Winter Months

January: 

The first month of the year brought us some pretty bad weather. Lots of rain, and for several days in a row, which isn't usually the norm. However, I managed to get out with Alixe a few times while Aimy was at school and enjoy the few nice days. I started spending more time with my neighbour, who has a son in Aimy's class at school, and doing things in and around town with her during the day while the kids were at school. This month also, Alixe took a tumble off the couch and chipped one of her front teeth as well as ended up with a nice egg on her head, but was otherwise ok. 5 minutes after she fell she was snuggled in my arms, singing lullabies with me. We also took Aimy for an ultrasound of her heart (the pediatrician noted a heart murmur at birth but no one ever followed up on it) and fortunately it is nothing to worry about.

February: 

This month, we our few snowflakes for the year! We also had some super high and low tides - and the high tides were high enough that we lost several meters of dune at the beach. So much sand was taken away by the waves that a bunker that had previously been buried under the dune was exposed! We also had a few warm days, warm enough for my neighbour and I to enjoy a tea on the deck at one of the more well-know hotel restaurants on the Bassin d'Arcachon. On the kid front, Alixe and Aimy started holding hands on the way to school and Alixe in particular loved it. Alixe also started asking to use the potty occasionally, and went through a phase where getting her to eat became quite difficult... fortunately phases don't last long in kid world!

I also completely forgot to mention this on the blog before, but in September, I joined the local community concert band, or as they call them here, wind orchestra, l'Harmonie des Lacs. We performed a few times at the end of 2014, once at the local church for the Sainte Cécile mass, and two back-to-back concerts on December 6th at the local theatre. There was even a film crew for a local association at the concert, and they put together a video of us playing one of our pieces. If you look carefully, you can see me more than once! I'll be writing more about the Harmonie in future entries - the people there have progressively become a big part of my life this year.

Next time: Aimy's first time participating in a local tradition.

Proving that she can still fit inside

A new favourite activity: colouring!

Winter stroll at the beach

Looking at a man flying a kite

Snow! It only lasted a few hours,
but still!

Making mini croissants with her cousin
Samantha

Even Carlos got into it

Sunny day outing at la Coorniche,
the hotel/restaurant right
next to the Dune du Pyla

Vacation rental houses reflecting
in the tidal pool at Biscarrosse
Plage

Holding hands

Aimy next to the exposed bunker.
I had no idea it was even there!