Premier Jour...

The past week has been filled with LOTs of firsts!!

Gracie had her first day of preschool (Ecole Maternelle), well actually her whole first week.

We started the day out right with a special breakfast...

Home-made scone and a "boiled" egg

Ready to go...

The school is just over 1 KM from our apartment.  Several families in our language school (CCEF) have children starting at the same school (preschool and elementary share a building), so we had a large "parade" of sorts.

Groupe Scolaire du Val Des Roses
entrance to the school

For the preschool, parents accompany the kids inside and drop them off at their classes.  Every child has a coat hook and cubby outside the class door where you leave their things -- including shoes -- each child has a pair of "slippers" that they wear in the class.  We forgot to take a picture of G's -- as you might guess she picked out a pair with a pink pony (well sort of a cartoon depiction of a cross between a pony and a giraffe).

A few of the CCEF kiddos

Gracie is the only English speaker in her class, so she is truly being immersed into French.  Overall she is adjusting well.  Although she did come home saying "I can't hear my teacher's voice" -- her way of explaining that she doesn't understand what's being said : )

Waiting to enter her classroom

She went straight for the puzzles!
See ya Mom...

We also had our first day of class at CCEF.  Dianna is in the beginner class -- a VERY good thing given she lacks any background in French -- while Dean is in the level 2 class.  Despite being in different classes, our schedules are basically identical, and CCEF makes our class times coordinate with the public school.  So it all works rather smoothly.

What does a typical day look like?

8:30 AM   Walk G to school
8:50 AM   G's school opens, we drop her off in her class
9:05 AM   CCEF starts with devotions -- most days all classes are combined
9:30 - 11:45 AM   CCEF classes
11:45 AM  Race back to G's school
12:00 PM  School releases kids (all kids leave for lunch)

   LUNCH -- so far this has been back at our apartment on campus but we may try to picnic near her school while the weather is nice

1:20 PM   Walk G to school
1:35 PM   G's school opens, we drop her off in her class (for rest time)
1:50-4:30 PM   CCEF classes resume
4:30 PM   Race back to G's school
4:445 PM  End of G's school day

LOTs of back and forth -- in fact 8.8 KM worth : )  Thankfully, we found a nice stroller in the "hand-me-downs" stored in the basement on campus -- G happily rides along!  And we are enjoying the exercise as well as the views...

Walk home after her 1st day...yes, she is licking a flower!

Oh, and schools are only in session Mon-Tues-Thurs-Friday, there are no classes on Wed for any of us.  Kind of neat system -- gives us a mid-week break to study : )

Other firsts this week:

Dianna's first visit with the sage-femme (midwife) -- all is well with baby!  A follow-up visit with an Ob-Gyn as well as a sono appt have been arranged...so more firsts are coming soon.  Dianna also had her first lab visit (labs here are separate, free-standing establishments as opposed to being in the same office as the medical provider) -- blood was successfully drawn, and she will return Monday to retrieve the results.

Family bus ride!  We are learning the best ways to get-around...

G waiting to board...kids under 4 yrs ride free : )

Parks...we enjoy each new one we discover!

Park near G's school

Park across from church building

Playing after last Sunday's service

Oh, and lots of yummy bread and cheese firsts : )  But we'll have to save that for a separate food post sometime soon...

Our first bakery visit...

Breakfast at the park near CCEF

Please pray for us as we enter into our studies!  Also pray for wisdom as we consider purchasing a car to use during our time here!

Merci beaucoup!
DDG+K5

Just another pretty view (NOT our house...)