Family time au Jardin Public

Since the kids have every Wednesday off of school, and since Saturdays are inevitably busy and therefore not exactly a good day for spending time together as family, we are trying to dedicate some part of every Wednesday to family time and to getting to know more of the sights around us. This week we took a few hours in the afternoon/evening to take the tram into town to the Jardin Public where we enjoyed a walk in some brisk fall air and a light picnic supper.

On the way back we discovered that there was a fair going on at Quinquonces, and so we stopped in just long enough to enjoy a Chichi and to let the kids enjoy one ride.

Neighborly Love and Les Gâteaux

Our neighbors, Alexandre and Émilee, just recovered from the grippe (read: H1N1). We had to cancel our outing to the park yet again because of their illness, but in lieu I sent over just a few small pieces of some cookie bars I had made for our family to try to encourage them and let them know that we wanted to help if we could. You can imagine our surprise earlier this week when Alexandre came over to deliver their gratitude for our "support" in the form of these cakes! Apparently, Miriam had recently given them one of her drawings when she and Micaiah saw Alexandre in the yard a few days previously. So that's why they made the special teddy bear cake just for her. The gâteaux were so beautiful (and tasty, too!) that we just had to take pictures.

Enjoying the beautiful winter...

Here are some pictures out Karen's window! What a change in one day. But it is beautiful, too.

Enjoying the beautiful fall...

but it is starting to feel like winter-- even had snow flakes this morning!
(This blog needs some activity!! )

Dad's illustration....

must not have been too exciting :-)

Sunday Dinner at "Grandma's house"

Today we had dinner at Uncle Steve and Aunt Donna's house. There was going to be quite a crew so they set up tables in the den. A. Donna out did herself with a Thanksgiving feast. I am sure that you will recognize everyone so I won't name them all!! It was a nice day.

Night Out!

Last night Dad and I went to the BJ Artisit Series to hear the Dallas Brass. They were fantastic! Of course, Dad was in 7th heaven but I almost was, too :-) We had great seats. Uncle Paul, Aunt Theresa and Grandma were a few rows in front of us. I was trying to be smart like you all and put a picture of the Dallas Brass here but I didn't succeed, so you just get to see a picture of the 3
ladies !

Jordhals

Yesterday Dad and Grandma went to Charlotte to pick up Aunt Faye. She is going to be staying at Aunt Donna and Uncle Steve's for a few days. They met at the seminary where Uncle Ron is the librarian and had lunch together and then came back. Thought you might enjoy the pics--the building behind, of course, is the seminary (and I don't know what it is called :-)

Mon cartable

One of Micaiah's first school projects has been memorizing the first two stanzas of this poem in French.

Mon cartable a mille odeurs,
mon cartable sent la pomme,
le livre, l'encre, la gomme
et les crayons de couleurs.

Mon cartable sent l'orange,
le bison et le nougat,
il sent tout ce que l'on mange
et ce qu'on ne mange pas.

The Matthew Beards!

Here is a picture of your cousin Matt (and wife Christine), your cousins once-removed Ashlie and Stephen (and his wife Killian) and your second cousin, Kasey. Hey, did I get that right?

Happy Anniversary!

Has it really been 9 years? How time flies!
Enjoy your first anniversary in the romantic
country of France, on the continent where it all started!
CONGRATULATIONS!

St. Louis

Finding we had some unexpected "free" time on our hands, we went on Priceline and got a hotel for 2 nights in St. Louis. We were surprised that we got a "long stay" Marriott Residence (small studio) but we didn't complain. We have had a good time and are now packing up to head to Arkansas. Sure wish some of the rest of you would blog!! We miss you :-)

Rockford Evening--

Do you think we have been here tooooo often? :-)

WE GOT TO SEE THE NEW HOUSE!!!

We had a special treat last night-- we got to be the first official guests at the Dan Bixby's new home!!! It is beautiful and is already looking great. (In deference to the lady of the house, we won't post any inside pictures until she gets it decorated!) But the cherry on the top of the cheesecake (which Brenda served for dessert-yum!) was seeing the kids and their parents. We had a great supper out on the porch and then an intense game of checkers :-) Everyone had to go separate ways in the morning but we loved the short visit.

Day of Visiting!!!

Great day visiting old friends. Thought you would enjoy seeing pictures. The top picture is the Hoijer family and then Debbie Vickery Olson with her husband. Their son Benjamin is only 9 and bigger than most 12 year olds!! They all send their greetings to all of you! We had two super meals and enjoyed the catching up time.

Rockford Welcoming Committee!

I made this sign to welcome Mamie and Papi. They liked it and I was just finishing when they drove in!
Posted by Patience

Grandma and some of her kids!

Last night Lois had all the siblings in town over for a picnic. There were 7 of the 10 kids present but Aunt Theresa and I were the only spouses! :-) We had a great time together---eating, playing catch phrase and then singing and reading together.

What we were surprised to find in our neighborhood...

Last night we were getting ready to eat outside when our neighbor called over the fence...

and there was a HUGE big balloon right above our houses!!

So we joined in following it until it finally landed about 2 miles away.

It was fun to see them land and take down that HUGE balloon in a matter of minutes!

He Made It!!!

Visit with Old Friends

Monday evening, Brian, Jo, Stefan and I went to Oxford, MA to have supper with the Wolpert clan. We were at Marlene's home and all three of her boys were there (one with his wife and two children). Gary and Sue came down from NH. Marlene had gone the day before to pick up her father, Dick, from E. Longmeadow. So it was a walk down memory lane. Dick is 91 and as sharp and witty as ever. We all had a great time. The Morgans and Wolperts have been friends for 60 years--- just because they were friendly neighbors when we moved in next door to them.