Weekend Adventure: Part 2 - The First Climb

Hey, 

How are you doing? Have you ever been mountain climbing? Or rock climbing even? Well, I got an immersive experience in mountain climbing this weekend. Instead of going into all the nitty gritty details. I will show a couple of photos that will hopefully give you a good idea of what it was like!

Driving to the mountain the looks small - but as well all know, looks can be deceiving - especially when it comes to mountains. Beautiful weather though.

One of the benefits of mountain climbing is that you don't always have to be in the group and you can enjoy the views for however long you want. I stopped to catch my breath and looked over to see the peak of this one mountain framed by two old trees.

Weekend Adventure: Part 1 - Geneva

Hey,

How are you doing?

This past weekend we went away on a Church retreat up the in the mountains and ending up stopping by Geneva for the day on Friday. The car ride was beautiful. There is something so majestic about mountains and for some reason they made me think of the ocean. Unfortunately the photos did not turn out as well as I would have liked. There are times when something is too beautiful or amazing or breathtaking that you cannot take a picture of it. You just have to experience it. Sometimes there are not even ways you can accurately describe it.

Geneva has many twists and turns and charming streets and shops. We spent time at the Reformation Museum and the Cathedral that was right next to it. Here are a few pictures from Friday.

Hope you are well.

Best,
bjl

Kids talk "French"

Hey,

How are you doing?

Kids are funny. They ask lots of questions. They have strong likes and dislikes. They like to imitate things... especially adults. Having both parents study French all day, I think it invokes a certain curiosity among the kids and a desire to be on the same boat. The following videos are of Al speaking "French". You will see that she is trying to educate other members of her family and join in the fun. I will occasionally chat with her in "French" which of course, is very amusing. As one heroine put it "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."So I hope the French are very flattered with these imitations!

When you read things like "Communication is 90% non-verbal" sometimes it is hard to think that that could possibly be true. However, I am amazed the amount of potential we have to understand others, even when we do not know the "language".  Music, smiles, waves, and some body language are all universals and a little can go a long way. 

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

Best,

bjl

Friday Fun

Hey, 

How are you doing? These past few weeks, we have made a friday tradition of pizza and a movie. Thanks to my friend Evie in Canada, we have a wonderfully easy recipe for the dough that can be found here. 

This week, E and Ir were able to help me make, and learn how to knead the dough. There is something so calming and refreshing about kneading pizza dough after a long and productive week.

We have enjoyed a couple movies together including the 1950's Zorro, Persuasion, and the Anthony Andrews The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The kids are great with asking many questions concerning the plot line and motives of characters. E, I think it was, was saying that he thought there were many similarities between Zorro and the Scarlet Pimpernel. Both of them have alter egos that are rather into fashion and books, and both are men of action and justice accomplished by disguise.

What have you been enjoying this weekend? Any good recipes or movies?

Hope you are well!

Cheers,

bjl

Beautiful Day

Hey,

How are you doing? I hope that your day is going well - wherever you may be!

Today is Ascension Day in France. I only learned that after I saw three hot air balloons this morning at 6:20. The sky was crystal clear and the air was fresh and clean. While I was out, there were so many times when I wished that I had my camera. Like when I saw the park path lined with white pollen and the light was coming through the trees to create that story book dappled lighting and the church was in the distance and the sound of the waterfall was so peaceful. 

Behind our house there is an overgrown field with trees on the edges and long weeds of a foot tall throughout. This evening, as the sun was starting to retire, and the backlighting was perfect on the kids playing. They were sitting in the long grass playing hide-and-seek or just making odds and ends with the weeds. You could just see their faces through the grass. Again, right out of a story book. 

Although these photos are not from today, they do accurately portray the beauty in this area. 

Enjoy!

bjl

A great place to just "...feel a prayer..."

Chocolate and Math

Remember those days of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division? The other day the kids were learning some new concepts and the pen and paper approach was just not cutting it. 

There were few Math problems in our household that were not able to be solved without drawing a picture or using some chocolate chips. We tried it and found that it increased interest, promoted interaction, and made for memorable lessons.

I must say though, that using the chocolate for Math was not the entirety of it's purpose. By breaking the bar into chunks to illustrate division ect. we were also preparing it to be baked.

In the afternoon, the younger two have naps and the older two have SSR (Sustained Silent Reading).

 We sometimes bake together or I will throw something together. With the freshly broken chocolate chunks, I made our favorite cookies.

There were a few ingredients that had to be changed, but on a whole I think they turned out reasonably well.

Wish you were here!

Best,

bjl

Park Time

Hello,

How are you doing?

We have been enjoying some beautiful weather here which has allowed us to explore various parks. There is a small little area for the kids the play in about a fifteen minute walk from our abode.

There is a swing set, slide, and little roundabout. Simple, yet enjoyable. The other day, J learned how to go down a slide all by himself. At first with some apprehension, and then with unstoppable eagerness. He is determined to climb the ladder and requires little assistance. 

Because we go at the (approximately) same time each day, we will occasionally see the same kids. On several occasions, the kids have had a chance to play with a little boy. I would guess is he around the age of seven. They all like to pretend that the roundabout is a ship upon which they are traveling. E will dramatically fall off the ship which cause the little boy to express the cutest little laugh. It is interesting to ponder what makes certain things funny to some people and not to others. The more obvious humour appeals to kids, yes, but is that something you grow out of? Or do adults learn to contain their laughter more? Is there a standard of humour? Sorry to divert. Curious. 

A couple days ago, we were leaving for the park, when the French tutor was leaving our place as well. I asked her to teach the kids a phrase they might be able to learn, remember, and use. She gladly did so, and she taught/reminded them to say "au revoir". Well, that day at the park, the little boy was there, and chatting away at the kids. Speaking only English, there was no verbal response to these little conversations, however, as they were leaving, the kids said "au revoir" to him. A curious express was on his face as we left. As if to say "Why wern't you speaking French before?"

Hope you are well!

Best,

bjl