Mother's Day and other fun

Some photos to catch up in time over the past month!  French mother's day was May 26th, and Léna had made me a gift at school - she was VERY proud.

 This is what it was:  a little heart-shaped cake.

 That day we went to church, and it was a special day that is celebrated every year at our church in Nice, related to 1832 when cholera was killing everyone.  The leaders of the city (who were also/connected to the church) pledged to build a church if the city of Nice was spared.  Hence, our church.  The White Penitents and the Black Penitents come to this mass too.  Below:  the white ones.

Part of the pledge was that every year on the same weekend, there would be a special mass with the head of the church and the head of the city to express thanks to God for saving the city from cholera.  It was on Mother's Day this year.  So, there were a LOT of people, plus the mayor.  That's him below:

 The Bishop did the mass.  The children who go to Sunday school were up on the altar with the Bishop.  See Léna, on the bottom left with the ponytail?  Also behind him was a huge choir, and an organist.  All pretty impressive.  There was a brass band too.

 After there was some traditional Nicois dancing outside.

 Back at the ranch, I found this in Estelle's room.  Barbie party.

 Playing with a new game!

 Here's Léna wearing a dress that was mine when I was 4 years old, in 1974.

 She's holding the family photo that has me wearing this dress:

 She wore it all day, even to a birthday party.  It looked so cute!

 Here's Estelle & Léna wearing dance costumes that once belonged to their cousin Alexandra.

 And here's them getting ready for Eliott's birthday party, which had a "spy" theme. 

 The party, like all of Fransiska's parties, was truly a creative work of art, extremely clever and original with everything made homemade.  I wasn't there because I was typing typing typing, but I heard all about it!

Next up, photos of the dance recital which was Friday night....

Photos soon....

Alive and well in France.
Will come up for air in 2 weeks.

Robin Hood & CowGirl

Today we went to our friend Milo's 7th bday party.  It was a "Come as your favorite Superhero" theme.  Here's Léna today, 4 years old and almost one month.

 

Here's Estelle 2 years ago, aged 4 3/4.

 

Back to Léna today....

 Estelle inherited a few years ago the old Disney RobinHood film, where Robin in a fox.  She has always loved it, I mean really loved it.  Today she went as RobinHood - good costume for a boy party!  Estelle wanted to draw claw marks on her cheeks, as she is convinced that Robin should have scars from being attacked.  I was afraid they looked like swastikas but we let it go.

A good time was had by all, great food, fun picnic in the park, good games.

Eating Lettuce, and bday gifts!

 Léna will eat leaves of lettuce.  So will Estelle, but only under penalty of something.

 One day this week we came home to a birthday package for Léna from Uncle Cedric!

 Vermont storybooks and Maple sugaring coloring books and vintage postcards of Mt. Mansfield and Vermont Life magazines with Jericho on the cover and a Cabot headband.

 THANKS Uncle Cedric!

 2 days in a row this week I tried to make Lisa's pizza loaf.  But I don't have a thermometer!  So anyways it was good but not as good as Lisa's!

Mother's Day in the USA - Léna bday last wkend

 Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, weren't we beautiful?  Still are!

 Above - Léna bday party in Nice one week ago today.  We got sprinkled on a few times, but other than that, a fun day & picnic!

 Léna has on a t-shirt that says "Birthday Girl".  It had been Estelle's and I ran across it just in time!

 Basile in orange.

 Starting the first game - a Scavenger hunt for things you'd find in a park.

 Thank you Fransiska for documenting this event with my camera!  If Thomas and I look weary, we had been up l-a-t-e cooking and baking after a l-o-n-g day at the school flea market. 

 All those kids packs from our flights every summer on Air Transat came in handy....

 Here I imitate something, or someone.  Who knows.  Behind, the port of Nice. 

 Basile sees a plan.

 Estelle, Maelys & Eva looking on....

 Time for singing & candles....

 I had colored the cupcake batter blue (which is unusual in France, they never use food coloring) so one child asked me "Why are you making us eat Playdough?"

Léna and Estelle enjoy their blue cupcakes!  Léna's was decorated with a "speculos" cookie and lilac frosting.

Estelle wants to say:  "I took a cupcake with pink frosting and blue inside and the Oreo on it.  And a fairy decoration.  It was good."

 A limbo game was fun too!

 Hours later, one little four-year-old was fast asleep reading her new book about being 4.  It was a great day with good friends and lots of fun for Léna - she received some fun educational gifts too.  And Estelle went on to a 2nd bday party in another park that afternoon before this photo was taken!

Happy Saint's Day, Estelle! Happy Bday Calvin!

 This photo, from July 2011, was taken at Cedric's pond in Cabot.  Calvin (who turns 25 today!) was showing his little cousin the finer sides of frog catching.  Calvin and Estelle share May 11th as a special day - it's also Estelle's Saint's Day today - Bonne Fete Estelle!