Wordless Wednesday #10

Living near the beach has so many things to do. Here, is one of our outlets to enjoy it. We do pêche à pied(fish by foot) .Our favorite spot is L’ile Grande where we know that we could have some Coque(Cockle) and Palourde(Carpet-Shell or Manila clam).A 5 to 8 Minutes drive from our house.



Last Sunday is our first for this year.And it’s always rewarding to hear the excitement of the kids screaming when they found some clams. Teasing who could have the biggest catch. And us(parents), just enjoying the feel of the water on our feet as we rake the sand to see the cockles roll for picking.

After our pêche, all of us enjoying it as our entrée. I don't know, but i think it's the best clam we've eaten this year.

Happy Wordless Wednesday to all!

My lucky charm

We know that May 1 is a Labor Day. Here, they have another tradition that people do on that day. They give sprig of Muguet and commonly known as "Lily of the Valley” as a lucky charm, which started from the time of King Charles IX of France, as he received one. And also it’s a symbol of springtime.

In custom, as you receive one, you should give a kiss in return, which is likely you’ll do, when you know the meaning of the flowers name is - You will find happiness.

Last Friday, I have some little visitors, Sophia’s friends & mine, too. How can I not say they are mine, too? When they always declared that I’m their best friend. So, one of our little best friend gave me these flowers which I’m showing now. She is Delphine, a little girl with a radiating smile. Her gist always give me reason to see life is good.

Now, it may not be May 1, but I’m still sharing this to all of you and wish the meaning of the flower will give you what we often seek for… Happiness and i hope, this will serve you as your charm too.

Meeting her,at last.

Last Sunday we were not having the best weather but it had been compensated by meeting a long time friend from email to phone pal. You must be wondering why only now that I speak about our meeting. I don’t know, too. All I know, I’m so happy to see the person that I’ve been trying to visualize for a long time. She really stood up like the one I’ve on my head. I’m so grateful on meeting a family like hers. They are so nice and no negativities. Life flows so smoothly on them. Until now, her laughter still rings on my head which makes me smile. And the nicest thing is I can really envision her doing it with the right facial expression. Like normal, I’m so overwhelm that I can’t find the right words to describe how I felt on meeting them. What about this…

“Maraming salamat sa pan de sal at sa oras na binigay ninyo sa amin. Napaganda ninyo ang pangit na panahon at naging bukang-bibig ang mga pangalan ninyo sa loob ng bahay at may kasamang ngiti sa pagbigkas nito.”

Sorry, I will not translate this one up. This is for her. Anyway, last weekend is one of our best weekends, from sunny Saturday to a Sunday smile. Wish to see you again. Anytime you want to visit here, you & your family are most welcome & it will be our pleasure to show you around. As I promised, I’ll bring your little one to the beach and fish out some clams or take him out to pick some wild berries as he likes.

Weekend @ Vitré

We passed our weekend with our friends at Vitré near Rennes in Bretagne (Brittany). Seeing the new haven of Yann and Ludivine was really great and more to it, Morvan and Hélène was there, too. - These two couples always do visit us, when they visit their parents as they further took their way to go to our place. We been always reminded to visit their place and have some feasting with them. Our reason was our old trolley but now that we have a new one. These past dues need to be paid back. As they knew, we are having three little monsters in towed. They have set a day out for them, too.

When we arrived the fête were rolling… from bonjour to handing apéros (Drink before meal) & kids recounting their history of preparation to go there & what they brought to mess-up the place, to how much they were so excited to play there was enough to warm the place. These couples, they’ve been so great to have patience hearing the endless recounts of Sophia and Gabriel. Then as Yann have been so wise showing them (kids) the games they have. Everyone was so much attentive to every word Yann told them, to have their hands on the games.

We three couple started chatting along with our apéro while we’re waiting our dinner. Everything went so smoothly and the meal was as always great, "Ludi you’ve done it again." Then after we settled the little ones, as we have planned to go out and check the bars as they live in the center of Vitré. We were having our time to discover & its night life. We were impressed how much they have in there, in comparison to ours. As we drink out night away… I can’t help admiring the city walking back to their apartment.

The old Ville just so great to see it in paved stone alley & old houses with exposed timbers panels in it façade, with some baroque painting, it called maison à colombage here. I’ve always get fascinated with this type of structural design. I never get enough of it… love staring at every detail, even some are on the way of getting ruined. They are so beautiful.

The boys have stayed sometime doing their thing, playing wii & guitar while we (girls) dozed in our designated rooms. Then, morning comes after our breakfast we took off to the park for the kids. Then see the castle there & passed to the cathedral and so on.

