went to Annecy France for the weekend. Annecy is supposed to be the "Venice" of France and it did bnot disappoint. It had the same quaintness and charm with the canals and bridges connecting the city together. The first day, was quite rainy, and in genuine Bieter style, no one brough an umbrella. We must have walked around the city for a good five hours and were soak and wet. A little rain wasn't going to get us down or dampen our mood. We spent time down by the lake, shopping, and taking in the architecture and beauty.

That night, we ate at the Novotel Cafe which was located in our hotel and we were pleasantly surprised. Coretta had the pesto penne that was delicious, Geno had his favorite German sausages, and Nick and I had the hamburger served with roasted tomatoes and cheese placed in the middle of what resembled the texture and appearance of a potato pancake. The thai curry chicken soup was good and the kids loved the dessert. While we waited for our food, Geno was able to go out in the lobby and play XBOX 360 with some friends he made at the hotel.The best thing about playing this video game was that the game they were featuring was from Toy Story 3 and featured Geno's new idol, Buzz Light Year.

The next day, we had breakfast in the cafe, and headed back into the old cobblestoned streets of the old town looking for the Chateau we read about. We found the chateau, but sadly they didn't open until 2 pm, so we opted to walk around some more and take pictures.

Although this wasn't the typical type of vacation we take, it was thoroughly enjoyable by all and must needed escape from reality. Below are some photos from our trip.

Coretta's Presentation on Peace and Conflict

2010-10-08T06:58:00.001-07:00

Coretta had her fifth grade dinner presentation at school, and we all attended this event. It was called a "dinner party" but they didn't actually serve food. Thank goodness Coretta informed me of this ahead of time, because many families thought that food was going to be served and didn't eat.

Once there, the teachers explained how the fifth graders unit of inquiry this past month was on peace and conflict. There assignment was to find a world leader that falls into that category and write information about them. Thy then created a placemat that highlighted symbols that would represent that leader. It was then the parents job to guess which world leader they had picked. This was an interesting assignment where we saw projects on Theodore Roosevelt, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, and Martin Luther King just to name a few.

Coretta chose to do hers on Martin Luther King. Recently Coretta also had school conferences and her teacher Ms. Graham stated that she is a natural leader. She stated that Coretta works hard in school and is very mature for her age. Coretta is currently the student council representative, in martial arts, campus choir, piano, and guitar. Amazingly enough, she still has time to hang out with friends and doesn't seem overwhelmed.

Keep up the good work Coretta! We are so proud of you!

Geno and Cameron's Play Date

2010-10-08T02:20:00.001-07:00

Geno had an early play date with Cameron this morning because Cameron's Mom was going to Paris. Cameron arrived at 6:30 am and they have been going strong ever since. They have been riding bike, playing with cars, play-dough, and watching movies.

Coretta Makes the Campus Choir

2010-10-07T02:35:00.000-07:00

Coretta is already in both piano and guitar, but has always enjoyed singing. This year she decided to audition for the International School of Zug Campus Choir. This is the top choir at the school and they travel all over Switzerland singing and performing. According to the music director, they auditioned well over 100 students and could only choose ten. I am pleased to report that Coretta has made the campus choir and we are so very proud of her.

It somewhat reminds me of the television show Glee because they sing and dance. The first piece they are working on is Kahuna Matata by the Lion King. She has a small solo part in the beginning of this song and she sings as a soprano. They have rehearsals every Tuesday for two hours after school for the rest of the year. I can't wait to go to her first performance.

Nick turns 37 Years Old

2010-10-07T02:25:00.002-07:00

Nick turned 37 years old yesterday, and although he didn't want anything including acknowledgement of the day, he surprised himself in how much fun he actually had. The day before his birthday we had a family celebration, since he had class that night. I made spicy thai food and his favorite, carrot cake.

He strictly stated to me that there was a no present rule, but I can never hold to that rule. Nick opened up his presents which were simple and funny. Coretta bought him a big bag of snickers because he tends to have one a day and has become a running joke at our house. Geno made him a card and a photo frame of him in his costume with the magazine title "Super Dad." Mom then made another magazine cover with Charlie and Coretta which he could hang in his office.

The actual day of his birthday, his good friend Bob took him out for lunch and his other close friends Christian and Dave took him for beer and hamburgers at the pub. We followed this up with watching his favorite movie of all time, American Beauty.

Days like these make turning a year older a little easier. We love you Nick!

Geno and Mommy's Trip to the Open Air Museum in Ballenberg

2010-10-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Geno, Cameron, Brittany, and I decided to have a mountain adventure yesterday and travelled to the Ballenberg Open Air Museum in Hofstetten Switzerland. We left around 10 am and drove approximately on hour through beautiful countryside and mountains. Once there, we paid for our tickets and then decided to take the carriage ride down the path. The boys really enjoyed this a lot.

Once off the carriage, we walked around the grounds stopping to check out the old architecture, animals, pottery, and had the best alpine macaroni I have ever had. The kids enjoyed playing at the park on the grounds as well as seeing goats, donkeys, chickens, bunnies, cows, pigs, and roosters. Geno even jumped in the pig barn and started petting the pigs.

The Open Air Museum has several things for people to see including witnessing what life was like in 1500s to present day. You are able to watch them make handcrafts such as baking, Bobbin-lace making, chip-box making, chocolate production, embroidery, making cheese and many more.

