We've had a busy couple days. Friday we had our first dinner guests, a family from church with three little girls. Our girls have been longing to be with kids. English speaking kids would be preferable, but they happily agreed to have some French friends come over. The parents speak English but their girls do not. Dinner was mostly silent from the children (which was very pleasant!) but afterward they all went downstairs and played for over an hour. There was a lot of loud laughing and hollering (volume made up what vocabulary lacked!) It was a beautiful thing to see these little kids play and create ways to get along without too many words.

Saturday I had a day out alone with Tennie. What a unusual treat! We went to Nice to run some errands and find a few warmer things to wear. Adele and Ceci stayed home with Geoff and got to watch a movie and play charades. A great day all around.

Today we are driving to Switzerland for the week. We'll spend Thanksgiving and our 10th anniversary at the temple, the best place we could think to be when we can't be with family and friends. We'll miss the fat turkey, and will probably be eating sauerkraut instead! Next weekend we're driving to Augsburg, Germany for a visit to a Christmas Market! On the way home we'll stay a night in Lugano, Switzerland to break up the drive. So check back in 9-10 days!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Monaco's Independence Day

Today is Monaco's Independence Day. This afternoon the girls and I went to a carnival on the harbor. We had hoped to stay for the fireworks tonight, but turns out they did them last night (?). Every single store and restaurant was closed, and nearly every place in town hung the red and white flag of Monaco. I'm not sure what the traditions of this holiday are, but I do know that every middle-schooler in the country goes to the carnival...

More miscellaneous

Evening silliness

A lesson on the importance of exact obedience

Ceci, the guide, ensuring Tennie's exact obedience

An ever-so-typical Ceci

The girl's doing a little post-church tree climbing

Ceci's black and blue finger after getting it stuck in the hinge side of a door at church. There was much wailing, as you can imagine. Just two days before her finger was accidentally shut (completely) in the car door. Poor little thing is terribly accident prone...

Lastly, Sunday was the primary program where the children sing and read in front of the entire congregation. Both Tennie and Adele participated. They mouthed a lot of "watermelons" during the French children's songs, but Tennie read a scripture in French and nearly got an applause! She definitely got an "ahhh" from the congregation, and was the belle of the hour. Everyone came up and told her how well she did, and how she doesn't have an accent. Coming from the French that is a BIG compliment! We were proud of her courage.

She has been adding to her blog. If you are interested take a look at her latest posts: www.tenniedavis@blogspot.com. She lives for comments...

Aix-en-provence

Today we went west to Aix-en-Provence. It was also a drive into fall! The golden vineyards guarded by old stone houses were so beautiful. French countryside...I can't wait to get back in the spring when it is all in bloom!

Aix is a very cool college town. We got there just before the market closed, supposedly the best in Southern France. Endless stalls of fresh produce, breads, spreads, cheeses, meats, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms upon mushrooms, honey, lavender and dozens of prepared Provincial goodies. Then there were antiques, clothing, scarves, soap, dishware, shoes, jewelry, bags, tablecloths and even a little hardware stand. Coming from a retirement, coastal town their seemed to be hundreds of kids and young adults everywhere. We saw cell phones and style, and and element of materialism that we've become sensitized to. But still, the outdoor cafes on this fall day were packed, and the crowded walking streets and avenues didn't seem hurried. It was fun to see a different angle of French living. We loved this town!

What's a day out in France without pastries...

It is truffle (mushroom) season
We spent a good amount of time on the main avenue eating our panini and watching the people go by.

An artist standing back to critique his painting

A very old man holding up a balcony

A visit to Cezanne's studio in Aix

The courtyard in front of Cezanne's studio

The evening light was magnificent!

Another new smile!

During dinner I looked over at Adele and her other front tooth had fallen out! She spit out her mouthful of food but it wasn't there. Did she swallow it? Adele started to freak out. 30 seconds later we found it on the floor. Just like that it fell out! Adele was very upset as she isn't one for surprises. But after some "private time" in front of the mirror she came out and flashed her new toothless smile. Quintessential SIX!

