the sandwich kids

These two middle kids are known in our house as the Sandwich Kids. Eliot and Oskar are the Donut Kids since their on the outside. It's not a perfect metaphor but it simplifies commands, like "Sandwich kids in the back of the car today" or "Sandwich kids, its soccer time, where are your shinguards!?"

As a fellow middle child, I remember hearing a lot about all the problems and failings middle children would have--repressed need for attention, lack of direction or parental involvment etc. Now it seems there has been a shift in sociological writings towards the strengths and abilities of middle children--increased independence, ability to get along with multiple personality types, natural peacemaking and diplomatic tendencies. Maybe more middle children are becoming sociologist or maybe we are finally recognizing the wonderful abilities of the children who are forced to reckon with kids older and younger than them.

I enjoy seeing the strengths listed above in my two sandwich kids. They both play well with their older and younger siblings (when they aren't fighting each other) and as I watch them both walk to school and set up their own play dates, I realizing how independent their are becoming. I glad to have them sandwiched in our family. (Also, I tried to get a picture of just the two of them but Oskar can't be kept out of any picture--including the family photos of strangers.)

And some more pictures from our boat ride home. We recently sold our second car and have become a one car family. I know plenty of families in Switzerland who get by without a car, so having one car isn't crazy. We live right on the bus line and prefer to ride our bikes most places. Last Saturday, Rocky took Eliot to her away game and the younger kids and I rode scooters home.

We stopped at the bakery and the park and sat at the bus stop eating our croissants when we saw the Agerischiff pull up. It's small(-ish) tour boat that goes around our lake during the sunnier times of year. We have never ridden it but often see it and think we should. I checked the boat times on my phone and it would be perfect for us. We took a poll and had a solid majority to take the boat home. The tickets cost us a whopping 3chf and it took 10 minutes to ride to the pier by our house. I couldn't believe we hadn't done it before.

Now when we see it driving, Oskar proudly announces, "Speed boat! I rode it!" It's a reminder to me that it's the small, simple things that we take the time out of our day to do for others that make the most impact.

 My gap toothed soccer player with a view of our village boat houses. I should also mention, she's one of 5 girls out 70 kids that go to her "soccer school".