It's ParTAY time!

As Sophia called it last Saturday before her "fête d'anniversaire" (birthday party) at Kizou (think Monkey Joes, sort of). My little princess didn't just have a birthday.. she had a birth month! Her birthday fell during the french school system's winter holiday so we delayed the party with her friends until March since many were out of town on vacation in February. So, last Saturday we partied hardy at an indoor play place called Kizou with 9 of her favorite friends in France. She thought she was queen of the world and I think everyone had a wonderful time. The birth month celebration started on her birthday which she celebrated with her family and with her sweet friend Lena who, unfortunately, was unable to make it to her birthday party. Next year!

Not quite awake...

We had the special birthday breakfast - belgian waffles, strawberries and whipped cream.

Sophia's special friend - Lena.


Note to self - Balloons entertain 3-5 year olds for a good 30 minutes.

Making a wish... for a second time that day.


My daughter - the knife sale's model. And, I promise, she has other pajamas besides the size 2T pj's she insists on squeezing into every other day.

Joshua setting the table... notice, he is the one NOT with the knives.


And, making a wish for the third time on that special birthday over Mom's deflated boxed chocolate cake. Seriously, it looked like a bundt cake... except it wasn't. I love to cook but no one ever said I was a baker.

Awwww!!!

Loving life with her new Littlest Pet Shop Nintendo DS game.

And.... It's ParTAY time!

The friends! Love them!


Sophia between two sweet little boys from the school she attended last year and will attend next year. Sophia and her petite amour, Alexis.

Bustin' lots of moves to unedited American music as my eyes bulge out of my head trying to keep in mind that they are simply sounds to the francophones. Thankfully, there were lots of distractions.


The Page "no dancing with the opposite sex" rule isn't in effect.... YET!

Looks of sheer joy... love it!



Happy 4th Birthday my Sweet Sophia... I hope it was half as fabulous as you are!!!! :) :)

Seriously Mom.. This is Lame...

But we will be good sports!

This is what home schooled kids do when it is 20 degrees outside... pose for their Mom in their pjs for the sake of posterity between the three "Rs" ... and The Princess and the Frog.

Emily Claire - 2 years

Sophia Elisabeth - 4 years


Joshua Bryant - 5 years

Gosh I love these little monkeys!

Faire de la Luge at Super Besse

My favorite fellas.

Today we met some friends at Super Besse, France to go sledding. It ended up being a spectacular day for sledding with the temperatures hovering just below freezing with the sun peeking out periodically during the day - albeit with intermittent bouts of blizzard-like conditions - but who's complaining? It was a great day to be with our family and to play with friends in the snow. Freddie and I caught the skiing bug again and hope to make a trip up here before the season is over to practice our skiing skills and hopefully sign the children up for ski lessons. I am determined to become a family of skiers! It is so much fun and I am thrilled that there is a ski station only 1 hour away from our home.

Wee!!!

Joshua and his sweet friend and sledding race opponent, Bérénice.

Emily Claire resting.

Daddy pulling Emily Claire up the hill. This was her preferred position during the day.

And...

a friendly downhill race between the siblings...

Down Came the Little Fairy

and she said... Joshua Page, surely you are not old enough to be losing teeth!

Where or where did my baby go?

Then....


Promptly after the tooth was extracted by biting into an apple (but not before trying the "rip it out with a cord and doorknob" trick)... blood and all...


And a little less blood...

When do you stop feeling that pang of the bittersweet mixture of love and adoration and sadness when you look back at the baby pictures? I wish they could stay little forever. Sniff. Sniff.