Davina is home, Talia on her way...

I picked Ronnie up from school after a big misunderstanding since he waited three nano-seconds before going back inside and calling. I rushed him home and then headed back into town. The school said they'd be home between 5 and 5:30 but they didn't show up till 6. I pulled a happy but very dirty Davina off the bus and carted her home and into the shower.

Then it was off to judo for Ronnie but Daniel had to take him, since I was still waiting for Davina at that point.

I picked Ronnie up from Judo and then we went to Friday night services so that Ronnie could hear the singing he's learning for his Bar Mitzvah. It went on a bit longer than usual since we had a guest, a rabbi in training from Leo Baeck College in London. He's from Strasbourg but will be with the Lyon community (they're paying!) which is too bad. Ronnie was getting a bit itchy and bored so I wonder when I can convince him again to come.

My sister-in-law arrived yesterday evening while we were at services so finally, Ronnie and I walked over to the pizza place where they were eating. So we were four; Françoise, Daniel, a newly clean and very tired Davina and an equally tired Ronnie.

Got them to bed and since it was already late, waited for Nobuko to get back from Geneva at midnight (and watch Leno and U.S. news on CNBC).

The kitchen is done, except for the sink and counter so that makes things a bit challenging. I'm glad to have the dishwasher, new induction stove and oven. We need to read the owner's manuals to figure them out be did get lunch on the table. The new microwave is there too so we don't have to use the old one which is in the dining room.

Talia Hair Photos

These are just a couple of odd pictures of Talia and her hair I have.

I took this when we took Sonya to the pool in Wacken but didn't want to include it in "her" pictures.

Kitchen Progress

Here's what it's looking like now;

Davina leaves on her "Classe Verte"

Off to Arrentes de Corcieux (in the Vosges Mountains). Two classes from St. Jean are right now in the Vosges Mountains, near Geraldmer (southwest of Strasbourg).

Here they are all excited to leave. Davina is with Louise, Stelia and Maryah here. Louise and Maryah were at her birthday party.

Here's Mommy saying goodbye to her littlest one.

Here they are, hanging out downstairs in the school to leave. Davina pointed out that she has a wiggly tooth so she might return with a gap-toothed smile. As soon as she said that, a bunch of others showed me their wiggle teeth so there might be teeth flying out all over the place up there in the Vosges this week.

Davina and Fariel held hands walking to the bus. They were both so precious together!

The bus is on time, ready to go!

We did not want to hesitate to get on board. Annoyed with Mommy and her picture-taking!

Finally! So different than Talia's departure...

A cute, happy face, right behind the divider (right above the "S").

This was posted on the blog for this adventure. The teacher is on the right. Talia also had Daniele in CP (1st grade). Her daughter is on the left and Davina is standing, with one girl in between, in the hot pink jacket.

Ronnie's judo Tournament

Ronnie's judo club had their annual tournament Saturday, after Talia left.

Warm-up.

In combat. This kid actually has a higher grade than Ronnie. Instructor Larabie is in the black pants.

These are the four in their category.

Another duel.
This is the other instructor Matthias on the left.

Giving out metals. Ronnie came in second.

Little bow. Not a great photo, I will admit. These are actually tough pictures to take!

Group shot. Ronnie is standing (aren't my kids always standing in the back, in group shots??) last on the left, holding his metal.

With Larabie and his mouth open.

Posing with his metal.

With sister.
Sister, off to the car in Ronnie's kimono.

Sister in parking lot, still with kimono.

Talia leaves for Rostock

Sunday morning we had to be at the train station at 6am to catch one of the three (four?) trains to Rostock. Talia was in tears, as she was the night before. She wasn't too eager to do this, as Ronnie had been two years earlier.

She just looks tired and overwhelmed in these photos but she did go willingly.

Mom trying to cheer her up.

The sad, little face getting on the train. Her teacher Joseph, who decided in preschool that she was "slow" and now is one of his best students, is on the right. He's actually her French teacher but he's Alsatian and speaks German too. Both teachers are with them.

Bad but funky picture of the train window. You can see the outline of the kids and the reflection of the parents, including my striped shirt.

Bye-bye as the train pulls away.

Mom went back to bed, grateful that there was no Talmud Torah, and took a nap... Talia arrived safely that night, in pretty good spirits, saying the family was nice.

Crazy May continues!

Last Saturday, Ronnie returned at 6am, having spent the night on the bus from London. I then dropped Sofya and said goodbye later in the morning. That evening, Nobuko came in from Milan.

Sunday, we packed up all the kitchen stuff, with Nobuko helping and dividing it up depending on whether we needed/could us it or not. The pots, pans, etc. went into the basement.

Monday they came and ripped out the kitchen.

Now it's painted, but still just as useless.

I dropped Talia off at gymnastics this morning. Nobuko left for Vienna at noon and will be back Tuesday. Tomorrow, at 6:22am for Rostok. Monday morning, Davina leaves for 5 days in the Vosges Mountains.

The revolving door continues! (without a kitchen). Got to go pack...

Sofya, our Rostok exchange student

We participated in the Rostok exchange again this year. We volunteered like with Alex, to take a student who was with the class a year ahead. Again, we asked for a bicultural child and we got Sofya, a Kzack-Russian girl who has been in Germany 6 years. She was very cute but apparently cried at night from missing her parents.

The very same week, Ronnie left for England and there were problems with his host family there. So there was a lot of drama and calling back and forth, including both of his best friends' parents (who are divorced) calling me. I think they were curious how Ronnie found it since obviously, he didn't have a language issue.

I picked up Sofya Sunday and then Talia came home late that evening. The following morning, Daniel took Ronnie to the pick-up point to leave for London. It must have seemed strange that Sofya went to bed with a boy and a girl in the host family and woke up to just two girls (since she hadn't seen Talia the night before).

Here they are arriving in Strasbourg. This year, the hats were yellow.


Little Sofya with Davina and me.

The reception the next day at City Hall. This is the same room where Caroline and Dan got married last October.

Sofya, Anne and her brother Arthur on her lap. Arthur is one of Davina's best friends and his sister is in the class above.

Group shots! Sofya and Talia are seated in front of the girl in pink, towards the left.

Wednesday they had free so we took Sofya to the outdoor pool in Wacken. Ran into some other families and their Rostok kids and I saw a friend and her daughter. We were there for ages.

Davina goofing around.


Talia and Sofya (in a borrowed bikini).

Sofya showing off her technique.

On the Friday, Sofya's last day, I took them downtown to get some ice cream. Of course where I wanted to go was too crowded so we just got some on the street and ate it by the fountains. Not what I had planned but oh well...