Friday, December 21st:
Brett, Mary, and Ryan where the first to arrive in the AM on Friday. I dropped K off at the airport to get the crew as I went to work.
They came back to the apartment and took a nap as I wrapped up the day. Ryan checking out the ski gear:
In the early evening we proceeded to pick up the second half of the Kirbys. Barbara and Alan arrived safely and reunited with their daughter. The evening was very nice with a dinner at the P'tit Carougeous around the corner.
Saturday, December 22nd:
Everyone slept well and it was off to Leysin. I was meeting the rents up in Leysin, but the rest of the party would need to take the train because my car was packed with gear, food, and gifts. I left the crew in Geneva around noon after a nice brunch at Wolfisburg.
I arrived in Leysin to a beautiful day and a perfect chalet:
The Chalet
It was also the first time I had seen my parents in 6 months so it made the day even more special. After a coffee in town we met Bernard to get the keys and waited for the Kirby’s to arrive at the station. After a quick pick up at the station the families met for the first time. All good and we returned to the chalet to get acquainted. As a part of the chalet deal K and I said we would sort out all dinners until X-mas. The night ended with everyone smiling and very comfortable in CH.....and a little B-day... HAPPY 60 ALAN!
Dinner: Homemade sauce and meatballs.
Sunday, December 23rd:
The weather was perfect but we decided not to ski but to check out Leysin and Montreux. The day started with a little walk down to the tubing hill.
After the walk through town we hit up the tubing park which was perfect for kids big and small ;-)
Big kids, K and Barbara:
Ry:
After a nice tubing experience we headed back to the chalet and then packed the crew up to head to Montreux for the Christmas market. We arrived to most of the shops closing, but some were open and most of the food was still going strong.
Not pooping ;-)
Food:
We returned filled with pork, cheese, and van chaud.
Monday, December 24th:
Another sunny day blessed us and it was off the hill for a little skiing. After getting the crew up to the hill it was up to the top of the Berneuse. The skiing abilities of the crew were varied but we were easily able to get down the first pitch with no issues but on a steeper section in the middle Alan took a beater and called it a day. Knee, hip, and back were not in good shape but Alan was a trooped and made it back to the chalet. The rest of the day Barbara, Mom, Dad, KK, Brent, Jay, and Tom toured around Leysin:
Lunch time even Ryan made it to the top:
The day eneded witha beer at the Cable Bar and then we headed to the chalet to check on Alan. He was a little beat but not out...he had an appetite and we chowed on some Raclette and Steak:
...but before dinner KK, Brent, Mary, and Mom headed to a local church:
Tuesday, December 25th:
Christmas! The morning was filled with presents (thank you everyone for the great gifts...I will use my pedals and camera lens, love the pics and blog book, and of course just being with everyone was the best present)...but I think Ryan got the most:
...and a great quilt from my Aunt Maureen!!!! I love it!!
After some nice b-fast we headed to another nice day on the hill with the rents:
The girls went x-country but we met up to take Ryan for his first ski! He's a natural:
Now it was time for dinner and the prep was on....a full team effort:
Viola!
...and the carving!
The meal was great. Turkey, stuffing, beans, mashed, salad, etc.....all perfect!
Wednesday, December 26th:
Skiski was on the menu for KK, Brent, and I. I wanted to make sure we did a nice ski tour around the Leysin/Les Diab area so we headed off to catch first lift over at Ver L'eglise (Les Diableret). We were the 2nd people on the lift that AM:
After a nice rip over to Villars and LD we headed to G3 to meet up with J:
We ended the day in Reusch with some beers and Weisswurst. We returned to the chalet for a nice Lasagna dinner prepared by the parents.
Thursday, December 27th:
Brent and Mary were leaving for Prague and need to get a train back to Geneva so the crew headed to Lausanne. Each of us did our own thing, so Dad and I headed to check out the culture:
After saying good bye to Brent and Mary we returned to Leysin:
The night was filled with Turkey soup, cookie making, playing with Ryan, and just chilling:
Friday, December 28th:
Dad and I headed to G3 in the AM for a little tour. The place was empty and we really enjoyed the snow. Dad even killed the Combe! (3000+ Vertical Feet)
After a nice AM we headed to ski with the girls in the PM;
The day ended with preping the fridge for our departure so we ate EVERYTHING!
Saturday, December 29th:
After saying goodbye to my parents (off to Annecy for a few days and then back to Carouge for the 3rd and 4th) Alan and I dropped Barbara, KK, and RyRy off at the train station and then headed back to Carouge. After the ladies got back and went shopping we put Ryan down for a nap and then mounted my new touring set up. For dinner we took the family out to local Pizza in Carouge.
Sunday, December 30th:
Barbara and Alan were off mid-day, so we had a little b-fast in Carouge and then dropped them off at the airport. We had Ryan for the rest of the day which was fun. He is a really great kid. After a nice chill day we picked up Brett and Mary at the airport around midnight.
Monday, December 31st:
The rest of the Kirby family was off in the AM, so after some hugs and kisses KK and I headed for a little ski on the Jura. Not bad for 20 minutes outside Geneva!
Overall a wonderful end to a great 2007. I want to thank my family and the Kirbys for thier company, friendship, and love. I look forward to many more years of the Gieras and Kirby Clans coming together for adventures in CH/?. Much love, GG
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