Paul's Eighteenth Birthday Celebration

An eighteenth birthday is a big deal anywhere – and especially for Paul Neveu, our French daughter, Estelle’s, son.  Estelle and Laurent decided a big family trip was in order, and Paul really, really wanted to go to London.  His parents explained to him that going to England would have to wait; it was just too expensive a trip.  They would go to Lisbon instead.  Paul was disappointed, but, well, a trip is a trip, so he would make the best of it.  (Meanwhile, Estelle and Laurent started making travel arrangements for a surprise family trip to London.)

Paul's cake

A big celebration with the extended family is pretty standard for kids in Estelle’s family.  That means, in addition to Mom, Dad, and siblings, there are grandparents, great-uncles and great-aunts, aunts and uncles, cousins, and a few friends thrown in for good measure.  Fortunately, Estelle and Laurent have a large yard, and the weather cooperated.

Estelle and Paul discussing the trip and party

Paul had just found out they would actually be going to London, AND getting there by Eurostar!  Big smiles – all around!  The party even included a great video Paul’s best friend put together with highlights of Paul’s life.  It was quite the production and a perfect complement to this BIG birthday.

Setting up the show

But, there were more surprises coming.  Estelle was aware that Anna was also celebrating a BIG birthday, and surprised her with a special dessert and a lovely Swarovski necklace from all the ladies in Estelle’s family.  (This has been quite the birthday celebration year for Anna!)

Anna's surprise

First, the corks were popped from numerous bottles of Champagne, with Estelle's sister Bérengère doing the pouring.  Toasts were drunk to Paul, then to guests, then to family, then...we started eating birthday cakes, and quickly moved on to barbecue and salads and more dessert, with lots of conversation and conviviality for good measure.

These family gatherings are always very enjoyable occasions for all three generations.  It’s a great opportunity for adults to kick back and relax and chat and enjoy to company of aunts, uncles,siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins they don’t see every day. And, it’s great fun to watch the younger cousins playing together with whichever aunt or uncle is handy helping out when needed.  There is lots of space to race around, play tag, and play hide-and-seek (cache-cache in France) at Estelle and Laurent’s.  These younger cousins range in age from infants to, well, 18-year-old Paul.

Estelle and Laurent's yard - a great place for conversation and fun

We were all having such a good time that time flew past. This became an issue because we take the metro and then a bus to get to Estelle and Laurent’s.  It’s really a pretty easy trip, normally.  But, by now it was nearly midnight the buses had stopped running, and Laurent had to hurriedly drive us to the metro station before the trains stopped running (a little after midnight).  It was then that we were treated to a very impressive electrical storm and torrential downpour.  By the time we walked from our metro stop to our apartment, we were totally drenched.  But, it was nice of the storm to wait until the party was breaking up!