Meanwhile, another little piggy you want to eat!
She herself was trying to eat Estelle's Melissa & Doug fake cookie set. Better luck next year, cutie-pie.
Monday, December 21, 2009
This little piggy....
.....went to the Nice Christmas market in the form of a gingerbread cookie.... life in a foreign country - always discovering new traditions....
Meanwhile, another little piggy you want to eat!
She herself was trying to eat Estelle's Melissa & Doug fake cookie set. Better luck next year, cutie-pie.
Meanwhile, another little piggy you want to eat!She herself was trying to eat Estelle's Melissa & Doug fake cookie set. Better luck next year, cutie-pie.
Friday, December 18, 2009
SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last night, it snowed in Nice! Incredible!
It has been cold the past 2 days - yesterday morning it was 39F and everyone was moaning (esp moi on my velo - brrrrrrrr).
But in the evening it was particularly nippy, and at 10:30 when I was ready for bed I heard what I thought was rain, looked out the window in the dark kitchen and thought "Why is the sky so light?"
Above - that big lit up thing you see is the city Christmas decoration which is lit up, suspended over the street and not directly outside Estelle's bedroom but off to the left a bit.
Above - streetside chaos, people were running and screaming. "It's the Apocalypse!" I screamed from our balcony. "The Jehovas were right! The end is near!" Just like with Daffy Duck, Thomas reached out with a long cane (okay his arm) and yanked me back in and to my senses. Below -the sill off our kitchen.
It was actually like hail mixed with sticky snow. I could have made several ice balls like this one below (now in the freezer as a momento). Having lived the first 22 years of my life in Vermont, I've seen it all. But clearly Nice, nor my husband, have not. It was really fun. Across the courtyard I could see all of Nice running to their windows, floor after floor of people in pyjamas crowding near panes and the bravest out on balconies. Evening revelers went screeching down the sidewalks, squealing like children, twirling and throwing snow.
Estelle, who had her last day of school yesterday, had conked out for a short nap when we got home at 5 p.m. (hasn't ever done that before!) and so coincidentally she was in bed, but awake when I realized Gotham city was under hail attack. We got her up and she was absolutely fascinated to see the snow. She just got up (8:15 a.m) and came right out to ask me to open the shutters to see if the snow was still there. It is, barely, on the roofs, etc.
Meanwhile, here's somebody who slept thru the whole thing! I should add that her first tooth popped out on Wednesday, just in time for Manou's birthday which was the 16th. She still enjoys chewing on anything, like the little book in her hand, a Xmas gift from nanny Cathy and graciously opened without authorization by older sister Estelle (hmph!).
What fun it was to have snow, even for a little while.
It has been cold the past 2 days - yesterday morning it was 39F and everyone was moaning (esp moi on my velo - brrrrrrrr).But in the evening it was particularly nippy, and at 10:30 when I was ready for bed I heard what I thought was rain, looked out the window in the dark kitchen and thought "Why is the sky so light?"
Above - that big lit up thing you see is the city Christmas decoration which is lit up, suspended over the street and not directly outside Estelle's bedroom but off to the left a bit.
Above - streetside chaos, people were running and screaming. "It's the Apocalypse!" I screamed from our balcony. "The Jehovas were right! The end is near!" Just like with Daffy Duck, Thomas reached out with a long cane (okay his arm) and yanked me back in and to my senses. Below -the sill off our kitchen.
It was actually like hail mixed with sticky snow. I could have made several ice balls like this one below (now in the freezer as a momento). Having lived the first 22 years of my life in Vermont, I've seen it all. But clearly Nice, nor my husband, have not. It was really fun. Across the courtyard I could see all of Nice running to their windows, floor after floor of people in pyjamas crowding near panes and the bravest out on balconies. Evening revelers went screeching down the sidewalks, squealing like children, twirling and throwing snow.
Estelle, who had her last day of school yesterday, had conked out for a short nap when we got home at 5 p.m. (hasn't ever done that before!) and so coincidentally she was in bed, but awake when I realized Gotham city was under hail attack. We got her up and she was absolutely fascinated to see the snow. She just got up (8:15 a.m) and came right out to ask me to open the shutters to see if the snow was still there. It is, barely, on the roofs, etc.
