Way too cute!

In case you were wondering, our camera and computer are now once more speaking to each other, albeit through a mediator (aka USB card-reader.) Here, to catch up, is a hint of the random cuteness that runs through our house on a daily basis.

Celtic Days

We recently paid a visit to one of our favorite places: Exoudun. They are reconstructing a Gaulish village, and had a Celtic days. It was very back-to-nature: There were many activities, for kids and adults alike. Here Alina and I are practicing our sword-fighting as Tassia looks on.

Here as you can see, Tassia gets in on the action.

Here they go at it against each other (with Franklin as collateral damage).

And here they gang up on me! (As our friends look on and laugh!)

Sickies

Sick Alina. Sick Mama. Sybille seemed like she was a bit snuffly when I was trying to put her to sleep. Sick, sick, sick. And the school year (and the autumn) have barely started!

Sybille's 9th month

Today Sybille is 9 months old.  I would absolutely love to post some pictures, but our camera and our desktop computer are currently not speaking to each other, and our laptop asked me for drivers this afternoon, which I have yet to locate, so all those cute pictures are just going to stay safely tucked away in the camera for awhile.   At 8 and a half months, give or take a few days, Sybille decided that she prefers the upright position.  She now pulls herself up on everything.  She even scooted herself around our living room floor pushing on a kiddy-size wooden chair the other day.  Alina walked at 14 months.  Tassia at 18.  Something tells me Sybille is going to beat them both.  She has also decided that she absolutely needs to reach the top of the stairs under her own power.  Not if I can help it, Sybille!  You can wait awhile on that one!   She's started saying, "Mama."  Whenever she's upset, that is the syllable that comes out of her mouth.  Does it really designate me at this point?  I don't know, but since I'm often the one to come and fix whatever the problem is, it seems highly appropriate.  When she's happy, she belts out contented chains of "Ba Ba Ba" or "Da Da Da."  We could therefore say that she says "Dada" when she's happy, but that would be a bit of a stretch.   The tooth count is up to 5, and if her sleeping pattern for the last 2 days is an indication, another one may be on its way.  She's managed to bite me a few times.  Why, when this happens, do I end up having to comfort her?   She's an expert at picking up lint off the floor.  Pebbles, too.  You know, the ones her sisters collect and bring in the house.  As far as I know, she has yet to ingest anything dangerous.  But, maybe I'm just better off in the dark.   She has a funny way of puffing out her lips and blowing. Practicing for birthday candles already?  Fortunately, we have awhile...

Never

If your 2 and a half year old presses her nose up against the bakery window and begins to pick out which pastry she would like, do not reply, "We don't need to buy those cakes.  We can always make a cake when we get home," unless you actually have the intention of making said cake upon entering the house.

Alina's First day of School

After much thought and hesitation, we finally did enroll Alina in school for this fall, and she had her first day today. As you can see by the big grin, she was pretty happy to go, and she apparently had a wonderful time. She picked out her favorite dress (her "dress to get married in") to wear today. She's sporting a new backpack, which was packed full of Chessy, and her Hello Kitty lunchbox. In French schools, the kids have 90 minutes for lunch, and Alina will normally be coming home to eat. They are, however, allowed to bring a snack for morning recess, so she picked out her snack for today herself: apple-raspberry sauce and a rice cake.

Mama's still not sure how she feels about the whole thing. However, the morning went by so quickly that, although it felt strange to be at the playground without Alina, we didn't really have time to miss her. Both Sybille and Tassia obligingly slept all afternoon. Now, THAT I could get used to!

Church is 40

Our local church celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend. More on that later, but if you want to see some picts, click here.