It was a great day surrounded by mountains, friends, and beautiful scenery. Well worth the trip. Here's the link to the site: Ballenberg Museum

Coretta's Hollywood Birthday Sleepover

2010-10-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Coretta had her birthday party with six of her friends. It was a themed party where the guests were asked to dress like their favorite pop star, book character, or fairy tale. Her friends all came dressed in costume and it was quite fun. We had girls dressed up as a film director, Hannah Montanna, Katy Worhal from a book series, Princess Diana, Brittney Spears, and Alice in Alice in Wonderland.

When the guests all arrived, I had them write a persuasive speech telling everyone who they were dressed as and why they should be voted as the best costume. The girls jumped right into their characters and were very creative. Coretta's friend Daisy one the trophy and they seemed to think that was "cool."

We then played Pin the Lips on Miley Cyrus which was also fun. No one was able to place the lips in the right place and were spun 11 times (the age of Coretta). When Geno had his turn, he peeked through the blindfold and put his lips right on her boob. Doesn't surprise me. Thats my son. For better or for worse he seems to have a boob fetish. My question is whether he will grow out of it anytime soon or at all for that matter.

Each guest, including Coretta, and Geno took their turn walking the red carpet and posing for the paparazzi which was fun as well. From these photos I created a magazine covver with their photo from the computer and each girl received a white board/memo board with a photo of them all together at the party.

We then played musical chairs and freeze dance where the winners were given a choice in prizes ranging from books, pop star posters, and candy.

The girls ate pizza and tortellini and had chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert. After dinner they decided to go out side. I made the mistake of saying Have fun "playing outside." Coretta quickly stated that "Mom we don't play, we hang out." Welcome to the start of the never ending teenage years. I can't believe she will be in middle school next year.

They then put their pajamas on and watched the 2004 movie called Sleepover and Nick made popcorn for them to share. The girls tried to stay up as late as they could, but unfortunately the first couple girls started to fall asleep at 10:30 pm with the rest falling asleep at 1:00 am.

Coretta said this was the best birthday yet and surprisingly enough Nick and I had a lot of fun too.

Geno and Mommy's Hike In Engelberg Switzerland

2010-10-04T08:47:00.001-07:00

Geno has this week off of school for holiday, so we decided to drive about an hour and a half away and go hiking in Engelberg Titisee. We arrived around noon, took the funicular up, then a cable car, and decided to start with lunch. A nice and big helping of alpine macaroni. For those of you who are not familiar with this Alpine treat, it consists of penne style pasta, cubed potatoes, bacon and cheese served with a side of applesauce.

Once we finished our lunch, Geno and I walked around the Trube See. The funicular to the top of Titisee was closed due to the high winds, so we explored Trube See and were not dissapointed. Geno and I hiked for two hours taking in the scenery and landscape of beautiful mountains, vegetation, and lake.

The winds were the only complaint. From Geno, that is. At first he found it quite funny how the wind would almost knock him over, but close to the end of the hike he was crying and saying "I want Gabriel" who is one of Coretta's friends and his catch phrase for any time he needs comfort.

Geno and I had fun on our mountain adventure. I look forward to the rest of the week and where our travels will take us.

Coretta is Eleven Years Old

2010-09-30T04:18:00.001-07:00

Coretta turned 11 yesterday. I still can't believe how old she is. It seems like yesterday that I was giving birth to her at fairview Medical Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. She is a true blessing in my life and I am very lucky to have her. She is funny, witty, compassionate, caring, and lives life to it's fullest.

It is today as every day, I am honored to have the privilege of being her Mom. I love you Coretta and I am so very proud of the young lady you have become.

Game Day

2010-09-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Game Day and the Vikings were playing Detroit. For good luck (as always) Geno put on his number four jersey, and when Bob came over to watch the game, he, too, was wearing the same jersey. It must have given the Vikes some good luck, because they ended up winning their first game of the season!

Nick and Crystal's Day Getaway to Einsiedeln Switzerland

2010-09-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

This Friday, Nick decided to take the day off, so we decided to travel to Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The only thing that we knew about this small village is that it had one of the largest Benedictine Monasteries in Europe. We found out that Einsiedeln is part of the Canton of Schwyz. The French revolution had definitely changed the face of Switzerland forever. The old Confederation no longer existed.

In the 17th century, they began reconstruction of the Abbey. The Benedictines attempted to construct the ideal monastery that would be laid out in such a way, that all necessities of life: water, mill, garden, etc. and all occupations could be practiced within it's walls.

The benedictine Monastery has become a place of pilgrimage for many, in part because of the Chapel with the Black Madonna. Many ask what caused her face to be black, and what we found out, was that the soot from the candles, incense and oil lamps had darkened the original color gradually throughout the ages. It is thanks to this, that Einsiedeln has attained its international standing as a pilgrim's place.

This was a quaint and beautiful village where Nick and I enjoyed a peaceful and beautiful day together.

Coretta's Week at Verbier

2010-09-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Coretta just returned from her five day stay in Verbier nestled in the french region of Switzerland near Geneva. They drove there in a double decker bus which took approximately seven hours to get to with a few stops along the way.

The first day, they checked into their rooms, had supper, and became acquainted with their bunk roommates. Coretta stated that the rooms themselves were beautiful and had a great view of the mountains. Each child had their own locker with a key to put their belongings. She bunked with Gabrielle, Rosalee, and Daisy.

The next day, they woke, had breakfast, and made their way to the ropes courses. Here they needed to help getting suited up with all of the gear such as helmets and harnesses in case they fell, and then they were off. They had to climb up quite high, carry wooden 2x4's across a tight rope, go through tunnels, and nets. Coretta said that at times she was scared, but this ended up being the highlight of her trip.

