Good-bye Switzerland

This is it…the last entry of the Millie-meter. We are so appreciative of the support from our family and friends along the way, including all those people who regularly checked-in on us through this blog.

Our lives have forever been changed from our Switzerland experience. We will never forget the beautiful places we visited and the wonderful people we met along the way.

Au revoir Switzerland and hopefully à bientôt.

Adjusting

We’ve been back in Minnesota for about three weeks now. Most of our free time has been spent with family, and we are now starting to reconnect with friends. We have been asked numerous times how the transition is going. To answer that question, it’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster at times. I think we’re doing the best we can considering our belongings are still somewhere on a ship in the middle of an ocean and we’re living out of suitcases.

A lot of people are also asking what we miss most about Switzerland. Our list is already kind of long. More than anything we miss the beauty of it. It really did feel like a postcard with the mountains and vineyards and lake. Matt and I are both struggling with the driving here. Matt is missing his 15 minute commute to Lausanne. He’s now in the car for over an hour one way and it’s only going to get worse with the snow this winter. I’m in the car everyday to run any errands, which is a big adjustment from our time in Switzerland. Plus it’s cold here and that’s only going to get worse. And of course we miss our friends.

There are some things we’re enjoying back home. It’s great to be able to understand what everyone is saying. I’m going to keep up my French if I can but it is really nice to be able to communicate everything I want. Finn and I are also having fun with all the activities that are available to moms and children, and they’re affordable! We’ve also enjoyed a few meals out, which is a fairly new experience for Finn. We rarely went to restaurants in Switzerland, mainly due to the crazy expense of it.

A Different View

Finn and Millie are often in this pose as they take in the view out our front window. Very different from the mountains and lake we had for four years. Finn enjoys watching cars and trucks go by, especially on garbage day. I prefer the boats we used to see out our window when we lived in Switzerland.

Our Last Désalpe

We spent our last weekend in Switzerland with a very traditional festivity. We returned to the village of Saint-Cergue for the Désalpe (the return of the cows from the mountain pastures). We were spoiled the first time we went several years ago with a beautiful sunny day. This time we were not so lucky with the weather. It was cold and rainy but it didn’t stop us. Despite the weather we enjoyed a few rounds of cows parading through town.

We will miss these Swiss festivities. Where else in the world do you find cows with treetops and flowers decorating their heads and enormous bells around their necks being herded through town while people drink wine and eat cheese?

Goodbye Cain Girls

Finn had one last outing with his good pals, Eva and Zoe, before we moved. We spent a nice morning at the local zoo together. As they always do, the girls kept Finn thoroughly entertained.

We are missing our frequent playdates with Zoe and Eva’s babysitting skills. They could make Finn giggle like no one else. Sure wish we had them right next door again.

Hello, Mickey!

We took Finn to Disneyland Paris for a long weekend in September. It also happened to be Matt’s birthday that weekend so he got to celebrate with Mickey and the gang. We spent two full days at the park with our friends, James and Leona, and Leona’s brother’s family. Although Finn won’t remember the experience, we always will.

Some of our favorite rides were It’s a Small World and the Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin. We also went to a show at Mickey’s Clubhouse and several parades. There were lots of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from Finn as he watched the parades. He did great with the lines and crowds and even managed to stay up late for most of a light show.

I think the highlight for Matt was the one-liter beers he and the other guys enjoyed while the kids took a nap.

Chaos

Whew! The last month has been a bit of a blur. We packed a lot into our last month in Switzerland.

No matter how much we tried to prepare for the chaos of moving house, it was still overwhelming. We were physically and emotionally exhausted by the time we got on the airplane to return to Minnesota.

Fribourg

The other day my friend, Leona, and I ventured out with the babies to Fribourg for the day. Both of our hubbies were traveling for work that week so it was a perfect opportunity to get out and explore Switzerland together. It was about an hour drive there so just the right amount of time for the two babies to squeeze in a nice nap.

