New Additions and New Beginnings

This past week we have had a new addition to our home. My friend Victoria moved in with us. She and I are sharing a tiny room in the upper floor of our house. It has been hard sharing everything I have but I'm glad we could help her out. Our room is cluttered and close quarters for two teenage girls but we have had fun doing homework together and going to bed at nine thirty on the dot every day. She attends seminary on the phone with us--although we aren't sure the teacher is aware. 

We don't have much time to spend time doing recreational activities because this school year is high pressure and high work load. I feel like a homework machine, except for when I have a pleasure reading book, then I'm a reading machine. I can't help it. 

We finally made it through the first full week of school. I just can't wait for vacation. 

Love, Anna

The Final Countdown and Birthday Cake for Breakfast

This week marked the beginning of the end--of the summer that is. After spending two care-free weeks in Spain we returned to real life and tried to enjoy our last week of freedom. However, school preparations soon began niggling our conscience so off we went to gather the dreaded "fournitures," better known to you as school supplies.

In France, the school supply lists are intense. They include a massive quantity of incredibly specific items. For example a red A4 notebook with 96 pages and 5x5 squares. Everything must be covered in new plastic to keep it from deteriorating. Instead of pages being threaded into binders with holes in the page, everything is placed inside a plastic sheet protector known as a plastic pocket. Needless to say we usually end up with stacks of paper and the pockets to put them in. Our first year here, someone was kind enough to walk us through the supplies. Now, on our third year, we have our system down.

Armed with our lists, four sacks and a scanner we began our game of school-supply hide-n-seek. I nobly waited by the cart while each child found things they needed so I could scan the item and place it in the correct bag. I received more than a few odd looks as I waited--a family our size is unusual. I just smiled. We finished in less than an hour. Hopefully, we won't need anything else.

Tuesday afternoon the girls and I headed to the coiffuse for a bit of pampering. Four haircuts later and looking fabulous, we headed into the centre ville to pick up our school-bus passes at the town hall. Unfortunately, I neglected to bring individual mugshots to put on the passes. I laughed when the woman sitting in the office told me, "It's the same as last year." Frankly, I'm lucky I understood what she was saying then, let alone the procedure from last year. Sometimes it's hard to always appear less than intelligent. But again, I just smile.

Ellie finished her run at the village vacation school with an African dance class. They painted her face red with a big black eye on her forehead. This is her scary face.

Friday I took a hike in the hills in our village with J & E and some other friends. There are several marked trails, so we thought it would be no problem. It was super hot. Despite us following a map, we ended up on a farming plateau with nothing but a signpost pointing to other destinations instead of the chateau we were aiming for. Our exhaustion and dwindling water supply convinced us to turn around instead of continue. We never made it to the castle, but we did get granitas (slushies).

The most important thing by far we did this week was celebrate Anna's birthday. We started with breakfast in bed--crepes with peaches and whipped cream. This was followed by a chaser of birthday Rice Crispy treats (her birthday cake of choice).  We spent the day at Lac d'Esparron peddling around on a pedalo (a paddle boat with a slide). We jumped off some low cliffs, had a picnic and swam while soaking up the sun.












Anna finished the day with a trip to Aix-en-Provence where her dad helped her pick out her birthday present--a guitar. (She has played non-stop every since.) It was a great day and a great week.

Fingers crossed the first week of school will be as good.

Meredith

At the Beach

Last week was great. One of my favorite things was going to the beach in San Sebastian. Let me paint you a picture. 

Soft warm sand that your feet sink into as you search for a place to lay down your colorful towels. You can hear kids talking and playing. All around you there are people laying out, many only half dressed.

As you near the water the sand darkens and you can hear the small waves crashing in, you can taste the salty air. The water isn't too cold, until it covers your shoulders. Then its freezing. Out there, you wait with those who are patient enough to see a big wave. One that, when it nears, makes you feel like you are going to drown before it even hits you. And then impact. You're flying! The wave carries you back toward the shore until it dies down or passes you by and you tumble to a stop. You go back out to the the shoulder deep water and you wait again, and again, and again. You're having the time of your life. 

