Rue Rice

Proud Momma

2012-02-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

Cheers!

Check ups

2012-01-31T01:47:00.000-08:00

When this guy needs a check up,

we have to drive through here:

Twelve lanes of traffic and no rules will wake you up better than any cup of coffee.
Period.

If Pretty is driving I rely on these:
.
I also call upon those angels to keep my cool when I'm at the American Hospital from time to time.
Know what the Hospital does not have in the bathrooms?
Changing tables.
Only in the pediatric offices.
If you venture to another wing, say to visit a OB/GYN, who delivers babies, you indeed will find no changing tables in the bathroom.
The cleaning man watches me as I enter the bathroom with Nolan. He watches me come back out. I ask him where the nearest bathroom with changing tables can be found. In French he let's me know there are none.
Hum.
So he takes me to the doctor's office next to the bathroom who then informs me it is forbidden to change babies in the waiting room, for security reasons. WTF? Will it spoil one of the designer handbags that are plentiful in there? I have purse envy every time I'm there and I have a great purse! If I weren't a chicken I would take pictures. So, thankfully the good doctor let me change him on her exam table. Only in France, do you find a hospital with no changing tables in the bathroom!!
By the way, WTF in Paris means Welcome To France. I don't know who made it up, but it is perfect for just about everyday use!
Cheers.

In the car

2012-01-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

This is the number one played song in our car.

Also, I just found out Jaylee does not know who Elvis is.
We googled him and she said, "oh...EL-VEES."
Cheers.

The truth hurts a bit

2012-01-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

Jaylee and I went out shopping today. She has out grown just about everything! On our way out she had a lot on her mind:
"Mom, you were a lot more beautiful in the hospital. You didn't have those purple bags under your eyes. But, I was happy that you came home because I missed your food."
What I wanted to say, but didn't:
"The hospital has drugs and night nurses."
She wasn't finished with me.
When we got home, I said we could have a snack, a healthy snack, because we could all stand to drop of few pounds since the holidays.
Her interpretation of that:
"Well, you have the most to lose."
Thank you.
Was she done? Nope.
We went out again in the afternoon and walking down the street, she had this to say:
"You know you have those purple bags under your eyes today?"
So, there you have it. I may cook and bake well, but apparently I look like hell;-)
You know those birthing pictures of women who look fresh and perfectly put together during and after child birth? Well, I have never been that girl. Giving birth hurts until you get the drugs and apparently my daughter thinks that is when I look my best.

Because I looked like this for a day or so.
Just that my hair got worse, because in France when you nurse a child, they feel you should get more drugs. I didn't want to be rude and say no.

Cheers.

To make you smile

2012-01-16T01:14:00.000-08:00

I follow a blog called preschool daze. When you read it you feel like the world is a happier place.
Last year at this time we had just changed schools and the kids learned about Martin Luther King for the first time at school. In the words of Jaylee:
"I learned about a King today, his name sounds like milk".
That still makes me giggle.
Today she got up and declared, "It's Martin Luther King Day!"
So in his honor, here is a cute video set to the perfect song from Preschool Daze.

Other things that make me smile these days,

How much he loves the bath and the smartest baby bath tub ever invented.

Our walk home from dropping the kids off at school.

At two months old he is the best sleeping baby that I have had. Sleeps through the night in his own bed! I have told the kids he is the official favorite.

Cookies made with Nestle Chocolate Chips from the USA. Yum. Plus, please note the very cute measuring cups in the background. A treat from my mom.

Happy Monday.
Cheers!

December and all her glory

2012-01-01T04:32:00.000-08:00

I will get back on track I promise.
Our fourth quarter is BUSY. Every week and weekend brought school shows, ballet shows, birthday parties (ours and others to attend), Christmas and oh yes, add a newborn to that mix who needs to feed every two hours, I am thankful for January.I am ready to enjoy my little man.I did manage to send out Christmas cards. LATE. Let me explain.
First year ever to take photos so early.
I was going to be prepared this year.
Go to specialty paper store to buy paper. Because Super Target would be to easy in this country.
Buy the ridiculously priced cards as well as bribery gifts for the kids to stay calm in the store.
Take the card to the printer.
Printer breaks.
They have to call Xerox.
Xerox is in no hurry.
Christmas Eve get a call that they are ready.
What's the point? But, I'm this far in.
They did give us extra prints, new cards because the printer ate the other ones and were extremely nice about the whole ordeal.
Hit the post office.
Guy completely annoyed with the amount of stamps I am requesting. Sends me to the machine, with my newborn strapped to my chest.
I can't wait until that machine takes his job.
Not nice, but true.
The cost of sending out the very late Christmas card/we've moved/baby annoucement.
It hurt.
And who knows if they will really get to you because this IS Paris after all.

There is a back side as well, but since it has our address, I'll skip that;-)
For now, here is December in all her glory in pictures.More explanation to come later, but for now just know that no ideas are my own and I owe all creativity to Pinterest and other blogs. Plus keep in mind, most birthday food was prepared while holding a newborn to my breast. I am the queen of one handed sleepy projects!I love that my mother is here. I love that Brandon's grandfather is here.Christmas in Paris proved wonderful. I did not have high hopes, but she proved me wrong.We are thankful and ready for 2012.Cheers!

One Month

2011-12-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

One month ago we were still deciding on names.For the record Aidan wanted him to be named Dolphin.Cheers

7 going on 18

2011-12-06T06:09:00.001-08:00

Jaylee is about to turn 18, er I mean 8.
A peek into our lives with this little woman:

"Mom, I have to move on". Excuse me? "I'm moving on from Hannah Montana, I'm going to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry". I thought leaving the princess stage was bad.
She is still very aware of time, so I was trying to lighten the mood around the house before leaving for school with some stories of what we were "going" to be doing in the near future. "MOM, I'm in the present, NOT the future!" Help me now.
There is a lot of talk about evolution around here right now thanks to school. I asked her thoughts on evolution versus creation. She had this to say, "Maybe Jesus was a Monkey first". My dead grandmother just did a somersault.
Her take on diaper changing, "Oh, I'm not doing that, my husband can do it". What if he's at work? "Then I'll get the NouNou to do it". In France a NouNou is the nanny, we don't have one.

Cheers

November in a nutshell

2011-11-30T13:10:00.001-08:00

I knew life would change with three kids.
I now know why people with three young kids are never on facebook.
You do everything with one hand and after so many typo's it's just not worth the effort.
I'm not giving up this blog, because let's face it I don't have time to keep any baby/children books.
Thank heavens for Instagram or there may have been no photos taken this month.
Bundle of cuteness.I turned 37. There is something so wrong about having grey hairs, fine lines (I will not call them wrinkles around my eyes yet), and a newborn. Now add bags under the eyes as well.My mom took us out to celebrate.Starbucks invented candy in a cup and I'm hooked. Cranberry Mocha. YUM.Someone became a USA citizen. Boo, to the American Embassy, for not allowing photos.We celebrated Thanksgiving a few days late, complete with a kids table, a la Pinterest.My family coined the new Cranberry sauce, "Cranberry Crack". We carried on the tradition of having hot coco around the kids tiny tree, however, Memaw was here this time so that made it even better.Party season has begun and someone just can't ever seem to stay awake afterwards.I'm off to do the same.Cheers.

An Introduction

2011-11-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

A very excited brother and sister would like you to meet someone.

Their little brother Nolan.

Cheers

While we wait

2011-11-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Baby number three is not exactly past due date, but when you've been told you will have him within days and then don't, well you start to get a bit anxious.
During this Party, I was 60% effaced and having contractions.
Then somehow I went to 0%.
Yes, 0%!?
So, dear baby #3, what we've been doing to pass the time:

Planted bulbs. We are exciting like that.

These two can't figure out why we have to wait for two things now.

Memaw came.

She started to work her magic immediately.

I love this man. He cannot do household chores. Love him. Not handy, he knows it.
She is handy.

We carved pumpkins a day late. But they didn't mind, because we are used to waiting for things these days. Seems your brother doesn't like to get dirty. Your sister had NO problem with it.

Your brother, took a face plant. One of these days, he is going to learn to break his fall.

Memaw and I took in a few sights of Paris thinking it would help you arrive a bit quicker. It didn't work. But it was beautiful.

Can anyone name that bridge?
It's my favorite in Paris and that was my first time to walk across it.

Can anyone name the bridge that is covered in locks? I'll give you a hint, it's not this one. This couple just felt the need to break the law and attach it to the statue versus the bridge.

I'm drawn to boobs on statues. Sorry.

There is a lot of corn depicted on this bridge. I looked up the symbolism. Anyone know the answer without looking?

My inner bossiness came out when I tried to tell my mother how to take a picture. She got witty and took a picture of me telling her how to take a picture.