Meanwhile, here's somebody who slept thru the whole thing! I should add that her first tooth popped out on Wednesday, just in time for Manou's birthday which was the 16th. She still enjoys chewing on anything, like the little book in her hand, a Xmas gift from nanny Cathy and graciously opened without authorization by older sister Estelle (hmph!).
What fun it was to have snow, even for a little while.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Elfin Magic
The 1967 Barbara Steisand Christmas Album is, quite frankly, right up there in the top 10. Say what you will about Babs, but in the late 60's, she was a Diva before anybody knew what that was (save Judy Garland). The song "Best Gift" on that record is all about the greatest present you might get any year....here's ours:
Okay enough of that saccharine. Back to my usual tone: Here's Thomas embarking on a Christmas craft with Estelle that involves building a creche out of inverted cereal boxes and dis-assembled wooden clothes pins. So far the project has spanned 2 weekends, and the fat lady hasn't sung yet, neither!
It's messy, there's glue and spray snow and bits all over, it won't stay up, but I've been loving every second of watching because it reminds me of many many years of holiday crafts from seasonal magazines under the watchful eye of all my siblings, notably Joan. Yet I still can't sew. Where did things goes wrong with sister #6? (who's kidding who, Mary and Laura can't amount to much behind the pedal either, though they'll object - p.s. Laura, filling a bobbin does NOT count).
Above: Note the beer Thomas has next to him to ease him thru the project.
Below: The rainbow pyjamas are BACK.
Here's the tree pre-decoration.
And post! If only I had the 17 boxes of my Xmas stuff currently sitting in Joan's wood bin. Dang. Note the tree is stuck in a semi-block of wood. Tree stands = WHAT? No one has heard of them over here. Seems the motto is: let your tree wither away, needles falling daily. No one minds. What? Put it in WATER? You lunatic American, they say. I just sigh. I'm thinking of dumping out my Febreeze bottle and spritzing it with water thrice daily. Ma, I know you love a watered tree, what say you?
Close your eyes and I'm SURE you can hear that Barbara Streisand song!
Not to be outdone, Her Highness wants to be just as cute.
Tonight, in the bath: Stick with it, there's a few choice bits. I was on a roll until my darn phone rang and I had to silently yell "cut" to myself. Rats!
p.s. that phone ringing, was him. Checking in. Cause despite the jokes, he is of course a great dad.
Okay enough of that saccharine. Back to my usual tone: Here's Thomas embarking on a Christmas craft with Estelle that involves building a creche out of inverted cereal boxes and dis-assembled wooden clothes pins. So far the project has spanned 2 weekends, and the fat lady hasn't sung yet, neither!
It's messy, there's glue and spray snow and bits all over, it won't stay up, but I've been loving every second of watching because it reminds me of many many years of holiday crafts from seasonal magazines under the watchful eye of all my siblings, notably Joan. Yet I still can't sew. Where did things goes wrong with sister #6? (who's kidding who, Mary and Laura can't amount to much behind the pedal either, though they'll object - p.s. Laura, filling a bobbin does NOT count).
Above: Note the beer Thomas has next to him to ease him thru the project.Below: The rainbow pyjamas are BACK.
Here's the tree pre-decoration.
And post! If only I had the 17 boxes of my Xmas stuff currently sitting in Joan's wood bin. Dang. Note the tree is stuck in a semi-block of wood. Tree stands = WHAT? No one has heard of them over here. Seems the motto is: let your tree wither away, needles falling daily. No one minds. What? Put it in WATER? You lunatic American, they say. I just sigh. I'm thinking of dumping out my Febreeze bottle and spritzing it with water thrice daily. Ma, I know you love a watered tree, what say you?
Close your eyes and I'm SURE you can hear that Barbara Streisand song!
Not to be outdone, Her Highness wants to be just as cute.
