Party, Party!

     On Friday night, there was a block party at the end of the cul-de-sac, right outside the gate.  It was sponsored by the city.  City workers brought some tables and a big block party sign.  Many people from the surrounding streets came.  Everyone brought chairs and something to eat or drink (think homemade wine).  The party started at 7 and didn't break up until 11.  Here are some photos:

     The mayor even showed up . . . on his bicycle:

So, that was party number 1 of the weekend.

     The next day, Saturday, was party number 2:  Asha's birthday party with all her school chums.  She invited all the girls in her class and two lucky boys.  The party began at 11 a.m. and ended at 2:00 p.m. (but coffee with parents at pick up time extended the actual end to 2:45 p.m.).  

     Activities included:  hat wearing, run-around-the-yard, tie-dying pillow cases, eat lunch, pinch-the-girl-next-to-you-and-make-her-cry, semi-organized cheer of some sort, complicated treasure hunt (which they completed in 8 minutes), adult morale meeting, cake and ice-cream, open presents, run-around-the-yard-some-more, water-drinking (it was 85 degrees!), hide-in-Asha's-room, and drink coffee with parents at pick up time.  It was fatiguing and fun at the same time . . . you know how these things go.

Here are some photos (and an action-video):

Only the Name and Date Have Been Changed

Part of the Group . . . I Think We Had 10 in All

Hugo, Ford, Kimberly

Seline, Camille #1

Camille #2, Asha

Manon, Nikita

Lola, Mattieu, Julie

Under the Party Table

Parent Coffee at Pick-Up

In this action video, Le General instructs the kids on tie-dying (this was important, as tie-dying is not well-known in France and none of the kids had done it before):

The whole thing was tiring.  At the end of the party, all we wanted to do was crawl under a bush and go to sleep!