Anyone know this doorway? It's free to enter and if you're pregnant they will have you go through another door because they don't want you to go through the metal detector. Made me like the nice little man at the door.

A hint as to what this place is called. This is a view from the gardens and it houses art as well. The first painting in this post is housed here as well.

We crossed the street to treat ourselves. Yes, I had a few sips of that bubbly and no it didn't make you come out, neither did all the walking. We, and I mean myself, baby #3 and mom, also shared an XXL Millefeuille at Lenotre. Yum.

Then it was time to head back across the bridge for school pick up.
I'm pretty sure it's the prettiest walk to school anyone can have.
Cheers.
ps-per norm, there are no prizes for your answers, I just like to see how smart you are and I love reading your responses;-)

Eyebrow raising topic. Not really.

2011-11-02T01:24:00.000-07:00

I've waited for a visual like this for a while.
If you don't know, before we moved to Paris I was an Esthetician.
Everyone always wants to know if I "look" at peoples skin when I'm talking to them.
NOPE.
But, I do look at brows.
Are yours the shape of a comma? The McDonald's arch?
You can do better. Not pretty.
Put down the tweezers!

They will fill in.
For me, these are a bit too far apart, in picture #5 I usually measure from the small indent on the nose, they are using the edge of the nose.
But, nonetheless, this is a great guide.
I found the picture on Pinterest, but if you want the direct link, click HERE.
As a side note, before I was an Esthetician I had HORRIBLE brows.
Another fun fact, my first couple of months at my first job, I gave the worst brow waxes.
And people paid for it.
One of the girls I worked with filled me in on how bad mine were and asked if I wanted help.
I of course said yes.
Cheers.

Delayed

2011-10-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

Since my #3 has decided to delay his entry, I will share one of the best cookie recipes I have ever made.I found it on Pinterest of course and it comes from Better Homes and Gardens.I warn you, I ate four in one day, while the kids were at school. I would have eaten more, but they were the last four.
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs (I used the ground flax seed egg replacement for these)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 15 ounce can pumpkin (If you are in Paris, go to Picard and get frozen pumpkin, works like a charm and it's cheap!)
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat 2 cups butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.
2. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are set. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.
3. In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar until melted and smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Spread frosting on cookies. If desired, sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Makes about 60 cookies.

They are good, really good, and not because I'm fat and pregnant good, but really good.
Note, if you are fat and pregnant, they will give you heartburn, but it will be worth it.
Honestly, water gives me heartburn at this point, so eat the cookies, they taste better than water.
Cheers.

Pumpkin Love

2011-10-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Jaylee is our photographer. Not bad, huh? I got the inspiration from Pinterest. She has a blog. It is on my "picture inspiration" board. Our photographer picked herself a pumpkin.She said, "It's just lovely". She also found this. She and Aidan are certain that is ladybug poop.Cheers.

Lots of Cheers and a BOO!

2011-10-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

Batman sizes up Spiderman.Batman decides there is no hurry, they should both finish their suckers.In the meantime, my "little pumpkin" is still cooking in there!Let me just say cheers to roomy classrooms filled with light, space and art work!This does not happen at every school in Paris.Making learning fun!Not to mention edible science and fun.Halloween Bingo was fun as she called out the words in English and then translating to French and hearing the little ones repeat it.BOO! To little girls growing up and not wanting to go dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood! Let's just call this costume I'm really mad at my mother, so I'll go in all black with false rotten teeth.Cheers.

To be fair...

2011-10-18T01:03:00.000-07:00

A side view of the belly for everyone
That was 36 weeks.
Today I am 37 weeks, 21 days to go.
I don't think I will make 21 more days.
Did you know cribs are not the same size here as in the states?
There is no mattress in our crib.
Must order one today.
Car seat?
Nope.
Baby Bjorn, to strap little one to the front of me, for metro and bus rides.
Nope.
Today I must set up a changing station in the house.
The third kid just sneaks up on you.
I ordered nursing tank tops and now I can't find them!?*%
I HAVE signed up for diaper and wipe delivery through amazon.
Cheap and efficient.
Yes, there are people who make their own wipes and use cloth diapers.
I'm not one of them.
At the moment we are using paper plates too, because I can't be bothered with dishes.
Much to do.
Cheers.

Celebrate 5!

2011-10-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

I love parties.
Alot.
Pinterest is a new addiction.
Every idea that you see here I pinned.
I think you can find me under RueRice or Peggy Rice.
The best part about this party, Aidan loved it!
He hugged his cake before I frosted it.
Cute.

Easy. For Jaylee's party I can change the words to JOY, for a Christmas theme.Note to self, kids don't like mint flavored mentos. I love their honesty and faces when they bit the eyes!These were a hit. Hot dogs wrapped in skinny pieces of pie crust. One kid said, "My hot dogs are bigger at my house and my house is bigger too". We should have carried a recorder.They had to throw apples into the mouth of a pumpkin. There were some future baseball players there. Jaylee's forehead took a direct shot! For the record, egg free cakes are not fluffy. The good news, Aidan loved it. The bad news, not many of his friends did.Large cakes are not easy to cut. No one ever shows that on the internet. Homemade chocolate whipped cream frosting is slippery. Very slippery.Easy and fun.Fun twist on a classic.Brandon tries to manage the apple throwing.This is my biggest pregnancy craving. The party just gave me an excuse to buy in bulk!Subway art makes me happy.This is Matt Black, aka the coolest science teacher/entertainer you wish you had growing up! My science teacher was not fun or cool.In Paris, kids generally open presents after their friends leave. We broke the rules. He loved it. I'm claustrophobic. I got a bit over obsessive about getting rid of the paper, it was my way of focusing on something else. Jaylee is very aware of my quirks, look at that face! Brandon knows me well. I should have been up there taking the photos.
One little boy came up and said, "I'm leaving. Do you have a present for me?"
Why yes, yes, I do. He and his sister have been playing ever since. Making sound effects for every toy. Now they are passed out.
Happy Birthday little man!
Cheers.

Prep work

2011-10-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Aidan's birthday party is this weekend.
I used to pull all nighters getting ready for these parties.
Birthday parties in the States are always Saturday afternoon.
If you work at a Spa, Saturday is a crazy busy day.
I would work in the morning after the all nighter then dash home and pick up rented tables, string outdoor lights, dress said tables in a panic...
I don't miss those days.

I have a helper now.

I even have an official taster.

There are five layers of individually wrapped birthday cake in my freezer right now.
I'm too old and fat to pull an all nighter.
Plus, I'm pretty sure this is my way of avoiding packing my bag for the hospital. Who has five pairs of "presentable" pajamas, meaning not your husbands boxers, to pack for a five night hospital stay? Apparently, the ladies of Paris get pretty dressed up for the occasion of staying at the American Hospital. I'm in trouble.
Cheers.

Big fat belly

2011-10-11T02:36:00.000-07:00

"Mom, you can go on my sortie (field trip) moms are allowed". No, thanks Aidan, mommy is a little tired."Oh, you think they will make fun of your big fat belly?".28 days to go...

Paris Days

2011-10-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Some days this city's charm is lost on me.
Today was not one of those days.
You don't find covered passage shops like this in every town.

Strip malls are ugly.

I can't afford one pair of shoes in this store, but I love the inspiration that looking through the windows brings.That is one sexy shoe. Fun. Right?Then we went down to this little place that is so cool that they put the forecast on the menu. It is a breakfast/brunch type place.I had eggs and bacon, fresh squeezed orange juice, homemade bread and a coffee. Should have taken a photo of the eggs and bacon, but the pregnant girl in me couldn't wait. But I did get the coffee. This city is amazing with presentation. My girlfriend had this.No need to read the book about how Parisian women stay skinny.Portion size. My meal was not much bigger, but I left completely satisfied. Cheers!

Around here

2011-10-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

It seems homework never ends.

Aidan can't stand being left out, so I got him a "workbook" as well.
Scary how quickly they can pick things up.

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
It seems I use the internet for everything.

We went on a marriage retreat with our church.

This picture was on the door to our room when we got there.
I loved the simplicity of our wedding day.
Why is it that we work so hard to maintain every aspect of our day to day lives, but expect a marriage just miraculously survive without any work?

I love date night with this guy.

I'm also so thankful that our kids were able to be a part of the weekend. They had free time to just be kids and enjoy the open space, plus the most amazing couple from Australia came to lead every kid activity you can possibly imagine. Thank you Chris and Liz, the kids can't stop talking about you!
I prayed that Brandon's last business trip would be cancelled.

I didn't mean to send him to the hospital.
The doctor told us the shoes in Paris are "merde", prescribed 6 antibiotics a day and sent us on our way. We are still trying to figure out just how expensive, those shoes turned out to be!
Needless to say, my prayer worked, that foot is still swollen and he is sleeping on the couch as I type.
Cheers.

