Weekend with Ira

http://www.chillon.ch/de/

Since our kids were off on their own perspective adventures, Ira and I did some light 
shopping,went to get our Swiss driver's license...quite a process but once received, it's 
forever and to this amazing castle, Chateau de Chillion. So big and so old.  Started around 
the 1100's.  Here is a info below.  

The 19th Century excavations carried out, especially, were led by the archaeologist Albert NEAF prove that the rock of Chillon was already inhabited during the Bronze Age.

The present appearance of the palace is the result of centuries of construction and renovations.

The rocky island on which the castle was built, served not only as a natural protection, but also as a strategic point for controlling the passage between northern and southern Europe.

The castle's history can be divided into three main periods:

• The Savoy period  (12th century to 1536) The first written mention of the castle dates from 1150; It shows that the House of Savoy, the route along the Lake Geneva is already controlled.
• The Bernese period (1536-1798) captured the 1536 Swiss - precisely the Bernese - the canton of Vaud and occupied Chillon. For over 260 years the castle retained its role as a fortress, arsenal and prison.During the Vaudois revolution of 1798 left the Chillon Berner.
• The Vaudois era (since 1798) 1803 the castle was owned by the canton of Vaud and its foundation.The restoration work began in the late 19th Century and continues today.

Life....in Leysin

Today Bailey and Brenna left for London.  They are going to see Billy Elliot, The Lion King and something else, I really can't remember.  Brendan also just left for Euro Disney in Paris.  So crazy that the five of us Bigelows are in 3 different countries this weekend but really not unusual to Europeans.  I am leaving my job of caring for the 8th & 9th graders for a job in the Dean's office.  We have a few Dean's but I will be working as the Assistant Dean of Students and that covers behavior.  Not sure I'm cut out for that but my job was changing into more of a Housemistress position and I didn't want to work the hours so....I made the move from being a caregiver and surrogate mother of 8th & 9th graders to a bit of a disciplinary.  I hope I can find the strength to do this job well and stick with it.  Time will tell.

Bailey is planning on going back to America this summer.  Hopefully she will continue with her life guard job in Green Valley Ranch pool and then start college in the fall.  She hasn't submitted her applications yet but will soon and only wants to apply in Colorado.  She really misses her friends and family and Ira and I feel most comfortable, being so far away, that Bailey will have her family to help her in need, if she stays close to home.  Aunt Cheryl has graciously agreed to Bailey moving in so that her comute is manageable without a car.  I also have faith Aunt Cheryl will keep Bailey in line and on task!

Brenna has adjusted well and works hard in the IB program.  She is on a different campus but I still see her 4-5 times a week.  She is in Student counsel and is applying to be a prefect next fall.  She also works the school store and is involved in the arts...singing in an after school club called Rock Band, playing in Jazz band and also does a little Drama...supporting Bailey in her lead role of Comedy of Errors.

Brendan is growing taller and taller.  He surpassed me this past summer (not too hard) and has slightly surpassed Ira.  He is a typical 14 year old boy.  He doesn't need much attention and is at that stage where he likes to cuddle but only when no one is watching.  Hasn't shown much interest in girls yet... that I know of but he's also pretty tight lipped and wouldn't share anything with me anyway.

That's all for now...thanks for reading.

Evian/Yvoire

A couple of friends of ours invited Ira and I on a day trip to Evian and Yvoire, Saturday.  Evian is where the bottled water comes from and is about an hour or so away along the coast of Geneva Lake or Lac Leman from Leysin, CH were we live.  It was a beautiful fall day and the weather was perfect.  The water on Lake Geneva was still, clear and beautiful.  We stopped off in a cemetery because the flowers were so pretty and abundant.  This is where our picture was taken.  The shopping was charming along the cobblestone streets and we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the The Swan Bed and Breakfast, http://www.hotellescygnes.com/

Overall, a nice Saturday day trip, I thought I would share with you.  The picture on the right shows the architecture, as well as our friends, Thom & Joan Padick.

Brenna singing at the acoustic show (10/2011) at LAS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK_FnDteJ28

Brenna is in an after school club at Leysin American School called Rock School.  They put their first concert on in October.  Here she is doing a solo, Save Me From Myself by Christina Aguilera.