gabriella & jd (and alex! and vincent!)

Hospitalier Franco-Britannique Vincent in front of the hospital where he was born, we were waiting for the bus on Saturday and noticed, hey, that's where Vincent was born!  It's also around the corner from Alex's school. We've been busy with school, holidays, sports, choir, reading, cheese, etc.  Take a look: football (soccer) pictures Vincent changed his practice to Tuesday so he can have Levallois chorus practice on Wednesday. pictures more pictures pictures Friday and Saturday, Yom Kippur. Vincent picked out his own outfit including the bow tie for Friday night.  Afterwards there had to be sushi for the kids who were starving.  Services in the 16th arrondissement.  A lovely break the fast at David and Willy's for the choir and their families.  A very late night.

We made a delicious meal this year as usual.  JD chose paleron, chuck steak, from the butcher Philippe. Vincent helped with some breaks for reading in between.  Lincoln really wanted some meat. pictures menu: boeuf (paleron = chuck steak) first piece from Philippe our butcher, second from the Kosher store..it was from Poland - it was closer to brisket but not US brisket white whine braised leeks (a yearly favorite) parsley potatoes challah, apples, honey, wine ...and then there were suits and ties, thank you Marjorie for the hand-me-downs!  Your 3 boys to my 2 boys. awesome.  Vincent, go stand next to your brother.  Ok, Mom! so, I'm just gonna say, and we have discussed this - Alex definitely has a Wright/Banyasz/Fauber head vs. a Deitch/Queller head, right?

Back to school night for Vincent. CPb = cours preparatoire = first grade, b = section Vincent has a really nice classroom and teacher.  Monsieur Steevy DINOU.  The classroom is very serious - learning how to be a student.  Vincent is loving it.  Writing, reading, English, swimming, sport, counting, geometry - he already knows some of it and is thirsty for more. The classroom is on the third floor (US) and faces the street.  I could not stop taking pictures of the cute label Vincent made for his coat rack.  And yes, he is 1 meter 30 cm tall, like an 8 year old French child as our Doctor told us.  Go for it Vincent! pictures this is Vincent's desk on the right:

pictures Now that Alex is in middle school, he can go afterschool and on Saturday to one of the two pre-teen clubs in our town, the Club Pre-Ados.  We toured the facility which has a nice set-up, games, books, video games, TV, a kitchen, plus they go on short trips and overnights, including a ski trip in February.  Cool. pictures Rest of last week - cheese, flowers, Vincent's teeth, homework, Saturday breakfast, Shri Ganesh Indian for lunch.  Alex ate, in addition to his butter chicken, 3 naan and 2 portions of rice.  Vincent kept up.  Nap, then tomato, feta cucumber salad. pictures More pictures - homework, bakery, Levallois Sports Club day in the Park, a walk home. Look at these beautiful flowers in our town hall garden - of course they win awards every year, the most Floral Town in France.  So beautiful.

pictures Vincent is taking soccer (football) this year and had his first practice yesterday.  It was raining but he didn't seem to care he was so excited. Vincent is all the way on the right.

This is a flower made from cheese! We are all getting used to the new school routine.  The weather turned cool the minute September arrived, with some heavy rain this past Friday. pictures Vincent has been practicing his ecriture (writing) and learning his poesies (poems). JD is continuing his "40 days of cheese" blogpost http://www.mfromage.fr/en/blog .  Alex and Vincent are enjoying their new electronic toothbrushes.  Saturday we did some errands, but Vincent was so tired afterwards he ate his Thai food and passed out asleep on the restaurant table!  Vincent also keeps trying on his soccer shoes and socks for his weekly soccer class that starts this coming Wednesday.

Vincent CP/first grade          6 yrs old Alex 6e/sixième, 6th grade  11 years old pictures Back to school, Alex and Vincent were very excited.  Vincent was first at 9 a.m.  He saw lots of his friends from his old school.  Then Alex's middle school (collège) started at 9:30, it's about a 15 minute walk from Vincent's school.  There was a 30 minute speech from the Directrice, then off to homeroom classes.  Alex's homeroom teacher is the math teacher we met at the Open House in May. We spent the evening filling out paperwork and going over Alex's exciting schedule. So many classes! more pictures 

School starts tomorrow, September 4th.  A nice weekend although Friday was chilly.  Saturday we had a long walk, headed into town, walked along the Seine, stopped for dinner, and made our way back home. Friday Saturday