PS3 & Guitar Hero

Brandon asked for money for Christmas so he could buy himself a PS3. On the 26th he finally had enough money (he had to help clean the house in the morning to finally get enough money). He received Band Hero from Santa to play on his PS. Fun for the whole family (it comes with a microphone, drums and guitar).

Alicia trying out the Band Hero microphone in her new housecoat.

She even let Zuco give the microphone a try.

I tried to master the drums, while Brandon tried to master the guitar.

Christmas Dinner

We had Hervé's family over for Christmas turkey dinner. Tidji, Yolan, Brandon (with the Santa hat) and Alicia

Hervé's Grandmother, Gisèle, Gregory and Zoraima

Alicia received a Vtech camera

Robert and Gisèle serving themselves turkey and gravey.

A view at the table

Christmas Eve

We opened presents on Christmas Eve. Brandon showing his new PS3 game (he won't receive his PS3 till the 26, but he is already very excited about playing the new game).
Alicia playing with her DS (it's not really a DS but a Vtech, but she calls it her DS)

Alicia playing with the horses she received

Brandon liked the hand puppets Alicia got.

Alicia dancing to Beat it with the puppets on her hands.

Making Christmas cookies

Brandon, Alicia and I made Christmas cookies last weekend. Brandon's favorite part was rolling out the dough.
Alicia liked wiping the flour on her shirt.

(Notice outside the window there is snow)

Here you go Grandma

If you are looking for Alicia, you just need to look where Zuco is. She is usually somewhere near him. Sometimes though, you have to look in cupboards because she likes to play hide and seek with him. Zuco, all tired out from playing with Alicia.
It's hard to get a moments rest with Alicia around.

Alicia pretending to be Darla the Fish Killer from Nemo.Decorating the tree outside with Christmas lights. Not everyone agreed who was supposed to climb up the ladder and who was supplosed to hand things up.

Meeting Santa. Alicia didn't much like him. She was scared he was going to take Piglet away from her.

Halloween

Every year they have historical Holloween at Brandon's school. He has to pick a person (alive or dead) that he thinks did something which marked their mind. This year he chose to be Roger Federer the number 1 tennis player. The Swiss have taken on some of the North American traditions like having the kids go out trick or treating. However, they think that Friday night is a better night than any other so they have changed it to the last Friday in the month of October.
Here's the pumpkin we carved. Did anyone else enter the pumkin carving contest this year? Or do I win it for the 3rd year in a row (ok, not too hard to win when no one else enters).
The pumpkin is now lit and ready to be put outside.


I picked this patern, because I thought it went well with my other decorations.

Aquarium

Hervé has been redoing some of his aquarium. He tried taking some pictures...

However, Brandon thought he should be the center of attention rather than the aquarium and kept running in front while Hervé tried to take pictures.

Finally some more pics

Everyone has to help out cleaning on the weekend. Brandon does the floors.Alicia thought she would do the windows (have to say they were even more dirty after she was finished, but she was well intentioned).

After doing the windows, she thought Zuco's feet needed some cleaning too.

More pics

Well I haven't been very good about posting pictures lately. I keep forgeting to bring my camera. Here are a couple. Playing ball.
Catching flies .

Brandon and Alicia eating lunch outside.

Zuco got to wear a lamp shade on his head for 10 days after his operation. I don't remember Misha wearing one, but I guess he must have.

Brandon learned to play chess at school. He has been playing almost daily games with Hervé.

Alicia likes to try and play too.

a couple of pics

It has been so hot out that we took Zuco to the lake to try it out. He slowly went in.

It was so hot, that he seemed to really enjoy it.

He even swam a bit.

Playing Marion Kart on the wii.

and winning

At the pool

We went to the pool yesterday. Here are a couple of pictures.

Brandon on the water slide.

Alicia playing with the water fountains.

Getting wet is lots of fun.Climbing on the parc toys.
Having a snack.

This week

Here are some pictures from this week.

Brandon has what they call here a vacation passport. It lets kids do a couple of different organized activities during their summer vacation. One of the activities was flying on this small plane. This is when the plane he was on was landing.

Walking across the Colombier airport strip after the ride. The lady told Hervé that during the whole ride, all their could here was Brandon talking: "wow, cool, etc."

Tidji came to stay a couple of days with us.

He got to for his first horse ride.He wasn't all that found of it, so I took Alicia for a ride. She loves riding Billy and would go everyday if she could.Today it is raining. Rain or shine Zuco has to go out for a walk, so Tidji and Brandon took him out.

Alicia also wanted to take Zuco for a walk. It was a little too wet out for her so, she walked him around the house. I think Zuco would have rather been taken outside, but amused Alicia anyway for a while.