Pfoderie

It is the beginning of 2014 and two and a halve months since our return from Switzerland. The time went by fast and with a big blur.
Going back to my last blog entry's first sentence where I mentioned football games, concerts, holidays and birthday party's, now I try to remember what happen with the help of pictures and Donna's memories.
We arrived home on Saturday October 5 and we went next day, October 6 to Daniel and Gina's new mansion to celebrate Eliana's first birthday!

Happy First Birthday Eliana

Before

After

A very happy birthday party with lot's of people

The proud parents and Eliana

Grandma was happy too

She loves her new toy's

They learn fast how to open presents

Just a week after on Sunday Oct 13 we all got together to celebrate again my birthday. The weather was beautiful and as always we had a great Party. This time in our house.

Ice cream Birthday cake, my favorite.

It is so nice to have the whole family together.

Time to open my Presents

It describes me perfect

My favorite football team.

enjoying all the nice birthday wishes

and a mystery package

Awesome, a brand new laptop.

some Tiki torches for next summer.

With 2 down we anticipated 4 more birthday party's to go in the next 2 months, but first we spent the next few weekends going to watch Luke playing football. It was well worth, because this third grade football team was well trained and a pleasure to watch winning game after game. They lost only one out of approximate 10 games and by only two points. They also ended up winning the third grade super bowl! Congratulation and a big hug for Luke.

A couple of times we took Luke to the 2 hour training sessions

Luke wearing jersey #67

No wonder they are a winning team!

The team after winning the Super Bowl 2013

Great Job Luke!!!

While Luke did great in football, Jacob accelerated in music and he made 2nd chair for the alto sax in the all district honors band!

Congratulation Jacob!!

Where do you get that musical talent from

The concert is about to begin

During all this busy time, we had Halloween and just like last year, our neighbor Joyce and Ed came to see use for a chat and some drinks.

They have the right spirit and dress up for the occasion!

We had a great time

and on leaving we made another date for next year!

Lately we been blessed with taking care of the children inclusive Nitro. Jacob and Luke stayed over a few nights on the weekends and because they both had birthdays in November we took them out to Dave and Buster all day for food and playing games.

We are happy to be trusted a few hours at the time with Eliana, when Gina and Daniel have some business to attend. It is such a delight and privilege to take care of her. the best time is when we have all them together.

I am becoming a pro in this

See, she wants more

Having lunch in Dave and Buster

We all had a good time

They just love this machines

Even I got into it

This is easier

Donna took them on a walk in the neighborhood

Eliana with out exception is always happy!

The boy where happy with there birthday gift and just one week later, on November 23rd we celebrated Gina's Birthday. I made her favorite, a ceviche like seafood dish. Of course I cooked some other food that day, but can't remember what it was.

3 days later, Daniel and Gina left for a mini vacation with Eliana to Minneapolis. It was Thanksgiving and Donna and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Brian, Windy, Jacob and Luke.

The sad thing is, I can't find not one picture of this last week. Anyway, it is December, time for me to bake Christmas cookies. Lots of them, actually I made over 1000 of them. for all the family, friends and all my neighbors.

I made all the same cookies as last year except this

Hazelnut Pralines

Here we go, one more Birthday party for this year. It is Windy's big 40!!! We all came together in our house for the Birthday dinner. We had pork Marengo with Tropical Rice. ( Rice with sauteed diced Mango, Avocado and Tomatoes. It was delicious, but the kid's did not care for it !

Check out this beautiful Candle

Eliana is helping with the birthday presents

Sorry Windy, its your day but Eliana gets all the attention

I guess, it is still her privilege

At least your husband and I took care of you.

Another year past and it is Christmas again. We all got together around 1 pm.
I decided instead of a sit-down Lunch we will snack on some finger food. I had some Christmas deviled eggs, ham, prosciutto, salami, assorted cheese, smoked salmon, iced shrimp, and of course, beef
tartar with melba toast. Windy brought some chicken salad sandwiches. As you see, plenty of delicious food.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Princess

What a great Family

A perfect Christmas picture

Christmas deviled Eggs

They're waiting to open presents.

