5 years old

Tomorrow is Rachel's B-day. She will bring cup cakes to her classroom and we will celebrate it at home with papa and Natalie with presents and cake. She is so exited.
Natalie keeps saying that she will be 3 in December.
My babies are growing up

Thanksgiving

We hosted again this year and had a great time. The girls had so much fun with Jocelyne and Lee's son Brian who played with them the whole evening.
Two days later we were entertaining again and had Rina, Sasha and their 2 children Sarah and Ben. The girls got spoiled with presents and attention.
Pictures are on their way

papa et ses filles

mami

Last evening at dinner time Rachel said that she would like her grandma to be here for her birthday

Hier soir en soupant
Rachel: maman, j'aimerais que mamy soit ici pour mon anniversaire
Maman: oui moi aussi ma cherie mais pas cette annee. Mami pense beaucoup a toi et t'aime tres fort. On la verra bientot.

bad words

Rachel and Natalie do know which ones are bad words.
Last evening in the car

Rachel - maman, stupid is a bad word
Natalie - maman, stupid IS a bad word
Rachel - and shut up is a bad word too (where did they hear that one?)
Natalie - yes shut up is a BAD word (enjoying the sound it makes)
Rachel - and caca, pipi are baby words
Natalie - and caca, pipi are baby words
Mom - oui mes cheries and I would prefer you not to use them

Rachel et Natalie savent qq gros mots et savent qu'elles ne peuvent pas les dire mais elles s'amusent a me dire "stupide" est un vilain mot et "la ferme" c'est aussi un vilain mot. Ca me rappelle la chanson "j'ai 10 ans, j'ai 10 depuis 20 ans mais j'ai 10 ans. Et si tu ne me crois pas, dare ta gueule a la recre" de Julien Clerc je crois. On adorait la chanter car on savait tres bien que l'on aurait jamais pu dire ces gros mots dans une conversatin mais la on ne faisait que repeter les paroles de la chanson.

adopted for the evening

Last night we had dinner at Michelle and Jacques', great friends of ours. They had invited their friends Bernard and Robert with their 2 adopted children (Hunter 16 and Anthony 2, same age as Natalie). They had Anthony the day he was born, they are both wonderful caring and loving dads. Bernard, a Montessori teacher, took 2 years off when Anthony joined their family, while Bob kept working as an attorney.

Anthony was shy when we arrived and I asked Natalie to share one of her bears, which she did. The kids ate first and went to play downstairs while we started our wonderful dinner. They made sure to check upon us.

Anthony had warmed up to me and decided to spend most of the rest of the evening on my laps, sharing my dinner and calling me mommy and rested his head on my chest. Natatlie made sure to tell Anthony that I was her mommy but was ok with the situation.
Bernard kept asking Anthony to sit with him but he had found a good place he did not want to leave me. I told Bernard not to worry that Rachel used to do the same things. She would address dads in the park and ask them to push her on the swing and simply would refused my help for theirs.

I have always thought that 2 dads is simply better than none at all. Yossi and Jacques did not totally agree and reminded me that nature is very powerful and that kids do need a mom and a dad. Yes they are right but I still believe that the love of 2 caring and loving either moms or dads is still better than none at all.

Meeting with the teacher - round #2

I just met with Ms Tracia, Rachel's teacher, this afternoon

Shy? She is not at all she reassured me.
among other things, I learned the following about her day at school:
- when choosing challenging work, she often chooses to work alone
- she loves to help younger ones
- she is generally a very happy and out-going child with her peers (Yossi will be reassured now)

Rachel loves her school and always asks me for a few extra minutes to finish playing with her friends in the gym. I then go and pick up Natalie in her classroom and when I come back she is then ready to go home.

talking about cooking

Susan, Elaine, Fiona - congratulations on your cooking.
I like to eat well so I do cook good stuff. But this year I have slowed down during the week (husband says he put on some weight because of my rich dinners!).
I do now cook more during the week-ends and on Sunday morning I even take a class at William Sonoma.

Natalie: Maman takes a class to learn how to cook
I hope it is not really the way she sees it.

Je prends un cours de cuisine le dimanche matin, c'est a 5 min de la maison, et voici le commentaire de Natalie
"maman prend un cours de cuisine pour apprendre a cuisiner"

Receuillement/ Thoughts

Le soir apres avoir lu une histoire, fait des mamours et donne plein de bisous, Rachel me parle souvent de papy Christian et avec les larmes aux yeaux me dit qu'il lui manque
Maman: A moi aussi ma cherie, il me manque terriblement
Natalie: je n'ai plus de papy, papy Christian est mort
Maman: oui c'est vrai ma cherie, mais il peut voir de la haut tout ce que vous faites et voit que vous etes tres gentilles

After reading a story, exchanged zillions of kisses and hugs, Rachel once in a while speaks about her grandpa with tears in her eyes
Rachel: Maman, I miss papy Christian so much
Maman: I miss him terribly too ma cherie
Natalie: I don't have a papay, he is dead
Maman: Yes, he is but he can still see everything you are both doing and is proud of his two grand daughters

Rachel was with me in Belgium this last April. She accompanied us to the hospotal, talked to dad and joined us to the church, to the "crematorium" and to the cimetary. She was always at my side and saw me crying many times. Now she is the one who talks about her papy Christian and somewhat it does bring some comfort.