The great box chase

We ordered some things via the internet and were expecting a biggish box in the mail. The mail man tried buzzing us at the gate Monday morning (around 9:30) but we weren't here so we got a card saying it was being held at the post office. Late that afternoon we stopped by the post office to pick it up. The post office only has one window and we were about 7th in line. After about 20 minutes it was our turn and we learned that our box wasn't at the post office, yet, but still on the back of the mail truck somewhere. They told us they were closed for (an un-named) holiday on Tuesday so come back Wednesday, but make sure we come in the morning because Wednesday afternoon they are closed. So Geoff planned to go this morning, but before he left we heard the buzzer. Turns out it was the postman. We tried to answer but we didn't sprint to the intercom so we missed him. Now we have to wait again until tomorrow to go to the post office, or do we go to the post office? Does the card mean we-have-a-box-and-will-try-to-deliver-it-again, or does it mean come-to-the-post-office-and-pick-up-your-box like it says on the piece of paper? Or something in between?

One simply can not be in a hurry in France. Nothing is quick. Four days after our car was in the shop they still hadn't taken a look at it. (We were told that the mechanics hadn't been coming in due to the power being out...which was about 10 minutes on two different days). After much persistence they got to it and found it was simply a hose that had come loose and within a few hours we could pick it up. Two weeks ago a man was scheduled to come prune the trees in our back yard but he still hasn't come. His last re-scheduled appointment was the first sunny day after the two weeks of rain and he called and cancelled because the "trees are too wet". A "quick run to the store" takes about 45 minutes because each check-out line has at least 5 people in it, and the goal isn't to provide a favorable experience for the customer...it is as if the store figures people have to eat so they'll come no matter the wait. Amazingly, no one is impatient in line, or grumbling about something that would make us Americans storm out threatening to take our business elsewhere. No one is checking their watch or letting out exasperated sighs. I haven't seen a single blackberry since we've been here (I'm sure they have them in Northern France), and I would make a safe bet that the majority of people don't have the internet in their homes, because most offices/stores we've been in don't have a modern set-up. They don't seem totally archaic, but more like they figure, "Who wants to spend time on the internet when you could be spending time at the beach?" This would normally drive us crazy (and at times it does), but since we've shed our mobile phones and calendars for a year it is pretty refreshing. During our first visit to the post-office to pick up our box there was a guy a few people ahead of us in line that had a letter to send and was waiting for a single stamp. Geoff said, "All this waiting for a stamp, huh?" to which the guy, not thinking it an inconvenience at all, replied, "Yeah". The man at the front of the line heard the brief conversation and invited the man waiting for a stamp to come to the front of the line. Kindness. Civility. Ahhh, life is pleasurable in the slow lane...

Raging storms

The past two weeks we've had severe thunderstorms, daily. It is very unusual for Menton where the sun usually shines and life goes on peacefully. We've been huddled indoors trying to stay dry, with windows and shudders closed to keep out the winds. It has been chilly outside but thankfully we have little wall heaters in each room so we kept warm. The lighting was so powerful and strong that it's flash woke Geoff and I up nightly, and the thunder shook our little stone villa repeatedly. We avoided going out as much as possible, but eventually we would run out of food or need something. With our car in the shop Geoff went out on an errand on the scooter one day and got caught in a storm. He came back soaked to the bone; shivering uncontrollably with cold. We ran a warm shower and got some warm soup ready to help him recover and thankfully he didn't get sick. The next time he went out he put on his rain pants, a rain jacket and waterproof gloves, and the helmet with it's face guard. Again it began to rain hard while he was out, but that time he came back feeling dry and warm. The rain would come down in torrents so when he was out the girls and I would anticipate his return and pray for his safety. We're not immune to rain, as you know, but this was unusually wild weather for a relatively long period of time! Then yesterday when we woke up the sky was clear blue and the sea perfectly calm. The air had been cleansed from all of its impurities and the light reflected on every thing with such brilliance that it was almost like their was another dimension to what one could see! The colors of the sea, the mountains, the trees, the boats, and the buildings were magnified and magnificent. The sun was so warm and bright. We felt so alive and full and light! I can't describe the beauty and peacefulness.

I couldn't help but see the parallel to the severe storms swirling around so many of you as you stand up for moral principles at home. I don't anticipate they'll go away anytime soon. As we fight for our families and freedoms, fortify our homes to stand up to the raging storms, and wear our "armor of God" whenever we leave our places of safety, we can have peace and protection. And we can look forward to that day when the storms cease and all impurities are washed away and the world and everything in it are magnified and magnificent. I hope for, and live for, that day!

Afternoon in San Remo

After two weeks of being mostly home bound due to very stormy weather we spent the afternoon in San Remo, Italy. Mostly we sat on the fishing pier and watched the people go by. It was a gorgeous day.

