Here for the Bread: January 2016

Lyon, already decorating for the Chinese New Year

Happy New Year, Everyone-

We've discovered that the French celebrate the New Year with gusto!

On that, I won't be writing very much today, rather mostly posting a few pictures from our wanderings around town, in the days immediately prior to and after New Year's Eve.

Among the kids' hopes for Christmas: a keyboard to continue lessons....

and carbs.

We spent New Year's Eve with some of our new friends here in Lyon, playing games and eating wonderful food. It was festive and fun, and we were all very surprised when Katherine alerted us that Midnight was only five minutes away.

Cora preparing Eggnog...YUM

Pumpkin Tart! Interestingly, the French don't typically utilize pumpkin in desserts, so ours was a delicious curiosity for our friends.

Typically, we don't stay out with the kids until 2:00am, but we we enjoying ourselves so much that the time was flying. When we finally left for home, the streets were still full of revelers, music, dancing and yes, champagne.

With only two days remaining until school begins again, the kids are complaining that the vacation hasn't lasted long enough. I remember that feeling very well (with the notable exception of First Grade. My First-grade teacher, Mrs. Kelly, made school so much fun that all of her students detested vacations...and she reads this blog - Hi, Mrs. Kelly!).

Right now, the sun isn't rising in Lyon until nearly 8:30am, so everyone is feeling (and looking) a bit cheated when we wake up. Yesterday (New Year's Day), I woke up first and took a walk around the neighborhood on the way to the market for some desperately needed brunch supplies. Here was Lyon, just waking up with me, around 11am...