There are nights when I just cry and re-read messages and letters I received upon my return from Belgium. Sometimes I am so mad at him for leaving us that I try to remember only bad things trying to lighten my pain. All I know is that he lived a full life and enjoyed it tremendously. I am glad for that.

face-to-face meeting with the teacher/ reunion a l'ecole

I met this morning with Natalie's teacher, Ms. Candy. A meeting with the teacher for a child who is not even 3 years old!! I love it

"your girls are so sweet" which parent would not love to hear that?
Natalie is doing so well at school and has become much more independent these last 2 months. The older girls in her class have "adopted" and she of course likes that extra attention. At home she talks about "her" Ms. Kelly (pm assistant teacher) and
Ms. Myrian (pm teacher), and Ms. Candy.
Myrian always puts pins in Natalie's hair as papa does not have much time in the morning to take care of that.


reunion avec la prof de Natalie ce matin.
Natalie s'est bien adaptee a son nouvel environnement et a ses camarades de classe. Elle suit tres bien et n'a aucune difficulte a apprendre et se derouille parfaitement bien. Etant la plus jeune de sa classe, les autre filles l'ont "adoptee" .
Ces derniers mois, elle est devenue bcp plus independante et a l'ecole a appris a mettre son manteau/gilet toute seule. Elle apprend maintenant les sons des lettres et les chiffres tout en les touchant (par example: 1 = 1 graine; 2 = 2 graines,
5 = 5 graines) et de cette maniere concoit mieux que 10 est plus grand que 1 et que 1 est plus petit que 2. C'est la facon Montesorri.

body

Natalie: maman, girls do not have a penis
(les filles n'ont pas de penis)
Mom: non ma cherie, seulement les garcons (no only boys)
Natalie: and they use it to do pipi and caca
(et ils s'en servent pour faire pipi et caca)
Mom: non ma cherie, juste pour faire pipi. Ils ont un autre petit trou pour faire caca.

Rachel went through that phase too, naming every boy in her class adding that each of them had a penis and she didn't.

love

Natalie: maman, I love you to the stars
Rachel: and I love you from the earth to the sky
je vous aime beaucoup aussi

Spanish song, not really

The whole song Rachel sang in the car a few days ago, song that Natalie repeated, had maybe 3 words in Spanish. Rachel made it up and included the few words she knew. But according to her she was of course singing in Spanish and I was not going to contradict her.

morceau de

Mom/moi: "Natalie, tu veux un morceau de pomme?" (do you want a piece of apple?)
Natalie: yes, I would like a piece of apple
Mom: "dis, je voudrais un morceau de pomme" (say I would like a piece of apple)
Natalie: "je voudrais un morceau de pomme
et un morceau de yaourt" (I woule like a piece of apple
and a piece of yogurt)

just the 2 of us

The girls were at school yesterday and Yossi and I stayed home. I dropeed the girls and he picked them up for a change.
We went out for lunch and had coffee afterwards and 1 hour of shopping and .. it felt like the pre-children area.
I was happy to see them back at home at 6pm.

Native French speaking teacher

When I attended the homeroom parents one morning of this week, the director announced that their French teacher had simply vanished. Her husband came to the school asking for her. They found out that she was back in France.
Too bad since the girls liked her and that she had a perfect accent.
Mind you Rachel mentioned a few times that she did not want to speak French with
Ms. Sophia but I was told that she did speak to her during the day since Ms. Sophia was in her class and that Rachel participated at her weekly French class.
I don't think the principal will look for a native speaker next time.
Should you know someone...

La prof de francais de Rachel a disparu. Elle n'est pas venue a l'ecole lundi matin et son mari ne savait pas ou elle etait. Le directeur de l'ecole nous a appris qu'elle etait simplement rentree en France... Apres une telle experience, la directrice n'est pas prete a offrir un tel emploi a une francaise mais prendra plutot une americaine qui est prof de francais. Dommage car les enfants l'aimaient bien.

singing in a different language/ chanson

last evening in the car from the school to the store, Rachel was singing:

Rachel: Natalie repeat after me: "NA KA DI OH PU tomates"
Natalie: "NA KA PU KWE KWO tomates" with the perfect pronounciation and intonation
Rachel: PE DO ZI escuela
Natalie: PE DO ZI escuela
...
mom: Rachel, that's a nice song, in which language are you singing in?
Rachel: Mom, we are singing in Spanish

I wish I could have taped that.


