Makenna with Milo on the right and his brother behind them

Makenna and a little boy in her class, Milo, have really taken to each other and it is the cutest thing!  Milo’s mom told me he asks her every morning if Makenna is going to be at school, and if he sees us walking to school he gets so excited.  The teacher said they are always together at school, too.  Milo’s mom invited Makenna over for a play date on Wednesday afternoon and it was another experience that will be a great memory of our time here!

Milo’s mom works for the gendarmerie, which is kind of like the French military.  There is an office just down the street from where we live, and there are apartments attached to it that is housing for the employees.  We had to go through a secured gate to get in and Makenna was in awe seeing some officers walking around.

I wasn’t sure if I was expected to stay or to leave and come back to pick Makenna up, but Milo’s mom had me and Reese stay which was really nice.  Her daughter had made chocolate cakes for us, and we had a cup of tea while chatting.  I also brought over some Goldfish crackers for her kids to try since they don’t sell them here, and they loved them.  We had a nice time, and when we were leaving a couple officers were pulling into the parking lot on motorcycles.  One of them let Makenna sit on the motorcycle, but unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of that!

Le Festival du Court Métrage is the largest international short film festival and it’s held here in Clermont Ferrand.  Each year I have wanted to go, but for one reason or another we never have.  This year, Makenna’s class was taking a trip there to see a series of films made for her age group and I volunteered to go with them.

Myself and 3 other parents helped the teacher and teacher’s assistant walk the class (of 27 children) to the venue which was about a 15 minute walk from school.  It was the day after it snowed and I was worried it would be icy and we couldn’t go, but thankfully the snow had turned to slush.  I was responsible for Makenna, her “boyfriend” Milo, a little boy named Arthur and a little girl named Léana.  The walk there went well and we were seated in the first 2 center rows in the theater, perfect!  We saw 7 short films which lasted about 40 minutes.  Some of them were funny, some were cute, and a couple were a little bizarre.  I’m pretty sure the last one- a film about a pirate that battles fish and sharks, then takes off his shirt and passes out after drinking rum, then comes across a large-breasted mermaid and kisses her- would not have been shown to 3 year olds in the US.

The walk back, however, was not as easy.  When the films ended and we were preparing to leave, Makenna had started crying saying that she didn’t want me to leave.  Then as we left the building it was snowing so I told her to put her hood on.  She refused to do that and she refused to hold Milo’s hand.  The teacher finally had to come over and tell her she needed to listen to me.  She cried the entire walk back to school, and while we were crossing a street the other little boy Arthur tripped while stepping up onto a curb and fell in a puddle.  His pants were soaked, Makenna was having a fit I let go of her hand to help him, and I had to try and comfort him in my broken French.  When we got to the school I was ready to run out of there!

Besides the meltdown on the walk back, it was a great experience and I was so happy I was able to attend the festival with Makenna.

Just as I was beginning to think we were having a mild winter, with many days having an average temperature in the high 40’s, low 50’s, the snow hit us again.  Makenna was so excited and said “C’est Noël!” (it’s Christmas!), and I had to explain that unfortunately snow doesn’t mean it’s Christmas and that it’s just cold.  Thankfully I didn’t have to drive… but walking on sidewalks with a small travel stroller especially when there are dips everywhere for driveways, with snow blowing in my face, was not easy either.  It looks like the cold is going to stay for a few weeks so I hope March will be bringing warmer weather!