While we are all partying, Daniel is programming my laptop

Eliana is only a short time away from walking

Eliana hanging with Grandma before going home

We are coming rapidly to the end of the year, and they all decided to give the chef a break and have the eight annual New Years Eve party at Ackermann acres. Everybody showed up around 6 pm, even Brian, Windy, Jacob and Luke. Only the Lombardo's were missing. We all had a great time, good food and drinks. Brian, Windy and Jacob left early and the rest of us stayed over night.

Eliana is not very fond of the party hat

beautiful dress Gina

Grossvati is reading a book to the Princess

Eliana loves her cousin Jacob

Windy and Karla love watching the kids playing

Here we go, just can't leave it alone, helping out in the Kitchen

Luke is taping his brother and Eliana

We all finished that big nice bowl full of sangria

After Eliana went to bed , we where playing games

Grandma is helping prepare Eliana for bed

We all had Taco Pastore for dinner

with home made Salsa

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US

It is 2 weeks before Christmas and I finally manage to blog the conclusion of my Swiss vacation. Lately I was really busy because of the holiday's with cooking, party's, football games (Luke's), concerts (Jacobs), car fixing, baby sitting and making one thousand Christmas cookies. But now I am ready again.

Wednesday, Oct 2
The day after my birthday party, surprisingly I felt great and on top of it, the weather was fabulous. Toni and Andrea had no plans and decided to take us down town Zurich for a stroll. We boarded the train in Oberglatt and after a 30 minutes ride we arrived in Zurich Hauptbahnhof. From there we walked down the world renown Bahnhofstrasse, the shopping mecca of the rich and famous! Of course we where only looking not baying.

After crossing the bridge over the river Limmat and enjoying a bag of roasted chestnut from a street vendor we checked out the Opera house, the ETH (Eidgenossisch Technische Hochschule), the University of Zurich and of course the Niederdorf with all the shop's and restaurants.

Back at the Hauptbahnhof they had some kind of festival and I had the chance to get my beloved veal bratwurst from the grill with bread and mustard, the one you only find in Switzerland! It was great, a fantastic conclusion to another beautiful day.

Thursday, Oct 3
The morning of our last day in Switzerland we spend time packing the suitcases. Correction, Donna did, I just took it easy. Toni drove to the Airport to meet his friend Dieter Eppler, an other Swiss pilot, to pick up a Book "Blindflug Abu Dhaby" written by Dieter when he was living with his family in Abu Dhabi. It was his gift to me for my 70 birthday. I really like to thank him for this great gift. He probably don't know, but he inspired Andrea to start a blog and she started me off. So thank you Dieter.

In the afternoon we traveled to Turgi, my hometown, we where invited for some afternoon beverage with some fruit, cheese and french pastry from the "Himmel" pastry shop, where I did my apprenticeship 54 years ago. We where invited by Brigit, Bene and Else to have our last get together before departure.

Brigit and Bene took care of us with a nice display of food and plenty of Beverage.

As most of the time , I am the only one with some alcohol.

Brigit and Else having a good time

Toni always has the right answers.

Bene a quiet observer

Brigit enjoying some french pastry

Donna passionately trying to understand

the Swiss German / English mix

Else was my Jass (a card game) Partner when I was young

We went to inspect Brigit's garden

While Bene and Andrea having a quick smoke

Bene's beautiful pepper plant.

Brigite's patio chairs

A close up of Bene's clever paint job.

You actually try to wipe the chair before sitting down

A great picture of Else. She is on the way home to her own house.

After that great gathering Toni and I had to return my rental car at the Airport, while Donna was finishing packing and Andrea was checking us in for our return flight to Chicago.

Friday, Oct 4

Toni and Andrea drove us to the airport at 10:30 am for our one o clock flight back to the States. I was a little bit depressed, I could easy use another couple week's of the fresh air of Switzerland, but I also know, every vacation comes to an end.