Les Cactus

2011-09-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Oh, I'm a lazy blogger these days.Homework takes up a lot of our time after school.When I do homework with Jaylee it makes me miss wine.
Ever see a man try to put something together without reading the instructions?
That would be my daughter when doing homework.
I let her do it.
Then I make her erase it and do it right.
That never goes well.
One day she will learn to read the instructions first.
Or not.
~~She~~ we had to memorize a song this week.
We play it over and over.
I wish we had to memorize this one:
Love me some Mika.
Not loving me some Jacques Dutronc.
Cheers.

Education

2011-09-23T02:49:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend posted these TED talks by Ken Robinson on Facebook.To say that I love them is not a strong enough word. Jaylee came home from school yesterday talking about a game "heads up seven up". I had never heard of it. But apparently you lay your head down with your thumb up and you have to guess who has just pushed your thumb down. I giggled and knew she had done well, because the girl has a sense of smell like you cannot imagine. She describes people by their soap, parfum, breath (good or bad), she told me one lady at school smells like she has mint leaves in her mouth all day. She gives me in depth descriptions of how the new girl eats with her mouth open and she can hear it and smell it (she is not happy about this). However, I was wrong, she knew who had touched her hand by the warmth of the touch. She said the girl's hand was hot, so she knew it was "xxxx" because earlier she had touched her and her hand was hot. Our kids are not all the same and this world would be such a boring place if they were. These videos bring perspective to education. I particularly, love the second one and his view on "interviewing" kindergartners. It will make you laugh. If you have put your child through this process it will make you laugh even harder. Peer pressure is strong in Paris.Even though I didn't succumb to smoking in junior high school, the "park ex-pat moms" were way to powerful for me. I caved. When I dropped her off at her interview I told her it was a play group. When I picked her up she had this to say, "There were no toys and they didn't let me draw on the chalkboard".When Brandon and I had our parent interview, Mr. Rice somehow flipped the interview and started to interview her. To say he was not sold would be the understatement of the year.We didn't get in;-) I would have him at any dinner party. Actually, I would prefer him over half of the people I have had over for dinner at our place! Cheers

Bits from the week

2011-09-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

I can't take it anymore. This art work has been at Versailles for a while now. I looked it up and yes I get it, but I don't like it. Do you?Now on to this one:It symbolizes keeping a back stabbing friend to close. Shouldn't the snake be taking a bite of her derriere? In France rainy days are referred to as fete de l'escargot. Now that is cute, snakes sucking on breasts, not so cute.Last French factoid of the day, I promise. Babies are born in the cabbage patch, not delivered by the stork. Mon petite chou is now 33 weeks old and a cabbage patch delivery or stork drop off doesn't sound bad at this point. I also dropped in Le Bon Marche to browse the baby department. Made me want to rob La Banque. We have had the pleasure of spending the last three days with my cousin and her husband. They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary while here. I was their flower girl. Funny thing is I can't recall any memories of just Laura, it has always been Laura and David. They are my role models on raising kids and so much more. Plus Laura is the maker of the famous Pumpkin Muffins. If you've made that recipe then you know she is a genius and I'm pretty sure it's part of the recipe to a happy marriage. Love you guys!

Gifts from 1951

2011-09-13T04:55:00.000-07:00

A fabulous motherA great swim coachA safe place to catch our breath and find comfortA Memaw that buys cool water soakers while mom is awaySomeone who plays a mean game of "who did that?"A good cuddlerSomeone to laugh withHappy Birthday Memaw!!!Cheers

That can't be right

2011-09-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

While we were on vacation someone got their ears pierced.To say she was content is an understatement.When I was little I was not "allowed" to do this until 10 or 12 and even at that my aunt took me and just did it.My mom was not allowed EVER and did it once she was away with her cousin.I think it's funny how times change and opinions change of what one can and cannot do at certain ages.Certainly these decisions are cultural and they have roots in what denomination your family was or is.
When we were on vacation my mom noticed that our kids always questioned what we said:
"are you sure", "how do you know", "I don't believe that is so".
I think it has something to do with them seeing us as parents trying to figure out day to day life in an environment, culture and language that is not our own.
We are NOT sure of our every decision and they KNOW that. For the most part I'm okay with that. Except I don't get say, "because, MOM says so", nearly as often as I would like.
Because if I did they would have to see me eat crow WAY more often than I would like!
So therefore, a common answer from mom goes something like this, "I'm not sure, but we will find out".
If you cringe at that, I get it. But, go ahead and try living abroad for a bit and let's see if you don't change a bit as well.
Just opening the mail, going to the grocery store, receiving emails and performing your day to day activities in a language you are not 100% fluent in is tasking. Let's not forget when I first moved here I couldn't even count to ten in the language! So, to say the kids have doubts would be an understatement.Yesterday, Jaylee sealed it in stone at church that she is not afraid to state her opinion.
Rachel, my friend and her Sunday school teacher told me they were watching a video on how the Bible was written. Jaylee's take on this video:
"I don't think so, that can't be right".
Which struck me many ways:

I didn't question anything about the church or the bible until I was in University, and even at that I felt "guilty" over having questions. I love that she questions things. I think it's healthy. It shows she is forming her own opinions and that is exactly what I want for her. To me, our job as parents is to give them a foundation and let them take it from there. Even if it takes my breath away for a minute.
This child will not be walked on when she gets older.
She is so matter of fact/literal that her dad and I just have to stand back sometimes and let her see that perhaps she should "rethink" some things. Rachel asked her to draw some hands on the clock and she literally drew a hand, complete with all five fingers in the middle of the clock;-)

I love these crazy kids.

Cheers.

Sunshine

2011-09-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

The computer is back!Thank you Apple Store at The Louvre.I'm thinking the Apple Store should take all of its employee's and spread them around Paris and please sprinkle an extra dose at The American Hospital of Paris, and the world would be a better place.Instead of spreading my negative Nancy mood, I'm going to show you how beautiful France can be.My mom and I drove with the kids down to the South. AMAZING.Fields everywhere. I ignored the "lady in the dash" and turned down random roads, just so that I could get a closer look.I'm dreaming of country house one day so that I can wake up to this view.Cheers.

Garlic and Bikini awards

2011-08-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

In college I didn't get a tramp stamp on my back.
I also never entered a wet T-shirt contest that I can remember.
I do however remember dragging a much surprised Brandon into a kissing contest. To the best of both of our memories we lost that one.
Who knew I would finally win a bikini award in my 30's and sober at that!

And, much along the same lines, Peggy at Rue Rice announces her… Unexpected Break Time Over.

Now, Peggy was going to share the Everyone Seems To be Having Babies These Days Award with Liene but…

After many hours of discussion…

And more that a few glasses of Ricard emptied…

The male element of the A Taste of Garlic International Judging Committee decided…

To create a new and special award just for her!

Peggy, it is my great honour to be able to award to you, the very first….

Bestest Pregnant Girlie in a Bikini Photo of the Week Award!

Congratulations Peggy and it was so nice to see…

That you didn’t succumb to the latest horrible fashion….

And that you chose to wear brown Flip-Flops rather than Pink ones!

Yep, I'm cool like that;)
Thank you A taste of Garlic, you made me laugh out loud when I read that!
Cheers!

Crickets

2011-08-29T01:50:00.000-07:00

So, I take a two week vacation and now you don't comment. Hmmm.
Lucky for you the computer and all my photos are at the Apple store for a week. In the meantime you get randomness.
1. Adjusting back to the city is not much fun. If it's true that God can read our thoughts, I'm in BIG trouble.
2. Why are city people so wierd? Is it them or does the city make them that way?
3. If you see a pregnant woman standing on the metro, get your lazy, self absorbed self out of the seat. Did their nanny's teach them no manners or are they that self in titled?
4. I'm nesting like crazy and can't stop baking. 100 days of real food. Go check it out. Aidan's not loving it, Jaylee is.
5. I watched a Nightline show where the woman has been pregnant for something like 22 years. She has 18 kids (plus a two miscarriages) yes they are friends of the Dugger family. I had to go to the bathroom 3 times last night. Every time I got up I thought about her. She is either a saint or she's insane? But I'm telling you, she looked happy and not crazy! Perhaps I'm just bitchy?

There, now go forth and answer a few of these questions, except for the one about me being bitchy.

Cheers.

Unexpected break time over

2011-08-26T00:21:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I went all Euro and took a two week vacation.

Or perhaps I went all Euro "trash" and took a two week vacation in a bikini at 7 months pregnant.

Yes, yes, that's what I did. My theory is next vacation I will have a 9 month old child and my stomach will be far from tight, so flaunt the "tight" while I have it is what a I say!
I got to spend a lot of time with this guy.

