I've decided that my kids' generation should be named the Starbucks Generation. Chance's first symbol recognition was the Starbucks sign. My friends and I have basically raised our kids sitting in Starbucks. Chance basically knows where all of them are located in town and that it's about the only place to get a doughnut here in Zurich. He also really likes the coffee-free frappuccinos and his make believe play in the bathtub is to make cappuccinos and lattes out of the bath bubbles. Maybe I should head up Starbucks next marketing theme?
The weekend before last we had what Chance calls "just a relaxing day", basically doing nothing despite the fact that I know we have very limited free weekends between now and the time that I am too fat to move around freely....like 5 total between now and June. So you'd think that we'd be a little motivated to get out and see some new towns, sights and such. But we just stayed home and made Monster Tents with really mean threatening signs......
This past weekend, Chance went to Gabriella's 5th birthday party at the acclaimed Starbies. You are just not 5 until you have your party there. At the end of the party he was talking with Jack and realized that all his friends are skiers except for him. That evening when we got home, Chance insisted on pulling out all his ski gear and trying it on, then decided he REALLY wanted to go the next day and give it a try. We toiled and toiled over committing to that....knowing we could trek 2 hours to the slopes for the kid to quit after 10 minutes. But something told us to go, and boy am I glad we did. It just clicked. He tirelessly went down the bunny slope over and over before lunch, and then afterwards the boys headed up the chairlift to brave the greens. On the steep parts Chance skied between Ryan's legs (thank goodness for studly super skier husbands) and on the flatter parts Chance was given the go and took off cruising. We bought these clips for the front of the skies that kept his tips together...thank goodness for inventions like that. He was able to mostly control himself and break with ease. He loved it, and told me his favorite part was going between Ryan's legs on the steep parts cause they went extra fast. He wrote in his journal on Monday at school "I went skiing with my dad. I went down the big boy slope". And we've promised to return next weekend. I'm so proud!
And no weekend adventure out is without it's Swiss quarks. I admit I am a bit on the cheap side, and so yes at the lunch buffet while skiing, I proceed to load the smallest 6 franc salad plate as full as I possible could. It's all about strategic placement of the veggies really. Well when I get up to pay the check out lady points to my plate, shakes her head and says something in German. I had a hunch what she said....but proceeded to act like I had no clue and asked her if she spoke English. She then told me my plate was too full and next time I would have pay more. I was reprimanded in the lunch room!