Tonight, in the bath: Stick with it, there's a few choice bits. I was on a roll until my darn phone rang and I had to silently yell "cut" to myself. Rats!p.s. that phone ringing, was him. Checking in. Cause despite the jokes, he is of course a great dad.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Old Dan Tucker in the Tub
Here's my advent wreath. We love it. Estelle especially cause she thinks when we light the candles, its time to sing Joyeuse Anniversaire.
We went to a great advent "gouter" Sunday at Helene & Sylvain's. There were 6 kids. Estelle was in hog heaven. I took the one photo below, then sat down and started stuffing my face and not only did I not take any more photos, but left my camera behind! Just got it back.
Every night post-bath we have a ritual: right after "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad", I sing "Old Dan Tucker". They are long songs and I can sing them over and over while giving them a liniment massage, cleaning ears and noses , putting on diapers and pj's, etc. Tonight when I started in on Old Dan, Estelle said "Mommy, stop singing." She took over. I had no clue she knew it all.
We went to a great advent "gouter" Sunday at Helene & Sylvain's. There were 6 kids. Estelle was in hog heaven. I took the one photo below, then sat down and started stuffing my face and not only did I not take any more photos, but left my camera behind! Just got it back.
Every night post-bath we have a ritual: right after "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad", I sing "Old Dan Tucker". They are long songs and I can sing them over and over while giving them a liniment massage, cleaning ears and noses , putting on diapers and pj's, etc. Tonight when I started in on Old Dan, Estelle said "Mommy, stop singing." She took over. I had no clue she knew it all.Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Estelle's Birthday
I've left my camera at a friend's this wkend so I'm taking advantage of having no "new" photos to catch up on posting "old" photos - still recounting our trip to America this summer!
We left off on July 17th, the eve of Estelle's bday.
We spent the night at my sister Martha's, and here's Estelle when she came out of the bedroom that morning:
Above: Waking up in Alex's room, Estelle's day started with a Dora balloon.
Below: Wearing her new "Birthday Girl" shirt and explaining to everyone what it is:
Bear in mind it is like 7:45 a.m. and we are lighting candles! Martha had bought this little cake for a birthday breakfast extra!
Shy girl as we sing:
The cake was so good, she couldn't talk.
Present #1: A Doctor's Kit! Nurse Martha gets right involved, even in her pj's!
The next thing you know, Nurse M pulls out a real stethoscope and a real blood pressure thingy. I think it's the first, and perhaps only, time I will ever be eating scrambled eggs, bacon, birthday cake, and having my blood pressure taken before 8:00 a.m. I think my husband thinks he married into the loony bin sometimes.
Then Estelle was sujected to wearing one of "The Strawberry Dresses". Any family member needs no explanation. For the rest of you poor folk, suffice to say that my mother either bought 2 of these (or rec'd them as a gift?) for my twin sisters, Nurse M herself and twin Mary B back in 1959. They are still going strong, have weathered many a wear over 5 decades, and are without a doubt my mother's absolute favorite pieces of clothing that any of her 11 offspring ever donned in their life.
Estelle acquiesced to wearing one over her pj's, but she wasn't happy about it. For revenge, she took to giving everyone in the house a shot with her new medical kit. Ouch!
No stone (or piece of flesh, as it were) remained unturned/unshot.
Even Daddy's belly got a shot, whilst Uncle Chris and cousin Eliza's "big dolly" look on....
When you're 17, why sleep late when you can get your shot and play with your 3 year -old cousin with Fisher Price at 8:15 a.m.? Poor Alex.
Finally we pulled up stakes from Richmond and headed north mid-morning. But first, a stop back at the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury to pick up some ice cream cakes for the party that evening.
Above: Our cakes get personalized. Below: We got all the background view of Ben & Jerry's HQ scoop shop on a Saturday in July! Can you imagine the mob scene? Estelle meanwhile, with her Birthday Girl shirt, got treated like a queen by the whole staff while we were waiting for our cakes. We both got free ice cream cones. Poor Thomas, waiting in the car with Léna, got gipped!
After putting the cakes in the trunk in an iced cooler, we headed north, and stopped at a great playground in Morristown.
Then, Shadow Lake. Ah, Shadow. No better place to be.
Lillian surveys the younger crowd at the water's edge.
Joan and the littlest cousin get cosy while the BBQ's get fired up.