We spent the day walking around the city as well as viewing it aboard the P’tit Train. The ride provided headphones to listen to the history of the city, but we missed all that because we were too busy trying to keep two wiggly 13 month olds contained on the train. Not an easy feat but we managed to keep them both safely aboard. The babies also cooperated as we did some shopping and toured St. Nicolas Cathedral, dating from the 1200s.

Our only snafu for the day was getting Isobel’s carseat stuck in my car. Between the two of us we could not get the thing out. Luckily, Leona didn’t need it for a few days. Matt popped it out with no problem when he returned from his trip to the US. He made it look real easy, too, which I didn’t appreciate.

Four

That’s the answer to the question, “How many letters has it taken to terminate our housing lease?” I’m not sure what was wrong with the first, second or third letters. I’m hoping the fourth one does the trick.

Also on our to-do list for the move was to de-register with the city of Morges. Today we received our ‘Attestation de depart’ which is a document stating we need to leave Morges by the date we provided them.

Bon Voyage Millie

Millie made the big trip back to the US last Friday. Matt had to go to Minnesota for work so we decided it would be easier to take Millie now rather than when we all go in a month. The idea of Finn, Millie, carseat, dog crate and suitcases all safely getting to the airport made my head hurt. Hopefully this simplifies things a bit when we make the final trip.

It was very sad to see Millie leave Switzerland. I think she really enjoyed her time in this country. It’s a dog’s dream here – dogs are allowed everywhere – public transportation, cafes, stores, hotels. She’s going to miss hiking in the Alps and daily walks by Lake Geneva.

The flight was uneventful this time. (When Millie came to Switzerland the airline somehow managed to lose her for a period of time in Chicago, so anything is improvement over that experience.) She did well on the flight and was happy to see Matt at the baggage claim.

Millie is staying with my parents for the next month. Besides waking them in the middle of the night because she’s jetlagged, she’s adjusting well.

It’s Official

Our four-year adventure in Switzerland is coming to an end.  The McCarthy's are moving back to Minnesota.  Matt accepted a job at the Corporate office there so we’ll be leaving in just a few weeks.  We’re looking forward to being closer to our family and friends again, but we also feel sad to leave our home here.  There are so many things we’ll miss about living in Switzerland.  It’s been an incredible journey. 

A Very Swiss Holiday

Earlier this month we spent a week at a chalet in the small village of Saas Fee. We had a great time exploring the area by foot (no cars are allowed in the village). The scenery was amazing with the mountains and glaciers. We had all the Swiss fixings, too – alphorns, yodeling, Rösti (a traditional potato dish). It was a wonderful holiday.

Weekend Hike

We headed out for a hike on Saturday to the Great St. Bernard Pass, which is the third highest pass in Switzerland and links Switzerland and Italy. Our final destination was Lacs de Fenetre.

Matt had been on this hike once before with a neighbor so he knew what to expect. I did not. I thought it was a hard hike, especially the first part. I guess I voiced this opinion multiple times because Matt said my whining was at a 7 out of 10 for the day. I like to keep my whining to a 5 but this was a hard hike for me. Luckily I had Millie to help pull me up some of the inclines. Finn, on the other hand, never complained once. He loves being in the backpack.

We had a gorgeous view of the mountains and lake for our picnic.

Happy Birthday Switzerland

We celebrated Swiss National Day on August 1st. Even though it’s a holiday here Matt had to work so Finn and I joined our friends, the Ogdens, in Ouchy. We spent an afternoon swimming at Bellerive Plage and then a walk along the lake, which was made complete with ice cream.

We thought the fireworks in town would be cancelled with all the thunder and lightning but they still had them. We were able to watch a great fireworks display in all the villages around us from the comfort of our own terrace.

Finn showed his Swiss spirit with a new hat. Happy 721st birthday, Switzerland!

Joyeux Anniversaire

We celebrated Finn’s first birthday earlier this month. It was a joint party with Finn’s little buddy, Isobel, who is just four days younger. We had the party at the Bellerive Plage in Lausanne, which is a park with a beach and three pools. Highlights for Finn were playing in the sand with Daddy and eating cupcakes. We had a great time celebrating our little boy with wonderful friends.