He thinks I should lay off the beer for a while, I seem to be bloated.
We got to hang out with this cool Memaw and take in a few sights.

We stayed hydrated.

We "popped" over to Italy for some lunch and gelato.

I told you we went all Euro on you.
In my next life I want to come back as Italian. They eat the best, it's almost as if they sing when they speak and they are cool enough to wear a dress that perfectly matches their apartment.

In the meantime, me and my gang will be the token USA tourist minus the white tennis shoes and fanny packs.
Most importantly I celebrated NINE years with this guy.

We dated for SEVEN years before tying the knot. I think I'll keep him around for a while longer, I think it's working out pretty well. Plus he's cute.
I never opened that little number in my lap. I packed it with good intentions, but the pool, ocean, eating and sleeping just seemed to call my name louder.

As you can tell from all those wires, her air port is not working so muy bien, so she has an appointment at the Genius Bar this Sunday. There may be another unexpected break, but then it's back to business as usual.
Cheers.

So simple, SO GOOD

2011-08-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

I made this tonight:

A few words heard while the kids ate:
"Ahhh, it's so good, I don't want to be full!"
"Can we have this again?"...Tomorrow?
With the left over pie crust I made these:

When Jaylee saw the recipe she says, "Aidan, we have had these before at Grandpa's!!!! You know those sweet things with Jelly on the inside and sprinkles on top."
To the USA this magical breakfast food is known as Pop Tarts. For about 6 euros you can get them in Paris. I'm too cheap. Now I'm like super mom;)
Aidan's response:
"We have sprinkles?"
Cheers.

Rewards

2011-07-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm no Tiger Mom, but we are still working on reading and math during the summer.

If I weren't pregnant this process would really drive me to drink, just being honest, but it's needed.

When I finally know exactly what we are dealing with when it comes to learning styles and levels, I will fill you in. For now just know that my quick witted, dry sense of humor daughter is enduring far too much of her mother, flash cards, daily reading and ipad learning games. Oh yes, let's throw in addition songs playing in the background that I downloaded from itunes.

One of our favorite apps is Stack the States.

I heard her playing school in her room and she was calling the "attendance role":

Oklahoma?

Kindle? (where we are reading books, because I can increase the font size dramatically)

Mississippi?

She cracks me up.

Anyway, if one must endure their mother, one must get rewards.

I found this book worm reward game.

We made ours and our first reward was homemade ice cream.
I found the recipe here and it is easy as can be and does not require an ice cream machine.

Yes, little miss fashionista is sporting a skirt as a top.
I choose my battles.
Aidan of course wanted some kind of chart as well, so he is now mastering dressing himself, brushing his own teeth and drum roll please, wiping his own "bum".
I swear he is the only American kid I know who calls it a "bum".
It's riveting around here.

Oddly enough, no person was harmed during the making of this ice cream.

Thank heavens we have mastered hand washing.
Cheers.

Summer sweetness

2011-07-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

A snack at Fountaineblue.

Paris empties out enough that one can get some speed on a bike.

Dad is cool enough to rollerblade while mom warms the bench.

Cheers.

Chez Rice

2011-07-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, you asked and you shall receive.
What it would be like if you came by our house.

You may see a masked dinosaur running up the stairs. Behind him you see a very cool head that I got for 5 euros at a vide grenier. I plan on painting her someday. Let me be honest, I plan on painting just about everything when I'm pregnant. I have no idea why.

If you were a masked dinosaur this would be your view upon entering.
I have no idea what you would call our style. I like old and new mixed together. I can't stand rooms where it looks like someone walked into a store and said, "I'll take this one!". This house is much more "modern" than our other houses, but I think that is due to the city. When you walk in from a bustling city, you want order. You want simplicity and calm. Heavy antiques in this city would depress me, but put them in a country house, I would most likely love them.
Do I love every piece in this living room, no but it works in the budget for now. I keep all my "one day" ideas on Pinterest. All I can say for myself, is generally my taste far exceeds my budget.
If you were a "grown up", this would be your view.

I must explain myself and that rug. I stole it. Technically my sister Patty stole it, but I was totally in agreement. Brandon and I had just bought our first house in Texas and my sister and I walked into my dad's house who had just welcomed his "new" wife and Patty said something along the lines of this, "you need a rug in your living room, let's take this one". It was free, I can be a bit spiteful and I happily obliged. However, if it looked a little something like this, I would be one happy girl right now.

If you came for a meal, we would eat here or outside (I'll show outside on a day when it's not raining).

We pull the table out from the wall and fit a few more chairs round it.
If you just stopped by for a visit, this would be the view from the couch.

And now that I see those cords, they must be moved.
I have quirks. Brandon recently apologized to one of my friends for my quirks and she said, "I know she has quirks, I like people with quirks, they are more interesting". One of the many reasons I like her.
Finally, if you were to want a closer look at the shelves you would see this.
I found that little globe at another vide grenier and Brandon made the blown glass weight.
One of the other squares.

The blue dome vase is from our trip to Holland, made by a local artist and I love it. Brandon picked up the little vase in Egypt and it is safe from little dinosaurs here. The Pisa I of course bought at Pisa and yes, I'm going to paint it. I made the box behind it, from mine and Brandon's very late honeymoon to Italy. The blue painting is a gift from Patty Hescock for our anniversary that she got in Uruguay from a local painter. It is perfect. The shoe molds again from a vide grenier, the seller was crazy and I got them dirt cheap. As for the books, do yourself a favor and get "Keep your mouth shut and wear beige", it was loaned to me and never given back. Perhaps, I should take my own advice and buy my own.
The rest of Chez Rice to come soon.
Cheers.

Aquariums and deliveries

2011-07-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

Paris didn't get the message that it is now summer.
I know the people of Texas are near melting at this point, but I would just take a slice of sunshine.
I kid you not, people are still wearing scarves here.
The poor tourists expecting summer in July can be spotted a mile away sporting shorts and t-shirts.
Buckets of rain and cold temperatures equal house bound kids.
House bound kids equal one irritated momma.
So we braved the rain and headed to the Aquarium of Paris.

This is a popular place for birthdays in Paris, but since they are always drop off birthdays and only Jaylee has attended the parties, Aidan and I had never seen the inside.

When you are 4 and someone let's you stick your hand in a "fish petting pond" your day goes from ho hum to amazing.
The same applies to a 36 years old when the Picard delivery man shows up.

I used to do the same thing when the Schwan's man truck pulled up at our house during the summer too.
However, when there are five kids and each one of those kids has at least three friends over at any given time, I will tell you there are MANY more boxes to be delivered. Not to mention when you live in Texas at least two of the boxes are filled with just ice cream.
Why I can't find ice cream sandwichs in Paris I'll never know.
On a sunnier note, it's 8:00am and my groceries just got delivered.
The kids are still sleeping, I've had my coffee, and I'm still in my Pj's.
There are benefits to city living.
By the time the baby arrives I plan to have just about everything on a delivery schedule.
Cheers.

Outings, books, thoughts and a small transportation rant

2011-07-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

We ventured out to Bois de Vincennes.

Many a friend has visited this park and recommended it. I declined every invitation due to the fact that it was too far away by public transportation and with two young kids by the time you get to the park, walk around the park and then head back home on public transportation everyone is exhausted from the day. I would have dealt with one too many melt downs to actually see the beauty of the park.

We took the car.
I don't care what you read on other Paris blogs, Paris public transportation is good, but buses run at half schedule during the summer. People are hot and sweaty. If deodorant is worn, it does not work like it should. And if you are going to places "outside" of Paris, i.e. you are venturing outside the 7th, 16th, 6th, 3rd and the 1st, take a taxi. Plus, don't drink the Kool-aid, the buses are running at half schedule in those areas as well, I just haven't taken any pictures of it for your viewing pleasure.
Back to the point.
This is what you will find under that first picture, very cool for the kids.

Another added bonus, you can rent boats for 12.20 euro to row around for an hour.

Of course we did it.

Loved it.
Oddly enough there were Peacocks just walking around the park.

These two were stalking a mother with a baby in the stroller having a picnic.
I was nervous. As a child my aunt kept peacocks in her back yard. I made the fatal mistake of running from them. I have a scars on my ear lobe to show what happened when they caught up with me. They are faster than they appear.
But with a zoom lens, they are really pretty.

In other news:
We made THESE.

They were a big hit with Jaylee. I would like them if raspberries were grown without those tiny little seeds.
I read Battle hymn of the tiger mother.
I was interested after this ARTICLE.
I'll give her this much, she has dedication. She makes some good points and some things I would say she is extreme. I would much rather raise kids with some personality and intelligence.
You can have both.
From some of her stories, she herself knows she struggles in the personality department.
I would like to know how the Chinese mothering and marriage work together. In the book her husband does not agree with her style.
Brandon and I fall a bit closer to this.