The next day, they went mountain biking in the village and mountains. Each student was fitted for a mountain bike and helmet and they had a blast riding all throughout the area.

The next day was filled with mountain climbing. Each child had to be suited up properly for this as well and had to climb up the mountain as far as they could. Coretta liked this the least because it was hard to get a grip with her feet.

Every day they had a barbecue outside for lunch and a nice buffet dinner at night. Coretta was even able to try traditional cheese fondue. The downside was that her body started to itch, and she felt as though she was having allergic reaction to something she ate. With a little benadryl and a shower, she was able to get rid of this reaction.

The last night, they had a disco which is typical of any field week at her school. She stated that this was by far the best field week ever.

Geno

2010-09-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a few photos of Geno in his new clothes. I just cleaned out his closet and realized we needed to update his look. He is growing taller every day, and some of his pajama pants look like man capris. Although they do wear these in Europe, I am opting out of that look for him. His favorite shirt was SpongeBob. He didn't want to take it off. So easy to make them happy at this age.

Coretta leaves for Verbier

2010-09-20T03:05:00.000-07:00

We sent Coretta out the door at 7 am today for 5 days away from home. I am really going to miss her. The house just doesn't have the same energy when she is away. I know that she will have a great time, meeting new people, and bonding with old ones. I just realize how quickly she is growing up and I wish I could stop time. I can't wait to hear all about her adventures on Friday.

The teachers just sent a link to some photos of the kids at Verbier doing the ropes courses, touring the Red Cross Museum, and mountain biking. Coretta is in a few of them. Check the link: Verbier Photos

Sunday Circus

2010-09-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, we decided to take the kids to the circus in Cham, Switzerland. That morning, we got ready, and hopped the bus down to Cham. We walked around the lake until we spotted the big top tent. Once in, we found our seats and then waited for the show to begin. Meanswhile, both Geno, Coretta, and Nick were content eating popcorn.

This being Geno's first circus, I didn't know how he would react, or sit, for that matter. it was a two hour long show, but he did fine. We saw clowns, tiger acts, acrobats, llamas, goats, camels, and many other animals.

Geno's favorite were the two clowns, and Coretta loved the tigers. Afterwards, we ate at Postli for some kebabs and then walked home.

Now I can say I have been to a European circus production.

Geno is a Big Boy

2010-09-20T02:51:00.001-07:00

Geno is successfully potty trained, but ever since Dad left for America a year ago, he hasn't slept in his own room, but rather on his mattress on the floor in our room.

I had almost given up, thinking that he would probably sleep in our room forever, until I decided to try a rewards system.

I created this racetrack, and attached it to his bedroom door, explaining that for every night he sleeps in his own bed, he will get a car to place on the track. When he makes it to the finish line, he gets to go to McDonalds. I am happy to report that Geno has met this goal now and we are very proud of him.

5th Grade Field Week

2010-09-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

Coretta will be leaving on Monday for five days with her class to 'Les Elfes" Verbier in the french region of Switzerland near Geneva. Verbier is situated in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of the Swiss Alps.

The camp experience itself is designed to give each child an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities such as mountain biking, ropes courses, and visiting certain points of interests. Along the way, they will stop at the Red Cross Museum which Coretta is looking forward to, since she has decided that she would like to be a nurse when she grows up.

Here is the site if you are interested in seeing where she will be for a week: Les Elfes

My Life

2010-09-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

I have been quite busy with the start of a new school year. Coretta starting fifth grade, and Geno starting a brand new preschool. With any year, we are never certain what the next one will hold, but I feel quite positive about this one.

Towards the end of the year last year, I had started teaching again. Previously I was the Head Teacher for The Beehive Preschool in Hunenberg, which gave me great skills into how learners think at multiple grade levels.

Then, I started substitute teaching at The International School of Zug and Lucerne. I first was called in for what seemed like an interview. The principal sat me down, asked me a few teacher related pointed questions, and then welcomed me to the team. I have been trying for months to find a way to penetrate the school system to no avail. I emailed the principal with my CV, talked to specific teachers that I know personally at the school, as well as those same teachers turning in a copy of my curriculum vitae to principals and assistant principles. It wasn't until I was able to see that I might have a chance to teach again, I realize how much I miss it.

My first subbing assignments was in a Humanities class. Now back in the States, this would be the equivalent of a history or civics teacher. I was going to be teaching 7th and 8th grade students about slavery for the day. Students were working on a creative project that tied in with this theme.

The next work assignment I had was for teaching P.E. (Physical Education). The students were going to be playing basketball matches. I used to play basketball in middle school and loved the sport. It was great to be the referee of these games and witness first hand the teamwork and competitiveness of these students. We then decided to switch it up and play some dodgeball instead. I don't know why, but dodgeball seems to be one of those common threads in childhood that bring all decades and groups together.

The next work position I was offered was a 6th grade Humanities and I loved it. The topic was on the Gunpowder Plot that happened in November 1605. James I was the King and wanted to get a divorce from his wife. When the Pope denied him this he became enraged. It was at this time that Catholics put together a plot to overthrow the current King by blowing up the House of Lordes. Catholics were hoping that this would allow them the chance to have a Catholic King once again. After reading this article, students were given a side. They either had to look at the Protestant or the Catholic view. Once decided, I asked students who were Catholic, and some raised their hands. I asked the students who were Protestant and they raised their hands. I, then asked if they could explain the differences between religions. Students then had to decide if it was treason or a conspiracy.

