Le Blog: Pere Noel Is Coming: Second Installment

We're continuing to enjoy Christmas preparations.

Last week the school had its own "Marche de Noel," selling crafts that the children made and hot cocoa. My children were very proud of their efforts, and we snapped up their projects for a mere fifty centimes each!

School courtyard

Sapin de Noel

Marche

Treasured pine cone creation

I call this, "Candle on a Decorated Plank." It makes a nice centerpiece.

Next, the children assembled for some caroling. There is something magical about high children's voices singing carols in French and resonating through crisp night air illuminated by pretty lights. It was nice.

There's a recognizable chanteuse!

Though we are grandparent-less this Christmas, there has been a stand-in. Madame Jeannine Henriot is a charming, kind woman who takes grandparenting very seriously, even of American grandparent-less children. She invited us over on Sunday and we played traditional French card and boardgames and listened to traditional French children's carols. She wants us to have a traditional experience- bless her, because so do we! Then, in true grandparent fashion, she ushered me out of the house to my Christmas concert in the town Cathedral, while she fed my children crepes. They managed also to gorge themselves on chocolates. Here are some of the scenes:

Playing "Nain Jaune" (Yellow Elf- which appears to be a nonsequitor in terms of the game.

There are no elfs involved, yellow or otherwise).

Entering the Cathedrale at 4:00- I left in the dark.

Awaiting the chorus after nabbing a great seat!

They sang Mendelsson, Mozart and Christmas carols. The carols are all the same music we know, but different words. When I saw "White Christmas" on the list, I licked my lips for some English (with a French accent, all the better). But alas, they had French words for that one, too!

This week the kids have two pony camps. Ford is excited for tomorrow's, which will have some trail riding. Yesterday, they did the maxi-trot-- lots of fast trotting. And they hunted for treasure at the farm.