The whole episode is hilarious.
Finally, last rant, thought of the week. I read this online and I loved the message.
CLICK HERE for inspiration.
Cheers.

Full swing

2011-07-10T02:03:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing here and I seem to be the camp leader.

How people with 5 kids manage to blog everyday during summer, I have no idea, but I wish I had the energy. Actually, I wish I had an ounce of Aidan's energy.
So welcome to this weeks ramble.
We celebrated 4th of July Paris style in the park with lots of Americans.

You can make those pinwheels at Family Fun. That site is filled with great stuff for kids!
Some tourists from Chicago came by and borrowed them for a photo too.
We've gone camping.

But sadly, we did not stay in one of those. The "family" wanted to go "real"camping.

That trunk, he didn't pack. My thoughts on "real" camping, "If you don't own a pocket knife, you shouldn't go camping".
I brought my Fiskars.
Half way through packing I was so irritated that the only food that was packed was marshmallows and cookies. If I was camping at 5 months pregnant, we would be eating at the restaurant.

The kids did not share my irritation.
The pool was very cool, it was cleaned by a natural plant system, it was like swimming in a river.
There was a fine layer of moss at the bottom, that made it very interesting.
The best part about camping is always the friends we make. The dads were talked into wagon races.

But, camping must come to an end.

Funny thing is the "real" camper was not around for break down. The pregnant mommy was.

I'll give you another hint, "Mr. Camp" didn't pack that either.
Ah, but he always shows up in the nick of time.

We've also hit the farm near Paris.
It is one of my favorite places to go.

Someone is going through a growth spurt, waking up at night in tears with pain in her legs.

I love the flower field at this time of year.
I brought my Fiskars, again.

No, pocket knife required.
Cheers.

Fingers

2011-07-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

He is a bit consumed with what fingers he can "use" right now.
We have settled on this, even though it's backwards and his pinkie.
Cheers.

Friends

2011-06-29T23:31:00.001-07:00

It's funny how we make friends sometimes.
This blog was initially started to keep in touch with family and friends I was leaving back home and to keep a record of this time abroad in our life. Then somehow, from time to time, it turned into my space for public therapy.
It also turned into my little space to rant about the French, which I never intended, because I moved here thinking they were the coolest people on earth.
Silly me.
I would now classify Paris as a love/hate relationship.
Anyway, the blog surprised me.
People who I thought would comment all the time, never do and people I never imagined would comment have become some of my dearest friends.
I too comment on different blogs of women I have never met across the world and oddly enough it feels perfectly normal to me. Sometimes in conversation I call them friends, but have never actually met them.
And sometimes the stars and planets align just right, they travel to Paris and I get the pleasure of meeting them in person!
I love Brandon's simple statement on this:
"It's funny how we make friends these days".
True, but I love it!
I had the pleasure of having a cup of coffee with Angela, from The Painted House a few weeks back.
We met at Cafe Coutume, I had to have a coffee with a heart on top.

The coffee did not disappoint and neither did she.
She was just as chic and down to earth as she is on her blog. I love her sense of style. I have dreams of renting her summer place with all my siblings and their families. I also have dreams of her opening her own design company and coming to work her magic on our house one day. A girl can dream!
It is times like these, when I'm walking down the street after meeting amazing people that I would have never met, that I'm so thankful for this blog.
So, if I haven't mentioned it before, thank you for your comments, thank you for your emails and thank you for your friendship!
Cheers!

Schools out!

2011-06-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

School's out!
Cheers.

Reserved

2011-06-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

In France there are special lines, let's call them priority, for pregnant women, women with small children (don't get crazy, 3 months and younger) and most places would include the elderly in this group.
The lanes are clearly marked, but apparently the people wanting to use them need a sign to let the less than intelligent cashier in on their "status".
Welcome to France:
I finally went to the Carrefour in the 16th that everyone talks about.
It was big, literally 3 isles of yogurt and it was cheaper than the normal crazy prices of Paris.
However, I had been warned of the employees.
@#$%&*@#$%&*@#$%&*
I'm standing in a rather long line when and I see a sign to my left:
FEMME ENCEINTE- that's me, pregnant women
Femme avec jeune enfante (trois mois et moins)-women with young children, 3 months or less
So I precede over.
This is the FIRST time I'm pulling the pregnancy card. Not one person has given up a seat on a bus or a train.
I'm standing there and hear the cashier yelling at me! (This is all done in French, but I'm not typing that way, many a blogger does this, but trust me I lost my "love" of the French language a few years back and even though I don't speak perfectly I get by).
He is asking me if I know this is the priority lane.
Yes.
He screams it again!
I say, "Yes, I'm pregnant!" I point to the sign and then to my belly.
Here's the deal, if I say "enceinte" with the slightest imperfection, it may in fact sound as if I've just said, "I'm bleeding", but regardless, bleeding or pregnant, I would STILL be priority! Plus I said it just fine.
When you're pissed you would be amazed at how much French you can really speak.
A man in the lane over says, "She's pregnant!" I turn to the side to emphasize the belly!

He asks me if I have a "priority card"?
There is a card, that you can ask your doctor for upon first finding out you are pregnant. You can flash it and people are supposed to give you the "right of way" on public transportation and such. In most countries there is a little thing called manners and you don't need a card to ask for common courtesy. Ah, but I am in Paris.
I say, "No, I don't have the card". I turn and point to the belly...again!

I just added the photo again, for the point that I DON'T NEED A CARD, I'm five months pregnant, any idiot can see that!
He does the classic French shrug and that's it, no more eye contact, no excuse me for being an ass, no I'm sorry madame, nothing. Mannerless coward.
But, never you fear he is out to get someone!!!
An old man enters behind me.
Sir!! This is a priority line!
The man answers back with "I'm old".
A lady enters.
Madame!!! This is a priority line!
She let's him have it, to the tune of a little something like this: "I'm 93 years old, I've earned it!" He shuts up.
Another man enters with a stroller.
Sir!!! It's less than three months!!
That man walks away.
Enter another elderly man.
Sir!!! This is a priority line!!
"I'm handicapped!!! "
I swear somebody gave this kid a set of cash register keys and he thinks he is the freaking police of Carrefour.
Now I'm right in front of him...
"This line IS for pregnant women right?"
He answers yes, NO eye contact.
How is it, that this city if filled with assholes who are cowards?
As I finish up, the old man starts messing with him:
"Don't put my beer with hers we don't want her to drink it!", he says smiling at me.
At that moment I loved that elderly man.
He kept me from going postal.
Cheers.

Finishing up

2011-06-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

We are finishing up the school year.
Our Thursdays were busy. Not always my favorite. Winter in this city sucks. It sucks worse in a leotard. But then Spring and Summer come and we see the benefits of sticking with it!

Get in position.

Ready.

Jump.

Stick the landing.

Graduate.
Little Miss graduated to Niveau II.
Next year, she has not one, but two ballet classes a week.

What a difference a great instructor makes!
Cheers.

What's in your purse

2011-06-22T01:54:00.000-07:00

Patty Hescock and her sister came for a visit.
The kids had lots of questions.
"Whose side of the family is Patty from?"
Even though she is from neither side, Brandon and I would take her in a minute.
"Can we show her to our friends at school?"
NO.

Jaylee had an observation that she felt must come out at the dinner table,

"Patty you are loud".

Of course, Patty took it in stride!

It is easy to say, they love her and now they love her sister too.
But she is not without quirks, which makes her all the more lovable.
A little story...
We are sitting at the house one night and the electricity goes out on our side of the street.
As I'm searching for matches I hear,
"I have a head lamp in my purse!"
WHAT? Only Patty.
So sure enough she pulls out a headlamp, from her purse.
I had to ask.
"Patty, WHY do you have a head lamp in your purse?"
"Well, if the lights go out on the metro I don't want to be stuck in the dark."
Patty is wiser than I give her credit for.
Now I will add a headlamp to the new diaper bag.
So, we brushed our teeth by the headlamp.

Cheers!

Activation

2011-06-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

Apparently, after the guy set up my new service he forgot to push ACTIVATE!!!
Also, he gave me the wrong telephone number.
Details.
So, it's fixed.
What's the date?
Whatever, it's done and I'm happy!!!
I owe my neighbor a bottle of champagne, maybe a few.
I have no idea where to start, so I will ramble, it's what I do best.
A while back Brandon brought home some items from China.

I saw them a different way.

Shorty and his buddy Brandon couldn't bare to see it happen.