This past week, I have substitute taught in English, my area of expertise. I was quite excited when the librarian was talking about bibliographies, and I offered to teach a bibliography lesson to 6th graders. I then was able to teach 7th graders how to write a five paragraph essay. Anyone who knows me, knows this. That I love to teach writing.

With my professional life going well, I was happy to see the kids flourishing in their own academic environment. Coretta, now a 5th grader, is more confident and sure of herself, hard working, funny, and responsible. They just announced the new student council representatives for her grade, and Coretta and her friend Rosalee won. When she told me why she was going to run, she said she liked public speaking. What almost middle school child will say that? She is becoming quite advanced in skyping with her friends, chatting on facebook, and texting on her phone. She likes to go into Zug and go shopping and have lunch with her friends on the train, and then go swimming at the Baar lattich. She has field week coming up next week, and she will be in Geneva, Switzerland in the Verbieau area for five days with 100 of her classmates. Coretta is currently taking piano and guitar lessons and plans to try out for the traveling Choir as well.

Geno is loving his new bilingual montessori school. Although it is hard for him to part with his Mommy in the morning, I have been told that he actively participates and is fine after that. Every day when I pick him up, he tells me that school is fun. He has recently started talking aboout some of his "best friends" and how "boys don't play with girls because they bonk their heads, and boys are strong and have muscles." The names that seem to be coming up as potential bff's is Niko, Tom, and Nessa (Melissa). His speech therapy is coming along nicely. He is continuing to see Ms. Tabea once a week, and Geno is doing well. In fact, almost everyone can understand him 100 percent of the time. he has developed a little bit of a stutter, but I am unsure if that is him concentrating on saying the words or something else. Tabea tells me it is not so easy for him to always get his ideas out as fast as he would like. He is completely potty trained and it took no more than two days. I am also happy to report that he is also sleeping in his own bed and not crawling into Mommy and Daddy's bed in the middle of the night.

Nick is doing well too. He is working hard at Thomson Reuters, hiking every chance he can get, and just registered for a class at the University of Zurich. He has become an avid runner and usually runs four miles a day and lifts weights. Nick is definitely in the best shape of his life. He is reading more as well. Reading about post war Europe, his latest passion in books.

This is the Bieter month in a nutshell.

Coretta's 11th Birthday--Hollwood Bash

2010-09-13T03:49:00.000-07:00

Coretta turns 11 on September 30th, and we are planning a Hollywood Costume Party and Sleepover with five of her closest friends. We plan to have a red carpet, fancy drinks, watch movies, play games, and a trophy for the best costume.

The picture above is the party favors for the guests. their own memory board which I will place a picture from the evening.

Lugern Mountain Trip

2010-09-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

Nick, Geno, and I decided to drive approximately one hour away to Lungern for a day of sightseeing and hiking in the mountains. We arrived around 11:00 am and then decided to make our ascent up the mountain by cable car.

Once to the first area, we then jumped onto a chairlift that took us all the way to the top. Not sure how I would be able to handle the chairlift because of my fear of heights, I decided to roll with it. We stood in the spaces and waited for the chairlift and jumped on. Nick then put the bar down over our heads and we were in the air. I started to have a panic attack, mostly because my feet were dangling free and tried to look straight ahead instead of down.

Once to the top, we decided to walk around the mountain and take in the views. We stopped at the chalet for lunch and then made our descent down.

The town itself was cute, so we decided to walk down by the lake and let Geno throw some rocks. Gorgeous sunny day in the best company a girl could ask for. Thanks Nick.

Bachelor Party and Bridal Showers 1997

2010-09-08T00:12:00.000-07:00

November 1997 is the date when I had my first bridal shower in Minneapolis, MN hosted by my mother-in-law Marilyn at her friend Ruth's community room. Here are a few highlights from that day.

Coretta's Birthday Bedroom Make Over

2010-09-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

For Coretta's 11th Birthday, she wanted a room makeover, so I went up to IKEA and started creating. I know that she wanted a new rug and curtains, as well as frames for all of the art she created. She absolutely loved it, and I do too!

Geno and Tabea

2010-09-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

These are just a few pictures of Geno and Tabea during therapy the other day. We kept trying to blow up balloons,but they kept flying off and going into the air and scaring Charlie half to death. Geno did not give up, and his persistence paid off. He finally blew one up all on his own. Good job Geno!

Jazz Night in Zug

2010-09-07T23:58:00.000-07:00

Jazz Night in Zug took place a couple of weeks ago, and Nick and I and a few friends went to check the scene out. They had several beer and wine tents set up and one main stage followed by several smaller venue stages. Overall, it was a great night with good music and good friends.

Our Wedding Photos

2010-09-07T23:45:00.000-07:00

Above I have created a collage of our wedding photos with the background of a picture taken of us in the summer of 1995, when we met and started dating. This is significant to me because this is the day that my life truly changed forever and is clearly the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

Thanks Nick, for being there for me, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse, and hope that with each year our life together gets better and better. It has in the past 15 years for sure. I love you.

Geno's New Hair Cut

2010-08-24T02:48:00.001-07:00

Coretta's First Day of Fifth Grade!