The sea front was filled with people anxious to get outside. The older generation still dresses up to go out on a Saturday afternoon. The women in skirts and the men in dress coats and slacks. They wander about hollering their friendly hellos to each other. The middle generation is dressed like they are going out for the evening (Italians like fashion!) The teens in all countries seem to be lost in some other world, and the wee Italian kids are dressed to the nines. We saw a guy climb aboard his fishing boat and get the bait ready for tomorrow morning's early departure. He didn't look like a fisherman, nor did a few others we saw preparing their boats. He was dressed casually compared to everyone else, but nicely for working on the fishing boat. He pulled out the hugest worms I've ever seen and cut them into bits. Then he hooked each bit onto hundreds of hooks. Quite a crowd of his friends gathered around. We see these kinds of fishing boats come in early every morning (and have even discovered where to buy the catch right off the boat!) so it was fun to see the fisherman in action.

Right of passage

Adele lost her front tooth today, and the other one isn't far behind. Loosing a front tooth is like a rite of passage into bigger-kidhood. The little kid-face is gone. I went through a mourning period with both Ceci's pulled tooth, and now Adele's tooth. Are these really my babies growing up?!

Two month update

We just passed our two month mark here in France. It feels like we've been here for about six months! I thought I would give a little update on how things are going generally.

Geoff's health improvement isn't discernible day to day. Some days are better than others. Our comings and goings necessarily revolve around how he is feeling on any given day. Thankfully, looking back over two months, he would report that he is better than he was when we arrived. He is getting more involved in Z School, takes care of all of the French items of business, and makes time to lay in the sun and read a few hours a day on average.

Theoretically we have a nice, consistent schedule every day in Z School, the girls do their daily jobs, I get a chance to study French, and the house is relatively in order. Reality is, things change day to day; life isn't so nice and tidy. We do a lot less than we originally thought we would do.

The girls have days when they love France, and days when they really miss home, friends, school and English speakers! Their French is coming along. It would come along much more quickly if they had more exposure, but there is progress. They love to study it!

As I mentioned, we've had some very rainy weather the past few days! And when it rains here it really rains hard! The run-off from Boulevard de Garavan comes right through our back yard and becomes a raging river! Menton has nearly reached it's quota for rainy days...we're hoping the sun returns soon!

Tonight we were feeling a little stir crazy after being inside the past couple days. When the rain let up we took a little sunset stroll along Boulevard de Garavan. Old Town is beautiful all lit up. The basilica greets us with it's bells every half hour. We also walked through the town cemetery where a medieval castle used to be. It is a spectacular spot with

sweeping views to Italy and Monaco.

Car troubles

I'm not sure if I mentioned that we bought a little car.

We hoped to avoid it but all things considered it has made our lives MUCH easier.

On the way to church this morning it wouldn't get going on the freeway. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw smoke coming from the car! Thankfully we were just at the off-ramp of the only gas station en route! After about and hour and a half trying to figure out what to do, looking under the hood, calling our dealer, pricing things out, and working with unusually helpful gas station workers Geoff arranged for a tow truck to pick us up. The girls thought it was so cool to get to ride in the tow truck. Of all the amazing experiences in France this is probably going to be one of their favorites. (They're already to the point where we'll say, "Look! There's a castle!" and they'll give a courtesy look and a "Cool." before going back to what they were doing.) After 30 minutes at the garage we took a taxi

home. Needless to say, we missed church! The good news...turns our dealer paid for the tow truck, taxi ride and will cover repairs! Whew!

Off subject but still part of the day...

Tonight there is a really big lighting/thunder storm. Geoff took the girls out on the balcony to hear the rain just as there was an amazing bolt of lightning and ear-breaking thunder right over our villa. Adele and Ceci were crying to come in and Tennie was saying, "That was so cool!" Right now they're all huddled in the same room afraid they may get struck in their sleep...

Miscellaneous

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures from the past few weeks.

A few finds on the beach after our last storm

The girls have opened a "Spa". $0.25 for each 15 minutes of service! I've booked all their openings...

Ceci has a problem with hitting lately so Geoff said he was going to spank her to help her understand the seriousness of hitting (ironic, huh?) While Geoff was momentarily distracted I told Ceci to put a book in her panties to soften dad's heart...it worked.

You can't see the waves rolling in here but they were coming in on a windy evening. Geoff and the girls were badtalking them, yelling things like, "You can't get us!" They would mock and taunt the waves every time the splashes missed their legs.

The girls fell in love with this dog in a "wheelchair"

Tennie came up for breakfast the other morning with this sign on taped to her chest. A mixture of French and English it says, "I am colorful!" That is the biggest understatement in the universe!

The girls discovered Orangina on one of our outings to Monaco...a new favorite drink