Valentinstag

Last night I set a little trap for the kids...

And it totally worked:

Score! Hugs and kisses!

He loves me.

I love that the kids are suckers for an art project, and I love that they're still too young to tease me about my blatant plea for affection.

Although Alex surprised me. He ignored the stickers and cards I set out completely and hunkered down at his own little desk and made a card for one of his favorite little friends in Seattle. If the amount of scotch tape used is any indication of his affection, well, Sydney, it's clear. Alex is stuck on you.

A mermaid and fishies for Sydney, because
"girls like mermaids."

Valen-tiny

After all that effort my Valentine was a bit of an afterthought, a little one-inch square. But that's okay: Alex likes things that are tiny, and so I know that my own little Valentine was given with the best of intentions.



I'm sure it won't surprise you to hear that Valentine's day isn't such a big deal here in Switzerland.  In fact, the only hint of the holiday that I saw in any of the stores were a few bouquets with hearts in them and this heart-decorated toilet paper, already in the sale bin a few weeks before the big holiday. I don't know if it's a thumb to the nose to our Hallmark Holiday, but I thought it was pretty funny.

When I bought it, I never guessed that Joey would put that paper to excellent use, giving me the best Valentine's day gift of all. He used the toilet twice this morning, and after I'd completely given up on encouraging him.  In fact, he was standing in the bathroom for several minutes the first time, the kids reported, calling to me for help in getting off his diaper. I don't think it's any sad commentary on my life that poop in the potty is my best Valentine. It's just, well, not having to change dirty diapers is a very nice thing indeed.

Besides, Dennis came through wonderfully, home from work early with a backpack filled with a bottle of wine, a few bars of chocolate, and a pint of ice cream, fuel for my expensive little Swiss chocolate chip habit. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

And now, you knew it was coming eventually...what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a great big pot of that Swiss classic, fondue.  I foolishly left the fondue set that my mom loaned me at home, but, it turns out that fondue supplies are the one thing that doesn't seem to be expensive here. And fondue is the easiest thing in the world: there are two different, equally delicious, recipes for Swiss style fondue.



Recipe the first:

Rub on the inside of the fondue pot:

• 1 clove of garlic

Add and bring to simmer:

• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Add gradually, stirring into the liquid, until smooth:

• 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, shredded

Add to taste:

• 1 tablespoon cherry brandy
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard
• Pinch nutmeg

Recipe the second:

Open, empty pouches, and melt in microwave:

• One box of Swiss Style fondue

Guess which one I chose tonight. Unfortunately, fondue is considered strictly a wintertime dish, and I've been told these yummy mixes aren't to be found on the grocery shelves (or restaurant menus, unless you go to the touristy ones) after mid-March. So I've stockpiled a little crisper drawer full of fondue kits.  We accidentally found that it's quite good when you use apples as dippers, although, aside from bread, dipping potatoes is especially popular here.  In fact, they sell precooked, pre-cubed potatoes in the vegetable section, just for fondue. Fondue night: it's the new pizza night.

On behalf of all the Geelses, I hope you all are having an equally cheesy Valentine's Day!