Our chicken pox appears to be a mild version. Thus we are finally catching up with our blog:
On Sunday Dec 28th we boarded a TGV train to Paris for a quick 2-day visit to see Maxence and her parents. They live in the neighborhood of Parais called "Le Marais", also known as the 4th arrondissement. Here's the view from our window of the Seine:
Here are the girls enjoying their breakfast of croissants on Monday morning.
Lots of things to play with at Maxence's house right after Christmas!
The weather was FRIGID in Paris, even for this Vermont girl. So on Monday we decided our time was best spent doing something with the girls indoors. This led us to the Cité de Science in the north of the city (near Villette). There was a new permanent exhibit called "Cité des Enfants ages 2-5" and it was the greatest thing since sliced bread - a total hands-on exhibit for young children.
Very impressive and so much fun!
One part was all about mirrors and examining yourself, your height, feet, hands, etc.
One part was all about spatial relationships.
There was one whole section about construction. Each kid got a hardhat and security vest to wear.....
There were all kinds of different things to do and manipulate - cranes, forklifts, bulldozers - amazing! And each section had a part for 2-3 year olds and another for 4-5 year olds. Our girls were much more interested in the older kids' stuff! More action!
Then there was a division about air. One of the many exhibits in this section was an air-tent igloo. This was quite a lot of fun. Here's Estelle in the entrance to the igloo:
The girls inside the igloo
And then there was the WATER section. There were plastic smocks for all the kids - green for the younger kids and blue for the bigs kids. Thomas just had fun and got splashed...
Another part had containers of all shapes made out of plastic mats that folded up around the kids, with holes for windows...
This was very funny to them to bust out of
And then there were the MAZES.... One more reasonable maze for the younger kids and then this bigger one that Thomas, Emmanuel and Melanie are standing over. You can't tell from the photo, but it actually went "underground" with tunnels. A little freaky because you can't see or access your kid!
After all that the girls were wiped. Lunch and a nap were on the program. Thomas and I stole an hour in the late afternoon sun to stroll around the Marais. Here's the Bastille (site of the French Revolution - or something like that)
I should know what this is but I'm not sure - in the opposite direction of the Bastille - think it is the Petite Palais?
Thomas in front of the Seine.
Tuesday morning we woke up early and jumped on the train back to Angers. That afternoon we went into the heart of the city to see Estelle's godfather, the "other" Francois, Francois Besserye. He lives in Clermont-Ferrand but was in Angers to see his parents. He and his wife Aurelie have an 8-month old baby, Clea. Thomas had forgotten to tell François I'm expecting - that was funny when I took off my coat!
Here is the reunion of the three hockey buddies - Thomas and the 2 Francois'.....
Needless to say Francois B is taller than me even! And Francois M, sitting, you all may remember being the goalie. His partner Valerie is behind. NOTICE THE CRECHE BEHIND ME ON THE LEFT.... Another example!
That same night, by chance, the Angers hockey team in D1 (France's answer to the NHL) was playing nearby rival Tours. We went to the game with the Mallets. Here's Thomas and his dad and the Mallets behind. Francois B couldn't join. Francois M was in attendance but not in this photo.
This is the team on which Thomas used to play at his highest level (excepting a handful of games when he played with the national team - their team that goes to the Olympics, etc). Anyway, I was (pleasantly) surprised at the number of people that knew him or recognized him who were in attendance at this game! It was fun to be next to the old star!
Here's a shot of the game for my brother Wes....
On New Year's Day we drove to Nantes, minus Estelle, to visit with old and good college friends of Thomas': Manu and Sandrine and Franck and Mathilde (with their kids). Manu has 2 kids who were at their grandparents. Mathilde is expecting #3 and due at the same time as me.
Estelle enjoyed a merry-go-round immensely the day before we left on the plane.
She also liked helping unload the groceries, especially clementines - even though she won't eat them!
Our last afternoon we had a visit from some former neighbors & their kids. These two cherubs are named Sarah and Gabin.
Sunday the 4th - back in Nice and having LOTS of fun playing with an unpacked suitcase!
Enjoying a nap that afternoon after our early morning flight.
Making Irish Soda Bread together, just for the fun of it!
And that is all we have to ring in the New Year 2009! Soon we'll try to post another blog with the few shots we have since our return that don't involve high fevers and chicken pox!
Here's a photo for my friend Peter Huffy H. Dude, CHECK IT OUT. I know you know where this is - bas corniche, after Mont Boron. These boys were MOVE-ING - this is where they turned onto Cap Ferrat. SO jealous. And might I add there were many many troops out in force in various groups, spokes whirring, so glorious was the weather. A blur of color.
We headed to historic and pittoresque Eze Bord sur Mer for some beach time only to find the waves on this "unprotected" beach somewhat unruly and no real place to play. Behind Thomas is Cap D'Ail (the Garlic Cape - that one's for you, Mom) which is just before Monaco.
So we decided to head back to Villefranche where we knew things were more manageable.
okay that's not one of us but I was jealous of him so took his photo.....
It all started innocently enough. A bucket and a few toys. Estelle wanted to take off her shoes.
Then we rolled up our jeans and dabbled in the lapping surf.
The next thing you know, my family is half naked on January 25th.
This character, of Italian origins, was a chatty Cathy and was as friendly as could be. He and his wife were having a little picnic and insisted on us trying some of everything they had to eat. Meanwhile, he came up to my belly button. Which p.s. is sticking out now and it didn't use to. Incidentally I think he was wearing heels. But they had some amazing bread which Estelle sunk her teeth into as if she hadn't just gorged on pancakes 2 hours prior, and some kind of wacky Italian quichey-type thing with squash and rice. Whoah baby. Paul is my new best beach friend. He even had paper towels to give to Estelle (mother, you would have approved). Estelle and I walked up and down the beach whilst Thomas had some kind of crazy European discussion with this guy covering a wide range of topics. And the best part is that everyone who passed by called out to him "Hey, Paul!". We were next to royalty. Albeit it be pygmie-style.
