Ice skating

One day we went ice skating. We found out I could take figure skating lessons. We might do that when we come back to San Diego next winter and mom too.
Eva

Crabbing

Yesterday we went crabbing at the tide pools in la jolla. We saw some crabs but they were too small.
I caught a tiny fish. I even saw some fish about an inch
long. I wanted to catch them, but they were too fast.
We even saw a sea slug. I was the only one who touched it.

Ben

"My favorite things" 2009 calendar

It is more than just a calendar....it is a piece of art!.. small, colorful with gorgeous drawings. Each month is a delightful surprise. This was given to me for Christmas from my good friend Natacha. It brings a happy touch in the bus.

The french artist behind it is Gaelle Boissonnard. I just love everything about her work... the color combinations, the light she puts in it and the beautiful cloths that all her ladies are wearing. I wish I had the same ones! Merci, Natacha, for turning me on to her!

Sylviane

Singing the National Anthem at last

Last Saturday, we took the children and grandparents to the circus. It was the circus Vargas, a Californian circus. To my joy, they started the show by singing the Star Spangled Banner. Yes, at last I got to sing it! I did feel a little robbed from the joy of singing the words at the naturalization ceremony....now I'm happy:)

We had a great time. It was so precious to see the expressions on Ben and Eva's faces...surprise, amazement, pure joy and worry too. All the children were invited, before the show, to go in the ring and practice juggling with scarfs and balancing a long peacock feather on their fingers or noses.

We finished the evening with a date. Bill and I got to go to the Gaslamp district downtown and eat at my favorite restaurant "Sevilla". We had some tapas, sangria and dreamed about our future travels in Europe...

Sylviane

The science museum

I really like the science museum. We went with our new friend Isa. You can make movies, build with little rectangle blocks, make marble ramps and launch paper air planes. First we went to the science museum and then we had lunch. Then we went to the natural history museum. At the bottom it was mostly dinosaurs. On the 2nd floor there were animals, on the 3rd floor aerial pictures of the west coast and on the 4th floor there were
paintings. And after that Isa left and we went back to the science museum.
Ben

Good times

I went rollerblading last week with Grandma but Grandma didn't rollerblade. I love it!
Eva

It is official…

I am American and proud of it!

The Oath ceremony took place yesterday, in Chula Vista. Everything went very smoothly. We even managed to arrive 30 min. early, at 8am, which is a great accomplishment knowing that I’m usually barely up at that time. Darlene and Jerry, the kids grandparents, (I introduce them this way because I do not like the word “in-laws” and if I call them "my parents" you’d get confused and think that they came all the way here from Switzerland!*) were there too. They left at 4am to come share this special day with me. Thank you!
The ceremony was short, about 20 min. They normally show a recorded message from the president but president Obama hasn’t done one yet. What was the most disappointing to me was that we did not sing during the National Anthem. I was ready for it! They just played the music and everyone listened. Even though I was really looking forward to sing it I did not feel confident enough to sing alone among a hundred people! After that we took the Oath, repeated the Pledge of Allegiance and were dismissed. I received a certificate of naturalization that I will need to obtain my American passport.

I did not think that being American would be different except for the fact that I can leave the country now, for more than six months out of a year, but I do notice a difference. I have a deep feeling of belonging here… I am not just a long time visitor anymore.

Sylviane

* My parents have been very supportive of my naturalization and I know I was in their thoughts yesterday.