Une semaine entre filles

A couple of weeks ago Daniel had to go to Houston for work; I say "had to," but it was actually really great for him because he was able to spend time with a couple of his brothers and their families and it just so happenned that our new niece was born when he was there. Anyway, it was during Jaxon's winter break, and it so happenned that my friend Aurélie's (who I met on the internet about a year ago now) husband was in Japan for work. She invited me and the kids over, so the very afternoon that Daniel packed up to go on the plane to the U.S., I packed up the car and the kids and drove over to Montpellier for a week of, as she called it, "French Immersion." The standard French bathtub is a bit bigger than a standard American bathtub, luckily for these four boys who has a blast playing in a tub full of the best bubbles I have ever seen!

Aurélie remembered that it was Mardi Gras and she ran out an bought costumes for the kids to celebrate. They are so handsome, our robin hood, knight, indian, and baby (Jonas still plays the part really well).

One morning with went to the Park aux Biches (deer park), where Aurélie had sworn that she had seen deer during each of her visits. Her friend Pierre (who despite his quintessentially French name is the most "American at heart" frenchman that I have met) accompanied us with his two boys, roughly the same ages as ours. Our pack of boys successfully scared off any deer that may have been inclined to venture our way. That is, until right before we left when we spotted about 5 of them. However, the kids missed it. Oh well, the really had a good time anyway.

Wow, that really does look like a lot of kids, doesn't it?

Having a snack at the Montpellier aquarium. This aquarium was really great and very kid-oriented.

There were all kinds of interesting structure for kids at the aquarium.

A quick trip to Antactica

Otherwise we spent time in their backyard, watching French movies, and Aurélie and I stayed up way too late at night talking about just about everything. I love talking with her because I can ask her all the potentially offensive and inappropriate questions I would never ask any of my other French friends! She also taught me a thing or two about French cooking, to Daniel's great pleasure when he returned from the states. The kids got along wonderfully and it was fun to here Jaxon speaking French all week. It was just a wonderful week. Thanks Aurélie!