Bella's first trip to the ER

Pimpa called me at work on Friday to say Bella had taken a tumble down a couple of steps outside, whilst trying to carry her doll up (in her stroller), and she thought maybe she needed checking out. When I got home it was apparent her right shoulder was very droopy and painful when touched, although she wasn't actually crying. So we went to the local ER in Nyon. As Chris once found out after his mountain biking accident, there is not much of an emergency atmosphere in Nyon. Although it did suddenly click as to why people are called patients, it's really a typo, they should be called patience. After a couple of hours wait, having brushed up my French on translation of Barbar au Chateau, eventually we got to go to x-ray. I had thought maybe the shoulder was dislocated, however turns out she had broken her right collar bone. Ooops. About 5:45 we had a shift change when malc brought her some clothes she could go home in, and I went home to relieve Pimpa, alhtough she wasn't so relieved when she heard about the broken bone. But as I said these things happen, really kids fall down steps and do silly things when you're not looking, not her fault.

So what treatment? Just a small bandage in the figure of 8 pulling her shoulders back and lots of pain killers. Well she slept amazingly well, but woke up in pain. I was all ready for a day on the sofa watching DVDs, but Malc said we should carry on as normal and see how she did. Turns out Malc was right, there went my day on the sofa. Unbelievably she almost carried on as if nothing had happened. If I hadn't seen the x-ray I would hardly have believed it. We took down the pain meds a notch today as although she's careful what she does, she seems to be trying to be a bit too normal, getting on the trampoline with Oliver (??). It should take 4-6 weeks to mend, so we've a way to go. Crazy to think she got through the ski season and now this?

Time for a Haircut ?

Seb hasn't had a haircut yet, and he's growing some lovely curls. More curly than Bella's was if I'm not much mistaken. He will soon be mistaken for a girl if he isn't already and he will need a trip to the hairdressers. So don't all kill me when he has his hair cut, I know it's cute, but he'll be needing ribbons soon.

The Ski Season Finale - a Grand Slalom Race

Well it looks like Summer is here, and the snow is finally melting. After a fabulous snow season we went up to Siviez at Easter for what is probably the last ski this season. As is the tradition (apparently) the ski school where Bella goes organise a Ski race for the families, involving a Grand Slalom part way down a red run. (Greppon Blanc) for those who know the area. As getting to the race involved skiing and a button lift, I valiantly agreed to stay home with Sebby. (Nothing to do with not wanting to enter a competition I had no chance of winning). Malc rather more valiantly went off with Bella and took her on her first button lift, which deserves a prize in itself. She followed our friend Carl down the slalom, and was closely followed by Sue in case she went careering out of control. But she finished the course in something over 2 minutes without missing a turn or losing a ski, unlike the brave little boy who took 6 minutes (no not Malc.).

Bella was in the under 7 competition, and she came 8th (out of 9) which bearing in mind she is only 3.5 is still impressive. She collected her prize (a chocolate bunny) later on from the Easter Bunny. There were over 100 people in the competition, with 8 different categories of ages. Carl, Sue, Cameron and Holly got 2 1st prizes and 2 2nd prizes between them and won the overall family 1st prize and the much covetted concrete chicken. Well that gives us something to aspire to doesn't it. What about Malc? Well he wasn't last in the dad's although the competition was fierce, and he's now all fired up to get in to training for next year.

So where does that leave us. At the end of the first season, Bella has 3 medals - a snowman, a green mouse and a bronze mouse. Sebby is looking forward to next year when maybe he can try at least the plastic skis, and might be able to pick himself up when he falls over rather than rolling around like Michelin Boy. He has been sizing up Malc's new skis in anticipation.

We left the apartment all spic and span ready for the Summer hiking and mountain biking season, and moved the snow gear down to the cave.

Egg Hunt in Founex

Spring arrived suddenly in Switzerland. We had a little egg hunt the weekend before Easter as Polly and Oliver were heading back to the UK for Easter. They had to be quick as all the eggs started melting. What may look like a lovely wild meadow is actually are lawn waiting for its first mow of the season. Could probably do with a large dose of weed killer, but if we killed all the wild things there wouldn't be much lawn left.

A Full House

Paul, Jenny and Sam, plus Chris, Una, Alex and Dylan came to stay to celebrate Paul's 40th belated birthday. Unfortunately the weather was a bit rubbish, so lots of time in the playroom, with a couple of foray's outside. However with 5 kids and 6 adults to get out the door, we were coming home before we set off.

Here are some playroom photos of some musical fun and some dressing up fun. Bella was a bit disappointed to be surrounded by so many boys. She tried to convince them to play princesses with her. Sam, much to the horror of Paul, was up for it, not playing Prince Charming, but choosing instead to be Snow White. At the first opportunity Paul switched him to a suitably masculine tiger and watched reassured as he played with a car.

Jo and Flo

and Chris and Oscar came over for a long weekend, and we went up to the mountains. Amazing how many people you can get in a 2 bedroom apartment. Considering we had 4 kids 3 years and under we got a surprising amount of sleep, and a good day's skiing. We didn't venture out to the restaurant though, that could've been a step too far, so we had a traditional fondue at home. Yummy.