But what this weekend so really great, we do it altogether. The two couples have been wonderful as always. Unconsciously, they were playing to be parents to our kids. And as I’ve told them at the end, they passed with flying colors. We are surely blessed to have good friends here. "On a passé un bon weekend, grâce à vous. Encore, merci beaucoup à vous (YANN, LUDIVINE, MORVAN & HELENE). À la prochaine."

An ado( adolescent), he is...

I been reviewing his video that he took last Feb. They have an excursion in Paris for their history class. I think it was four day including travel time. We, d’man & I were so excited for him to do the visitings there, seeing the land marks & more… I told him to bring our video cam but he wanted only to have a small numerical cam, I have. He doesn’t want bulky one to walk around.

Then, he arrived at home from the trip; he was buzzing us up with his stories. Everyone was paying every detail to what he was saying and we waited for him to give us how he finds the historical spots there. It only comes like a preposition to his phrases. But how could we be mad or disappointed on seeing him so happy saying the little details they did there with his friends.

The mumbling is so normal Julian to us, sharing every tiny bit of his escapade. That makes us so happy because he still confides to us. This is one of the moments that we often have a pleasure to know what our kids feel & think, they gave it to us freely by themselves. Secret seems doesn’t exist to them.

D’man was amazed how our kids could not be so unguarded and they have no personalizing things or being private, everything is for sharing. According to him, it’s not their way here. This is one of the reason, other parents here adored our children because of their unusual traits as they put it.

paris is magic part1 the trailer
envoyé par jc-tizer

Anyway, going back to Julian’s videos. We couldn’t help but laugh… and understand that he is really a young man now; his discovering Paris was the way when we were our teens, and perhaps I’m speaking for me & D’man. How he (Julian) does his video & choice of songs just exhibited to us that soon this young person would be away from us.

paris is magic part2 THE FILM
envoyé par jc-tizer

D’man was saying, we have to travel again all together and most of all, to cherish those moments. Before he goes to university, coz we only have 3 more years to have him always with us. Who could argue on that? He is actually enjoying on playing with him on his baby-foot & electronic gadgets. Yes, got 2 adolescents in the house sometimes. I felt like I’m the only adult in the house, granted that I’m the eldest one here. That doesn’t need to be rubbing on me either.

The FRUIT of my FIRE TREE.

When I was young, I was crazy enough to let my future be guide by a fire tree. How is that? You may ask. Let me tell you how insane I was before and perhaps I still am inside now.

Let us go 18 years ago. I was in my teen that my surrogate mom con aunt and I, been into this decreeing things- it’s a way to affirm what you want in life by vocalizing it and then we break our wine glass to shield it.

One of our drinking nights, we were having our wine & some crazy thoughts passed. I was facing our new landscaped garden with a fire tree that we had cut from its upper mid-trunk. We were both admiring the garden to how we were able to transform it into a jungle. Then, she was soliciting my opinion about the fire tree because it looks like it's already died at that time. I’ve told her that best to let it like that, it would be great to have erected driftwood looking in our trellis.

Then the decreeing started, I’ve decreed that when that tree will have a twig, to whomever I’m going out with. I’ll take him more seriously than usual. I was a bit playful when I was young. Timid is not what you can be attach to my name. Therefore, by decreeing on that, it has more meaning to her (aunt) and me. We did have more decrees but I don’t need to tell you.

A year have passed, the fire tree gave me that twig as my sign. I was going out with someone at that time; he was the out of norms that I used to go out with, he’s almost like a nomad artist. As I am, I stick to what I declared.

My relationship to that person didn’t really go well, our trekking together have been hard. It was neither all bad nor good. But it did end eventually. Nevertheless, granted to have two beautiful boys as blessing more than enough. They makes me more a person, I am now.

The first fruit of my Fire tree have now turns to its maturing age. He was the really first breathe of my life. How crazy it may sound my ways to others. Or on hearing the circumstances to have my treasures. I have no shame for I have learnt a lot from my experiences. My boys are my life, for they are my cane to reach my path now and they keep me on the track.

I knew I had a choice to break my decreed for it was just a game but I did not. Not saying it was a wise move nor bad one. I’ve made my choice and passed its course. What it gave me is more to be proud of that’s my boys. If I were given a chance to change my course, I would take the same path because I won’t miss having them (my boys) in my life.

Happy Birthday, Julian!!!

