This Year i have just started 6th grade!!

It is really different from elementary, you have more classes in different rooms. And it is very small there are small hallways so when you try to go to your class well the only thing i can say "be careful!!! " people are pushing and rushing to get to there classes, completely crazy.

Also you have to be very organized other wise you don't keep track of what has to be done for homework. Talking about homework, there is a lot my record of stying up doing my homework was till 10 at night, i was so tired. But now i am blogging away writing what i need to write got to get back to homework so ttyl talk to you later.

It's Ski Time

After our last trip to the mountains with a little snowpack which worries those of us living in California, we were lucky to have received a gift from mother's nature: 6 feet of fresh new show over a 2 week period.


Cynthia, her husband Richard and their kids were kind enough to host us for the week-end at their house close to Sugar Bowl. The weather condition was perfect and while Muriel looks at the skiers below the chairlift, Cynthia smiles for the camera! Say cheeeese!!!!! "I am too hang-over"

A very enthusiastic Bianca was in bed early the night before and she did not have any problems
saying " CHEEse" for the camera!

Bianca is practicing her turns and watch her
look back at her tracks to make sure
her turns are just right!

... and here she goes down an ever steepr hill!
Not bad for her 2nd day of real skiing!
A Champion in the making?

Visiting the Sharks

While Muriel and Chiara decided to take advantage of the great snow in the Sierra's, Bianca and I decided to stay home for the week-end. The most important highlight was a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to see some sharks. Little did we know that there was shark week-end celebration.

At 7:30am Bianca woke up and reminded me that it was time to get going ... An hour later we were on the road to Monterey. Bianca packed a few things to keep her busy in the car and requested that the ABBA greatest cd be played during the drive.

Getting to Monterey is quite easy and the view is interesting after leaving San Jose as the Morgan Hill area offers some nice views; this trip was just a little different because we could see snow on Mt Hamilton and later on highway 16o we could also see snow capped peaks on the backdrop of Monterey.

Here are a few pictures taken at the Monterey bay Acquarium ....

Bianca getting her hands wet ... note the huge sea stars in the tank, and the water was nice and cold as well!

This sea lion just knows how to get everyone's attention at the Aquarium!




This rank is designed to catch the water pumped in from the bay that simulates tidal forces

... and these jelly fish really stole the show


I completely forgot the name of this fish, needless to say it is quite interesting!


But Bianca's real reason to visit the aquarium
was for this ...

The Great White shark, which eventually will be put back to sea
when it reaches about 5 foot in length



And if I remember correct a docent told us that these interesting animals "aka Sea Otters"
have such dense fur with over 100,000 hairs per square inch to keep them well insulated
from the cold Monterey Bay waters


Feeding time is an interesting time for the penguins; sine they were raised in captivity these little swimming birds do not know how to hunt for themselves and are fed 2 times a day by their keepers; who's training who?


On the way home, right after entering the highway Bianca fell asleep dreaming about her beloved shark! We did a few activities while visiting the aquarium including making our own rubber stamps with sea life theme. We should soon receive these cards in the mail I hope!

A relaxing Sunday

To recover from yesterday's trip to Monterey, today we decided to stay home and to try put together out 200 piece puzzle. yes, Bianca and I did it! It took a while, maybe a little longer than planned but we were successful in finishing the puzzle. Soon we will tackle a 400 piece puzzle!

and while we were puzzling away ...

Lucky decided it was time to test how comfortable a load of fresh cleaned clothes
would be as a new bed ... while Bianca practiced her piano

and the day would not be complete with a nice home made meal at the end of the day.
Bianca and Papa worked hard on preparing Mamma's favorite winter dish ... Risotto!

This is picture was taken on a cold night during Christmas 2008 at the Caroussel in Tilden Park .

One evening, Andrew decided to ''blind fold the girls'' and take them for a ride to somewhere special ...

Once at destination, we've let them open their eyes only to found themselves in the middle of a forest, surrounded by a giant lit up Christmas tree and all sort of decorations, illuminated figurines & deers & gingerbread houses , an old fashionned caroussel , music and joyous people everywhere...

How magical it must have been for them....O- sweet- childhood !

Here are our ''animal lovers'' children Chiara and Bianca posing with ''Hero, la lumiere'', a friend's (service) dog.

Hero is a stunning and beautiful St Bernard , and the BIGGEST dog (and the sweetest!) you would ever come close to (beside a Great Dan perhaps). So big that, once entering our house and exploring around some of the rooms, he would have to walk back in reverse mode in order to turn around!

Offering him a drink of water, also meant lining the entire floor area with towels to protect all around from the powerful splashes! Just amazing. We love you forever Hero!

A little get-away to France

Trois touristes a Paris !

Oui, oui vraiment.

We are French, yes, but we are not Parisian (and Paris , in case you haven't yet figured it out, is a country of its own, or pretending to be!) therefore if you are not from Paris , it doesn't matter where you're from.... you are a ''tourist'' and additionally, you don't know anything about life !

That is of course, until you've been there. I mean Paris of course. Reguardless of where you are in your life , you still don't know a thing until you've been in Paris. Ha !

But, it's ok. I don't take it personally either. In fact.,I am used been a ''tourist''... I am a tourist here at home ! It's the story of my life as foreigner after living overseas in 4 different countries for more than two decade ! I have actually been living abroad for more than half my life, whew ! urgh....