December Days

In December, we were hankering for certain foods, including MILKSHAKES.  We decided to go for it with our little hand mixer.  SUCCESS:

Then our neighbor brought us a tarte tatin (he's the one who grew the pumpkin, Dominique):

That's what it looked like before Ivy helped herself to a small nibble.
So we (all of us) have had some tasty treats.

We have a LEGO advent calendar, courtesy of Jean and Mireille.  Each morning the kids create a lego figure and add it to their scene:

This is how we keep Ivy off the couch:

Here are ornaments we are making for our Xmas tree, on our stand-in plant:

Asha's class went to the Roman ruins this week with its teacher (top right, Thomas Sauzade), and a guide (the woman) who told us SO MUCH about the ruins.  I got to accompany the class on the 5 minute walk from school and enjoy the visit, much to Asha's delight:

Asha's class also is doing a mail exchange with a class at FASPS.

We also treated Ford's class to pumpkin pie with whipped cream this week.  Not many of them liked it.  Who knew pumpkin pie was an acquired taste?!!  Next week we try them out on Asha's class . . .

Friday Night Lights!  Asha's (and Coach Averil's) football club Olympique Vaisonais was invited to the "professional" match between Avignon and Chateauroux.  The children accompanied the players onto the field.  There they are in yellow jerseys!  Asha has bright blue pants on.  Ford got to do it, too; he is 2nd yellow shirt from left:

The bad news is they sucked!   0-0 score.  This league is one down from the league Marseille plays in. In my estimation, wayyyy down.  Now I am determined to go to a Marseille match!

Saturday I dealt with my car (problem identified; fix imminent . . . which probably means at some point in early 2012!) and the kids did their horse-back riding.  Sunday was relaxation and walking through the vineyards:

 Ciao!