They were not hand carved wood, they were plaster, made to look like hand carved wood. NO, purses don't get past me either.
Now they hold court in Jaylee's bookshelf among her collections.
Do you have a certain author that you collect for your kids? My cousin got Jaylee started on Tasha Tudor and she loves them!
Of course now, she is into Judy Moody too, but these are classics. Any good summer reading suggestions for kids?
++++++
Baby news.
I've grown and I'm a bit rounder since this photo.

That bump holds a boy, that moves a lot! He either loves or hates cold beverages by his instant moving once I start drinking. I hope it's love, because if not he's going to be one perturbed baby when he comes out.
Cheers.

Grrr

2011-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

My friend Jeremy sent me an email:
"This blog is starting to suck."
So true.
Let's all cross our fingers that when the guy arrives on Tuesday, he actually gets the Internet installed!!
Cheers

Trivia game

2011-05-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

My new neighbors lead tours around Paris for different types of groups and team building experiences. My girlfriend and I got to be their "testers" this past Sunday.
A great way to spend Mother's Day! We took art and architecture quizzes along the way and teamed up to play the above game.

(I was trying to focus on the ball, but missed it. Pregnancy belly does not help in getting close to the ground for photos!)
Anyone know the name of the game?
I visited this place for the first time too.

Who knows what it's called?

Cheers.

Escaliation, really means nothing

2011-05-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Guess what, no phone, no tv, no internet.
No call, no contact from Orange.
Dear Orange,
YOU SUCK and tomorrow my friendly French neighbor is calling you to tell you so and then I'm dropping you.
I feel better now.
Off the top of my head:

We got crazy cool French neighbors yet again and I have no idea how, but I'm really thankful. However, my new property manager and I will go head to head. He wrote me a letter on the proper way to address him when writing him. How about I start with: Dear Schmuck, you realize you are a property manager and not an owner right? That means you are a frustrated 72 year old man that is a lackey for someone else and you should have retired long ago!
I flipped an elderly man off in the store the other day and was proud of myself. I'm not sure where this woman, Sophie Meunier, did her research on the French/American relations thanks to The DSK Scandal, but it was not in Paris!
I'm drinking sweet tea like it's water.
I've discovered vegetarian sushi filled with avocado, cucumbers, mint and rice. Yum.
We have one more month of school and I'm ready for it be finished, so we can sleep in and be lazy.
I have yet to plan a summer vacation and it's driving my husband crazy.
In the next month the kids have 5 birthday parties to attend. I need a new budget, there is no Target in Paris. Also, this means their social calendar has officially trumped mine.
Brandon and I have decided that we will be "real" adults when we buy furniture that comes assembled. He may have IKEA carpal tunnel syndrome.
I very well may be addicted to Angry Birds.
Let's add cherries and watermelon to the list of addiction as well.

Cheers.

Escalation

2011-05-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

I placed an order for Internet, phone and cable at the new house on May 4.
I'm 0 for 3.
The guy actually said, "Houston we have a problem".
He moved my account into "escalation", then said I would get a call, wait for it, day after tomorrow.
I suppose the 20 days prior notice was just not enough time?
Want to hear another one, just for good measure?
I placed an order to transfer a large amount of Euros to the States April 1st.
It finally transferred on May 1.
They said, "It was an internal communication problem".
My girlfriend who can properly speak French asked if this was an April Fool's Day Joke.
Nope, just everyday business in France.
I believe my road to insanity is in "escalation".
Cheers

Demenagement

2011-05-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

You can find the cute sign on Etsy, sorry I don't have time link it, but there are many versions there. The map came free in the mail and I saw different versions of it on Etsy, but I was cheap and made it myself. I sewed lines from Idaho to Reno and Texas to Reno and then sewed our path from there. Who knows how many lines will end up that map, but I'm happy to find out.
We are in the middle of a move (just across town), up to our eyeballs in boxes.
Jaylee is sick as can be. Thank you Murphy's Law.
Today is Brandon's birthday and I didn't even get him a cake or a croissant. Do fresh new boxes count?
Jaylee says he can't turn 36 until he blows out the candles.
So, it looks like he remains 35 for a few more days.

Cheers and Happy Birthday my Love!!

Limits and laughs

2011-05-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not as efficient in this country as I was at home.
Thank heavens I have great friends who come to the rescue when I need help.
Before, if I needed home repairs or movers I could always do negotiations in Spanish or English and the job would be finished, no problem.
Here, I need help.
I have a Tagalog (Filipino) translator, Turkish friend and of course a French friend. Thank God for good friends!!
But sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.
You need to feel like YOU did something for yourself, instead of others always helping you.
So, out of severe frustration, I got one thing checked off my "To Do List".
*******
I go to the store, A LOT! I know all the ladies. I don't even want to know how much I spend on a weekly basis, Brandon would like this number, not me, I know it's a lot.
The magic number for "Livrasion" (delivery) is 50 Euros. You spend 50 Euros, you get Livrasion.
So today I pull my "chariot" (cart) up to the counter and she says, "Livrasion?". Which I say yes.
As I'm loading the cart, no they don't load it for you here, she says something and I look up. She says it again and points to a fresh new sign on the wall:
"75 euros Livrasion", my total is 68.00.
I give a puzzled look, as if to say, "Are you shitting me!? I'm here all the time and I spend a ridiculous amount of money, we can't make one exception?"
She does not respond to my look.
I ask if I can pay for delivery. She gives me a completely dumfounded look accentuated by the world's worst brows I have ever seen and eyes lines in a fresh shade of blue. I ask again. She says, No.
You know the box you were taught to think outside of in the States?
Well, that box is sealed tight here. No one gets out of the box.
I go for it.
Can I take the "chariot" home and then bring it back?
She looks puzzled again.
I swear it's the brows clouding up her thoughts.
The man behind me steps into rescue me or her, I'm not sure who needed it more.
After a moment, she agrees and then says leave a piece of identity.
WTF!?@#$%
Identity?
I see you everyday. I know the delivery guy. He knows my door code.
Can I lock her in the BOX!?
Yes, I leave my identity and my pride at the Franprix.

Dear Chariot maker of France,
Put a bar at the bottom of the cart so one can maneuver over curbs, bumps and elevators. Also, it would help to balance the dang thing so you are not pushing a wonky cart down the sidewalk!
Best,
Peggy
I now know why my guy just pushes the cart down the road and not the sidewalk. It does not roll well on the sidewalk!
Your laugh is not over yet.

That's me smashed in the tiny elevator with the cart. The acrobatics involved in opening the door and getting the cart and myself out of the elevator where worthy of an audience.
Cheers.

Sunday Randomness

2011-05-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

1. For some reason when I look at the computer lately it makes me very sleepy.

2. I just found out yesterday it was Mother's Day today. Do you know what that means? It means I suck as a daughter and my Mother will get no Mother's Day present today. Must fix this ASAP! Sorry Mom, the French celebrate Mother's Day on another day and I have seen no advertisements on a daily basis to remind me!

3. I must pick and order new flooring for the new house tomorrow. Move date is getting close!

4. I saw an old couple on the metro yesterday and the old woman blew her nose and showed the tissue to her husband. I NEVER want to be that woman.

5. Bus 42 makes me really, very strongly dislike the elderly female population of Paris. If you tell my children to shhhh, I will call you a "grumpy, fat old lady" to the side of your face, because you have no backbone to look me in the eye, and I will not feel bad about it. A tip to the fat old lady: If you don't like children who talk at a normal level, do not ride the bus on a Wednesday. After all it is your country and you made the no school on Wednesday rule, not me.

6. I am ready to try a few things from this site.

7. I fall asleep sitting up at night on the couch. I'm officially old.

Cheers.

Giraf-fe

2011-05-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Image from meh.ro

Because of the upcoming move I picked up boxes today from a store whose logo is a Giraffe.
Aidan liked the word. He said it over and over again.
Giraffe, GI-RAF-FE...
Then he focused in on the FE, FU, FU at the end of the word and then simply said:
"I feel a curse word coming up."
Cheers.

It's back to the pousette section

2011-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Even though I loathe the pousette section of the bus, I'm excited about this little one!!! I'm going to brush up on my French curse words, because this one isn't old enough to repeat what mommy says!!
Cheers!!!

Bad Petite Souris

2011-04-28T03:17:00.000-07:00

I got up early this morning, so I could shower, have a little peace before the morning chaos begins.
Bathroom door opens,
"Mom, the money must have fallen under the bed."
What?
"The money from the Petite Souris, it wasn't under my pillow, it must have fallen under the bed."
*%#$@^! I bet you're right, go tell your dad. We will have him lift the mattress.

Cheers.

Loving it

2011-04-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

My favorite flower the pivoine has returned. I specifically went to a market in another area of town because I knew the time was coming when they would reappear. I'm getting old and I don't even care.

Child labor is a beautiful thing.
Cheers.