2010-08-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

Soluthurn, Swizerland: Day Trip

2010-08-23T02:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday, we decided to take a trip to Soluthurn, Switzerland. Random choice actually, but we didn't want to sit at home all day and weren't interested in going swimming. It is approximately an hour away from here, and is a very cute village. Once we were there, we parked the car and walked around and discovered an old bell tower you can climb to the top and see beautiful views of the city. Geno, Nick, and I made our way to the top (yes Geno did it all by himself) and the views were breathtaking. Geno loved being up so high. He even commented that he could see birds on the roofs of the houses.

Once done, we made our way down the spiral staircase, until we reached the four huge bells in the tower. All of a sudden,they all start clanging, so loudly we had to cover our ears. Thinking that the bells would cease soon, we stood there in anticipation. They just kept going and going. It felt like twenty minutes. This is when the bell tower assistant came and got us and told us to wait upstairs until they stopped. Once down, we made our way back through the city by the river and drove home just in time for a neighborhood barbecue.

Brunnen Boat Ride with the Andrews Family

2010-08-23T02:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, being a beautiful and sunny day, we decided to drive to Brunnen, a quaint little mountain village, and take a two hour boat ride. We decided to call Geno's best friend Cameron, to see if he and his Mom and Dad wanted to join us. We then went to pick them up, piled in the car and drove the 30 minutes to Brunnen. Once parked, we walked to the huge outdoor playground and allowed the boys to get rid of some of their energy before boarding the boat. Nick went to figure out the tickets, and we boarded around 2 pm. Nick had bought us first class tickets so we could sit on the top if the boat which has the best views. Once seated, we ordered some beers and orange juice for the boys and enjoyed the scenery and the sun. I can think of a lot of worse ways to spend a Sunday. Sunday is a day of rest, isn't it?

Daughter-Father Hike to Stoos

2010-08-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

Coretta and her father decided to take a daughter-father hike to Stoos and they had a great time. Stoos is approximately 30 minutes from our home in Hunenberg, which is great. Once there, they paid for the gondola up and started their four hour hike. Coretta brought hiking poles because in certain areas the trail is hard to see, and there are many steep hills and ridges to walk. She and her dad would stop along the way and have some snacks, and at the end, they were able to swim in an underground pool overlooking the mountains.

National Swiss Day

2010-08-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

National Swiss Day takes place on August 1st every year where they celebrate their country and pride. It usually starts out early with the farmer's brunch, then fireworks at night. This year was our first time actually going to the farmers brunch, and it was great. They had food produced locally by the farmer such as eggs, bacon, rosti (swiss style hash browns), cheese, yogurt, fruit, and drinks. It was all you can eat, which is not very common in Switzerland or Europe for that matter.

The kids were able to get their faces painted and listened to some traditional Swiss music. We will definitely be doing this again next year.

Sattel Outing with the Family

2010-08-16T05:42:00.000-07:00

The other weekend, we decided to head up to Sattel, which is approximately thirty minutes away. Although it was raining, it was better than sitting in the house all day. Once there, we made our way up the gondola to the mountain and decided to have a snack in hopes that the rain would cease.

After our snack, the rain had ceased, and we paid for the children to jump around on all of the inflatables up at the mountain. At first Geno was somewhat careful, just walking inside

the inflatables, and then later began running and jumping in them with no fear whatsoever.

Coretta's favorite were the endless trampolines surrounding the area. She is really in her element when she is out in nature jumping in a trampoline.

We then went for a hike in the mountains where we

crossed a suspension bridge that overlooked the river, mountains, and trees. Me, being afraid of heights, did not expect that we would be up that high, or that underneath my feet would be visible adding to the realization that I could probably die if this bridge were to break. Adding to this feeling, every time you walked, it moved and swayed, adding to my fright.

We then decided to take some time and ride the tobaggon run which is an aluminum slide down the mountain. This was my first time trying this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So did Geno, being his first time as well, shouted "Woo Hoo" on every twist and turn. Great way to spend a Saturday!

Geno is Potty Trained!

2010-08-16T05:38:00.001-07:00

Geno is successfully potty trained and it only took three days for him to master it! After many weeks of frustration and anxiety of where to begin, Geno finally decided that it was time for him to make the next big plunge into being an independent toddler.

He is very proud of his accomplishment, and even was able to go a whole day at school without any accidents.

Geno is a BIG boy now!

Geno's First Day of School 2010

2010-08-16T05:35:00.001-07:00

Geno had his first day of school at Children's World in Cham today. We chose to switch schools for him because we wanted a true montessori approach in a bilingual environment.

Although he was hesitant for me to leave when I dropped him off, and excited to see me when I picked him up, he loved his first day. In Geno's words and with a thumbs up, he stated, "School is super!"

Mommy and Geno Hiking Adventure to Pilatus

2010-08-02T05:47:00.001-07:00

This weekend, Geno and I decided to go on a hiking adventure to Mount Pilatus. We woke up early and were out the door by eight o'clock and waiting for our train by 8:59 am. We chose Mount Pilatus because we heard that they had the steepest cogwheel train up to the mountain, and I thought Geno might enjoy that. After taking two trains and the cogwheel train, we made it to the top and decided to hike on the wanderweg.

Geno especially enjoyed the cave like passageways where water would actually drip on you from above. At times, the rocks were quite slippery and we needed to be careful as we climbed. Geno loves mountains, this I am sure.

We spent four hours hiking up on the mountain, having lunch, and sharing our crackers with the black birds that surrounded us. Geno loved the accordian music especially and chose to break out in dance as the below video will show you.

Great bonding time with my boy.

