September 2020
I can almost taste the present… For those of you who are just joining the blog, welcome! I have been working on catching up since I left the blog dormant in 2018, so you can imagine that I’m quite excited to almost be up-to-date. I bring you September Petrignani style.
Back-to-school. Daphné completed 2 years of preschool, and started kindergarten this year.
Django’s first year of preschool! He literally just turned 3 a few weeks before this. In France, it’s obligatory for every child to start school in the year they turn 3. Crazy. So, there were some kids in his class who were still 2, since they were born at the end of the year.
It was so fun to see these two walking into the school building together. Rough at first for Django, but now he just cruises in like a big boy.
First day classroom visit. One parent for each kid was allowed to check things out. Django quickly found the reading nook after baptizing the floor with pee. Ha!
Still sunny and warm.
Tales of a boy and his bucket. You may remember another bucket photo from August 2020’s post.
Wolverine-ess. Floss sticks and their many uses.
Lunch with my girlfriends, Ave and Maki. We met way back in 2016 through an international mom group here in Nice when all our kids were just 1 year-old. So great to have these mamas in my life to keep me sane. I just love them!
Sweet doggie pause on the way to school.
He’s a thorough sunscreen lather-er.
These children eat parmasen from the block.
Big sis is gone for the night. Little bro commandeered the unicorn.
We found Django’s doppelganger! Dennis from the movie Hotel Transylvania 2.
Out for a spin.
This was at a beach baptism after church. I didn’t have a hat. Notice Django snooping in the snack bag.
One of the couples that Tonio married this summer blessed us with an all-expense paid getaway for 2 nights. Thanks to Papi Pierre and Mamie Nancy for making it possible by watching the kiddos!
He sure does love his Papi and Mamie.
Daphné and I met the sweetest woman on our way to the doctor’s office one day. Her name is Colette (85 years-young) with her service dog Baby. Daphné was in heaven. This woman’s story is nothing short of a miracle. She shared stories of being pulled away from her parents at 10 years-old in Nazi times and was able to reunite with them at 12 years-old. Almost died 7 times. Recited the most beautiful poem she had written representing her freedom from being in a camp. She was in tears. Called me and Daphné her angels. It was a divine meeting. She knows and loves Jesus with her whole heart, taking care of her 95 year-old brother with Alzheimer’s. We will try to stay in touch. She is from La Jolla, California but stuck in France since the confinement. I just love God’s fun surprises. And as you can imagine, Daphné wants to see Baby again.
Our convicts. My sister said it looks like Django just knocked off the local toy store. I was laughing so hard! Typical passport photos. No smiling.
And here is what they looked like 5 seconds later when the photographer said they could smile and may have tickled their faces with a huge feather duster.
Saying bye to our friend Sean. He was in Nice for a couple years, then was going to travel Germany and head back to his home-sweet-home in Phoenix, AZ. He became a big brother to the kids! We love you Sean!
I feel it fitting to end with this Bible verse that is very dear to my heart:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13
Love Linz