Yesterday 10 girls went on an adventure in the Swiss Alps… we hiked for 5 hours through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Fresh Fall mountain air, marmots, sheep, mountain goats, suspension bridges, glaciers, clean cold mountain streams, ups and downs, twists and turns and some seriously tired legs! Somehow, feeling so small in these ancient, grand and gorgeous mountains invites a most refreshing percpective. I am only a minute moment in time, only a visitor, a guest…this world- these mountains have seen so much more than I could ever imagine and you realize in that moment of clarity just how insignificant everything else is and how lucky you are to share a moment with a mountain.

What is it about little girls on little ponies… endless giggles and sheer joy.

This is what you get roped into when you’re the third child… squished into a small  doll’s stroller, tied up with twine, (so that the upper half of your body is not propelled violently forward) and wiped around the house at full speed…

Grow big or go home

It’s a dreary, rainy day and I’m feeling like fall is upon us, but I’m not quite ready to let go of summer or my summer tan.  With 3 kids I don’t have time to go bake in a sun tanning bed (nor do I want to) or better yet let me pop into a spray tan joint with a one year old… hahaha… that would be a disaster! I also don’t like tanning creams… all that rubbing and smearing for a streaky nuclear orange glow, no thanks. However,  I have finally found the best tanning cream from Bare Essentials Faux Tan Body.  It comes out dark so you can see exactly where you are applying, it smells great and does not leave you orange. Also available just for faces called Faux Tan Faces. Find it in Switzerland HERE.

Please freeze time…

Life with a busy almost one year old… By 9.30 am he has dismantled the entire house… creating a carpet of toys, pots, pans, clothing and bathroom toiletries all the while opening and closing every. fucking. cabinet. and. drawer. at least 20 times. After he feels like his masterpiece is complete and he could not possibly find the energy to tear open one more package of flour to dump and spread on the floor, he goes down for a nap. After a quick nap he has a seat in his high chair (throne) so he can admire his stellar baby skills of  house trashing. However, now he must focus on covering himself from head to toe in his lunch, while he eats non-stop for a solid hour ensuring he will have an enormous crap for that lady who loves to change his stinky’s. After lunch it’s time for another quick nap followed up by boredom and whinging as this house is entirely to messy to play in, so he moves on to greener pastures- the back yard. This is where he will spend the rest of the day trying to escape, eating all the dirt from the potted plants and leaving the left overs to be  emptied onto the terrace. He will also wile away the hours trying to lift, run and impale himself with the biggest stick he can find, stopping occasionally for a round of slug squishing… and that shits not gooey at all. After the back yard fun hunger kicks in and it’s time to repeat his lunch skills and then finally, finally  it’s time to pass out from a totally awesome day. Phew.

I love this guy.

Viola and I were alone in the car the other day and she longingly remarked that she was missing Chicago and more specifically how she would love to be on a walking adventure in the city and go into Dylans candy bar. My heart sank and sang simultaneously… In that split second I was overcome with home sickness and wanted run back to Chicago and raise savvy city kids. A second later I recovered and was just so happy that there was apart of her that already loved, longed and appreciated the hustle, bustle and adventure of a big city.  This place is awesome… a real life Willy Wonka factory.