Home Leave Hestons Lodge 2010

2010-07-27T00:46:00.000-07:00

We left from Duluth, to the Gunflint Trail for seven days of family and relaxation by the lake. When we arrived, later that night my Mom, Dad, sister Bridge, and neice and nephew Emilia and Jack came. We visited with them and had a campfire that night, and went to bed.

The next day, we decided to go blueberry picking and were told that the area around the Seagull Guard was a good place to go. Coretta, my Mom, Bridgette, and Emilia piled into my car and we went in search of the perfect blueberries. Before we even left the driveway, however, I backed into a tree. No damage, no worries, so we got back in the car and continued our drive down Gunflint Trail Road. Once to Seagull Guard, we parked the car, locked it, and continued down the road in search of the blueberry.

Mom, being a veteran of blueberry picking, was our leader. As we followed her, she reminsced about her experiences in the blueberry patch with her father, brothers and sisters. Grandpa Geno was a very serious picker, and expected each child (he had fifteen) to pick a pail of blueberries. When the kids would get thirsty, he would tell them to suck on a weed, and continue working. It was clear to me that my Mom had adopted my Grandfather's hard work ethic and the inexplainable love of the blueberry.

After picking for about four hours, I looked down to realize that I had lost my keys. When I said this, my sister and Mom didn't believe me, and continued to pick berries. At this point, I was freaking out. One, I lost the keys, and two it was a rental car. The idea of explaining this to the rental agency, let alone Nick weighed heavily on my mind. After looking for a good amount of time, I finally gave up. The only way back to the lodge was to hitch hike the 10 miles back, and walk until someone picked us up. My sister, however, was not too keen on the idea of hitching a ride (especially in the prescence of her daughter Emilia). She half jokingly starts talking about stranger danger and being raped, which I, in turn looked at her and said we are in the northernmost part of Minnesota and I reassured her we would be alright.

It only took a matter of minutes, and we had our first car pull over. It was a big pick up sedan vehicle, we explained our situation, and they were happy to help. We jumped in their vehicle laughing and joking about our predicament, and they brought us as far as Round Lake. We thanked them for their help, and started hitching once again. Again, in a matter of minutes, we had a car stop. They offered to help, but clearly didn't have enough space for us. We then pulled over another in a pick up truck with a dog sitting in the front seat. We again explained our predicament, and he drove us all the way back to the lodge in the back of his pick up. Once back, we learned that he was the husband of the Mayor.

I have to say that this was the most interesting blueberry picking adventure I have ever had, and my Mom still managed to get a full pail of berries.

The next day, we had scheduled time for the girls and Grandpa Beaver to go horseback riding at the Gunflint Stables. This has been a tradition since last year when Emilia and Coretta went for the first time. Once to the stables, they learned about the safety and precaution measures, and then each were saddled on their horses. Coretta had Mrs. B, Emilia had Daisy, and Grandpa Beaver had Jasper. Once in line, they were off for an hour horseback riding adventure. It took a few minutes before they were ready to go, because Jasper, Grandpa Beaver's horse, decided to take a poop and then a pee before they went off. If you have ever witnessed a horse excreting these bodily fluids, you would be amazed.

Later that day, Nick and I took a hike on the Magnetic Trail where we hiked for approximately five miles and at the middle of the hike stopped to take a rest at the foot of the huge Magnetic Rock.

Throughout the first three days, the kids all spent time swimming, throwing rocks, having campfires, and even playing UNO. Bridgette and my Mom even managed to go blueberry picking a second tim (I opted to stay back) since my last experience was still fresh in my mind.

The fourth day at Heston's Lodge, Grandma Marilyn and my niece Imania showed up. We, including my Mom, Dad, sister, and kids decided to go out to eat at The Trail Center located at the end of the trail. Greg, the owner of Heston's, had told Nick that they had the best burgers in the area. Once there, we all piled out, and entered the restaurant. I think we may have overwhelmed the poor worker, since she was on staff by herself and had an order for eleven, as well as other customers. I would have to say that Greg's recommendation was quite true, the hamburgers were excellent.

The next day, we said goodbye to my Mom, Dad, sister, niece and nephew, and had some time alone with Marilyn and Imania. That day ended up being a wash out, so we spent time sketching, reading, playing games, and working on puzzles.

The next day, we took Imania and Marilyn blueberry picking and had lunch at the Gunflint Lodge. Nick and his mom decided to take a hike together and I stayed back with the kids swimming. That night, Barb and Greg, the owner's of Heston's Lodge, had their famous wood fired pizza evening where you get to build your own pizzas. This is definitely one of the highlights of our stay and gives you a chance to chat with other people staying at the lodge. It never fails that Geno finds other kids his age to play with, stick fight with, and play with trucks and tractors.

The next day, we had to say goodbye to Imania and Marilyn, and had the next two days alone. Coretta and Dad decided that they would go on a hike. They chose the Centennial Trail because there were lots of cliffs and rocks to climb. The trail proved to be a lot more challenging then they first thought. They found themselves walking in brush up to their necks without a clear path. Suffice it to say,they still had a good time together.

Hestons Lodge continues to be one of our favorite retreats in Minnesota and look forward to it again next year. Even my Mom, sisters, brother-in-law, neices and nephews are set on staying for a whole week next year.

Home Leave Duluth, MN 2010

2010-07-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

While back in America, we spent some time in Duluth, MN, where Nick grew up. We stayed at Fitgers, which is an old renovated brewery on the way up to Heston's Lodge, did some shopping, and spent time down by Lake Superior. On the way back from the Gunflint, we stayed at the Edgewater Hotel which had a waterpark where we met up with Imania, Auntie Sarah, and Grandma Bieter.