Hier soir sur le chemin de retour, Rachel et Natalie chantaient. Natalie etait tres fiere de pouvoir repeter toutes les syllabes que Rachel prononciat --un peu inprononcables je dois dire
Rachel: Natalie repete apres moi: "NA KA PU QUI QUO tomates"
Natalie: "NA KA PU QUI QUo tomates"
Rachel: PE DO ZI escuela
Natalie: PE DO ZI escuela
....
moi: Rachel, c'est une jolie chanson, dans quelle langue chantes-tu?
Rachel: en espagnol maman

Homeroom parents

I am one. Today was the first time I attended such a meeting with the principal (8-9am). I am glad I took the time to attend. I learned a lot about the school and enjoyed the friendly way Ms. Margaret conducted the meeting with us.
I had not told Rachel and Natalie that I would be at their school this morning and Yossi had forgotten about it and they were quite surprised to see me in the principal office this morning. I made a quick exit and kissed everybody and there was no cries, but simply joy to see mom and have another kiss.

Le directeur de l'ecole a reuni l'association de parents ce matin (2 parents par classse). C'etait ma 1ere reunion et je dois dire que Madame Margaret (on l'appelle Melle Margaret) est formidable, elle a une telle energie c'est incroyable. On est toujours content de notre choix.
Je n'avais pas dit aux enfants que je serais a l'ecole ce matin ne sachant pas ou on allait se reunir. Quand Yossi est arrive avec les enfants ce matin, ils m'ont vue dans le bureau du directeur. Je suis sortie et ai embrasse tout le monde et ils etaient super contents de me voir la et d'avoir gagne un bisou supplementaire.

mathematics @ Montesorri

Friday afternoon the school had a parents meeting where the teachers explained/showed us the way they teach our children math.
Wow I was so impressed by how they leran complicated things in using games.

Calcul a l'ecole
Ils ont tellement de jeux pour montrer aux enfants comment additioner, soustraire et simplement compter.
Rachel compte jusque 100 et elle est tellement fiere d'elle.

portrait of Rachel

in less than 2 weeks, you will turn 5
FIVE, I can't hardly believe it.
love, mom

silent Saturday

I love this picture

trip to the farm/ voyage avec l'ecole

they had a blast
elles ont adore

babby sitter for 2 hours

Last evening we had a cinema event organized by the EU Delegation at the AFI theater in Silverspring. I saw a Belgian movie about illegal immigrants in Belgium. It told the story of a young Russian mother who stays in Belgium with her 5-year old son. It was very sad and I cried of course.
Our neighbour Harper stayed 2 hours with Rachel and Natalie waiting for Yossi to come back home. I heard the girls had a great time.

Nous avions une soiree cinema sponsorisee par le travail hier soir, j'y suis allee et Harper est venue en attendant que Yossi rentre a la maison (oui ca lui prend 1h de route par metro a chaque trajet). Elles se sont bien amusees. Le film belge que j'ai vu etait tres triste: les immigres illegaux en Belgique, l'histoire d'une maman russe qui s'installe en Belgique avec son petit garcon de 5 ans et puis le centre et la deporatation et a lutte pour sauver son enfant.

evening at home/ soiree a la maison

Depuis qq jours/semaines, Rachel adore nous lire un livre le soir avant de se mettre au lit. Elle se souvient un peu de l'histoire et y met un peu de son imagination, c'est adorable. Il faut que je leve la main pour poser ma question
- oui maman
- comment est-ce que la maman dalmatien a su qu'ils avient retrouve les chiots dalmatiens
et ma reponse est souvent en anglais
- the other dogs found them and barked to let them know where they were
mon dieu que ces moments sont precieux. Maman, si tu pouvais etre avec nous pour les vivre ca serait merveilleux.
Avec Natalie je lui fais repeter en francais et elle a plus facile a prononcer les "r".

I used to read books at night before they go to bed but in the last few weeks, things have changed. Rachel now wants to read to us. She remembers some of the story and the rest she makes it up, it is so adorable to sit there and listen to her.
She shows us the book and asks if we have questions and we have to raise our hands if we have questions regarding the page she just showed us. Priceless, I love it

Halloween 2010

voici mes 2 princesses: Ariel et Blanche Neige



This year Rachel wanted to be Ariel and Natalie Snow White

The fun of being at school: lice

Let me spell it : LICE.
The idea never crossed my mind that this could happen. Last week, we were told that one case had been diagnosed.
We did check everybody's hair at home. Rachel had to be treated and had to have her hair combed many times with special metal combs. She was very courageous. She is fine now but these last few days were not fun for none of us..

I was upset and first felt so bad but realized that it was nobody's fault and this is part of being at school I guess. I got even a little bit paranoid and certainly went overboard....

OK, this is my first blog entry for the month of November and I do feel that I can share this issue with all of you without feeling bad about it.
I hope that the others ones will be more fun.