Rock On!!! Alex goes to a concert!

This weekend, while Michele and Wes had to work, I had the opportunity to take Alex to a concert at the Ark in Ann Arbor.
We were going to see the Verve Pipe, a famous rock band from the mid '90's! Only, now that they are older, and have kids, they offer a kids show.
This was Alex's first exposure to a live music concert and at first she wasn't too sure about it, as you can see in the photo.
Eventually she got quite into it! There were many kids at the show and at one point, they invited all the kids on stage to be "Part of the Band!" Alex didn't go up, but that really got her into it!
The concert was really good. The Verve Pipe came up with a bunch of their own kids songs. Alex started out a little scared of the whole thing. Eventually, she asked if she could dance is the aisle to the music. This mean jumping up and down like a mad lady - similar to the kids surrounding us!
From an adult perspective, I appreciated the rock sound to the music and thought they did a good job!
Maybe next time they're in town, the parents can also attend.
In the mean time I got a CD so they can start learning the songs!
The lights were low but I tried to get some video at the end of the concert. By the end of the concert they were singing some songs to get them to Dance around... Like "Jump Around" and "Believer"- from the Schrek films and originally from the Monkeys! Alex jumped up and down for about the last 20 mins of the concert!
This video is sideways... I can't figure out how to fix it.... but here's a taste of her dancing!

Churches and castles and sunsets...

Friday in Switzerland was a packed day. We loaded up in the morning and headed to Einsiedeln where we toured a beautiful church. We wandered around (trying desperately to keep Alex's volume down while in the church) and checked out all the over the top art. Alex, of course, was most impressed with the fountain that she could drink from...Then we headed on to Rapperswil where we meandered around a huge castle. Alex was quite melty by this time, but we had fun checking everything out. Then we settled in for some tapas, and had a very relaxing meal full of beer and laughter... in a castle. It was pretty cool...Finally we headed home, but had to stop on the way to appreciate this sunset...It was the kind of day that you will not have in the states. A church that grew around a hermits shack over centuries. A castle now used mostly for museums, weddings, and tapas. A roadside sunset view to take your breath away. One more day left...

Because it matters to people like us...

I defy you to read this and not donate some small bit of your tax deductible dollars.

Lugano...

Thursday of our trip. Robin, Bob, Jenny, and David graciously offered to hang out with Alex while Michele and I took a trip by ourselves. We took the train to Lugano. A train ride with no worries, no wrangling, and even some conversation. It was nice. The train ride alone was a fantastic break.Then Lugano. A beautiful lakeside town. A little touristy, but lovely to wander around. This is the kind of town, we decided, that we could stay in for a week. Have coffee in the square. Walk along the lake. Lunch with wine. A nap. And then some cocktails. Every day. We could do it.
We saw cute churches...Adorable sloping streets (with cafes and shops)...
Art!...The lake front...
It was a great, relaxing afternoon. We may have to visit this little place again...

Waking up on the wrong side of the world...

I will continue the story of our vacation when I have a few minutes, I promise, but for now this aside...

We are still adjusting to the time change after returning from Switzerland (six hour difference). Yesterday I was up at 2:30am, and Alex at 3. Today I was up at 3am, and Alex at 3:30. I thought I had convinced her to go back to sleep, until I heard a sing-songy little voice from across the house chanting, "Daaaaaaddy... I'm not tired anymore." over and over.

At this slow rate we might be back to our normal 5am wake up by the end of the week. For the record, I am tired anymore. Very Tired.

Luzern...

Tuesday we went to Luzern. We got an early start and met up in Bruenen to catch a boat. Jennie convinced us that it was worth the extra money to upgrade to first class... and she was right! We had a lovely table away from the riff-raff where we spent the leisurly trip back and forth across the lake sipping beer and eating cheese. The sights were beautiful, and we had a blast.

Our first stop in Luzern was the Transportation Museum which was pretty awsome. There were serperate buildings with displays on trains, boats, planes, automobiles, and gondolas. We spent quite a bit of time looking around and Alex was very impressed (especially with the trains). But, since I am a child, I mostly liked this sign...

We left the museum to head for lunch and had the worst part of the day befall us. I won't describe in detail, but Alex drank a bunch of water and then was riding on Michele's shoulders while we ran to catch the bus... Michele then had to wash her hair in the WC and buy a new shirt.

Luzern was old and beatiful and charming. Churches and bridges and statues. We had lunch, at which Alex napped.

We walked around for a while and then caught the train back to Zug and met David for pizza. Great day.

Catching up...

Monday we went to Zurich. Jennie gave us a ride to meet up with Robin and Bob at the train station. There is an area with "Kiss & Ride" stencilled on the street to stop and drop people off... cute. We found our train and settled in for the short ride (usable public transportation is a dream, and we have committed to trying to use what we have at home more often).

Zurich is beatiful. We walked around Old Town, through narrow cobble streets filled with shops. We contemplated buying a Coo-coo Clock. We checked out a gorgeous old church... and Michele & Robin braved the claustrophobic stairs to the top of the tower.

Then we caught another train to do some shopping. Robin got a couple bags, and Michele a wallet, all made from recycled truck parts. It was an intersesting shop. Then back on the train to Zug, a bus to the bottom of the hill, and a long, slow nine minute walk up the stairs to reach the apartment. We had dinner in, drank wine and laughed...