Geno had a blast at the kiddie water park and was able to down all of the water slides by himself. Coretta loved the two bigger water slides. I, too, went on these with her, and all went well until I decided to go on the green one by myself. In doing so, I started by sitting up, but the sheer force of the water pushed me on to my back where I swallowed so much water, that I feared being spit into more water by the current, that I tried to plug my nose. Once out, Coretta noticed that my nose was bleeding. I guess I had pushed hard onto my newly pierced nose, and caused it to bleed.

After several onlookers screaming, "Nose bleed!" I refrained from shouting that I had HIV (obviously a joke) and went back to our room. When the kids were done, they came back and we ordered Sammy's Pizza. Auntie Sarah even managed to teach Geno how to say thank you properly, however, when he said it, it sounded like "fuck you." Oh, the Bieter's and their sick sense of humor.

Nose Piercing at Saint Sabrinas in Uptown Minneapolis, MN

2010-07-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

While back in the Twin Cities, I finally got my nose pierced after several years of thinking about it. It went quite well actually. I tried to prepare myself by watching numerous youtube videos, but realized that these were much more horrible than my experience. Although my nose didn't bleed, there was about three seconds of excruciating pain, and it was done. My eyes water a little bit, he put in the jewelry, and it was done. And for the record (Heidi) this is not an early mid life crisis, just me doing something special for me.

Saint Paul Home Leave 2010

2010-07-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

The 13 hour plane ride back to America went quite well this time. Geno was well behaved and even slept this way around. Once to the Twin Cities, we drove to our house in Saint Paul, MN and settled in. We visited with our cousin Angie, and Grandpa Tom and Jack came over to go out for lunch at Mama's Pizza on Rice.

The next day, I took Coretta school shopping up at the Rosedale Mall and she bought two pairs of Chucks, and several outfits from Abercrombie, Hollister., Aeropastle, and followed that up with some gyros at Dinos.

Over the fourth of July, we decided to play it low key, and hung out at our house playing bean bag toss, lighting off fireworks, and drove over by the Bascilica to see the fireworks. This was the first fireworks that Geno was able to stay up for. We spent time with Auntie Erin and Ryan and Ryan even brought his guitar over to jam with Coretta.

While back, the kids and I went to see the dentist. Here we all had a clean bill of health, no cavities, and the kids even left with a toy. This was Geno's first dental visit, and he loved it. He kept wanting to go back in the chair and do it again.

Erin's Wedding

2010-07-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Right now my little sister is planning her wedding for September 17, 2011. They hope to have their reception on Lake Harriet at the Pavilion there. erin drove us over there to have a look at the spot and to see what we thought. Above are a few pictures of the space.

I have suggested that black bridesmaids would be kinda sophisticated and chic. Here are some examples I found on the internet. I particularily like the one with the black dresses and green bouquets. We'll see what Erin thinks. The bride has the final say :)

Bridge and Mom: Destination Venice Italy

2010-06-29T02:55:00.000-07:00

The last weekend of my mother and sister's sixteen day stay, we went to Venice, Italy. This meant that we needed to catch a 7:31 train in Zug and spend close to seven hours on a train, changing trains once in Milan. This makes for an extremely long day.

This may be the first time in Venice that I didn't get turned around. Once off the train, we proceeded down to the boat taxi area and paid for our tickets to the Lido Island where we were staying. After a thirty minute boat ride, we arrived at the Villa Laguna Hotel. To our surprise, it was off to the right in visible view.

When we opened the door, we were warmly welcomed by the matre de, where he explained different things to do in the Lido and provided us with a map. He then brought us to our room to show us where everything was and how to work the electronics in the room.

We were first pleasantly surprised at the actual size of the suite to European standards. It had a kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom and a living room. We had excellent views of the laguna and could actually watch while the boats came rushing in. It gave you the impression of what it would be like to be on a boat out on the Adriatic Sea. It even had a slight vibration from the boats docking and you could hear the splash of the waves.

We decided to play it more low key the first night since we had a seven hour train ride, so we decided to explore St. Elizabette Street where there were shops, boutiques, gelato stands, and open air restaurants. We stopped for gelato at an open air cafe and watched all of the people rushing to whatever they had planned for that day.

The next morning, we awoke about seven in the morning, got ready and headed out the door to the Island of Murano where we would be escorted by a private Italian speed boat. It resembled what a limousine would look like on the water. We each took turns sticking our heads out of the roof of the boat and feeling the cool breeze and sea air envelope us.

Once to Murano, we were greeted by two Italian men in suits who the led us through the door and asked to sit down and listen to a short presentation of how Murano glass was made. We learned that it takes a man twenty years to be considered a master of this trade. It was amazing seeing these men turn hot glass into something so artistically beautiful.

First they shaped the hot glass into a ball. They then rubbed the hot glass in colored glass to give it some color. Then it went back into the fire. Once out, they would bend and mold it into the shape they want and then add any other specifications. Watching a true master make a horse out of a hot ball of crystal in mere seconds was astounding.

We then toured each of the exhibition halls ranging from high end expensive to reasonably affordable. The Murano glass creations were chandeliers, wine glasses, vases, modern art, jewlery, and sculpture. We each bought an original Murano piece and made our way by private speedboat to the Island of San Marco.