After the feast, we got down to business with our 2 B & J cakes.... each one had 2 different flavors. Ah, Ben & Jerry's. Can't beat it.
look at those 4 kids chomping at the bit!
Heather gets in on the action
12 hours after eating cake for breakfast, she is again reduced to silence while stuffing her face:
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, pick pick pick pick a lot, talk a little more.....
Lillian serves as entertainment for the kids while a serious history discussion happens on the couch.
Stuart & Emilie's camp plays host once again to an Alexander family summer birthday!
She heads to the water for one last look. Think she looks 3? And it was after 4 jam-packed days down in the Burlington area, hosted by Nurse Mart & Co. Thanks to everyone in my family who we enjoyed seeing so much during those 4 days! What a birthday!
We left off on July 17th, the eve of Estelle's bday.
We spent the night at my sister Martha's, and here's Estelle when she came out of the bedroom that morning:
Above: Waking up in Alex's room, Estelle's day started with a Dora balloon.Below: Wearing her new "Birthday Girl" shirt and explaining to everyone what it is:
Bear in mind it is like 7:45 a.m. and we are lighting candles! Martha had bought this little cake for a birthday breakfast extra!
Shy girl as we sing:
The cake was so good, she couldn't talk.
Present #1: A Doctor's Kit! Nurse Martha gets right involved, even in her pj's!
The next thing you know, Nurse M pulls out a real stethoscope and a real blood pressure thingy. I think it's the first, and perhaps only, time I will ever be eating scrambled eggs, bacon, birthday cake, and having my blood pressure taken before 8:00 a.m. I think my husband thinks he married into the loony bin sometimes.
Then Estelle was sujected to wearing one of "The Strawberry Dresses". Any family member needs no explanation. For the rest of you poor folk, suffice to say that my mother either bought 2 of these (or rec'd them as a gift?) for my twin sisters, Nurse M herself and twin Mary B back in 1959. They are still going strong, have weathered many a wear over 5 decades, and are without a doubt my mother's absolute favorite pieces of clothing that any of her 11 offspring ever donned in their life.
Estelle acquiesced to wearing one over her pj's, but she wasn't happy about it. For revenge, she took to giving everyone in the house a shot with her new medical kit. Ouch!
No stone (or piece of flesh, as it were) remained unturned/unshot.
Even Daddy's belly got a shot, whilst Uncle Chris and cousin Eliza's "big dolly" look on....
When you're 17, why sleep late when you can get your shot and play with your 3 year -old cousin with Fisher Price at 8:15 a.m.? Poor Alex.
Finally we pulled up stakes from Richmond and headed north mid-morning. But first, a stop back at the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury to pick up some ice cream cakes for the party that evening.
Above: Our cakes get personalized. Below: We got all the background view of Ben & Jerry's HQ scoop shop on a Saturday in July! Can you imagine the mob scene? Estelle meanwhile, with her Birthday Girl shirt, got treated like a queen by the whole staff while we were waiting for our cakes. We both got free ice cream cones. Poor Thomas, waiting in the car with Léna, got gipped!
After putting the cakes in the trunk in an iced cooler, we headed north, and stopped at a great playground in Morristown.
Then, Shadow Lake. Ah, Shadow. No better place to be.
Lillian surveys the younger crowd at the water's edge.
Joan and the littlest cousin get cosy while the BBQ's get fired up.
After the feast, we got down to business with our 2 B & J cakes.... each one had 2 different flavors. Ah, Ben & Jerry's. Can't beat it.
look at those 4 kids chomping at the bit!
Heather gets in on the action
12 hours after eating cake for breakfast, she is again reduced to silence while stuffing her face:
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, pick pick pick pick a lot, talk a little more.....
Lillian serves as entertainment for the kids while a serious history discussion happens on the couch.
Stuart & Emilie's camp plays host once again to an Alexander family summer birthday!
She heads to the water for one last look. Think she looks 3? And it was after 4 jam-packed days down in the Burlington area, hosted by Nurse Mart & Co. Thanks to everyone in my family who we enjoyed seeing so much during those 4 days! What a birthday!
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