Dancing and Singing Nicois Folklore!

  Click here to see a video of Estelle singing Nicois songs (pictured above)! (you have to click here on these words, the pictures are just screenshots, not links).

Click on this link to see a short video of Estelle dancing on May 23rd in a special show for the "Fete de Mai" (pictured below).

Lena's birthday parties!!!!

 Léna had a birthday party in Calvinet, and one here in Nice last weekend at an outdoor activity park with friends from school.   First, photos from her party during the vacation up in Calvinet:  preparing for the pinata Guy made:

 Agnes spent a whole week with the girls in Calvinet - what a treat!

 Pinanta preparation!

 So many goodies!

 They had prepared the terrasse but the weather was terrible so no dice.

 Many, many second cousins, and 2nd cousins once removed, were able to attend this party.

 Above and below are Tata Yvette's grandchildren, and Tata Josette's (the butcher's wife) grandchildren, and even one great-granddaughter.

 Then it was pinata time.  So fun!  Thank you Papy & Manou!

 

Back in Nice, we also made a homemade pinata.     The whole family got in on the act over 4 days.  It was in the form of an old cartoon character called "Barbapapa".  This also means "cotton candy" in French.

Last Sunday on the 11th (also Estelle's "fete" day), we went to a town nearby for this big activity park in the forest.  It was HUGE.  I had no idea.

 Little buddies from Léna's class.  Marie and Achille.  Marie's grandmother owns a little vacation spot in Magog, just over the border from Newport, VT!  I see that grandmother often & we always chat about Magog and VT.  Small world.

 Léna & Marie arriving at the bottom!

 We had such a great time.  Thanks to Ludovic, father to Louise & Eva, who helped out so much keeping an eye on everybody.

 Léna got a ton of gifts.

 Her buddies Romane, Agathe, Louise, Liora were also in the mix.

 Another dad, Fabrice, came with his sons Anatole & Hippolyte.  Anatole is in Léna's class and Hippolyte was always in Estelle's classes until she changed school.  They are lovely boys.  Agathe's big sister, Prune (below in turquoise), who is 10, was such a big help too with the little 4 year olds. 

 

Barbapapa pinata was impossible to break open!   What a great set of birthday parties Léna had.  So much fun!  And great cards and gifts from America -thanks so much everyone!