Trip to Geneva

Here's a photo from two weekends ago, when Clara was sick:


And here's Clara demonstrating that just because you know how to walk doesn't mean you always get where you're going quickly:



Last weekend Tanja and I took a short trip to Geneva, Switzerland, while Clara's Opa came and took care of her. It was only the second time that we've both been away at the same time. Actually, while waiting for the flight we realized that if you don't count trips to visit family and trips to conferences, it's the first time since we met that Tanja and I have ever flown somewhere together!

We went to visit my friend and former colleague Monica, who took this photo of us while she was showing us the town of Montreux:


Monica took us to visit the wonderful Chateau de Chillon, which is much much bigger than it looks in this photo:


The view of the lake and mountains from inside of the castle was amazing. By eye you really couldn't see where the water met the sky:


One thing that's funny about that part of Switzerland is that whenever there is a small plot of land without a house or street on it they put up a tiny vineyard. Take a look at this one next to the train station:


Tanja waiting for the train back to Geneva:


We had a great time while we were there (thanks Monica!!), and Clara had a great time with her Opa while we were gone! I guess she missed us a bit, since she occasionally asked "Opa, wo ist Mama? Wo ist Daddy?" But overall it went really well, and I think they both had a lot of fun.

We were only away for two and a half days, but we both noticed a dramatic improvement in Clara's speaking on returning. She's speaking much more clearly, and her sentences are much more well formed. There are still lots of funny exceptions, though. Last week when Tanja asked her to do something Clara responded "Will das nicht, ich" ("Don't want to, I").

Clara can also do a lot more (put on and take off clothes and shoes) and has at least some understanding of logical consequences. Today at the playground when Tanja complained that she was cold, Clara told her "Mach die Jacke zu!" ("Close your jacket!")

"Ich will das nicht" and "Clara mag das nicht" ("I don't want to" and "I don't like it") are unfortunately heard around our house pretty often these days. Clara is crazy stubborn about food (she makes me as a 12 year old look good), and it's almost impossible to get fruits and vegetables into her. The exceptions are things that are high in protein: lentils, avocado, nuts. It's amazing - if we try to sneak even a tiny tiny piece of vegetable in with some meat or potato her whole face screws up and she spits it out!

Next weekend we're going to Rostock to visit friends, and the weekend after that is Easter, so we should have lots of interesting things to post in April!