San Marco is a lively and touristy destination that houses some of the most amazing religious architecture. From The Saint Mark's Basillica to the historic bell tower, this island was very aesthetically pleasing. We spent the better part of that day moesying from one store front to the next. The one thing I found intriguing, was the islands fixation on Murano glass. You will find Murano pendants, necklaces, sculptures and art. The only problem is, that you will be receiving a machine created replica of the original. I opted to buy one of each.

Mom and Bridge: Destination Mount Titlis

2010-06-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

Mom, Bridgette, and Nick woke up early and decided to visit Mount Titlis. No Switzerland adventure would be complete without a visit to the mountains. Mount Titlis is approximately an hours drive from our house, and then a gondola up to the highest point of the mountain (10,000 feet above sea level). The gondola is constantly in motion, and you have to jump in. Mom and Bridge did just that. Nick, finding the gondola to be full, trailed after them.

Once to the top, they took some pictures of the amazing mountains. They couldn't have asked for a better day. Sunny blue skies and surrounded by mountains. They decided to sit at the cafe and have a Cappuccino, or a beer in Bridgette and Nick's case. Once they finished their beverages, they started their walk down the mountains ridge.

Mom and Bridgette did exceptionally well for their first mountain hike. There was only one time when my Mom felt she needed to stop due to the change in altitude. The key here is a lot of hydration.

As they continued their hike, my Mom noticed that she had lost her sweatshirt. She contemplated just leaving it there, but decided to back track the way they had come to actually pick it up. Along the trail, they heard old women yodeling back and forth to one another which is something many have not experienced before. Once in the restaurant, which was overcrowded with tourists, they found a place to sit and ordered the famous Alpine macaroni which I suggested they try. It was so popular, that they had run out earlier, so they opted for the German bratwurst.

Once lunch was finished, they proceeded to take the gondola down which is somewhat like an elevator where they cram thirty some people in. It is not for the clastrophobic or the person with heightened sense of smell. The smell of body odor and moth balls seemed to permeate the air. Moth balls being a smell my Mom hasn't smelled since her childhood.

Once down, they drove the hour back and both said that the mountain adventure was the highlight of the trip. Nothing like being 10,000 feet above sea level to put things in perspective.

Mom and Bridge: Destination Zug and Hunenberg Switzerland

2010-06-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

After a thirteen hour plane ride, it is suggested to take it easy due to jet lag. We did just that. I opted to take them into the town of Hunenberg where they toured the Hunenberg Castle Ruins, and let the kids play at the park. All was going well, until Mother Nature decided to pour down on us, so we made our way back to my house drenched or as Geno would say "dirty." Geno hats having his hair wet and kept saying, "My hair is dirty."

The next day, I decided to have them take a bus and then a train into Zug to do a little sight seeing and shopping, but before I did that, I wanted to show them the monastery by my house. We walked into the church and Mom lit a candle and prayed. We took some pictures of the monastery itself, and then we toured the monastic grounds. Here we saw two nuns working in the cemetery of nuns past making sure that beautiful plants and flowers were planted on their burial mounds.

Once in Zug, I showed them the old part of Zug, the quaint cobblestoned streets, and the architecture, and ended the adventure at an open air cafe for dessert. Great start to their sixteen day adventure.

Mom and Bridge: Destination Konstanz Germany

2010-06-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

While my sister and Mom were in Europe, I wanted to expose them to as many countries as I could, and did quite well by showing them Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland. I chose Konstanz Germany for it's close proximity and heard that it was a beautiful university town. Once there, we parked the car at a mall, and did some shopping. Afterwards, we decided to make our way to the lake. What was supposed to be a ten minute walk, turned out to be two hours due to the language barrier and poor directions. Factor in that it is raining, and it was quite a sight.

We decided to stop for lunch at a quaint restaurant along the Rhine river where Bridgette and my Mom were able to sample their first German wiener schnitzel in a beautiful atmosphere. Once we finished our lunch, we opened our umbrellas and were on our adventure to find the lake or as they call it the Bodensee. One thing to remember in Germany, is that they have bike paths and walking paths, and you must make sure that you are on the right one. We found ourselves ironically on the bike path instead of the walking path, and with the rain, decided to not turn around. Leave it to one impatient German to yell at us in German which I replied with "Naa Naa" which he then retorted back to me. Quite comical actually.

Although we never made it to the Bodensee, we did make it to the old town of Konstanz, where we saw open markets selling cheese, sausage, and crafts, and toured a beautiful church befoire walking back to our car and driving back. They were good sports and didn't allow the rain to dampen their mood or adventure.

Mom and Bridge: Destination Luzern, Switzerland

2010-06-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

No trip to Switzerland would be perfect without a trip to the city of Luzern along the lake. We took the bus and train into the city and toured the oldest Jesuit Church in Europe. In all of my travels and tours of old churches, this one impressed me the most. It appeared to be from the Renaissance age and mirrored a Venetian style. Absolutely breathtaking experience.

We then walked across the historical covered bridge that connects the new town with the old town and took pictures. I then explained to them that the tower in between this covered bridge used to house prisoners in the past and is one of the most photographed locations in Luzern.

We proceeded to the old part of town where the architecture was amazing and several hand painted murals on buildings suggest the importance of the Faschnaut festival that takes place every year. We did some shopping in the many souvenier shops and then decided to have lunch along the lake at an open air restaurant where we had a three course meal that included soup, salad, and pesto pasta. We then took the train and bus back just in time to pick Geno up from school.