Joyeux Anniversaire Grace!

 

Our Ode to Grace:

Nine years ago this very day our beautiful, spunky, quick minded, vivacious Grace made her appearance into this world and into our hearts!

It is actually hard to believe that Grace is only 9 years old in many ways.  She has a a deep understanding of people, of life, of language and of her world. 

At first glance it may appear that Grace is all over the place with her energy and her personality!  When one takes a closer look, she is absolutely our most generous child with a giant heart.  She is constantly making peace, soothing feelings and cheering up siblings, creating fun, and including others.  She does not always have an easy role in our family.  

Last year, when Grace was in 2nd Grade she need a little bit more.  Something academic to challenge her.  Since her books of choice are biographies, I was drawn to a curriculum introduced to us by a few brilliant friends, called Story of the World.  Grace has devoured every chapter so far (now on Volume 2).  Here is a photo of her 3rd Grade SOW friends from left to right:  Amanda, Callie, Gabe and Kennady.

Grace's love of history is one of the things that makes this trip to France so very fun.  We call this trip our "Study Abroad," and Grace chose to study French Castles or Chataeux.  It was very fitting that today we visited our very first Chataeux of the month, Chataeux de Cheverny, thirty minutes outside St. Aignan.

Enjoy a photo walk through Cheverny.

Grace was thrilled that Julius Caesar, one of the Roman Emperors in Story of the World
was featured front and center in the Romanesque achitecture.

She was trying to decide if this was Julius' adopted son,
Augustus Caesar, because he is her favorite Roman Emperor.

George was thrilled....he found the hidden door!  Good eyes, bud!

The Armor Room was a favorite among the boys.

George took the next few photos of his absolute favorite game:  CHESS.
He was only disappointed he could not play then are there.

And of course our violinist took this photo....she too was tempted to touch the artifacts!

Emme was oh, so appalled by the subject matter of the painting:  babies beheading babies.  Oh, my!

We all discussed the actual family, who currently reside in this Chataeux.  Here is their photo and they live on the 3rd floor.  What would that be like to grow up in the castle which had been handed down in your family for the past 600 years?  Emmeline thought the children were so very lucky.

Cheverny is known as the Hunting Castle, because this royal family hosts a long line of hunters.
Jack, this photo is for you, bud!  There are 70 dogs who live here!  Can you imagine cleaning up after 70 dogs?
One is hard enough!  Can you say, "Servants?"

The public can watch the feeding of the dogs each evening.  They line up troughs of meat and all of the the dogs circle around and wait until the command is given to dig in.  The fresh meat is devoured in minutes!

Next is was time for a little "picnic."

We found a Creperie.

Chose our favorites....

and were NOT disappointed!  Matt and I chose the Fromage Crepe with gruyer, blue and goat cheese and an amazing salad with lardon (bacon) and warm goat cheese.  Amazing.

We got to hang out with our friends, Thomas & Richard while Erik and Jake went to collet the women folk, Katie, Maggie and Audrey from the airport in Paris.  We are so excited for the gals to join us!

A little birthday dinner, Italian style in France!

And of course the French Pastry for the Birthday dessert!  Wouldn't you know that every single Patisserie and Boulangerie are closed in St. Aignan on Mondays?  Just out luck, but we were directed by a kindly French woman to the "Super U,"  the French version of Walmart.  Not sure what to think of that?  We were successful in having something sugary to celebrate with and we are certain it was better than a Walmart cake, but I definately know that we will be purchasing a "real" pastry tomorrow and pretending that THAT was Grace's birthday treat!

Our traditional family photo with our adopted son, Richard.  Thanks to Thomas for taking the photo!

And the final fun of the day was a trip to the town park on an island in the
middle of the river running through St. Aignan.

The view from the island.

Grace and Thomas in a balancing dual.

Rich, the pirate!

"I am 'Ting' of the world!" (Oh, please never say your K's correctly, Anthon.  I am in love!)

And the final adventure of the day....
Grace had to use the outdoor TC (bathroom) and this is what she found.....
one hole in the ground in each stall. 

She was less than please, but was grateful her parents had insisted she put her shoes on.
I think her exact quote was, "Eeeeewwwww!  There is poop on this."

And she was grateful they had already anticipated this with the foot level water spigot.

 Happy, Happy Birthday Dear Grace!

What a lovely day for a lovely girl!

-Mom