Petit Section Picasso's in Process

As promised, here is a quick look at our winter themed arts and crafts!

With the snowman, we focused on circles; first we stamped the snow with wine corks and then we counted in English the number of "coal" circles we used for the eyes, mouth, and buttons. We made the snowflakes by mixing shaving cream and white glue (which gave it a puffy paint feel and look). Finally, we painted with watercolor ice cubes! An ingenious idea (thanks fellow teachers for sharing your ideas on the internet!). The kids loved this and started giggling once they realized that the ice cube was melting right in their own hands!

Since my children are just beginning to use scissors, I opted out of the paper cut out design snowflakes and went for these cool (but fragile) ear swab and glue snowflakes.

Another easy, cute craft: Handprint polar bears. I told the children to finger paint the snow (ahem, blizzards).

Of course we had to talk about penguins too! I'm regretting that I didn't make my own paper mache penguin with the children. This project definitely reinforced learning how to be patient (and above all not to be a perfectionist). The flour paste was all over the place!

Next, we celebrated Carnaval early at school (since it occurs during our February holiday.) Everyone dressed up (much like Halloween), sang, danced, and ate tons of sugary goodies (crepes, gaufres, bugnes, candy, etc.) A very energetic last day before break!

Of course with Valentine's Day coming up,  I couldn't resist focusing on friendship and love our last week before break. They were hysterical with their answers about kissing boys/girls. Then after singing our songs I told them to hug one of their friends. Nearly all of them came up to hug and kiss me.....tears, sigh, ahhhh gotta love my little French babies.

Our love bugs

They amaze me every day! 

Homemade Valentine's Day bags

My little Valentine's Day present (thanks Mom for the candy)

Finally, last week I was in charge of the vacation activities. I chose "Pirates" as our theme of the week. It went pretty well considering I had 20 children (varying in age from 3 to 10 years old). The boys were really into the fighting aspect and the girls loved the buried treasure. We even ate pirate themed snacks! Over the course of the week, we made a big boat out of cardboard, swords, eyepatches, hooks, and spyglasses, as well as our own pirate flag! Only thing I regret? Telling them we had to fight an octopus to get across the ocean...apparently that will cause nightmares. 

YARRR

Sailing into the sunset!

On our treasure hunt!

The map we found in a bottle :)

That's all I have to recount as far as school goes (well at least until I go back to school on Monday.) Next up, my adventures in the Alps :)

Mr. Snow Miser

January came and went, that's for sure! I might as well stop apologizing for the late posts and just admit that my life doesn't seem as exciting the second time around (well at least to me, if you're still reading a year and a half later, THANKS :) )

So what's new? Well, my lovely sister came to visit for five days, I held my first set of parent-teacher conferences, and I experienced my first ever French bath house.  Oh and it's been in the negative numbers now for a week (Celsius that is....10 degrees Fahrenheit). I wear stockings, leggings, and jeans every day and it doesn't do much. The wind slaps you in the face every time you leave a building.

I took Riss to my new favorite hotspot, Crock n Roll, and as much as I tried to push her to go out dancing Saturday night her jet lag took away any possibility of it happening. (Déjà vu? Yes indeed, it happened to my cousin last year, too. He fell asleep in the restaurant we went to, head straight onto the table and all). Sunday we walked for five hours nonstop. I discovered a part of Lyon I never ventured into and we came upon the most beautiful, non touristy view. Monday, Riss came to school with me. It was HILARIOUS. As soon as my children came through the door and saw a new person, they all stopped. Each one of them stared for a good thirty seconds. Even when they went to change into their classroom slippers, they couldn't keep staring. Apparently she made an amazing first impression. Every day in class I ask if anyone is missing from the circle. They still (two weeks later) shout: YOUR SISTER!

All of the parents said that their children love me and that they have heard their children singing in English at home, so that's good...must be doing something right :)

Saturday afternoon, I headed to Calicéo with three of my co-workers from last year. I had no idea what to expect. We started outside (our ears turning pink from the freezing wind), then went indoors, and finally ended with the hammam. It was nice to be in a bathing suit in January. Unfortunately being so short, I could never really sit on the benches without the bubbles going up my nose, or having the water come up to my mouth. It was relaxing nonetheless! So relaxing in fact that I fell asleep and missed my Saturday night couscous dinner :( 

New Risotto Recipe: Zucchini and Roasted Red Pepper :)

New Additions To The Lyon Family! 

Our Snowman!

Yay Snow!

Our Snow Covered Recess Yard

Happy Birthday Tania! Chocolate Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream Icing.

Tomorrow I'm heading off to the Ben Howard concert and I'm sure I'll have more to tell at the end of the week. We're celebrating Carnaval (Mardi Gras) at school on Friday and I have a ton of funny stories and cute projects to share! Keep posted! (Here's some music bait).

And until then, keep warm with my man, Michael!

