Another drive-by!

Ann called tonight to see if we were home. she said Nate had something to show us. Hmmmm. He turned 15 on Saturday - I thought I knew what he had, so I grabbed my camera. I got out in front just as Nate pulled up in front of the house. I was right! He got his learner's permit. Good on ya Nate! I can't believe how fast these kids are growing up!

Crew FC II

Last night we went to see Crew FC II play soccer. Bryan is coaching and Jace, Dean and Kendrick are on the team. It was at Wadman Park and didn't start until 6:40 PM. By the time the game was over, the kids needed a florescent soccer ball! It was dark - and cold! I took a picture of the coaches and the grandkids, but it's grainy. Too light for the flash, but too dark for a clear picture. I can't wait to ask Mike to pose for another. I took three pics, and he looked increasingly annoyed with each one. (I'll replace this picture if/when I get a better one.)

Utah Clash!

Jeff has put together a comp softball team that includes Baylee and her cousin Katelyn. They had their debut this Saturday where they split. One win - one loss. The team they lost to was mostly players from Rocky's softball team, and the Clash held them to 6 points. Not bad, I'd say!

Nathan turns 15

We went to a birthday dinner for Nathan tonight - he turns 15 on Saturday. He's a great kid! Happy birthday, Nate!

The Dimpled Duo battles it out on the field...

Jack and I split our time at the showdown in Plain City today. We spent the first half of the game with Park and Peggy on the sidelines of the Grizzly's. At half-time, with a score of 6-6, we moved over to the Silver Wolves' side. The game ended with a tie - which would have been fine with me - but went into overtime and the Grizzly's ended up handing the Wolves their first loss of the season. It was a great game and both boys played their hearts out! I sure love these two!!!

The last days and home once more. Aufwiedersehen!

Jack and I went to the COOP. On the wall, they had hundreds of drawings sent in by school children - kind of like what we see at home.
I liked this cool poster that was on the wall of a building down by the train station. I'm not sure if we went on this particular train - but it's like a couple we rode.

I liked this statue of Peter and his goats. I knew they must be right out of Heidi.

It's always time for a nibble of chocolate!

We bought some thing at the COOP for lunch and ate while we waited for the boat to take us back over to Bönigen.

Here comes our boat - the Jungfrau! Pretty colorful, eh?

We passed a castle on the hill, and a waterfall.

I think this is the lower part of that waterfall.

Jack told me about the cute signs by the restrooms on the boat, so I asked him to go get pictures of them. ;o)

Another of my favorite pictures! I took this from the deck of the Jungfrau.

A beautiful white castle along the shoreline. I always wonder what kind of people live in a place like this!
As we left the dock at one of the ports, I caught a glimpse of this woman with her dogs. Was she smiling for my camera???
We passed another boat on the river. Transportation system is always active in Switzerland - whether it's boat, train or bus!

I think this is a young swan on the river by the dock.

Later in the day - back in Bönigen, Jack and I went grocery shopping once again. This cow is across the street from one of the markets. I needed a picture of Jack, milking her. ;o)
What do you know? They have pink mountains in Switzerland too. I took this shot from the driveway of the chalet.

Some of the family, lounging after dinner

Jack wrote a message in the log book, left by the owner of the chalet. I looked through it and found that people from all parts of the world had stayed there! Even a few from the United States.Danny and Jack packed all the luggage into the van and we were ready to leave. I was shocked that all our bags fit inside!
One more Magnum Bar in the freezer. Dad couldn't eat it, but Jack found some room.

One last shot of the beautiful Swiss countryside!

At the airport - can you believe all this stuff was in that van? Along with 7 passengers???

A sign on a luggage cart in airport parking

At the airport, Danny and Dalena had to re-pack Big Red. She weighed too much!!!
After nine hours in the air, we landed at JFK. I had to take a shot of the New York City skyline.
We arrived in SLC about 12:30 AM, but Dad was awake and still smiling. What a trip!

Switzerland = Cheese and Chocolate!

Dad started off the day with a bowl of yummy, home made muesli. Uncooked oatmeal, milk, honey, grated apple and a variety of fresh, chopped fruit. Delicious!
Okay, HERE is the best bread we had in Europe - and we had a lot of wonderful breads! Luzern bread! Oh my! I think the flour must have been made of toasted wheat kernels. Absolutely out of this world!
After breakfast, Jack and I went on a walk. These beautiful white flowers were growing in a garden in the neighborhood.
I wanted to get a shot of the huge stack of firewood by the side of this house. Almost all the houses have a store of firewood, and it is all stacked just this neatly!
We walked down by the milk depot. Too bad we didn't have a pitcher so we could demonstrate! Basically, you put your pitcher on the shelf Jack's pointing to - deposit your coins and push a button and voila! Fresh milch! One of my students asked if there was a cow behind the wall. :o)
We stopped at the neighborhood market and I had to get a picture of the orange eggs. Eggs over there come in 6's or in 10's. We never saw a dozen eggs!

Jack thought we should snap a pic of a local school yard.

Here's a mural that was on the front entrance of the elementary school.

I loved the doors that welcomed visitors into the school.

This pic is for Ann! I know how she adores pink flamingos! ;o)

We passed some ducks and swans on the way back to the chalet.

That afternoon, we drove up, up, up into the mountains. When we got to the top, we started going down and into village after village in the valleys of the mountains. We were on a mission!
Ahhhh! The chocolate factory! We didn't see Charlie - but we sure saw a lot of chocolate!

I've always loved this picture!

Jack and the bean"stalk."

Examining and sniffing those cocoa beans. Ahhhhh!

We went through a candy making assembly line. I had to laugh at the cutting machine. Madame Guillotine!
At the end of the tour of the factory, we were led into the celestial room of chocolate! There was a counter that went all around the room, with every kind and flavor of chocolate you could imagine! All you could eat! I'm not sure how Dalena got away with it, but she pulled out a napkin and filled it with as many chocolates as it would hold. Looking at the pointing lady on the right - maybe she didn't get away with it! haha
Her bundle neatly stashed, Dalena joined her mom and Lisa for a few more "on the spot" taste tests. Mmmmmmmm

Our next destination was the village of Gruyeres - and the cheese factory!

See? Here's the sign! I forgot to mention that both Cailler Chocolate Factory and the village of Gruyeres are in the French speaking part of Switzerland.

This is the view from Gruyeres, down into one of the valleys below.

French

The streets of Gruyeres were very quiet. We were there at around 7 PM on a Monday night. We figured everyone was having Family Home Evening. ;o)
We stopped in a little shop that sold lots of cool souvenirs! The guy showed us lots of intricate wooden toys and puzzles that were hopefully made is Switzerland and not in China!

Dad and me at the place we stopped for a dinner of...

Cheese fondue! I liked the plates - cows, cows, cows!

It was a little chilly outside, and Magdalena warmed her hands on the heated fondue pot.
Lisa and Dalena ordered bowls of tiny potatoes to dip - in addition to the yummy bread chunks.
Cows on the fondue pots too. I guess, basically, cows are responsible for all this yumminess!
As we left the village of Gruyeres, we were taken by the sight of the moon nestled between the two mountain peaks and framed by two buildings that stood at the village entrance.
And last, but not least, we had to get a picture of this motorcycle that was in the parking lot outside the village. Cows, cows, cows!!!