Dear Friends and Family,

A lot has changed since our last blog. Lili is now four and pretty much runs the house. She passed the stage of doing chores and learning from her parents and pretty much sets our schedule and delegates our chores.











- the little general -








We have also moved to Tucson, Arizona. This is a big change going from the mountainous lake regions of Switzerland to the Saguaro landscaped high desert of the Old Pueblo. However with lots of luck Rene's company offered him the opportunity to relocate back to the states and Ventana Medical Systems (www.ventanamed.com)

We have purchased a house in Oro Valley... yes we are officially suburbanites... But since the office is only 8 miles away and Rene can ride to work it is quite convenient.

We hope to keep you posted of our new adventure in Tucson. We do enjoy coming back to the states and living closer to family.




Sincerely,
Rene, Erika, Lili and India.

We spent a great three day weekend in Northern Italy visiting Padua - Verona - and Lake Garda. The trip is four hours away and we stayed in San Bonaficio as a launch point to visit the cities. Lili enjoyed the Italian ice cream, the swimming pool and the Italian ice cream.

Overall it was a very enjoyable trip with great weather and beautiful sites. Next month mom comes to visit and we look forward to enjoying another trip.

Enjoy the slideshow.

Joddlerfest 2008!

Recently Erika, Lili and I got to experience a worldwide Jodler competition in Lucerne. The competitors consisted of singing groups, quartets and horns. The competitors came from around the world and often competed in several of the churchs within the area. Within Lucerne however the groups would often practice by holding public performances. This was a very entertaining experience since their performance can be heard resonating from the walls of the city and with the crowds.

Below is a slideshow taken from that day.

Greetings All,

It has been awhile since we last posted anything. Since then Lili has grown quite a bit. She now enjoys riding her scooter, talks a lot and is in the early stages of her potty training. For the past month and a half Lili spent time in both Atlanta and Costa Rica.

The slideshow below shows pictures from our recent vacation.

Greetings All,

Greetings family and friends, we have been busy for the last several months and would like to provide you with a holiday update.

Since we decided to stay in Switzerland for the holidays we tried to make the most of it. During December we visited Weinnachtmarkts (Christmas Markets) in Montreaux, Lucerne, Zurich, Milan, Italy and Berlin, Germany. Berlin by far has the largest Christmas Markets.

Tanya, Scott and Izzy visited us early December. We all enjoyed their company very much and had a great time during our vacation in Zermatt. The scenic train ride was amazing and it was great spending time together enjoying Swiss food, the town, skiing and being with family.

During Christmas our friend Abe and his brother, Balduino, visited us from the States and Netherlands respectively. This was a great visit since we were able to show them Switzerland. On Christmas Erika, Lili and I went sledding at Mt. Rigi while Abe and his brother skiied at Stoos. The day after Christmas we went a road trip to Bellenzona, Switzerland and Milan and Lake Como, Italy. Not a bad way to spend Christmas.

Overall the holiday season was a lot of fun. We were lucky to have family and friends visit. We look forward to going to the states soon to visit everyone there. We will keep you posted and enjoy the pictures.

Little Princess Lilu; a creation story

A creation story dedicated to Lili Eloise on our one year anniversary as a family. On this special day, we will always pause to reflect and be thankful for the gift that brought us a new life.

Long after the world was created and after the animals, birds, people and plants were in place… there came a time of calm and everything was still. For almost a moment all the spirits of the earth were asleep save one. The Great Mother of Little People was the only one awake. She heard a whisper on the wind then; a prayer from a place oceans away. Then again she heard the wish repeated in the crashing of ocean waves against a rocky shore. Then just as her thoughts would drift to something else, she rested for a meal and within the fruits of the earth she could taste a deep and sincere longing. Soon she began to dose, but she was awakened by the smell of someone’s desire for a child on the smoke of a blazing fire in the woods. Whose wish would be so fierce and sincere that even she could not escape it? In that instant, she decided that she alone could make their wish come true.

She set out to create a child for the couple whose desire to become parents seemed so great. She would be a child for all the world to love. She would carry with her all of the secrets and wonders of the earth and sky and stars. The Spirit Mother summoned the other Great Spirits from their slumber to help her one by one. She began with the Spirits of the Sun and Moon. Each of them gave the child a gift from themselves. One small drop of light from the Sun and one from the Moon. Each to light the child’s way in times of need. From the light of the sun, warmth from within, radiant light, and leadership. With this gift came also the ability to cast shadows and doubt. From the light of the moon the child would bring light even in the darkest of times. Pureness of heart and inner calm were benefits of this gift as well. With this gift came unity with all elements of the earth and therefore natural dependence on their cycles. And hence the child’s heart would be generous and kind, but her moods would be unpredictable.

