NEARLY THE END

Well the days are rolling on, Manu still overseas, it's been four weeks now and feels like a lifetime, I'm so busy but get not much done if you know what I mean, still up ironing at 10 pm shouting at the kids to go to sleep who are now two in a bed.... and the little one said ........................ A LOT.  They are driving me nuts.  Still two weeks to go till the end.  My folks arrive in July for two months and my Aunt and Uncle from the UK for two weeks just to keep me busy.  I think it will be fun and take my mind of being a single mom for another three months - the second time this year.

We've been busy with picnics and baking, swimming lessons and end of year functions.

I bought a mincer, I love it and I mince everything, these are pork burgers made from pork chops, just cut off the bone before.

Ben putting the effort into burger making

Picnic with neighbours - Sylvie and Misha in our woods, Benjamin managed to rip his shorts, didn't seem to phase him.

I went with Sylvie and Misha to Flumet in the evening for a show put on by the association that does all the activities.  Funny to see line dancing in France but it was great.  The kids ran around eating hotdogs and chips.

And another picnic on another day



And then it was Father's Day.  A little difficult to celebrate considering the DAD is not here.  We made him an e-card with old photos on though -

Can't turn the photo so frustrating Blogger you should be ashamed - Daddy and Benjamin 10 August 2003

Daddy and Samuel 2003

Daddy and Samuel 2007

Daddy and Benjamin 2011

2010

THEN AND NOW

GYPSIES LEAVING

A very dark photo of gypsies leaving Praz

 This is a scene that makes many residents very nervous.  They seem to camp for months on end in a village and are very difficult to move on.  It seems in Praz though they never stay.  You see them arrive and a couple of hours later leave.  We have a huge car park at the base of the piste (ski slopes)  but with no electrical points so I presume that is the reason.  Sarkozy would be pleased he sent thousands back to Romania in 2010.  Look at the size of the vans, they are huge.

JUNE 7th

JUNE 7th ...................

 ..........was my birthday.  A regular day but full of telephone calls, messages, cards and.............

...................this beautiful flower basket from Manu delivered first thing Thursday morning.  I nearly fell over it as we flew out the door to school, late as usual.

The rest of my garden.  Not a lot of sun as we face the wrong way but they are thriving never-the-less.

The rest of the weekend we spent in Chagny, a three hour drive from here with my sister-in-law and Sam and Ben's cousin - Romain.

Tilak and Anne-Sophies house in Bourgogne

Wine Country

A good walk along the canal

Now that's what I call a lazy afternoon

Train Spotting 

and he tooted too

Ben always fascinated with the police



Then it was off to Romain's new school for the fete de l'ecole

Romain

The cousins had fun this weekend.

FETE DU MERE

It was Mother's day here in France on Sunday.  Benjamin came home from school on Friday with a little parcel hidden in his bag and he was just itching to give it to me.  Credit to him though he managed to hold out with a little encouragement from Samuel till Sunday.  Doesn't take after me obviously because I cannot wait for surprises it just kills me.

Gift from the kids so nicely made. 

 This is made by Benjamin, with the little coat hook.  Very flourescent but too cute

 And this is his writing at the age of 5.  I am seriously impressed.

 Samuel's little card and bracelet he made perfectly sequenced I must say

Everyone in Samuel's class had to make up there own little poem..............I translated it for you ..........

Dear Mommy

- You are very gentle with me (when I'm not screaming like a wild women)
- You always go walking with me
- You cook really well (not bad considering he eats nothing)
- You help me with my lessons
- You help me at school
- You help me sing (I am tone deaf by the way)
- You like the things I like (That's easy - lego, Harry Potter and Ice Cream)
- When I'm sore you aid me
- Big kisses and I love you strongly

Aaaahhh man for the memory box I think.

THE MEMORY BOX is a box I store on top of the geyser in the loo.  It's full of every card, dummy, lock of hair, teeth.  The other day I dropped it and a tooth rolled out.  I quickly scooped it up before anyone noticed.  I really couldn't imagine explaining why the tooth fairy dropped the teeth in the memory box.   hahahahahaha

SOUNDS OF THE ALPS

LONG WEEKEND = PICNICS

Well that's it Manu's gone.  He flew off on Saturday morning back to Miami for another three months.  We all had such a heavy heart but we picked ourselves up and spent the entire weekend picnicking, walking, fishing and visiting local markets.  Great fun actually and I'm pleased to say the rain stayed away.

 Drinks with Julien, Claire and Seb before Manu left

 Rainy skies in the evening

 A trip to Lac des Evettes with Francois and Lizzie

 Titouan and the boys making there way to the lake

 The Lake full of trout

 Caught ZERO

 Walking back home

 Caro with the lovely flowers the boys picked

Little restaurant at the top but closed for now.