We were sad to leave Spain, but it's time to face reality. School and work here we come.

More Barcelona and We Head to Madrid

Saturday completed our first week in Spain. It was a lot of fun! We went to a labyrinth park by the Metro and wound our way through the bushes. E and I tried and tried but Anna had to come and help us find the middle.

That same afternoon, we went to the Sagrada Familia church and enjoyed its amazing architecture and designs.

On Wednesday, after staying in Barcelona for a couple of days, we headed to Madrid. On the way there, every once in a while, we saw a bull propped up like a billboard in the distance. I really like cows!

After a couple hours, we stopped along the way to take a small hike at the Monestario de Piedra. For me, a hike doesn't sound like a lot of fun, so I was not excited. We started off by touring the monastery where we learned the monks who lived there made wine and chocolate, then we started our nature walk.

As we ventured further along, I began to enjoy it more and more. As we journeyed we came upon an enormous water fall. It sprayed mist onto our faces. Continuing, the air started to get moist and as we stepped onto an unfamiliar ground, we looked down and saw IT. The most picturesque scene appeared. The water below us was bright blue with rubenesque fish waiting for food. The light shone off the moss on the walls in just a way that was inexplicable and the drips falling from the ceiling broken away from the grand waterfall ahead of us.

Although I tried, the pictures just didn't turn out the same. But I guess you'll just have to go visit there yourself. You can stop by France on your way.

Soph

Lizards, Bugs and Spain Oh My!

On today's blog post we will be talking about bugs, pets and going to Spain. So let's get started.

This week we actually had a lizard in the house. My mom called me to come catch it. I chased it and was able to trap it but I knocked its tail off. It kept wriggling for the next three or four minutes. We also found a snake curled up in a corner on the pool deck. I kept squirting it with a water gun even though my mom told me not to. I also found a big scorpion on a wall near our garden.

Saturday we left for Spain. It took 5 1/2 hours to drive to Barcelona. We left really early (4 a.m.) because we wanted to avoid traffic. I had to leave my hamsters with some friends so they would have someone to take care of them while I am gone.

In Spain we visited the Salvador Dali museum which actually quite bizarre...just incase you are planning to go there. But the best thing was going to this burger place, which was actually very efficient. The burgers were huge and delicious. I have to say it was the best burger I've ever had in my life.

That's all for this week. Talk to you again in four or five weeks.

Love you,

J

Pigs in the Garden and Other Stuff From the Week

Dear Everyone,

I am excited to tell you about a few things that happened this week.

I go to vacation school (vacances scolaire) in our village every Monday and Wednesday. It's a good way to practice my French and it keeps me from fighting with my brother. This week I spent Monday at the pool. Wednesday we did science experiments. There was one that used a candle, a cup, water, a plate and a coin. It was so cool. I wish I could show it to you all.

We had a big surprise at our house this week. The weather was rainy and we couldn't play outside and my mom showed us something she had been hiding...a Wii. I cried so hard when I saw it because I was so happy.

As usual, Friday was movie night. We watched Space Buddies and it was really fun because I got to watch with my friends because Anna and Sophie were babysitting them.

We woke up Saturday morning to find our garden torn up by boars. They were looking for water and ruined the grass. We had to put it back together by putting the grass side up and the dirt side down. It was a muddy job. It's not the first time they've been in our yard. We hope they don't come back.

Saturday we had planned to go to Lac St. Croix, but it was stormy so we had a game day at our friend's house instead. We played capture the flag. I always ended up in jail, and my team lost, but it was still fun.

Love,
E

PS Peace, cool, peace, cool love ellie mc-chellie

Francoms Got Talent

Our branch hosted a talent show, so we decided to participate in true Francom fashion...by disco dancing in afro wigs. It's not very authentic, but we had fun doing it. Enjoy.