Celine's wedding...

We survived but wow, what an experience.

First, I managed to convince our hairdressers to open on a Sunday just for us. That was really, really nice of them, I mean, how do you get a 5 year old to sleep in a fancy coiffe? Well, while they're doing Talia's hair, it seems that our uninvited guests had returned. Luckily, they didn't freak. They told me that they treat everything they use anyway...

It was too late to do anything about it. The wedding was at 2pm. Forever, I'll look at the photos and know that there were lice in their hair!!!

Davina did kind of freak at the synagogue. There were a lot of people but she ended up being very good at the end of it, albeit, didn't stay in one place. I sat up in the front so that she could run to me. Strangely, they had them sit in front like this the whole time;





They actually threw the flowers at the end;







The girls enjoyed looking at the horse-drawn carriage Celine had to go to the reception.












We had the luxury of booking rooms at the hotel where the reception was held. Keen to not repeat our mistake in Switzerland, we booked a babysitter from 9pm onwards. We needed her, especially as the girls kind of melted once they had eaten.



I'm kind of bummed that I didn't get any pictures of me with the kids or even one with the girls and the bride.

There was a whole story about the dress I wore. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have and my camera wasn't cooperating for Daniel's nephew. I'm sure there are other photos somewhere.



I saw the dress in a bridal shop and loved it. Daniel and I had tried to shop together for one and nearly had a marital breakdown because of the experience. I put one on and absolutely loved it. I called Daniel and told him he had to see it, but in shock in hearing my enthusiasm for anything in a store (I am not a big shopper) he simply told me, if I loved it that much to buy it.

I tried it on once I had the hem done and he was in shock. This was more the idea...

I did discuss with the saleslady that this was for a big event. They note these things down and she said that they had sold another one but the woman lived in Paris and had taken it back with her. They had also sold another dress for the same wedding but an entirely different design and color. She warned me that they do change their collection a lot, partially so that the risk of seeing the dress on someone else was reduced. They send out one lot, sell it and perhaps it's replaced in different colors, etc.

Well, I was all happy, dressed up in the hotel room with my new dress and I came down to reception. Right at the door, I see The Dress on another woman. I was a little bummed but she was much shorter and older. I smiled and complimented her dress and moved on.

Turn out, it was the mother of the groom! She totally freaked and ran upstairs to change.

My gynacologist, who is a friend of the bride's father sees me. "Ah Sharon, you haven't been here five minutes and already...La Scandale!"

I actually felt badly for her. I mean, 20 years from now, I'll be in two or three photos. She'll be in 20, looking at the dress she did not intend to wear to her own son's wedding.

Yeah, we're on vacation!!

It's only a week and a half but we kind of need it...

I was driving Armel home today and as usual, we were playing Julie Zenati, Talia's favorite singer.

Arme

Flashback; Davina's first day of school!

I hadn't gotten around to posting these but here she is on September 7th starting her first day of preschool (maternelle);

Look at the dresses the girls are going to wear Sunday!!

Here are my flower girls. They're going to be in their third cousin Celine's wedding. These were taken in the Bridal shop where I bought the dresses.







Of course, right after taking those pictures, Davina managed to fall down in the parking lot and has a scratched up nose. She also cut her own hair with unsurprising results. She's never done that before, although she's obsessed with sissors. Logically she does this right before the wedding...

Is this a big deal?

I'm feeling like I'm finally "getting a grip". First we had school start up, then all those Jewish holidays, scary lice, new activities and figuring out my schedule and now my classes have started up...

I had to go to the dentist four Mondays in a row. I guess I could have crammed it in quicker but Mondays really suit me and she only works parttime. I finally went for the last time last Monday. Yeah! She's nice and it wasn't that bad. I hate getting novacaine shots but oh well. I stressed the first time and then I was okay after that. The last apt. was actually the worst, when she went around and tidied up the job. I have deep cleaning, each quadrant at a time. It's over-yeah!

This also sounds a bit silly but I'm the Big Exerciser. No I'm not, but I am continuing with the swimming. My local pool was closed and no, it wasn't a big deal to go elsewhere...I'm lying, yes it was. First of all, the schedule. 9:30-10:30am. The problem is that I prefer to get it over with and take advantage before the stores open, which is around 9:30/10am. Schiltingheim, a place non-beer drinkers wouldn't know, was open at 8am most mornings. So going to Kitbutzinau (a place no one knows) meant no shopping before, since everything is closed before 9:30 and picking up Davina at 11:40 meant no shopping afterwards...well, that was my morning. Not much else I could do. Also, I'm fussy. I want Olympic sized pools. I do 20 laps and that makes 40 in most Strasbourg pools, except Stghm and Kibutzinau, which is ages away. Now Stghm is open again. Yeah!

My Wednesdays are brutal. Davina goes to the Garderie (p/t daycare). Talia has ponies 10-11, gymnatics from 3:30-5:30, Ronnie has Hebrew school 4:15-5:15 and than soccer from 6 to 7:30... Yes, I have to pick them up in two different places at the same time. I made arrangements that Ronnie stays for the second class until I arrive but another mom with twins in his class has volunteered to take him to soccer. Yeah!

I started German class on Tuesday mornings. The teacher has a child, in the bilingual program at a school near St. Jean so I gave him a ride. He showed me a faster way to go. He has the 11:40 pick up time too. It's German "false beginners" so supposedly we've all had some German before. Several of us have kids in the bilingual program.

Yoga is Friday mornings. It took me 20 minutes to find parking and I was late for the first class. Not a very relaxing way to start!

Wendy in Alsace

I'll write more when I have time but here we are, buddies since 1984!

So now we've met up in California (well, met...), Australia, Hong Kong, Miami, Peru, Paris and now Alsace!

I just hope she didn't get lice...

Bought tickets, coming home for Xmas!

Official announcement; I bought the tickets this morning.

It was stress. Daniel's work is a mess. "Blue Tongue" disease is amok here in Europe. Normally, this doesn't affect cattle (and is no harm to people) but it can affect sheep so it's treated not as severely as Foot & Mouth disease but it's cut off trade here.

In the middle of this crises, as Daniel watches the 'yellow zones' encroach daily, I pop up with "Honey, I have to buy the tickets to California now or..." discussion. Needless to say, it's a go but my timing was a bit bad.

Of course, I'll hear how the upstairs window STILL isn't fixed. Water the plants? We forget. Tickets to California? We've contacted every agent, found the best price for the dates, etc.

I guess I better not mention another cruise! (Seriously, we should book soon).

Oh, and the dates are...December 16th to January 5th. Let's make plans!!