Struggla

I found Matisyahu back in high school (during those Napster days). I instantly fell in love with his music and lyrical creativity. For him it's not all about counting dough, drinking the finest vodka, or having the hottest chicks all around him. For M, it's all about being jewish, getting through life, and telling it how it is without resorting today's typical cursing and shouting. One song that I can never listen to without blasting is Struggla. So after another trip to the prefecture (Third récipissé, 7 months, and still waiting for my carte de séjour), I'm blasting his music for some inspiration and hope.  Their excuse today? "We're just very slow." No shit Sherlock. That's one stereotype about the French that I unfortunately have to accept; I certainly cannot try to defend it as being false after all this nonsense.

Bref, last weekend was an absolute success (APPLAUSE). Woohoo for starting 2012 off right! On Friday night I hosted a little dinner party. Saturday day I went out to explore town a bit with my friend Emily and her friend from home (England), Kat. My first? Exploring les Halles de Paul Bocuse. I felt like I was back in Reading Terminal Market (only difference is that it was full of perfectly shaped chocolates, huge sausages (yes, that's what she said), wine vendors, and mini swanky restaurants rather than cheesesteaks, Chinese, and Amish vendors. From there we headed off to Crock 'N Roll. Emily had heard about it from the infamous Petit Paumé. In essence, they are a restaurant specializing in croque monsieurs (or to you Americans, grilled cheese). The inside décor was very modern, resembling an old factory in a odd sense. They have musicians come in for nightly concerts as well as weekly art exhibits. Super cool and super yummy! My new favorite in Lyon (sorry L'épicerie)

Deliciousness 

We then crossed the bridge over to Vieux Lyon and walked through the traboules and down the cobblestone streets, slipping in our boots from the rain. I was finally able to enter the one traboule I've never been able to sneak into (because it's always locked) and tried to take a video before someone caught me. Usually the residents keep their doors open for tourists, however, this particular traboule only lets in tour groups through the Lyon tourist office (or lucky people like me who sneak in as a lady punches in her code). Mind the shakiness, I'm just getting used to my new video camera =)

Later that we night we went out to eat (AGAIN, I know, I know) to Bleu de toi, a mussels and fish restaurant found on the famous rue Mercière. I was a bit hesitant to eat seafood after my food poisoning on NYE, but i said to myself, it's 2012 and we're all supposed to die this year anyways so why the heck not? Delicious and not too expensive (15 euros for mussels, fries, a salad, and a kir). Another successful food run. I'm still not surprised how I've never gained weight here in France. 

This week at school we are working on snow and snowmen. I've shown my little French babies my childhood favorite, The Snowman. It was probably the first half an hour all year where I didn't have to tell anyone to sit still or stop hitting or stop playing with their friends hair. They were so captured by it, just complete fascination with the flying snowman and his funny curiosity. Plus, that song gets you every time; it's just so emotional for some reason.

Finally, my quotes of the week. 

" Katie, please help me."- The first full phrase made by a French child who doesn't have English-speaking parents =)

"I'm so boring"- Outside at recess, I hope he was trying to say "bored"...I sure hope.

Me: "Put on your scarf! It's cold outside!"

Child: "Katie! C'est pas un "scarf," c'est une écharpe!" (Katie, that's not a "scarf", it's a scarf!)

"Tes barrettes sont bizarres Katie." (Your hair clips are weird, Katie)

And I leave you with this inspirational, hysterical, yet controversial video.

Toodles à tous!

Bring It 2012!

Bonne année, Bonne santé, Meilleurs Voeux à tous,

I'm back and ready to write. I would share with you another wonderfully dramatic story about my trip to and from France, but that's so 2011. So, let's share some new ideas, new(ish) music findings, and new feelings (or rather old feelings about new experiences).

Here are three songs to start us off until I get out there this weekend to take pictures and explore.

First up: The Cardigans. Yes, they are not new. But but but! I never really payed attention to these lyrics (nor much the song for that matter despite the fact that my favorite Swede gave me every single song this awesome band has never made) until this week when it popped up on my shuffle. Alors, first wish for the following 12 months. Shuffle up my daily life more often and see what it brings me.

Second: My sister's late favorite. Ben Howard. She will kill me if I don't go to his concert here in Lyon so that's next up on the resolution list (any takers?) While this album did come out in 2011, I didn't really appreciate it until this past week. Third goal: Stop doing what Ben Howard is doing and repeat those famous words, "All we fear is fear itself." Or as my Mom-Mom would say, "Quite whining and just get to it!"

Last but not least: Miguel. I'd choose him over Usher, Bruno Mars, or Drake any day. He's underrated and I always root for the underdogs. I was OBSESSED with "Sure Thing" all summer but I can not stop blasting his latest single. He reminds me of Pharrell in a sense. I think it's the geeky glasses, Matrix cloak, and fluorescent lighting that he's got going on in all of his videos that makes me a fan. Impossible resolution: Meet the man and be a lead in his future music videos. A bit more, but still not completely possible resolution: Have my gym do a hip-hop class to one of his songs. Definitely possible resolution: Get caught dancing to Miguel in the supermarket.

Bisous,