Christas cards

Sebastien brings in the mail at lunch time and then we decipher and translate the Christmas cards. The French write a little differently than others. Here is an example:

"Like this door (there was a photo of a door in Tibet) which is opening toward the future, that in 2007 brings you days of joy, of peace, and of well-being. That you all preserve good health and formulate projects full of hope for all, little and big. We remind you of our faithful and sincere friendship."

By the way, I am now Sebastien's personal assistant fielding calls for him from Asia and South America. I am looking forward to that year-end bonus!

Pretend

If we are not setting up a pirate ship in the living room or turning the laundry room into an egg hatchery or putting an ER in the bathroom or making a village outside or using all of the kitchen chairs to make a jet airplane then we are...SCUBA diving and exploring all of the fascinating underwater worlds around the globe. 

Bun?

Sometimes when you make your own bread you just have to dress up and pretend like you're living in olden times.

Comfy ride

We went for a walk through the woods with friends on a gorgeous day last week. Of course Ashes had to come with...and he had to ride in a specially made wagon...and he purred the entire time. 

Ouch

One of our bathrooms is now a hospital, offering the best in emergency care (just don't expect any care whatsoever afterwards). All of the animals are feeling much better although most smell odd because real medicinal creams were used on their wounds/injuries. 

Monday

Some days aren't so nice but then another day dawns...

and a child picks up a book of poetry and memorizes a poem while taking a stroll in a winter wonderland. Then she recites her poem and reads Shakespeare to her mother, and her mother reads Shakespeare to her, all from a book of excerpts for children discarded by the library. Then she reads poem after poem from the stack of poetry books that she pulled out and piled up, one of which was given to her little brother by one of his adopted grandmothers, the one who sits and knits hats for children whose heads would go cold otherwise. 

Northern visit

The following photos were taken in early November when we went up north to visit friends. The day was amazingly warm, over 70 degrees. My children want to go there every day.

Dress up time. 

Fancy cat, like Ashes. 

Vine swinging. 

 

Snow mountain

I don't ever remember having this much snow for such a long time (usually it starts melting the next day) in Missouri. We have been playing in the piles by the airport, making slides and igloos and messages for the working man (Sebastien, of course). 

Beauty

On days when they act ugly at least we have beautiful photos that can momentarily take us to a better place. Momentarily. 

Isabelle

Our little zebra-loving girl is now nine. She planned her whole day which included presents at dawn, breakfast bouille, playing, lunch out with her father, bowling (canceled due to snow), a birthday movie (Madagascar), a trip to the pet store, playing with a friend (canceled due to snow), a birthday dinner (vegetable pizza and corn muffins), and a chocolate cake. Happy, happy girl. 

 

Visitors

Four of Freddy's friends (wild turkeys) came by yesterday morning. They had a hard time walking on the deep snow and an even harder time crossing the icy lake. 

Ashes and the Attack of the Indian, Chapter 3

 

Freddy on the deck. 

Meow

The grey cat, the zebra, and the black cat out trick-or-treating. I think that next year we'll do the same thing: visit our special friends at their homes and then visit the nursing home. 

Trick-or-treat

Ashes knocked at the door in his costume and received a treat of cat food. 

Roof play

"...and while you're up there caulk the skylights so that we don't have living room rain showers anymore."

Do other families have rules like ours?: You must be at least eight years old to scamper on the roof.