This isn't good news.

Will Skype disappear?

Auntie Katie is Here!

It's been kind of a crazy day, so this will be a short post. Auntie Katie arrived today safe and sound, though perhaps a bit exhausted. The kids are having a blast with her. Here is Rowan playing with her small camera--he adores it!


We're so glad she's here to stay for two whole weeks!

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

2007

2009
(no, the matching outfits were not planned)

Okay, to be fair to Niamh I have to say that the poor child has been stuck pushing Rowan in the cart all summer. She will cheerfully push him as long as he wants, but when she wants to be pushed he generally won't do it. So sad to hear from inside "Rowan, push me please? Rowan! Rowan? Somebody push me please!" Having a younger sibling has it's benefits.

At the Park

Just some photos from a morning at the park last week. Hard to believe from these rather idyllic looking photos that it ended with us leaving because Rowan couldn't stop his temper tantrum, and then Niamh picking up where Rowan left off as we walked home. Pat, who was home for lunch, was able to hear us coming from quite far away. Fun times!

Muriel enjoyed snacking on everything that was on the ground. I can't wait until she's past this stage. I'm pretty tolerant--leaves? yes. sticks? yes. grass? not so bad. cigarette butts? yuck.

Niamh just learned how to do this rope climb by herself.

Muriel wishes she could hang with the big kids

Peeking at Mama through the steps

Sunday Morning at the Lake

The weather cleared up enough (finally!) for us to go to the beach on Sunday.






Pat got rowdy and went into the water for a bit. That shadowy head in the water (messing around with camera settings while taking photos in the bright sunlight wasn't the best idea--I couldn't see how any of the pictures were turning out) a little way out is him. Neither Rowan or Niamh could be persuaded to join in on the crazy swimming action. It was warm, but not that warm!


Muriel is at a very frustrating age for going to a rocky beach. She picked up rocks and put them into her mouth faster than I could take them out.

The beautiful weather on Sunday really made me think that the weather this week was going to be better, but as I'm writing this post it's raining outside yet again and I can hear the rumble of thunder every so often.

Ready for the Tour!

Rowan watched the Tour de France on the TV yesterday and this morning he rode his bike around the balcony yelling that he was winning the race. Here is a picture of him showing us how the racers had their hands on the handlebars.

A morning stroll!

Muriel is showing some interest in walking.

More cake photos

Here are a few more photos from Emily's birthday. Somehow we didn't get a picture of Niamh licking the frosting off the cake while decorating it.

Blowing out the candles (above)

Showing off the final product (below)

Checking out the candles (above)

Decorating the cake (below)

Making a birthday cake

The kids and I made a birthday cake for Emily today. Here are a few photos.

rainy spell

Last Wednesday was hot and sticky, and Pat worked from home in the afternoon to watch Muriel while I took the older two kids to the pool. It was lovely, but that night (at least I think it was that night, all the days blur together so I can't remember much of anything with any degree of certainty) the thunder and rain came, and stayed with us off and on through the weekend.

We did however make to to the beach for a little bit on both Saturday and Sunday during some clear patches. The pool (right next to the beach), which had been full of laughter and splahes only a few days ago, was silent.


But the kids enjoyed having the beach almost to themselves, and didn't seem to mind wearing rainboots and raincoats in the middle of July.

"Daddy's Trains"

This morning Rowan and Niamh played with "Daddy's Trains." I hadn't let the kids play with them for a while, so they were both super excited. Rowan had been counting down the days for the last week. It went fairly well. The trains on the sideings got knocked over by Rowan's knees a few times, but nothing was broken. Niamh accidently kicked one train and then dropped her blanket into the path of a freight train.

Rowan checks to make sure all wheels are on the track (above).

Rowan puts a box car back on the track (below).

Rowan opeates the train whistle (below).

More employment opportunities

Here come the golden arches.

Niamh

Eurostar

I'll need to see what I can do to boost ticket sales.

Trip to the Jura

We had a great time last weekend in the Jura visiting our friends, the Girardins. On Saturday we went to Médiévales de Saint-Ursanne. It was very cool, and can't wait to go to the next one in 2011. On Sunday we took the kids to the Préhisto-Parc, which they adored. When we left we hadn't been in the car five minutes before Rowan said "I miss Alyssa." Thanks Sandra and Alex for everything! I'm too tired to write much about it, but there are some more photos over at flickr.

Yeehaw!

Rowan and Niamh have been galloping around like horses (complete with neighs and whinnys) for a month or so now. They tried to find something stick-like in the apartment to use as a horse, but we really don't have anything that would work. So we got them some real horses.

Rainbow Over Morges

This rainbow appeared last night just as the kids were getting ready for bed. Rowan was absolutely thrilled with it--and Niamh too, but I suspect she was only excited because Rowan was. This morning he said "I want to call Bumpa and tell him about the rainbow I saw on the 7th. It was the first fainbow I've ever seen!" How did he know yesterday was the 7th? I never know what day it is unless I look at a calender.

école des Charpentiers

We received notification that Rowan will attend école des Charpentiers this fall. I think that is the school near us, but will need to do some checking. The school I'm thinking of is near Rue de Charpentiers, but not on it.

He will be in Mme Jomini's class. The notification was 3.5 pages, so I have a bit of translating to do. I'll provide an update if there is anything of interst in those 3.5 pages.

Family Potrait

Rowan made this at the jardin d'enfants earlier this month.

Closed

I wanted to check out the deporation memorial while we were in Paris, but the padlock and red tape suggested it might have been closed.

Course d'ecole

Today Pat worked from home and watched Muriel while I accompanied Rowan and Niamh on a course d'ecole (field trip) with their preschool to a nearby farm. I'm still not exactly sure how I got roped into this one, and I was a little stressed out about it, but it turned out just fine (as is usual with things I stress about). It was hot and the kids (and adults) were exhausted by the end, but they had a great time.

They each got to make a pain au sucre (basically a sweet roll):


some of the kids weren't sure about these dancing chickens:





brushing and riding a donkey:









feeding sheep:


petting rabbits and guinea pigs:




It's hard to believe that today was Rowan's last day of preschool. In two months he starts kindergarden--in Switzerland! Both of those things are a little mind boggling to me.

A Popular Article

I think I received a half dozen copies of this link, so I thought I should share.

Morges Library

Niamh is now the proud owner of a library card at the Morges library. She and Rowan both like reading Petzi books.

Time out in Paris

Paris Photos....

can be found on my flickr page.

On another note, Niamh has been enjoying cherries for lunch this week.



Somehow it doesn't look nearly as messy in the photos as it does in real life.