Sunday, June 14, 2009

Joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie


As you know, I don't post a lot of personal pictures on this blog. But I did want to celebrate my eldest's 18th birthday with you.

Today is the big day, but we started the festivities yesterday evening with a mini family celebration -- having a drink at a lovely new wine bar/restaurant that is located right behind the Rodez cathedral.

The eighteenth birthday is a big deal here in France. There is no concept of "sweet sixteen," and 18 is the year when kids officially become "majeurs," or adults, and can do about anything -- vote, drive, and work without restrictions.

It also often corresponds to the year kids take the Baccalaureate exam, and this is the case for my daughter. That's also why her major fête d'anniversaire won't be until July the 3rd. There's just too much studying to do for now!

16 comments:

Lesley said...

Lovely photograph. How wonderful to be eighteen. Happy Birthday and bon courage for the bac!

Anonymous said...

Extend our happy birthday wishes to C. I imagine the time has gone by unimaginably quickly for you....

Nadege said...

Happy birthday to your daughter! I bet she can't wait to be finished with school and move on maybe to a University? You guys look great and very happy.

Alison said...

What Lesley said, and also, she looks just like you!

Betty Carlson said...

Alison -- Someone once called her "une photocopie." I thought that was a strange way of putting it. I wish I had her curly hair.But I'm taller, na-na-na-na-na-na!

To all -- thanks for the comments so far. At the moment, she is...studying, of course!

TJ said...

you guys are beautiful! et oui, elle est une photocopie de toi. joyeux anniversaire!

La Framéricaine said...

Congratulations to you and your lovely daughter on 18 healthy, happy years to be celebrated! For your eldest child to be achieving this milestone must be somewhat startling for you!

I hope that her exams go very well indeed!

Betty Carlson said...

Fram -- A bit startling, yes, but happy too. I have loved the teenage years and since she is staying in Rodez next year for university, we're going to have more time together.

Anonymous said...

You are both lovely. Happy Birthday and good luck on the BAC!
Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Dear Charlotte and Betty,

Having known you both very, very well for a total of 68 years (almost 50 + 18) I can truly say You are both beautiful and wonderful. We are so looking forward to seeing you both this summer in Olympia. I guess I can't sign my real name because I am not up on that--here is a hint-I have a darling black kitty named, Schwarzie!!

Much love and see you soon, mes enfants.

Randal Graves said...

A toast and hopefully she'll roll on her bac!

Jann said...

I loved seeing you both together in this post~she is a gorgeous young lady, like her mom! Hope it was a great celebration.

Jennifer said...

What a gorgeous photo of you two!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

What a lovely photo! You are both so pretty!
Happy birthday to her!

Tinsie said...

Happy 18th birthday to your daughter! She looks so much like you, but I guess you know that :-)

Katie Zeller said...

Happy 18th (belated) and good luck on the bac - both to your daughter!