Easter in the trees

2011-04-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

Open air and trees makes me a happy woman. Yes, I'm highly allergic to all of it, but I don't care. As soon as I see trees I'm happy, I'm certain this is a side effect of city dwelling.

Sleeping in the trees, well that sounded even better to the whole family.

Headed to our treehouse.

Welcome inside. You should have heard the kids reaction. Worth every cent!

It came complete with a seche toilet. That is a dry toilet, with a sack and a bucket of sawdust. Genius. Not smelly at all. Trust me, one of these kids poops a lot, like three times, no smell, none, nada. Bag, paper, and human goods, all turn into compost in six months time. We should ban port o potty's, the stinkiest invention ever made if you ask me and I'm not buying that they dispose of the "crap" properly anyways. Two thumbs up for the seche toilet.

View of the property from the porch. This land complete with chateau has been in the family for 600 years.
They grow rapeseed, which is then turned into Canola Oil or if you are in France you know it at Colza.

If all this view is not enough they will send up cold beer for the hubby.

Breakfast is served too.

Complete with a little chick.

They also got to feed real chicks, bunnies and ducks, thanks to our hosts.

Yes, the Easter Bunny does visit a tree house.

Of course there was a egg hunt and we successfully introduced Cascarones.

If you are ever in France you must visit La Grande Noe. Best family time ever.
Cheers.

Pardon my "French" on this Good Friday

2011-04-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentleman, it's Good Friday and I'm about to do a good bit of cursing. I held back on assaulting an elderly man today, so I feel as if the cursing about to follow will be forgiven for the good behavior I demonstrated in front of the children today.

Welcome to my day.

Walking the isle in my local grocery store with the kids right in front of me, I see an elderly man, about 70+ looking at tuna. He looks up and in English says, "How are you?" I say, "Fine thank you. How are you?" His reply, "I don't care."

I shit you not, it felt like a knife went through my chest, a literal heart pain. Many, many things go through my head as I stop and look him in the eye, but I have children within ear reach and I'm trying my hardest not to raise assholes in a city filled with them. I simply say, "That's not nice" and cowardly walking away he says something in a language I don't understand or recognize. Then in French without any accent but very smug, he was pure French, not a transplant like myself, he says, "I bet you don't understand Afrikaans" (Nope, he was not African) and continues walking away slowly. So in French, I say, "No, I don't understand Afrikaans, BUT, I DO understand French."

It was effortless as it came off my tongue. I was proud.

He turns, gives a surprised smile and the Universal French I still don't give a fuck shoulder shrug and walks off. In my head I said many things after this...

Sadly, this sort of behavior does not even surprise my kids. I'm telling you it's Paris, it's not France. In the North they are nice. In the South they are nice. In Paris they can be downright assholes, but cowardly assholes. That's the thing about them, they have quick tongues and high and mighty thoughts about themselves, but NOTHING to back it up. They can't even look you in the eye when they behave badly.

It gets better, it always does.

On the way home from the store he is walking down our street. I give him a I don't give a shit smirk either and say, "Look kids, it's the grumpy old man from the store." You know what the little SOB says!? "Yes."

This time the kids happily made fun of the way he said Yeeesss. The man from the grocery store who does my deliveries was walking with me pushing the cart down the street and starts laughing. So I tell him the story of what happened in the store and of course it doesn't surprise him at ALL. The best part, he IS African and a "foreigner" like me and totally understood.

While I'm at it, let's talk about the metro today.

A lady boards the train and announces she does not want any money, she just wants to sing on this evening of Good Friday. She not homeless, not dirty, just a happy Christian woman on line 8 singing "OH Happy Day".

This really did not sit well with the woman of my same age across from me. True to Paris style, making no eye contact with anyone she jumps from her seat and pretty much says "Oh fuck, not this". Lady, it is Good Friday! There is a reason behind all of those chocolates in the windows right now in the streets of Paris, plus this three day weekend you are about to enjoy is for a reason as well and it's called JESUS. As the doors open she rants something else, of course not looking at anyone, and then jumps into the next train. Can you say coward?

Paris people, if you're going to be an asshole, be a brave one for crying out loud!!!

Cheers and thank you for this therapy session.

We are off for a weekend of camping in the trees, I swear I will be nicer when I return.

Cascarones

2011-04-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is our third Easter in France. I will say the chocolate is beautiful sometimes almost to beautiful to eat. Another thing I have learned over the years is that the little eggs are always filled with a praline center. Not really my thing. Give me a mini snickers or jelly belly jelly beans and I'm happy. Of course I would never turn down a Cadbury egg either. I found them at the American Store here and I'm hoping they still have them in stock when I get there tomorrow. The point is even though we are in France I still want them to grow up with the same traditions that I did.

No matter what country you're from the story is still the same, Jesus died on the cross and three days later he rose again. The French stop all church bells the Thursday before Good Friday to acknowledge Jesus' death. The tradition was to tell the children that all the bells flew to Rome to see the Pope. On Easter morning the bells ring again to show that Jesus has risen. The parents tell the children that when the chimes returned from Rome they brought the eggs and chocolate with them.

I'm good with this, but in Texas we take those eggs and smash them over each others heads. This tradition of course came from Mexico, but after a bit of research I found it started in Italy. So, without further ado I'm bringing it to France.

Last year I could not find egg dye. This year I found it! They were all German brands and the dying is done with cold water, so it was perfect to let them do it by themselves.

Three minutes and they were done.

Three minutes is a lifetime when you are four.
Jaylee got creative.

While they dried, we cut old magazine pages.

There was more than one conversation on WHY, they had to be so small.
Little Miss Frenchie, had to put them in one at a time.
Kept him busy for maybe three minutes and then left us for his cars.

She found this part to be painfully slow.

Then she found my Japanese tape.

So, all my Texas peeps who just walk straight into HEB and buy them in a nice little pack of twelve, think of us in France doing it old school!! While you're at the the super sized store with large isles I hope you throw in a package a tortillas, reese's peanut butter cups, peeps, jelly beans, starburst and of course the nice little bag of fake grass, that I beg my florist for each year and she every so kindly smiles at the strange American.
Cheers.

* No idea why that is underlined.

Fly away

2011-04-19T09:20:00.001-07:00

"Mom I wish Daddy would take a plane."

Why

"So I can sleep with you!"

-Aidan 4 years old

Catching up

2011-04-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems I took an unexpected vacation. I knew I was going on vacation, but I thought I would blog while on vacation, but nothing about opening the computer seemed appealing to me.

Instead we did a few other things.

A certain little man learned how to ride a bike with no training wheels in just three tries.

We later took a family bike ride where I prayed for a house along the beach someday. I need a house on the water. Let's count this blog as my vision board.

Just as a side note, I would like to know why after so many years no one has invented a comfortable bike seat? My ass still hurts and it's Monday night.
I would also love one of these little guys to house a ton of beach and fishing gear for guests.

Perhaps if the big house in the video is out of the question, how about a cute little one like this?

Minus the lace curtains. Who buys lace curtains? If you have them take them down, quickly, they are not cute. However, if you have adorable blue shutters and a craftsman door, just know that I forgive the lace curtains, but I'm still not loving them.
Of course there were walks on the beach. Mostly to walk off the damage from the nightly meals. The region is known for salted caramels. I spent more at the store than I care to fess is up to. Also, I'm going to need a good dentist soon.

The fun doesn't stop there. As of Monday I will have an open American style kitchen that looks out into my living room with a real wood burning fireplace.

These two no longer will share a room. Yes that is a buzzlightyear helmet that he has worn all day. And no I don't buy that they will stay in their own rooms for one minute.

We are losing an amazing view, exceptional neighbors and most likely the coolest Parisian landlord, but now instead of saying, "It's the grey, ugly, modern building across from the restaurant", I get to say, "the cute little house behind the gate".

Cheers.

April 12

2011-04-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

In just a few days this blog turns 3.

I wrote my first post drinking wine with Brandon laughing over names that we should call the blog, me typing and him saying, "You CAN'T say that!"

Three years later the name stuck and he's still cringing over certain things that I write.

One thing is for sure I am really happy that I kept this up for three years. What a great way for all of us to remember this time in our lives and have all the pictures and stories to take to the therapist one day. It goes without saying that the children will use this blog against me in the teenage years, it won't be until their adult years until after they have had children of their own that they will appreciate it. It's funny how depending on my moods, the blog got more personal than I ever imagined, but I'm glad I wrote it, because if the kids ever do decide to step out of their comfort zone and move to another country they will know it is perfectly normal to cry and then well cry some more. At the end of this journey, and no, I don't know when that will be, I'm hopeful that we will have taught them that it's okay to have Roots and Wings.

Cheers.

Aidan strikes again

2011-04-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

When the sun comes out in Paris you have to go out and enjoy it! I think it's mandatory.

