Estelle turns 8 3/4!

We had a rockin' day yesterday at a big outdoor "amusement" park in the forest.  What a great, great day.  Many thanks to my friend Saguit who did the cake while I did the cupcakes.

Bob Clark, RIP

Joanie has just told me that Bob Clark has died.
As a young man, he was Dad's best man at Mom & Dad's wedding.
As an old man, he was a good friend to Dad and accompanied him on many a Glover Historical Society adventure.

Above, summer of 2007.  Estelle was one year old.  This was the Barton Sugar on Snow dinner.  That silver bag on the table had a gift in it for Estelle, a gold cross on a chain.  I like this photo as it show Bob as I always think of him, wearing a vet hat and smiling.  May he Rest in Peace.

Ah Vous-dirai je maman

Estelle, another oboeist, 3 bassonists and a clarinette's adapting a children's nursery rhyme.

Click here to see a short video of Estelle's ensemble.

Happy Birthday Joanie

Estelle and Léna made a special creation to show Joanie their favorites things they think of when they think about Joanie.  This was to wish Joanie a Happy Birthday!

Aunt Elaine

Aunt Elaine.  We will miss her.  But now she's with Dad and the rest of the siblings.

The Christmas Card That Never Was

Here are just a handful of the 70 or so photos from our annual "christmas card photo shoot".  Except I just never got the cards made this (last) year!

 I was so busy having a nice time over the holidays that I didn't take many photos!  Here we are Christmas morning in Angers.  Estelle has found Santa's letter....

 Estelle's skateboard which hasn't quite made its way to Nice yet -it's in Calvinet.

 Lego Boat!

 Tata Agnes was SO MUCH FUN as usual!

 Maybe next year these crazy headbands will make the holiday card.....

Skiing!

We had a great week skiing at Le Lioran in the Cantal.

 Above:  Sunday, our first day skiing, we were joined by Thomas' godmother Sylvette and her husband.  Sylvette is Guy's 1st cousin.  They also came with their daughter Aurelie, son-in-law and almost 2-yr-old Maeline.  So here is Léna and her 3rd cousin Maeline, sharing some fries.

 Above:  the view of part of the base of the station from our balcony.  We had lots of fun!

 This is Léna in the evening after her first day on the slopes. 

 One afternoon it rained some, and so we took a break from skiing til the rain let up, and Estelle entertained us!

 There's us looking over our balcony down to Thomas.  He was standing at the back entrance of the building, where there was a "lockeroom" for our skiis and we could just ski onto the trails from our apartment.  We never used the car the whole time we were there.

 After taking the gondola up, here we are at 1855 m up at the Plomb du Cantal.

 When the lifts closed every afternoon at 5:30, the girls would get busy making various snow things:

 This igloo was a daily work in progress.

 We had great snowman snow one day....

 One day we were joined by "des amis de vacances" (vacation friends). Christiane & Jacky are from Calvinet but live in Paris and like Guy & Andree, vacation in Calvinet with their grandchildren.    Thomas & I managed all 4 kids on the slopes that day!  Phew!

 A much deserved Nutella waffle after many runs down the slopes.

 Tess and Noé digging in.

 Such fun to have skiing buddies.

 Two nights a week, the ski station lights up a few trails and you can go night skiing.  This was a total blast and the girls loved it - so did we!  Thomas took Estelle on the red trails and Léna and I stuck to the blue & green.  We skied until 8:30 that night.  The station serves free hot mulled wine at the bottom of the slopes. 

Friday the girls got their medals for their levels (Léna is a "Snowflake" and Estelle is a "2nd star"). Saturday we packed up and headed to Calvinet.  The white house in the background belongs to Marie-Laure, Thomas' cousin and daughter to Thomas' late godfather, Andrée's brother.

 Saturday night:  Raclette!  Cheese melting apparatus (not like fondue) placed on boiled potatoes, smoked/cured meats, pickles, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli.  Yummy and a great way to round out our week!

Now Thomas and I are back in Nice and the girls are still having fun in Calvinet!  What a great time skiing.  No one got hurt and we had fun.

Léna's Report Card

It basically says she's great.  We knew that already.   :-)

La Danse du Grand Calumet Executee par les Sauvages

Here is one of the pieces Estelle was in during today's big concert.
She is seated in the 2nd row, just below the big drum, behind a girl with a shorter skirt and nude-colored hose. You can see Estelle's high pony tail and white scrunchie bobbing.
Estelle (queue de cheval et chouchou blanche) est devant la grand batterie, en mileu, 2eme rang, derriere la fille avec une jupe assez courte et des collants beige.

"Bain de Noel" = Penguin Plunge

 Dec 21st, Thomas ventured into the sea.  He was nervous (see above).

 Below:  Thomas with our English friends Abbie & Richard.

 "I survived"!