MAKE IT STOP

SNOW, snow and more snow.  We had over 25cm in two hours today.  It was funny seeing everybody, de-snowing cars, doorways, driveways, porches, just everything.  I'm still not used to it but find it all too charming.  Does bother me when it gets in my boots or down my jacket though.  The photo above is a ski moniter skiing to work past our appartment.  So lovely, but shew it's hard work.  I walked the kids to school and just trudging up the hill and I was out of breath.  This evening I braved it and drove a whopping 20km per hour to Megeve to take the kids swimming.  We have a new pool in the sports centre, it's all inox, or stainless steel to the English.  It's like swimming in a big sink.  But you think differently here so after an hour in the pool I started to wonder if my car would be completely snowed in.  So we left abruptly.  After that Seb came round for supper and gave the kids Christmas presents.  He also takes care of a family in there Chalet like Manu in the holidays and weekends so we didn't see him over the festive season. 

How funny are these beanies.  They are all the rage here, all the kids wear funny hats.  My kids were well pleased - thanks Seb.

 Sam the marshmallow

Ben the cow

GALETTE DE ROIS

The Galette de Rois is eaten in France of the day of Epiphany which is 6 January, otherwise known as the King Cake, here they hide a bean or little porcelain figurine, the cake is cut and dished out, the person who gets the fevre (bean) wears the crown and is the King for the day.  I just love it, it's puff pastry filled with an almond paste, diabolical for the figure but fab in taste.

Of course we're eating ours early but this way we get to eat two, yummy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well didn't do much but made a delicious curry with chipatis to boot and Pears in Red wine with Pistachio nut ice cream for dessert.  The kids were asleep by 9, Manu came home by 10 and we watched all the fireworks from the balcony at 12.  Fifi, Romain and Tilak are still with us so the kids have been having fun with their little cousin.

 Romain - all wrapped  up and ready to go.

 A walk through the woods.

 Lugging

So much snow.

BOXING DAY FONDUE

Romain the little cousin loves to eat, so we had a lovely Savoyard fondue for dinner.  Bread and cheese what more could a boy ask for.

 He's such an adorable boy

 Sam lugging down the slopes apposite us

It's very fast.

CHRISTMAS

Well it's been and gone but we have Manu's sister and her family staying with us so I've been a little busy. Christmas day was without Manu as he was at work but we still managed to celebrate with him when he came home at 9 that night.  The night before I made a lovely Roast lamb dinner so Christmas day we ate leftovers and had some nice snacks that night with foie gras and Smoked Salmon.  Kids lasted till Manu came home to open presents but they had there stash from Father Christmas to open in the morning.

 Hanging up there stockings the night before Christmas

 When my mom was here earlier in December my sister sent her the book - The night before Christmas with a voice recorder so she recorded the story in her words and the kids opened the book - the night before Christmas.

 They loved the story.

 The morning of - first gifts

 Uncle Guy's present - what a hit

 On the night of Christmas Santa came to Praz to hand out sweeties, we were very quick it was -7C.

 Manu home and dishing out the goodies

And that was Christmas.

MEDAL DAY

Complete, that is the course the boys took this week and completed it they did with flying colours and have the medal to proove it.

DAY AND NIGHT

So this is the video of the kids skiing down the baby slope.  Can't believe how quickly they've picked it up.  Each day after their course I take them on the little baby lift and they practice on there own.

Tonight was the 'Descente aux flambeaux' where the ski moniters come down the slope with torches.  Impressive.

After we all had hot chocolate....

You can see the huge pot with flames under for the hot chocolate.  A welcome relief I must say.