It's Lent!

Lent means I get off Facebook for 40 days and thus can pay some much-needed attention to my blog.
For now, until I get recent photos off my camera and phone, here's photos Thomas loaded off his phone:

 Above:  Thomas's best man Guillaume and his daughter Maia, when Thomas was in Spain.  Below:  me throwing out vomited-on stuff from the car on the windy road to Calvinet.

 Estelle and Léna on funny little ponies over a year ago in Angers.

 Léna as a cowboy.  I have no idea where Thomas took this.

 Estelle riding a pony.  Somewhere.

 I don't know what this was, or where.   

 Estelle doing a treasure hunt for Nice Patrimony Day.

 Léna, making her own treasure hunt.

 If only I knew what, or who, this was.

 No one is this photo is recognizable to me.  Why does my husband take photos of strangers with his phone?

 Léna flying high on the trampoline.

 Thomas at the new gazillion dollar state of the art stadium in Nice for a big-deal rugby game.

 Below: I assume this is something Thomas ate, somewhere.

 Léna skating with Thomas!

You just never know what random photos you'll find on your spouse's phone!

Estelle sings a French song

Click here to see Estelle singing a song from her chorale at school.

Video of Oboe/Dance Bonanza

Click here to watch the girls. Get ready to laugh.

January begins

Back in Nice, January 1st, 2014.  Reading with the new marble run from Santa in the foreground.

Working on beading projects!

 How to get your tree out of your apartment without dragging needles thru the building and the elevator.

 The "Christmas tree bulb" ride in Nice.  check out Thomas in the red ball with Léna.

 Meanwhile, those of us without vertigo went for the REAL DEAL.  A very high ferris wheel.

 This was the Sunday before school began, the last scrap of our holiday vacation time together.

 That week I did my usual Tuesday teaching in Monaco - and was amazed to see these incredible holiday decorations in the building where I teach.  I hadn't been in December so it was the first time I saw them.

 This tree was like stories high, and laden with REAL TOYS and stuffed animals.  So incredibly beautiful.  I was in awe.  Monaco is like another world.

 Meanwhile, back with the plebes in Nice:  a Christmas package from Aunt Martha & Uncle Chris:  full of presents and toys and maple sugar candy!

 These paper dolls were such a hit with the girls!

 Estelle got a flashlight and a book of fairy stencils to use with her flashlight - can't you tell from my photo below?  ha ha

 Martha send another dress-up dress/skirt for the girls, which they love:

 On the 12th, we went skiing for the day at nearby station "Valberg".  I managed getting everybody where they needed to be with passes and skis and this and that.  Once the girls were in their lessons and Thomas was on the slopes, I enjoyed some tea and chocolate brioche.  I sat this day out on the slopes.  Next time!

 Léna got her "ski legs" back on.  That's her with the while helmet and purple coat.  Hanging on for dear life.

 Léna isn't in this photo, but the view from the Kid's area was beautiful.  You can imagine what Thomas was seeing from high up!

 Successful skier!

 After our fun lunch on the sunny terrace of a brasserie, Thomas and Estelle hit the lifts for several runs while Léna and I played in the snow and went sliding.  It was great.

 This photo shows Thomas and Estelle going up the butt-pull (I know that's not the name in English but since I hardly ever skied in America I can't remember what it is called!  In French it is "butt pull" - which p.s. is hilarious).  Thomas below, Estelle up higher.

 We had an amazing day in the sun and snow, it was so warm!  Loved it.  Next time I'll be joining them!

Into the New Year

I was shocked to see I had not posted in over a month!  Sorry, loyal fans.

 Christmas seems long ago and far away.  But we had many wonderful moments.  One day we helped out or friends/neighbors with their daughters after school, Charlotte (on her way to dance) & Romane.  They loved our Xmas cookies.

 Another day, we got to have Louise come and "play" for an hour on a Wednesday!

 In December, we also celebrated our friend Fransiska's 39th bday with a pumpkin cheesecake by moi-meme.

 Another bday celebration for my friend Rosa with Dorine & Melanie.  This is my "Sex & the City" quarter of friends. ( I am supposedly Charlotte, just because I go to church!)

 Estelle & Léna had their Christmas dance show on Dec 20th.

 Léna is in there somewhere, I think that's her hidden on the left.  Or maybe with her back to the camera!

 Estelle doing hip hop wearing an old sheet:

 Léna during the finale - poor thing, she was all pooped out.

 Christmas goodies delivery time for our neighbors the day before we flew:

 This incredible English Christmas cake was made by my friend Abbie - she had started it in SEPTEMBER.  I kid you not.

 On Christmas morning, Santa gave me a Singer sewing maching, courtesy of my mother-in-law!  Yeah!

 Our beautifully set table for Christmas dinner.

 Christmas dessert with the Saulnier family - here is Guy's amazing Buche de Noel!

 And here is the very highbrow bakery one.  This was delicious too!

 There was a lot going on in this buche.  Pistachio and currant jelly and who knows what else!

 Another day, we had a lovely "gouter" with family friends Celine & her 3 children.

 Tata Agnes was SUCH fun for these 2 little girls in Angers.  Every day was fun & games!

 We had mostly rain during our 9 days in Angers, but one or two days were lovely.  Great day for a bikeride by the Maine river.  Léna really perfect riding with no training wheels.  She was so proud!

 Angers cathedral in the background.

 Isn't my husband the handsomest man alive?  Pretty hot 36 year old if I do say so meself.

 Another day we went to the Natural History Museum in Angers for fable-telling and then a ride on the Merry Go Round - top deck!

 New Year's Eve in Angers - the night before we left.  Here we are with neighbors/family friends the Rigollets/Moreaus.  Léna and Zellie taking a little break.

 Zellie and Hadrien flank the girls to watch The Rescuers while the grown-ups ate and ate and ate!

 Did I mention we ate?

We rang in the New Year and then walked across the cul-de-sac to drop into bed and fly home (Singer machine in its own suitcase!) the next day to Nice.  It was a great trip, thanks to Papy & Manou & Tata Agnes!