Baking

I made (cinnamon sugar) bagels for the first time this week. So yummy!



Glider Flight for Father's Day

For Father's Day, Jamie arranged for me to go on a glider flight at our local airport where every weekend dozens of gliders soar over the mountains, catching the local thermals. They can stay aloft for hours. While my flight was an hour, we probably could have stayed up until sunset!

 This was our glider - "Mike Tango"

 For takeoff, they use a giant bungee-cord slingshot that "launches" the gliders up almost a thousand feet, and then they go searching for thermals to get even higher.

 My view from the backseat. My instructor pilot even let me fly a little bit - that was a blast!

 We would "soar" over a peak or hilltop and circle higher, then fly over to another spot and climb higher.

 From a visibility standpoint, the weather was as clear as could be.

 A view of Chambery

 One of our fellow gliders

 Mont Blanc - the highest peak Europe

 Croix du Nivolet - one of the most prominent landmarks that can be seen anywhere in Chambery

  

 A view of "our castle" that we can see from our side of town

 After landing, the gliders stop in the grass and then get towed or pushed back to the launching area.



Play, play, play

 Painting with water on the balcony.

The girls & I went to a (French) friend's house today. They had a swing set. Such a hit! 

Gracie and a friend.

Recently . . .

For throwing away her pacis (whew! big deal for her!) Gracie got her first Barbie. 

And of course Anna wants to play with the Barbie too. 

The ONLY time the girls sit still like this is when they are watching a movie. This day it happened to be in French (educational for me, fun for them!). 

Awesome sandals, thanks to Daddy! 

I sure love that cute, blurry face!

Birthday fun (part 2)

Butterfly cake (Gracie's request) 

Watching Mimi & Aunt Jackie sing on Skype. 

Happy birthday, Sweet Gracie! We sure love you precious girl.

Birthday fun (part 1)

We are celebrating Gracie's 3rd birthday today!