Lac du Monteynard

July 2016

The Lac du Monteynard is an artificial lake that was created at the same time as an hydroelectric dam in 1962. It is located in a beautiful area 30-45min south Grenoble. The lake is famous for windsurfing but we love it because it is really nice to hike around and the color of the water is gorgeous. Two suspension bridges have been built to connect one side of the lake to the other.

We went there as a family activity to celebrate Emmanuelle’s birthday. Sadly it was a little cloudy that day and even windier than usual but we enjoyed it very much nonetheless.

First we picnicked

Then we hiked

and we posed

one of the two himalayan bridges

It swung a little when we reached the middle of the bridge. I was a bit frightened by the height but the view was absolutely worth it.

William’s birthday party

 July 2016

William, my baby, turned 6 years old in July. He loves sports, swimming, the color pink, video games (Splatoon, Mario Kart). He is a talented artist and a very athletic kid. He hates most cheeses, especially melted ones, quiche, potatoes but he eats fruit and raw veggies like it’s candy. He is doing great in school and is quite the lady killer. I volunteered to accompany his class to the pool once and this little girl started crying when I sat next to him in the bus because she was jealous of me.

For his birthday party we decided to plan fair-type activities. He invited six friends.

First we decorated and assembled pinwheels.

Then we played knock the can.

Then we went looking for candy under the candy tree.
 

Then the kids bobbed for apples.

Then we did a sponge race (they didn’t care too much about that).

And finally we played hanging donuts. They loved that.

The cake was supposed to represent Grand-papa and Grand-maman’s swimming pool with William floating in the water and a towel on the side. William was not convinced with my fondant modelling skills and didn’t think it was an accurate depiction. Oh well... kids keep you humble.

I asked parents to come early to help supervise the kids in the pool. I waited until they arrived to let the kids in the pool. We finished the day enjoying cool water and a beautiful scenery.

 

Beginning of summer activities

 July 2016

Our neighbors organized a camping birthday party for their 10 year old son in the forrest around Freydiere. We went up to spend the evening with them and to take their younger son (Josh’s age) home with us for sleeping because they thought they wouldn’t have enough room for him in the tents (it turned out not all the kids stayed for the night so we didn’t end up taking him home with us). It was a super fun evening.

I wish I was adventurous enough to do this for my kids but as much as I love the idea, I can’t picture myself sleeping in the wild with half a dozen kids.

When it got dark we went home and slept comfortably in our beds, that’s how I like camping.

William got a little sick at the end of the school year. Here he is, resting in Grand-papa and Grand-maman’s garden, eating freshly picked raspberries.

William again, fully recovered, playing in the pool.

There was an outdoor movie night just outside our door, it reminded us of our time in family housing. The movie wasn’t particularly entertaining but the activity was fun in itself.

William received a sun-powered watermill kit for his birthday. We had fun building it and watching it operate.

It worked really well:

I bought a small electric lawnmower that is light enough and safe enough for the boys to use (it’s a string trimmer, it doesn’t have a blade). Now I shamefully take advantage of my boys to do the lawnmowing (I pay them a little to help maintain their motivation).

Summer is in the air

June 2016

June is always a busy and exciting month. The end of the school year approaches and you can smell summer in the air. It’s also the month when schools organize the best field trips and activities.

On June 22nd our school had its annual courseton. It was the second year Josh participated. This time he had to run for 12 min non-stop. I volunteered to help again and I had a front row seat to the race.

Josh and his friend Mathys before the race

Running strong

After the race

Boys full of adrenaline

Josh ran 2200 meters in 12 minutes which qualified him for the fastest runner category (Cheetah). He was 3rd in his class.

A few days later, William’s class went on a field trip to an adventure park near Saint Michel les Portes in the Trieves. It’s a gigantic forrest with dozens of rope courses, a huge labyrinth and a series of tree houses connected together with trampolines and rope bridges. You can bet I volunteered to accompany his class again.

The adventure park is located about 850 meters from the closest road and parking lot, so we had to hike for about 20-35 min with this group of 4-5 year-olds before we reached the site.

The kids had so much fun, they were in heaven. We had a picnic and we stayed there until it was time to head back. It’s only about an hour from Revel so it was a perfect day trip.

The boys are growing up fast and now that Josh has homework to do, it was time to buy a desk. Their room is tiny so I had to be creative to find something that fit and that was still long enough for both of them to sit side by side. I ended up buying a closet door from ikea because it was the only thing with the dimensions I wanted and I screwed 4 legs onto it. They love it.

I picked up William from school one day and found him dressed in this fun attire. He had zipped his fleece jacket to his rain coat and was very proud of his clever invention.

School photographs.

And a brothers sleepover.

Grand-papa and Grand-maman came over to eat with us on Father’s day. Grand-papa received a pair of prescription goggles from his daughters. We’re proud to have such a healthy and athletic dad and the boys are blessed to have such an amazing Grandpa as an example.