Luka's 5th Birthday

It was a big birthday weekend. Luka's birthday was Friday. He took mini chocolate chip pumpkin muffins with organge frosting and Halloween sprinkles to school to share with his friends for snack. He got a special card from his teacher to celebrate his special day. He also took muffins to French class later in the day. When he entered the room they all sang "Joyeux Anniversaire" to him (in French, obviously). All the kids, as well as Miss Marie, had made him cards. He was very pleased.

His official birthday party was at Pump It Up - indoor inflatable jumping kid utopia. He had invited his entire class, plus some non-school friends and was very excited. There were about 20 kids there. He had a great time and it seemed like everyone enjoyed it. He had Zarkan invitations, a Zarkan cake and a Zarkan t-shirt. Plus, he received thoughtful and fun gifts from his friends. Axy had a great time at Pump It Up too; this was the first time he seeemed to really like the jumpy castle environment. We can't believe Luka is already 5!

School Pictures

Here are Luka and Axel's school pictures for this year. Luka is in Miss Melissa's Kindergarten class and Axel is in Miss Nancy's Toddler Class.

Luka's 6th Birthday Countdown

Since we just had the big 5th birthday bash, of course, we must now start thinking about birthday party #6 next year-- just kidding. Well, I am sure Luka will ponder it all year, but Mommy and Daddy will take a break of at least 10 months... :) Just for Luka, no matter how far off it still is, is a count down to #6:

Kid Update: October 2007

Luka

Learning to read at school and doing a great job. Lots of "sight" words and getting used to sounding out new words. Loves Kindergarten and his teachers, Miss Melissa, Miss Laurel, Miss Jessica and Miss Carina. Field trips and lots of fun activities (green frog, mystery can, star student).

Fav book(s): Junie B series, Abricot magagine (French), especially the back page.

Fav movies: Le mystère des jouets and L'age de glace (yes, still!)

Playing soccer, riding his scooter and his bike, likes music class and French class. Loves drawing, playing with his little safari animals, and making stuff (books, cutting up and gluing stuff, etc.). making up stories and games.

Axel

Doing well at school, but still misses us (cries) when gets dropped off :( Loves his friend Emeline (French babysitter), great at imitating us and loves to sing and draw. Loves playing dumpy and "riding" his brother's bike (!) (this means Mommy pulling him - ouch, my back!).

Fav book(s): T'choupi - especially T'choupi et les transpots. Loves big machinery and trucks, buses, big cars. Loves balls. Had a greating time painting at the Children's Museum.

Saying more and more words and a sweet little talker. We will miss him saying, "Luta, Uka, Uddle". Now, he loves to say "Mister Luka!" after Mommy. Another fav is, "Shut the door!"

Photos: August (and one from October)

Photos - These go with the text in the post below "Long time, no blog"
[For more photos, go here: Flickr Sets]

August

Axel's birthday celebration

VBS

Luka and Faith

Fun in Boulder

Children's Museum Denver - Grace and Luka

Reynald on White Rim Ride (October)

Photos: July

Photos - These go with the text in the post below "Long time, no blog"
[For more photos, vist Flickr Sets.]

July

Reynald's view from ferry in AK.



Steven, Luka, Axel

Family Camp

Long time no blog...

Long time, no blog! Here is a recap of our activities since our last posting:

JULY

- We have fun with our neighbors fireworks and Luka piggy backing on mommy for the city display.

- Axy starts day care. He is in Toddler 3.

- Reynald to Alaska to do a solo ride of the 200 mile distance in the Fireweed 400: Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez. Included a ferry/train trip from Valdez back to Portage and visiting with the in-laws.

- See Uncle Steven, Aunt Angela and her parents at crepe restaurant in Denver, on their way to new home in LA.

- Reynald starts his new job!

- Eve gets her hair cut short (really!)

- Family church camp 5 hours west: Grand Mesa United Methodist Church Camp. Highlihts include paddle boating, crafts, new friends and Luka singing Le Bon Roi Dagobert for talent night, in French, with Eve and Reynald singing our on-the-fly English translation (Axel helped too) and then we lead a sing-along of Frère Jacques (everyone knows that!).

~ JULY PHOTOS - CLICK HERE FOR SLIDE SHOW ON FLICKR ~

Le Bon Roi Dagobert / The Good King Dagbert

[Verse 1 - French]

Le bon roi Dagobert
Avait sa culotte à l'envers.
"Ô mon Roi, Votre Majesté
Est mal culottée."
"C'est vrai, lui dit le roi,
Je vais la remettre à l'endroit."

[Verse 1 - our English version]

The good King Dagbert
Put his underpants on backwards.
The great Saint Eloi said,
Oh my King, your Majesty has your underwear on wrong.
That's true, said the king, I'll put it back on the right way.

[Verse 2 - French]

Chassait dans la plaine d'Anvers.
Le grand saint Eloi lui dit :
"Ô mon Roi, votre Majestée
Est bien essouflée."
"C'est vrai, lui dit le roi,
Un lapin courait après moi."

[Verse 2 - our English version]

The good King Dagbert
Was hunting in the fields of Anvers.
The great Saint Eloi said,
"Oh my King, your Majesty is really out of breath."
"That' s true, says the king, a rabbit was running after me."

(That song is not a positive comment on the ruling classes!)

AUGUST

~ AUG PHOTOS - CLICK HERE FOR SLIDE SHOW ON FLICKR ~

- Axel turns 2! Birthday bash with four litle friends (Kylie, Sean, Riley and Connor for Luka) at Lakeside's awesome kid area. Motorcycles, planes, cars, boats, wigwams, ferris wheel and more! The party was Doudou-themed: Axy's fav character from T'Choupi. We had Doudou invitations, a Doudou cakeand a Doudou tshirt for the birthday boy (yay, Mommy!).

- Weekend VBS -lots of fun for both Axel and Luka. Mommy is "tribe leader" for group of kids.

- Ride the Divide: Rollins Pass - Reynald rode up with the "tougher" group on Saturday and Eve rode the Winter Park - Nederland direction with Corinne and Anne who were the perfect team mates for this challenging ride.

- Luka starts Kindergarten at The Academy!

SEPTEMBER

- We start teaching Axel's two-year old Sunday school class once a month.

- Emeline, Axel's French nou nou (really, his buddy) comes twice a week to play with him and help him use his French speaking skills.

- Luka starts French class for French-American kids in Boulder. Great success!

- Luka starts soccer. Fun with team and Luka likes hugging his friends on the opposing teams as well as doing cartwheeels around the field during the game. But, a good introduction to team sports.

OCTOBER

It is not over yet, but passing by fast. Luka's big 5th birthday bash at Pump It Up is fast approaching. Zarkan invitations, Zarkan t-shirt and Zarkan cake - Luka's fav character from his fav movie: Le mystère des jouets.

Pumpkin and Halloween fun (nightly ritual of lighting candles, turning out the music and dancing out to Halloween songs). Costumes chosen for Halloween: Luka - black spiderman; Axel - red spiderman (and/or a bee, a monkey, a fireman or a pirate - take your pick!).

Reynald rode the White Rim outside Moab with our friend Dan. A 10+ hour ride in the Utah desert--go, guys!