Kindergarten enrollment

It's been such an eventful few days we haven't even had time to write, but if we don't get caught up soon, we'll forget what we've done.

Saturday night, our babysitter came over and we went out to dinner at Le Petit Prince de Paris, a very charming restaurant in the Latin quarter. For future reference, the duck with melon is incredible. Also, if the menu lists a dessert as containing, "chocolate ice cream, mint sorbet, and a glass of peppermint," it turns out it actually has a glass of peppermint (sort of like mouthwash if you're trying to imagine it). The person at the next table also ordered it, and we watched to see what she would do with it (do you pour it on your ice cream? drink it straight?) but she didn't seem quite sure either.

Yesterday, we discovered that the supply of amazing parks in Paris is indeed endless. We went with some friends to sepnd the day at the Bois de Vincennes. We explored a bit on the grounds of the Chateau de Vincennes (which was for several centuries the residence of the royal family of France), and then went into the Jardin Floral, which, as usual, became our new favorite park in Paris. Incredibly maintained grounds of flowers and gardens (including for example, a rose garden, a butterfly garden, a rhododendron garden, a bonsai garden, etc.), as well as an enormous playground, a minigolf course with the monuments of Paris for each hole, and a bandshell where a wind quartet was warming up for a concert that evening.

When we returned home in the evening, Jonah (who usually announces "chez nous" [our house] when he sees our building) instead announced "our chateau" (our castle). What a nice way to see things.

Today was the big event. We went this morning to the school behind our house to see what would happen with school. We were given an appointment for an hour later, so we walked around the block until it was time. We met with the director, who immediately said she could accept Ella, but not Jonah (no places for 2 year olds). So, one down, one to go! The school is much bigger than it seems from the outside. The kindergarten classrooms (or Grand Section, as it is called here) are on the 3rd and 4th floor, the cafeteria on the ground floor (so, Ella will get plenty of exercise going up and down!) The director was very nice and helpful. She is going to try to arrange for us to come in Thursday to meet the teacher (there are 2 male and one female kindergarten teachers - we don't know yet which class Ella will be in). She showed us the classrooms - two of which were set up and looked very nice, the third of which was being repainted, so it was hard to tell. The school day will go from 8:30 to 4:30. We could pick Ella up for lunch from 11:30 - 1:30 if we want, but she says she wants to stay for lunch at school. She also has the option of staying for snack after school, but I think we will start with picking her up at 4:30 (already a long day). Ella did a great job speaking a little bit of French with the director (telling her name [which we had practiced] and telling Jonah's name [which we had not practiced], how old she is, etc.). Ella is naturally a bit nervous, but also excited now that she has seen how nice the school is.

We spent the rest of the afternoon making phone calls and visiting places to try and find a spot for Jonah, with no luck. But, we have a list of places to try tomorrow, so hopefully something will turn up. He wants to go to school so badly, so we'll work at it a little more before "settling" for a nanny.