Extended family

Some of our favorite times so far have been activities that seem too mundane to capture or times when the camera wasn't appropriate.  Given that we are here with the kids and want them to have lots of down time, there has been a disproportionate amount of time spent hanging around the house, walking to the bakery or the grocery store or cleaning the house.

Our biggest stroke of luck, I think, was our rental house. Not just because it's beautiful and just spacious enough for us to be comfortable, but because it is a duplex shared with Leen's sister-in-law's family. (Leen is Dave's sister, my sister-in-law). Living next door has not only given us friendly contacts who are willing to put up with our attempts at speaking French but also has made it so we've been included in family events. Last night, we celebrated Odette's 80th birthday. (Odette is the mother of our host, Béatrice, and Leen's husband, Jean-marc). It was amusing in that Odette didn't want a big deal made so it was just a family dinner and then at the end they lit candles and sang Bon Anniversaire over her objections.  Similarly, last weekend, Béatrice and her husband, Xavier, invited us over for Sunday aperitif  which meant wine and snacks that started at 1pm.  I mostly just quietly drown in the rapid french but I do get bits of conversation and lots of good food and drink and friendly company.