"You 're my true guru, my first breathe of birth, my first real best friend and so proud of you how you become now. I love you with all my kabaliwan (craziness) you know that, And for taking care of me.

As i keep on telling you, you 're the one who made me nice person. Thank you so much."

My little chef turns 6

Time does pass so fast. I can’t help being nostalgic seeing my babies growing. Month of April, two of my kids are having their birthday, my two ends (eldest & youngest). I have so much to be thankful having them in my life. Seeing them grow like they are now makes me so proud & happy.

Today, it’s my little chef birthday. As much as I would like to share you her traits, I seems can’t put them into words. Perhaps some tidbits would do.

She’s the one who would asked you to close your eyes for her surprises… like doing her own room, cleaning the cupboards without asking her, to share her goodies she recieved, handing you some wild flowers or her drawings as her gift to you.

She’s the one who could make all of us crack in bargaining… the one who doesn’t accept "No" for an answer, it’s not acceptable to her, a long term will do. However, she doesn’t asked too much and most of her asking are not extravagant stuff, too.Sometimes, she ask something expensive you couldn't buy,tell her your reason then she would just say "ok, next time perhaps,if we can" on it. No whinings will fall.

Cuddling she loves though all of them loves it. It never had been an issue to this household to show emotion. It is a big no- no to them giving pains especially through words or physical one. Because of this, sometimes, she becomes an outcast to her friends’ games she doesn’t like playing that hurts others.

To her age, you can sense that she gives big importance to family. Sharing and giving are normal to her. Her comfort is us as we all to her.

And as much as she appreciates compliments she shy away when she felt being given too much. She understood that her beauty lays on her attitude, not on her physical appearance.

She is our little cook, our nurse, our little mama and our baby in one.

Happy birthday, Pia!

"Soirée Dansant" outcome.

Last Friday night, it was the “soirée dansant” as I’ve mentioned through my past post that the parents have organized this feasting for fund-raising for school activities, it is also as a welcoming of spring.

This type of occasion is something that all of us (parents) look forward to, seeing our kids performs some numbers, at the same time, to have constant socialization with other parents and the kids with their comrades. In some way, I could say, our little well knitted community has a very special warmth and free spirit person who gives more colors to our temperamental weather.

Going back to the soirée (night), it was wonderful to watch the children presentation. Everyone was glowing with happiness and so appreciative to every little people who have preformed that night. As they have bow, you’ll see how they enjoy the applauds they are receiving; some even get shy and hid from the skirt of their mamas, some are beaming to their ears and others were waiting for more clasps; in exchange for those content little smile. We, parents do cherish.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4wa1n_soiree-dansante-salle-de-traouiero_lifestyle
envoyé par jc-tizer

As the fête, had been initiated, everyone started going to the bar as I poured them their drinks. Yes, I’ve volunteered to be a bar girl with some couple of parents. We were able to fill their thirst, while waiting for the meal to come. Some were doing the cuisine.
Furthermore, some people are enjoying dancing with the kids & the rest were enjoying the nights by chatting, as they will have their turns, to do the serving and clearing up.

About the children, they obliged us with a second round of their performance, and like the first time, the enthusiastic crowd never wore out on applauding. Then, as children as they are,the salle de fête (reception room) turned into their huge playground. To others, it’s a start to have the fever to dance.The room just exhausts laughter and everyone are at their merriment attitudes.
Now, who could say, we parents stop doing fête?

ps: sorry with the wrong grammar.. still have hang over. it's an excuse, i know.

Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

Last 2 years, this photo was taken. Their first egg hunt in our not manicured garden. We were lucky to have a beautiful weather at that time.

This Easter,We didn't have "the egg hunt" outside due to weather. With some luck, Our friends told Pia & Gab yesterday night that they ran into a bell (cloche) and found some parcels of giant eggs. In it says that they must be given to Julian, Gabriel & Sophia. The tale was so cute in french how they ran into the gifts.It doesnt sound right if i translate it in english.

“Merci beaucoup, Ludivine et Yann. Vous etes prêt à être parent.Notre soirée se passe toujours bien, comme d'hab!”

And 2 consecutive weekend seeing and going out with both of you, always been a great pleasure. We really have to do our part of visiting you two in your place. Wait til we change our battered trolley. We will be back on the road. Cross you toes.

Today, Gab & Sophia woke up earlier & waiting for the rain to pass. Expecting that perhaps Easter bunny still hid some goodies in our garden. Then, they eventually resigned & told me that, The magic bunny must be sick with flu due to the storm. As they have put together the puzzled story to soothe themselves.