Visitors

July has been a good month for visitors. Our friends, Didi and Suzie and their girls came back from Malaysia for two weeks. It’s been a little over a year since they left Switzerland. We had a great time hanging out with them. It felt like they never left. Our friend, Dan, also came for a visit as part of a work trip. It’s been two years since Dan and Jen moved from Morges back to Milwaukee. Didi and Dan’s visit overlapped by one night so they enjoyed a few beers and a lot of laughs on our terrace with Matt that night. Just like old times.

My friend, Cassie, was in France for several weeks so she hopped on a train to Lausanne to meet Finn and me. Our afternoon consisted of strolling along the shores of Lac Leman, taking in the pretty scenery and eating ice cream. A perfect afternoon! I’m so happy she made the trip to see us and to meet Finn.

Haircut #2

Finn’s first haircut back in May didn’t go so well. He screamed the entire time so I was dreading the next one. My friend, Christina, was brave enough to attempt haircut #2. Overall it went very smoothly thanks to the help she brought with her. Distraction #1 (Eva) and Distraction #2 (Zoe) kept Finn thoroughly entertained the entire time.

Lookin’ good! Thanks, Christina!



Ça suffit

That mean’s ‘Enough!’ in French.  This is how I’m feeling about the construction work that has been going on in our backyard for two years.  It is constant jackhammering every day.  The noise is better when the windows are closed but we’ve had some hot and humid weather the last few weeks.  No air conditioning makes for a really warm apartment with the windows closed.  Even Finn agrees that the noise is too much some days. 

Road Trip

Matt went on his annual hiking trip to Montana so I decided Finn and I needed a change of scenery, too. We took a road trip to Colmar, France, which is in the heart of Alsace wine country. Our hotel was in a perfect location, smack in the middle of the historical center of town. Except for the tiniest elevator ever (tight fit with a stroller) and the room facing the center of town, which made for loud music at night from the pubs below us, it was a decent hotel.

We spent two days wandering around Colmar and taking in the sights. The architecture was beautiful with the half-timbered houses painted bright colors. We enjoyed exploring the different quarters of the town. My favorite was Petite Venise (Little Venice). Our second day there was their market day so we had fun wandering through it and finding some local treats. Finn discovered his love for croissants and kugelhopf (a turban-shaped sweet roll, stuffed with dried fruits and nuts – actually ours had chocolate chips in it). Another local food I really enjoyed was the tarte flambee, which looked like a pizza with really thin crust and was covered in bacon, onion and cream.

Other highlights included Finn’s first ride on a carrousel, wine tasting at the local wineries, and the Musee du Jouet (Toy Museum). Finn enjoyed watching the model train displays. We also saw a puppet show. Finn liked the puppets but they freaked me out a bit. They looked like zombies. Creepy looking things!

The third day we ventured to another little village on the Route du Vin (Wine Route) called Ribeauville. We walked through the old town, did a little shopping and had a picnic before making the three-hour ride home. Finn slept the entire way home. All in all it was a very successful roadtrip for mama and son.

We Made It

Finn and I were home alone for 12 days while Matt was in the US.  It was tiring at times, especially when he wasn’t sleeping well some of the nights, but we made it.  I have a lot of respect for single parents who do it all the time.  We were both very happy to see Daddy at the airport. 

Hangin’ at the Beach

We spent an afternoon at the beach in Préverenges during Barb’s visit.  Préverenges is a small village next to Morges.  It was Finn’s first time playing in the sand and splashing around in the water.  The weather was hot so the beach was crowded, which meant some good people watching (no topless sunbathers this time though).

