Summer lovin'...

Well, the school year came to a close and summer was upon us.  As you know, we jetted off to a fun filled week in Greece and the kids did a week of art at the Grimaldi Forum.  They also did a week of tennis camp, but I didn't document that on film.  Sorry.  

So, the rest of the summer was filled with little bits of fun and finalized with two weeks in a rented house with a pool...

The view from where we live above the Port Hercules.  Summer's here, the sailboats are out in full force.

Food markets are full of summer veggies.

The International school had a big party for their students and parents, and to lure new families in.  It was pretty fun with kid's activities and lots of food booths.

If I had gotten to ride the pony too I might have been tempted to enroll... :)

Our future equestrian...

E and T take up the rear, their side won!

Monaco is of course right on the coast so it has it's own beaches, but if you don't want to do the sea, there's the pool in the Port Hercules.  It's open to the public and even has a machine at the entrance where you can buy swim suits and goggles and sun block.  Someone was thinking!  I'd say a woman was head of that committee. :)  You can rent loungers and an umbrella too if you wish.  We spent quite a few afternoons here...

And staying in the always busy Port Hercules, we watched the Jumping International competition.  It's amazing the events that get built up and torn down on a regular basis here in Port Hercules.  The only permanent fixture is the pool, and in the winter it's the ice skating rink.

You don't really even need tickets to sit in the stands, you can just stand around the ring and watch or sit in a restaurant along the ring and enjoy your lunch while watching the show.  I preferred to sit and relax, and the kids were free. :)

Then, it was August and time for a change of scenery.  Many people out here have "summer" houses and go there to get out of the "city", as if you can even call Monaco a city!  But, there is something to be said about having a little bit of lawn, and pool. and some crickets chirping.

This year it was in Bagnols en Foret, only an hour away.  It was a fun (and of course educational) two weeks!

We had water sports...

Target practice...

Track and field...

Meditation...

 Nature studies...

Cooking classes...

We splurged on a chef who cooked us dinners.  She made some yummy stuff and
even let the kids do some of the creating with her.

And Music...

Lucky for us the house had a piano, so we even added in a little culture!

Then, it was back to school.  Uggh, this is the pick-up chaos at T's school.  The kids come out of the doors on the sides of this little glass area and all the parents crush themselves in there to get them.  Of course there are better ways of doing this, but typical French, they don't care to change it.  C'est la vie...

So there you go, it's back to the daily routine.  Once I rest, I'll be back with more of the adventure soon.  .. :)

Monaco Week 1...

There we are, our first week in Monaco has passed and everyone is in love with our new home.  T, E, and I all moved in on Sunday eve, sleeping on a blow up bed (how very posh), so we would make sure to get to the first day of school on time.

My lovely new kitchen. :)

Furniture shopping was exhausting.  Taking a siesta in
Maison du Monde's textiles department.

The kids timidly entered their new schools on Monday morning, and in the afternoon I was met with smiles and "I had a great day" speeches.  As I was in T's new class visiting with the teacher, I was worried when I saw T on his playground standing all by himself.  He was a little timid about the new space.  But he was all smiles when I picked him up.

The entry to the park that's between their two schools.

First day of school pic.

Had to get that pic fast, we were next to the stinky bush.  Even Monaco
has stinky bushes.

T got to hang out with E as his re-entry was a little later in the morning.

All on his own, but I do see he's hanging close to the girls. Smart boy. :)

Looks like it was a good day!

I've met a little group of expat women who all have kids in the same schools as mine and we spend an hour or so after school in the cafe next to the kid's park and chat while the kids run off their post-school day energy.  The three of us have found our stride pretty fast and are feeling quite happy with our new village.

J is still spending most of the time in Nice working, as his VO booth doesn't come for another week or so.  He makes the occasional trip with a car full of stuff and to hang with us for dinner.  The furniture is trickling in little by little and by the end of the month we will have places to sit, sleep and eat.  My hands are currently aching from putting together all the kids furniture.  (Thanks IKEA)  We bought things from several different stores and by the end of October all will be delivered and we should be all settled.

I think the thing I like about Monaco as opposed to Nice is the international mix of people.  (Besides the point it's extremely clean and well policed!)  It feels a bit like NYC to me where there are different cultures all living together.  Albeit a VERY SMALL NYC, did you know you can fit two Monaco's into Central Park?!?!  But, it's great because the schools for the kids are all French, French culture is still very prominent, and I have to still work on my French because in many instances I need it, but we all also have a lot of English around us so we feel a bit more at home in our new surroundings.

I think we're gonna like it here!!!

Back to School Sale...

It's September, and that means....school supplies lists.  And lucky me, it's in French.  

So, yesterday I spent the day roaming the aisles in Carrefour hoping the items I needed would just leap off the shelves into my cart so I wouldn't have to keep deciphering the list and asking every mom who looked nice enough what the heck each item was.   

A "porte-vue personnalisable" or a "chemise avec rabats"?  Help!  Well, after some hair pulling and a lot of asking, I finally filled my cart and headed home.  Now to label everything...some jobs are never done. :)  At least this year they informed me to buy pre-formed plastic covers for the books and notebooks so I didn't have to sit for hours making them out of plastic sheets like last year.  Thanks Monaco. :)

They Grow Fast...

Here at ABC school they do Graduation for the little ones real big.  T had his end of school show and graduation and we were super proud of him.  Even the Head Master of the school congratulated him on how well he's progressed in his French.  I'm blown away as well.  If I can catch him on video I'll share.  It's actually super cute when he and E play and they do it in French.

Here's some pics for you...

After the show they have a fair for the kids...

 So dashing in his cap and gown. :)

E had an "end of year show" too at Kid's Club.  She showed off all the things she'd been doing through the year in her Gym, Music, and Art half day pre-pre-school...

Wow, T is already in First grade next year and E is in Preschool.  Time sure flies!  I'm excited to see what the Monaco schools have in store for them.