Staten Island

Yesterday we took a trip on the Staten Island Ferry. It is huge, free, and awesome. 

Here is the view of Manhattan from Staten Island.

And here is George. If you look really really really closely at this picture, you can see the Statue of Liberty.

Staten Island is not particularly tourist-friendly. It's mostly residential, and after being in Manhattan it feels like you're way out in the country somewhere. We did find the SI museum, though. I got in for $5 and the kids were free. It is small, cheap, and awesome. Some of its' collection has been around for 130 years! They had a great selection of bugs, some fossils, an old diving suit, and a very nice lady who helped us.

Here is a bit of New York Harbor. 

And here is George, pointing out the Statue of Liberty on the way back.

Here she is.

After we returned to Manhattan we bought some apples to eat and chased the birds for a while. 

Scooting Child

Here is Henry a couple of weeks ago, practicing. He started scooting while we were in Zurich. Now it almost counts as an army crawl. This kid wants to move.

We are keeping the Legos off of the floor now.

From Thomas: What we did at the Monkey park

 this picture fit's with the one below 

 these 2 Monkeys are next to a log

 this is a field for Monkeys

 this is George feeding a Monkey

 this one looks like it's fat

 this one is on a log

 this is me climbing

2 of the things that you can't see in this  is (one of the things is in the picture on top) a thing that has hanging wood(you try to get across)








From Mommy: The name of this park is "La Montagne des Singes." It was incredible! As we went in, they handed the grownups a handful of popcorn and gave everyone a crash course in how to safely feed macaques. (Only give the monkeys the park's popcorn. Hold your hand out flat. Don't touch the monkeys. Don't feed babies or moms with babies. Don't shout. Keep your popcorn stash in your hand, not your bag or pocket. Hold little kids' hands.) The popcorn is a very small part of their diet, but they enjoy it. They will come over and pick it up out of your hand. It was amazing to get to be so close to them.

Outside the park there is a fun climbing playground. Thomas was in heaven there. I think he actually forgave Jeremy for making him leave the monkeys.

Happy Fourth of July!

We are in France now! More on that later... To celebrate Independence Day, we had knacks for dinner. They are a local specialty, but they are a lot like hot dogs, and so it was a great way to enjoy two cultures at once. And hot dogs are always best on baguettes.

Unfortunately, I bought standard French mustard. They have a  milder version, but I thought we'd be fine. Wow! No we weren't. At least, Thomas and George sounded like they were dying. Meanwhile, Theodore was content to lick off the mustard first, and then eat the hot dog. He gave the bread to me. This child is just a little crazy.

Sailing the Zurichsee

When we first got here, I purchased a month-long public transit card and an inexpensive Junior Card for Thomas. Little kids are free. We have used these passes almost constantly. On Tuesday, we took a two hour trip around the top of Lake Zurich on this shuttle boat.

Here is a bit of the shoreline at one of the stops.

 There are tables to sit at inside, but the boys had more fun on the breezy, chilly deck. 

I was very glad no one fell overboard!

Swiss Grocery Quiz

Grocery shopping in a foreign country is always an adventure, especially when you don't know much of the language. Fortunately, most packaging includes some French, and so I have a pretty good idea what I am buying. It also helps that German and English are related. As I was practicing the word for baking powder (backpulver) I suddenly realized where the word pulverize comes from.

Jogurt anyone?

For the first half of today's quiz, take a look at the items in the photo. I picked these up at the local grocery store last week. Which do you think costs more, a four-pack of yogurt, a single garbage bag from a roll of 10, or four-pack of baking powder? Answer: they are about the same. I think the yogurt cost a few cents more, and the baking powder a few cents less.

After I purchased the  garbage bags I was a bit sticker-shocked. These official Zurich bags--the ones you must use--cost more than two dollars each. The ones I use at home cost two cents. Then, I realized this was a smart way to fund garbage removal. You pay for exactly the amount of garbage you produce.

Here is the second half of your quiz. Look closely at this receipt and see how many items you can recognize. And please don't judge my extravagant fish purchase!

From Thomas:What we did on the boat ride.

 this is when we were eating bread,and apples. We also ate some bread at the dock,well we were waiting.

 this is when we finished the bread.

 this is when we were outside,on the boat.

(mommy took this puture,when me,and my brothers where next to her)

 this is one of the Moutains  we saw on the boat ride.

this is another puture of when we were outside.