Chocolate & Cheese

What a perfect combo for a day trip! Barb wanted to visit the Cailler Chocolate factory near Gruyere so we ventured out while Matt was working. I’d been there several years ago when my parents visited so it was a repeat trip for me but I never say no to chocolate. I was pleasantly surprised to find they had remodeled since my last visit. The tour was well-done and informative (even the chocolatier from Peru who was in our group thought so) and it held Finn’s attention with the lights and sounds. The highlight of the tour was the tasting room. So much chocolate, so little time to try them all! We did our best and sampled a variety of the Cailler chocolates. The only thing missing was a big glass of milk. The photos are from the playground just outside the factory.

We then drove a few more kilometers to Gruyere and had a nice lunch on a terrace overlooking the Alps. Barb had fondue for lunch and I had macaroni de chalet, which is macaroni cooked in a cauldron over a wood fire with onions. Just before serving, cream and grated Gruyere cheese are added. Yum! No chocolate for Finn, but he did enjoy some Gruyere cheese from Gramma Barb’s plate.

Jet-Lagged

Finn and I had a great time in Minnesota.  It was so nice to be with family, to meet my nephew, Wyatt, and to attend my friend Shannon’s wedding.  Finn was an angel on both flights.  He slept almost the entire 8 hours from Minneapolis to Amsterdam.  I wish he was sleeping that well now that we’re back home.  He’s still struggling with naps and bedtime.  Lucky for us Matt’s mom made the trip back with me.  She was kind enough to take a few late night shifts with him. 

Minnesota Bound

Finn and I leave for a trip to Minnesota next Saturday. We have a lot scheduled for one week: a conference for me, a wedding (Yea, Shannon!), a birthday party, a baptism, a trip to the zoo with Gramma Barb and Grandpa Terry and a visit to Underwater World at the Mall of America with Grandma Thoma and Great Grandpa Klenz. All in just 8 days!

It’s going to be an interesting flight. Finn is in constant motion these days. He spends his time crawling anywhere and everywhere. He also has opinions about things and voices his dislike with a high-pictched scream. I’m sure the passengers sitting around us on the plane are going to love us.

Tulip Time Again

Matt said I’ve already blogged about tulips multiple times but it is that time here in Morges. We’ve had a lot of rain this month so we haven’t been out to enjoy them as much as in past years. In a recent trip to the tulip park Matt took the opportunity to teach Finn about the Sequoia trees, too.

Happy Purim

Earlier this month Finn celebrated the Jewish holiday, Purim, with his friend, Mali. One of the traditions of this holiday is for children to dress in costumes. Mali was dressing up as Pebbles from the Flintstones and she wanted Finn to be her Bam Bam. Mali’s mom, Ayelet, made the costumes. Finn was a little nervous about wearing a skirt (Matt said: “It was not a skirt. It was a loin cloth.”) but he looked great. He even had a chance to show off his six-pack abs.

Our Own March Madness

We’re getting back on track after a rough few weeks. Matt had surgery to remove his appendix on the 29th of February. He spent six days in the hospital due to complications because it had ruptured. He was one sick guy. It was scary to see him in so much pain and to go through all this without our family and friends nearby. Thank goodness for our friends here. We could not have done it without their help.

The experience at the local hospital was a challenge with some very frustrating moments. We struggled with the language. Not fun when you’re in a lot of pain (Although I got pretty good at ordering Matt’s meals by the end of his stay). There were some cultural differences, too, that really had us frustrated. We got the feeling doctors don’t like to be asked questions in Switzerland. We had one doctor come in and speak only to the nurse in French. Then he turned to Matt and said, “You’re okay” even though Matt was in a significant amount of pain that day. Plus, the doctor kept his back turned to me and never acknowledged that I was there.

Since coming home Matt’s recovery is going well and he’s feeling better each day. Finn and I have enjoyed spending so much time with him, especially now that he’s feeling more like himself. Matt has lifting restrictions so he hasn’t been able to pick up Finn but he’s been helping in other ways. Some of the favorite activities for Finn and Daddy are reading bedtime stories and going for daily walks. I’ll be happy once he can lift Finn again though because this mama’s back is a-hurtin’.