Next she woke the Spirit Mountain to give the child great strength and stability before continuing. A single stone would provide the solid foundation that would be so important. She woke Brother Wood and Sister Sky. They contributed a splinter of wisdom and space for receptivity-- a mind open to all of the world’s order and chaos. A single drop from Father River brought the great gift of flexibility. It also brought the danger of flooding emotions and rushing in. Mother Earth brought many gifts to contribute to the child’s personality. A bounty of colors from subtle to bright, nourishment and growth, myriad flavors – sweet and sour, mild and bitter, bland and tart, tender and tangy… , and a living blanket of protection. For the child would certainly have a nurturing soul. Father of the Old and Infirm gave tolerance and healing. Empathy and pain came along. Father Time donated patience. Brother Dream gave hope, and fear, and imagination. Sister Belief added a drop of Faith.

Many of the Spirits were shocked by the Great Mother’s proposal and refused to contribute. They were afraid of what it would mean for a single human child to carry so many gifts within. Many argued that such a child would carry a great many burdens as a result. The absence of some gifts would have the effect of strengthening the power of each gift that was presented. It would interfere with the natural balance. It added an element of uncertainty. For now the gifts could mix and match and the outcome for certain would be a mystery.

There was one spirit remaining who wished to contribute. For though the Great Mother herself did not wake him, he had heard of the task and would not rest until his gift too was received. It was discussed and debated and argued whether to accept his gift. It would be a gift of great power no matter how small in size. Father Ocean was known only for this. For all of the Spirits knew that each gift brought with it the potential for disaster. But power itself is inevitably a blessing and a curse. The Spirits were aware too of the rage and turbulence that Father Ocean’s gift could summon. Finally the Great Mother decided that any gift, large or small could not be refused. She herself had been determined to create a human child to carry as many of the world’s secrets as she could summon. No gift was too great and no gift was too meek. For all of the gifts were a result of generosity, benevolence, curiosity, and hope. Together they represented unity and strength. Surely these intentions would be reflected in their Creation.

They would call her simply Lilu and they alone would know of her true origins. But she was to be bestowed upon the family whose prayers and wishes would not let the Great Mother of Little People rest. Princess Lilu would be a gift to the human world, but for her parents… she would be a dream come true.

And so it was decided that the seed of Lilu would be planted near the base of one of the oldest and most treasured Spirit Mountains. The child would be born in the ancient civilization of China where all of the Spirits went to gather strength and to consult with the wisdom of the ancestors. But in order to hide the child’s identity, she must begin her life under the most humble and ordinary of circumstances: as an orphan. Before the gifts could be bestowed upon the young one, she would suffer a great loss. This would ensure that the gifts would not come to fruit too early.

The birth mother and father would have great strength of character. Their hearts would be true. It would be their life’s greatest challenge to leave the child to fate, but the strength of the Spirits would guide them. They too would carry always hints of the gifts bestowed upon the child. Though they would always love the child they carried, they would know in their hearts that she was meant to be a special gift. Her Forever mother and father would cross oceans to find her. They had loved her for all of time and it was out of this love that the Spirits knew to create her.

In a great city in China, Lilu met her Forever Family for the first time. The moment they met, time stopped for an instant, and the Spirits congratulated the Great Mother. The three spirits of father, mother and daughter connected in magical, circular bond. Lilu was going home, and the Great Mother of Little People could rest after a long and fruitful journey.

Terrible Two?
This is a common facial expression these days. It is not a pose for the camera. It is not a drill. Hee hee.

Did Picasso fingerpaint? No matter... Lili's style is a little more Jackson Pollack anyway. Not that he used his hands... well, she's just more creative than that...

Barn Raising in Switzerland

Rene and Lili created a barn for her farmers and animals. Rene constructed the barn out of a box and Lili set to work painting. She loves her barn and drags it all over the house. I added a touch of trim with electrical tape. A vallant team effort!

Where's Waldo? No...
Where's Lili? Can you spot her in and amongst the faces? While in Vienna one of the gallery exhibits we visited was electronic and interactive. Lili became a part of the art. She's in there! Keep looking.