Snow!

All the locals said it didn't snow much last year. Well, while we haven't had much snow, it certainly has started early. The first snow was on a Sunday before Halloween, with steady flurries for several hours as I trudged off to attend a big Zurich watch show and swap meet (I admit that I am developing a bit of a watch fetish since arriving - can you blame me?).

The pictures here are of a solid snow during mid-November. This one actually produced enough snow that it stuck around for a few days and started contemplation about all the fun winter things we might be able to do in Zurich.

We trudged down to the local sporting goods store and promptly bought a cool looking sled. Unlike in the US, the cheapest sled we could find new was one that cost about $40. The upside is that it looks quite solid and it comes with a steering wheel and a brake that both actually work. Elliot actually got to give a try on a nice hill about a 10 minute walk from our apartment and a few times just outside our apartment building. He was quite thrilled.

Our other big new winter activity is skating. Isaac has gotten quite fast while Elliot has learned how to make himself go in a little circle. Even I have learned how to go moderately fast around the rink without falling on my backside. We have bought skates for the boys that can be made larger as they grow (you turn a crank and extend the length of the boot). We have gone to 2 different skating rinks and have been having good fun. The next big thing, I suppose, will be to try skiing again. I haven't skied since college, and it was very painful then. But I'm hoping my newfound skating skills will transfer to the slopes. The Swiss schools are out of session for 2 weeks in February specifically so everyone can go skiing - so, when in Rome (or Switzerland)!