Friends and Fondue

Several weeks ago we went for a hike to the farmhouse in Mollendruz for fondue. We brought our friends, James and Leona, and their baby, Isobel, with us. Despite the warm temperature there was still a lot of snow. The sky was clear at the beginning of the hike so we had pretty views of the Alps and Lac Leman. Finn probably had the best view as he rode around on Dad’s back. The fondue was as good as always.

Don't Make Me Come Down There

A new apartment building is under construction in our backyard. The Swiss tend to build things at a slow pace – it must be all the concrete they use – so the work has been on-going for well over a year and a half. The noise from the construction can be a bit obnoxious but Finn loves all the action, especially the big crane. It is a source of entertainment at most meals.

Here are a few photos from breakfast the other day:


"I see the crane moving, but...."


"What the heck. No one else is working. Don't make me come down there!"


"Hey, break time is over buddy...get moving! This project seems like it's been taking a lifetime!"


"See, they just needed a little motivational speech."

Finn & His Dou-Dou

Finn has recently started sleeping with a lovey at nap and bedtime. Out of all his stuffed animals I love that he picked the one from my godson, Bryce. The word used for a favorite blanket or stuffed animal in the French-speaking part of Switzerland is ‘dou-dou’ (pronounced like ‘due’). Right now his puppy is just called ‘dou-dou.’ We’ll see what Finn names it once he starts talking.

Ready! Set! Hike, Dad!

Now that Finn can sit up he’s old enough to ride in the child carrier we bought him. He was all smiles as he ‘hiked’ around the apartment with Dad. The real test will be if he likes being in there when we snowshoe.

New Cousin

Finn has a new cousin back in Minnesota. And it’s a boy! Wyatt is the newest addition to my sister’s family. My nieces are ecstatic about their baby brother. I was at the hospital to see both of them within hours of their births so it’s hard not to be there for Wyatt’s. I can’t believe I have to wait until my next trip home before I can cuddle him. It’s going to be fun to watch Finn and Wyatt grow up together.

Still Frizzen

The temperature is no longer in the single digits (Fahrenheit) but it’s still frizzen. The wind is so chilly and shows no sign of letting up going into the weekend. Finn and I braved the cold yesterday because our fridge and cupboard were bare. Other than that we haven’t been outside this week. Needless to say we’re going a little stir crazy in the apartment.

This picture was taken by my friend, Christina, on a walk with her dog, Cleo, this week. Poor Millie probably doesn’t even remember what a walk is. It’s been days since she’s had one.

It’s Frizzen

As our first French teacher in Switzerland used to say in her limited English, ‘It’s frizzen outside.’ We had our first snowfall this week and temperatures are in the twenties during the day and single digits at night. I know it doesn’t compare to Minnesota winters but that’s cold for here. We were hoping to do some snowshoeing in the Jura Mountains this weekend but it’s going to be too chilly. We’ll have to come up with another activity for the weekend.

I do all my errands by foot so I have to bundle Finn up nice and warm in his stroller. Finn received this hat as a gift from my friend, Darcy. It’s hard to tell in the picture but it has built-in earmuffs. Perfect for this kind of weather.

New Wheels

Matt came home with a new car last week because the lease was up on the old one. I promised Matt that I wouldn’t put the wrong kind of fuel in this one or hit any poles. (Editor's note: She means "put the wrong kind of fuel in AGAIN..." and "hit any poles AGAIN.")

Finn also got a new set of wheels. Gramma Barb gave him a Radio Flyer for Christmas. It’s the original one made of metal. It reminded me of the one I had growing up except this one doesn’t have dents in it from Dad running into it with the lawnmower. I warned Finn about the handle. I got clunked on the head with it multiple times as a kid. I think my sister would do it on purpose. The wagon was a little too big for the suitcase so it’s waiting for Finn in Minnesota.

Whew!

We spent three weeks in the US over the holidays and we’ve been back in Switzerland for a little over two weeks now. I think we’re finally getting back into a routine with Finn. Jetlag with an infant is rough.