That morning we went to the Nice Christmas market, and I took Estelle up in the enormous ferris wheel - good thing since it has been pouring since Sunday afternoon. Estelle was thrilled to be up on the Ferris Wheel, just her and me.
The commotion you see in the water below is the annual Mediterranean Christmas swim, like a Penguin Plunge. The boats are for security, I guess. Can you see the people flailing around in the water?
After the Ferris wheel, I toured the market with Lena while Thomas took Estelle into the kid's park. She got to go on a huge slide:
And a trampoline:
That afternoon we treated ourself to a chocolate buche from our "old" bakery below our ex-apartment.. Yummy.
Monday in the driving rain I took the girls to a little holiday tea in the afternoon. Eliott's mom snapped photos of me doing the mom thing.
The big shock of my week: After 8 1/2 years, for the first time ever, I walked by fresh cranberries! In the local grocery store! Shocking! What a delight! I stood like an idiot grinning and turning around and around in the produce section, holding them out in front of me and saying out loud in English "Oh my God! Oh my God! Cranberries!"
I made a killer chutney to go along with this:
French canadian meat pie - tourtiere! And we served mini buchettes after:
The guest was Agostino, Thomas' Italian colleage who is leaving after 2 years and going back to Italy to live/work.
Wednesday: Papy and Manou arrive from Angers via l'Auvergne, and like the Magi come bearing many gifts, including a wide assortment of barrettes, which all immediately got a test-drive.
New pillows make Estelle's bed a cozy reading corner:
Andrée organizes in Estelle's room:
Papy babysits while some baking happens today on Christmas Eve in the afternoon:
Some singing:
It's blurry, but you get the idea:
Meanwhile, back in the trenches, Santa's Little Sleep-Deprived Nursing Helper makes do with a wine bottle for a rolling pin and
We have one ruler in the house that has inches on it, it was Thomas' from middle school and it has kittens on it, but when you need to measure your dough for sticky buns, you "fait avec", which is French for "make do". Meanwhile, sisters, look at that Mary-style pursed lip!
Lastly, the greatest gift - a book of Twas the Night Before Christmas, recorded by many many members of my family with accompanying photos, thanks to my sister Joan. Incredible. Here's a clip of part of it...Merry Christmas to everyone! It's 11:30 p.m. here and our evening is JUST beginning as we wait for Thomas to come back from the airport with Thomas and then we will eat foie gras, drink champagne, eat all kinds of stuff and open presents until the wee hours, then start again with Estelle in the a.m.! Joyeux Noel!
6 comments:
What a great post! Tyler and I loved watching Estelle with her Christmas book! Merry Christmas!!!
Whoa baby, you guys are busy. Heather was very impressed with Estelle's many barrettes. We'll be thinking of you all on Christmas day. Merry Christmas.
Sara is excited to know you found cranberries in France.
We are proud that Estelle recognized that Uncle Dan is not just "Monsieur" but "Dan".
Joan thinks your meat pie looks GREAT!
Julie, just seeing you cry made me tear up!
Julie, Alex and I are reading your blog, as she is folding her laundry of 3 weeks ago, and I am in tears on the last page, only to see you crying as well. What a wonderful gift Joanie has given you, and photos for Estelle to remember us by! Merry Christmas to you all, love, Mart & Alex
Julie you got me all teary now....can hardly see the keys to type....We will all miss you in Glover on Saturday.
Love,
Mary
P.S. the new apt. looks lovely!!
Just catching up with the blog today (1/08)..the book Joanie sent you is so neat, what a great idea! It certainly will help the girls keep us all straight!
xo la
Post a Comment