Summer 2013 - Part 3

What a peace and quiet. This morning, Gregory and Cynthia left for a three-day holiday down south just the two of them leaving their daughter for the first time under our care. Of course, we are happy and excited to do the baby sitting job. It's our first time to do this "APOstolic" mission. We have been looking forward to this opportunity having the baby just by ourselves! 

Yesterday, Pierre and his two friends also left for one week holiday and that leaves us just the three of us. Papylou, Lola and Lena in this big summer house. Of course, there's the great grandparents behind just in case we need a back up or assistance.

 off for the beach with Léna

  

 papou and manou

 Léna's ready for sand castles

Not to forget Cynthia's instructions for the baby to make sure that the baby is well taken care of.

It has actually been a very busy time during the past week. The get-together party last week was a real blast. It was celebrating my mom-in-law's 80th birthday and Léna's 1st birthday. It was a simple celebration with the company of family members and close family friends.

 all eyes on the little star

 Tita Claudine and Uncle Gerard

 Proud great grandparents

 The guests

 The food

 Cousin and nephews

  Cynthia's close friend Camille

It's actually a summer tradition that we try to have everyone around us for bonding together. The birthday celebration was just an excuse to get everyone around. It is time for catching up among family and friends.

Unfortunately, Marie-Anne just left a day before the party because of her job and Mathieu and Gregory, our value added family members, (Marie-Anne and Cyntia's husbands) were not around for this special event.

(Before I forget, Marie-Anne called us yesterday announcing a good news. She's now permanently hired in Accor Group of Hotels in Geneva and it is a great relief for all of us. We are so happy for her and I think this will call for another celebration!! Yehey!! Bravo Mimi, we are so proud and happy for you. You made it girl!)

Since my mom-in-law was born, she's been already coming here together with her grandparents. That was more than 80 years ago. So Léna is the 6th generation that comes to Le Cap Ferret and hoping that the tradition continues.  

My children have never missed a single summer in Le Cap Ferret. And they will never trade their summer holiday here. As for them, it's a sacred family tradition. 

Pierre was invited to spend few days in his friend's place  just accross Le Cap Ferret few days ago and he declined. He invited his friend to our place instead. He said, he could not leave his family and prefers to spend with us. Of course, for also an obvious reason, we live far from the children.  And it's quite a long travel to get here.

Voila, I am taking advantage to write this while Léna is having her siesta. In about few minutes, she will wake up and we'll take her to the usual beach again where her great grandma, her grandpa, her mom, tita Mimi and tito Pierre used to go when kids and loved making sand castles as what she's starting to do now. Let's call it handling do with the tradition.

Léna with her mom and uncle Pierre.

Papylou in the water with Léna.

What a joy this little girl can bring us. Priceless!

Enjoying herself on the beach.

I would like to apologize to all my friends in France. I know, I have not made any call to anyone as I promised. The thing is, I don't have any time for myself. Being with the family means I have to take care of everything, the logistics, etc..etc. 

And besides, since my phone got busted, I lost all my contact lists and I need to update it one by one. And as of now, I haven't got much time to do it. I am so sorry.

This summer is particularly special as I am giving the most possible assistance I could offer to Cynthia as she is finishing her thesis before the end of the month. She badly needs my help and I am happy to do it especially taking care of my grandchild. And she is taking her job before the end of the month and I will babysit Lena for the first week before the nanny comes back from her holiday.

And after the babysitting job, I will go up to Douai and help Pierre gets settled in his new flat.

That's my role as a mom and as a Lola. I am happy doing it. I will just catch up later with my friends when I get back to Tahiti.  

For the meantime, let me savor the moments with my loved ones. Seize the opportunity and make my summer holiday as special as can be. Family comes first. Life is good. I can't ask for more. I am blessed and eternally grateful.