NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!!

After all the packing, the lines, the airline food, screaming writhing children, upchuck on me, these photos remind me why we go thru the ordeal: family, and SNOW.

Friday: sunny, warm, beautiful!



Playing behind the town offices:
Friday afternoon - a visit to the New Boston Historical Society Museum - recently renovated, painted and organized by my sister/bro-in-law duo Lisa and Dan.
A stage coach buggy:
A fire engine:
Reading with Grammie before breakfast on Saturday:
Auntie Laura arrives from south of Boston, bringing Anna with her - Estelle enjoys her new Grimm Fairy Tales book:
....and me enjoying a big sister's comforting hand:
This afternoon: sliding in chilly, windy and icy conditions:
me, Laura, Lisa, Thomas & Léna....
Playing with Cousin Anna:
Tomorrow, off to Vermont and goodbye internet!

Valentine's Day

The most beautiful Valentine piano display EVER!
When I see all these beautiful Valentine cards year after year, I know we are loved. My mom and sisters are incredible! Meanwhile, my students are still enjoying the Peanuts characters. The other day, one of my other students got a kick out of trying to stack them.
Sunday afternoon, Estelle and I made playdough from scratch. (all hail the cream of tartar I brought from the States!). Then she cut out 30 little hearts to let dry and take in today to school to her classmates.


Then she and Thomas made a brick house out of mini-blocks of Playdough.


Today: I bought this incredible cake at our bakery.
Thomas arrived with tulips! Estelle and Léna each got cars today from my Mom & Lisa.
Here's that triple chocolate cake again. In fact, we didn't like it! Too sweet! I felt sick after this small piece. Blech! There goes 18 euros!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile, today at dinner Estelle launched into a new song....

Never Say Never: Christmas in February

Preview: Estelle showed me that Léna could be wearing her hair up now.
Meanwhile: 10 weeks after she mailed it from America on Dec 2nd, my sister Mary's Christmas gift for the girls mysteriously arrived, intact, with no visible explanation for the outlandish delay:
Whatever could it be?
Peanuts Mini-Figurine Nativity Scene!
Gosh darn it, it's cute.

The next morning over cereal, they got some more attention:

I should add that since then, I have had 2 different 21 year old French students here and both have been totally enthralled with those figurines. They can't keep their hands off them!
The day before we had Christmas in February was Wednesday, and during Estelle's music class, Léna and I trekked over to a little hidden park right in the center of town that we had never set foot in.
It had this sort of suspended ramp which I have never seen in any park over here before - unusual as they all have the exact same structures - but this variation had Léna tickled.





Fun Fun Fun

Today when Estelle saw one of my students, she said, "I speak French and English. When I go to the pool, I speak French because the children can't understand me otherwise. But when I go to America, I speak in English, because my cousins are obligated (Estelle words, I swear) to speak in English."

Boys, Boots, Babies

Yesterday we had Craig and Doug over for lunch:
There was a lot of playing (Léna decided to undress herself as is her modus operandi lately).
Snacks to share:
And real snacks - check out that cheesecake I made!
We enjoyed champagne as a late celebration of Craig's 50th birthday in January....Doug took him on a one-month trip where each destination was a surprise. They went, among other places, to Bermuda, Belize, NYC, Florida, and Vermont!
The girls enjoyed their company!

Earlier last wk we got a nice package in the mail from Papy & Manou:

Hidden inside a toybox leftover from Christmas, was snowboots and other warm clothes for our trip to Vermont soon:
They wore the boots nonstop for the rest of the day, even after their baths:

I have since hid them until they go into the suitcases!
Yesterday, after Craig and Doug left, we took the girls for a short walk (Estelle on her bike) and Léna fell asleep. We brought her in, took off her coat and laid her on the couch. Estelle was captivated by Léna fast asleep on the couch.
Even though she's big, Léna is in many ways still a baby, as Estelle reminded us!