8 weeks: Summer in America

Little by little, here's a look at our summer, only one week ago we landed, seems far away already.

Fireflies in the Garden - Robert Frost

Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,

And here on earth come emulating flies,

That though they never equal stars in size,

(And they were never really stars at heart)

Achieve at times a very star-like start.

Only, of course, they can't sustain the part.

Léna singing

J'ai du Bon Tabac

Estelle's last performance was Tuesday evening for one of her courses at her school, Wind Ensemble.  Here, she plays with other students:  Her buddy Bogdan on Basson next to her from her class.  And the others are younger 2nd graders playing 2 bassoons, & one oboe and one clarinet each.

Game of Thrones - Orchestre Les Sens de la Musique

Concert "Fete de la Musique" Orchestre Les Sens de la Musique

Piano Recital: Musette de J.S. Bach

Audtion Hautbois, lundi 1er juin

Last evening Estelle had a recital, called an "audition".  She had an accompanist from the Conservatory.

The woman who speaks is Charlotte, her professor, who is expecting #2.

Léna's 6th birthday

 As usual, Léna's birthday fell during the 2-wk school break this year.  So she was in Calvinet celebrating with her grandparents, aunt, great-aunts & uncles and many 2nd cousins.  But, when we came back, we had her party! 

 Thursday was Ascension, so we always have this random Thursday off in May.  It was a perfect day to schedule a party in a park with a whole bunch of kids.

 I made those cat cupcakes and my friend Saguit, Léna's friend Liora's mom, make this four-layer cake.  It was heaven.

 Thomas did this great riddle-intro treasure hunt.  It was fun fun fun.

 That blond haired cat-boy is Achille.  If I could eat him, I would.  I love him, even last year when he bit Léna's leg that left a mark for 2 days, I loved him.

 The riddles led to this puzzle being put together, and the kids had to then find something saying "Rooster".  (which of course meant nothing to them).

 And so then they hunted all thru the park, and finally they found Thomas' hockey bag (brand "Rooster").

 In the bag was the ballerina slipper pinata!  Léna begged for this pinata for a week.  It was the quickest 20 euros we ever saw slip thru our fingers. 

 Coco the Mascot made an appearance.

 Estelle, Eva & Romane.

Pillow, Art kits, jewelry kits, blocks, mosiacs, Legos, journals, cups, alarm clocks.  Crazy.

 Without me really saying anything, almost everyone got her Frozen stuff!  Who knew Trouble came in a Frozen version?

Léna had a great, great day.   So did we!   That night she said "J'adoré aujourd'hui.  Tout et tout et tout!"

The Godfathers

As the end to the recent 2-week school holiday, we went up to Calvinet on Thurs evening to rejoin the girls & T's parents.  Friday was May 8th (Liberation of France by the Allies) so it was a long weekend. 

The steeple behind us is the church where Guy & Andrée were married, and where Thomas & Léna were baptised.

 We were joined on Friday morning by Estelle's godfather Francois and his wife & 3 children.  We had a riproarin' time for the long weekend.

Estelle & Francois Besseyre, her godfather.

The girls with Clea on the terrace.  Clea is one year old than Léna.

Out for a walk on Friday afternoon up to Puy Capel in Calvinet.

Francois & Aurelie with Clea, Gabin & Arthur.

Guy's start to buiding a treehouse!

Thomas & his godson, Arthur, 22 months.  Such a cutie!

Coco the Mascot

Last weekend, Léna's name was pulled out of the hat in the mascot lottery.  This meant she got Coco the Monkey for the weekend.

He went everywhere with us.  On Sunday we have a picnic and a walk around the ultra-rich St. Jean Cap Ferrat.  Below:  Saturday night at the bay in Juan-les-Pins.

Friday after school with Estelle & her carpool trombone-playing buddy Charlotte.

Saturday morning, Fransiska came for coffee and Thomas made a castle out of a box for the girls and Eliott.

Coco helped make lunch:

He went for a ride:

He had a hammock made for him:

Friday night at swimming lessons:  Léna and one of her classmates, Yaëlle.

He tried to sneak some sausage:

He enjoyed some trottinette:

Coco was all wiped out after such a busy weekend:

Monday morning before school:  time to say goodbye to Coco.  This is our 6th and final time hosting a mascot.  I admit that I was a little nostalgic.

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.