here we go

On our last days before our great annual trip to France.

We are leaving today! Suitcases are kind of packed, except for what the girls have taken out after I put it in, many items have been ticked off the to-do-before-we-go list (including vaccinating the cat, treating Leila's bad tooth and fixing the leaking tap on the terrace) and we are already checked in. Leila is officially off school until next year, at least, and Coline quit sleeping in the afternoon, it is all very lively around here. I have been so excited since I started packing yesterday that the whole house got contaminated with my enthusiasm. The girls are stuck on me in the same way the cats and dogs always did with us so that they make sure we do not leave without them. Leila giggled and moved so much at the dinner table that I almost got sea-sick. I will refrain from having another cup of coffee today. Oh, and this is all happening even though I have already been told that our plane is late and we will miss the connection in Lisbon. I so love travelling!

friends

It's so good to have friends! And so much better even to have friends at home. We always find that the girls are easier on us when we have visitors, but when visitors are their friends too it feels like holiday. I found myself with plenty of time to chat, drink tea, make pancakes for Helene's ogres' tea, be silly and laugh with my friend the way we did 14 years ago. Meanwhile Leila and Coline discovered that they could play together, sit at the table while everybody eats, wake up in the morning and allow me to stay in bed (Leila only but Coline generally sleeps in anyway), even go to bed without too much complain, although that one did not last more than a few days. It was great to look at our town through the eyes of first time visitors and find it beautiful, remember that it is not so common to see horse on the street for instance. They also launched the after-the-kids-are-in-bed ritual of the Caipirinha, which I am not going to maintain at the pace we had it, but will not drop either, because that drink seems to always say "don't worry, be happy."

It was a fun and peaceful 2 weeks. 

(the last 3 pics are not mine but Helene's)