Everyone flocks to outdoor cafes.

Can you believe this is our third spring in Paris?

Next week is our three year anniversary in Paris. Jaylee was 4 and Aidan was 18 months. Crazy, just plain crazy. Just two short years ago we had Aidan in speech therapy because we (okay, I thought) something was wrong with him.

The only problem is that he is cheeky, really, really, cheeky.

Cheers

Beautiful

2011-04-01T01:45:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite page on the web.

I found it on Meg's side bar of links (I should be making the beds and straightening the house, finding a vacation spot for summer, getting ready for the weekend...)

Beautiful and full of inspiring images and quotes.

Simply Good Stuff

Happy Weekend

Cheers

Spectacle #3

2011-03-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

Jaylee did ballet spectacle #3 last night. I'm not going to say she LOVED it, but she certainly didn't hate it. She got to lead her group on to the stage so that made her bossy little self very happy.

She had no want for pictures at all, but she let me take a few before she went in.

No teeth smiles, because that of course would show "happiness".

Their was a hint of a smile on stage.

After the show in the car on the way home I took a few more, to which she responded,

"seriously, mom, in the car too?".

Deep down I tell myself she will thank me one day.

At our church in Texas once there was a sermon on finding what makes your child "tick", I'm not going to say ballet is it, but she has not said an absolute NO for next year.

I'll take what I can get.

Cheers.

Pietons (with an accent over the e)

2011-03-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

If you ride the metro in Paris every morning chances are you will get a Direct Matin.

I always get one just to test my French and get an idea of what is going on in the city/world. I'm no news buff. To tell the truth I found out Elizabeth Taylor died via Facebook and it was confirmed by Direct Matin: "LES BEAUX YEUX D'HOLLYWOOD SE SONT FERMES". Just for grins today, I read most of Direct Matin. Sadly, the one thing I laughed out loud on was the article on the death of elderly pedestrians.

Yes, I laughed out loud.

I'm sick.

So here are the statistics, 43 people died in the streets of Paris in 2010, 78% of those were people over the age of 60.

I gotta tell you, the numbers don't surprise me. When I was younger I thought all elderly were so sweet and nice and my cousin who is a nursing home administrator found this to be very humorous. In short, he said, "Peggy, if they were assholes when they were younger, then they just intensify the older they get". I thought that was the craziest thing I had every heard.

Then I moved to Paris.

Someone forgot to tell the elderly on the streets of Paris that when you are an asshole in your 20's through say 40's you have the agility to back it up, but the older you get, you loss that agility.

Take this for an example:

This girl has not a care in the world that the light is red, she needs something out of her bag and she just crosses. It's as if the world should stop for her. When you're young and cute that may in fact work out for you. But sadly honey, you will get older and if the numbers are right, it's not looking good for you. Also, everyone please note the elderly man crossing as well. Not a care in the world. Just for fun, you should know this cross walk is right off a round about.

Finally, check out the silver hair lady skipping the cross walk all together. Confident and slow.

As for the others, yes they are crossing on red as well. The lady in black at a standstill is unsure of her decision, but trust me, she carried on.

So to stop the "bad behavior" the police are now going to give them a verbalization and a fine of 17 euros. The best part, the police have mobil credit card processing units on them for on the site collection.

Cheers.

Dangerously Easy

2011-03-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

I have blog block.

Today is the first day of Spring and I have no flowers in the house. I will fix that tomorrow!

Have you ever experienced something so good you thought there must be something wrong with it?

We got Apple TV.

The funny part, we went to the Apple store in the Louvre to buy it. How about some of the worlds oldest art and artifacts under one roof and we bypass them all and head to the Apple store. Want to hear the funniest part? As we are headed to Apple the kids and I drop in one of the bookstores and within seconds Aidan is holding his pants saying, "I have to go, I have to go...now..." Clean up on isle 4 please! Like any good mother, I grabbed him and his sister and fled the scene of the crime. Not many kids can say they have peered on the Louvre. Take that Ozzy!

Back to my point.

Apple TV streams purchases from iTunes in mere seconds.

Mr. Rice is already concerned with my complete lack of guilt over my iTunes bill.

This purchase will not help.

I can download Disney episodes for .99 in seconds.

I predict more concern from Mr. Rice in the near future.

Cheers.

Happy Things

2011-03-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

If you've ever visited a French post office it just may send you into a spiraling bad mood.

Yesterday I visited one post office to weigh my item and purchase the correct envelope. The postal worker happily did it, told what I needed and then told me I had to come back tomorrow to buy it, because her computer was down. I swear they just got a computer system last year and they still have the spiral notebook next to the screen.

Next PostOffice I visit the lady behind the counter sells me the envelope, but then directs me to the "Do it yourself" postage machine to buy the stamp and then return to her for the "certified letter" part.

So what that means is:

I buy the envelope, go to a machine buy a stamp that she could have easily sold me, return to her and another line to pay for "recommonde" , where she now places my stamp on the envelope, along with the "recommonde" paperwork and puts it under the counter.

I don't believe the word "efficient" is in the French dictionary.

If you've never received a package from me, this is why.

So, not to end on a bad note, here is the "Happiest Wall in the house" according to Jaylee,

Because when you live in a city one should come home to a "Happy Wall".

Cheers.

Not a toy

2011-03-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

Plastic Bags are not toys for children.

Then here is a little message to Disney, Don't make them so cool and roomy.

Cheers.

Funny little people

2011-03-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Apparently Aidan will one day work for the US Border Patrol.

Or politics?

Perhaps the military?

Whatever he decides I know he will always be prepared. This is what he has hanging from his sisters bunk bed above his. I love the magic wand in the mix!
As for his sister, she is left brain dominated.

I hung this by her bed so that she could see the similarities. For every IR and ER sound she would use the letter U. She took it down and made a few adjustments.
She bombed that test with flying colors.

We took the kids to a "kid friendly" orchestra.
Half way through she leans over and says, "This makes my heart hurt".
Why?
"Because they are all in black".
Cheers.

Don't look

2011-03-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

There is an unspoken rule in Paris and it goes a little something like this -

If a Parisianer does not make eye contact with you, then whatever wrong they have just committed doesn't count.

Want to test the theory?

Rent a car and drive in Paris.

In the States, if you need to change lanes, you put the blinker on and then merge. If there is heavy traffic you may in fact roll down your window, signal that you would like to merge in front of them and then offer a friendly wave of thanks.

However, if you are in Paris, they make no eye contact whatsoever and move over. If they have just cut you off and are now stuck in front of multiple lanes of traffic that can't pass them, including you, they just look straight ahead. Horns blaring they pay no attention, they just look straight ahead. I have never seen grown adults do such in my life! Sometimes I play by the rules (when I'm by myself) and other times I roll down the back window and allow Aidan to wave us in the lane that we need with sister Jaylee throwing a wave of thanks up for good measure.

In the car, this is met with a smile in the rear view mirror, in person the children are looked at as simply an obstacle or a source of distraction as they make their move.

Today after school the kids and I ran into Monoprix, this my friends is NEVER a good time to take children to the store in Paris, but I did it.

At the check out I notice a Granny looking very disgusted at the massive lines as she shuffles from line to line to see who has the least amount of purchases. Please note, there is a line especially for the elderly and handicap, but apparently they find it completely offensive to have a line all to themselves, so they torture the rest of us. There is also a line of 10 or less items, but that's overrated too.

So Granny, most likely 75-79, is shuffling from line to line in her hot pink suede kitten heels complete with back seam sheer black stockings. As she passes me I turn to get a bag and then the next thing I know I look up and kitten heel wearing Granny is in FRONT of my cart! I ask Jaylee if she saw her do it.

Jaylee says, "Yes, mom, but you're not supposed to say that out loud!"

Granny, is not turning and now she is making small talk with the lady in front of her and neither of them are looking at me. I am staring a hole in the back of her head. At this point I push the cart closer to her and mind you Aidan is inside the cart just biting at the bit to unload the goods. She still makes not a flinch to turn around with English yelling, cowboy boot wearing Aidan on her neck.

Now she is at the end of the counter bagging her purchase and smiling at the cashier and making NO eye contact. Not a small wavier of apology or thank you for not calling her out in front of the entire store (reason #181 I wish my French was better, because I would have tapped her on the shoulder and told her it would be my pleasure for her to cut in line and please enjoy the rest of your day, of course all said with a devilish smile).

But, no, nothing was said, just the classic game of, "If I don't look, it doesn't count".

Cheers.

I have a reputation

2011-03-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

Thursdays are my afternoon with Jaylee by myself. She has a lot to say and many questions to ask.

Walking down the street:
"Can I say sucker?"
Well, how are you going to use it in the sentence?
"SUUUUckkkker!!!"
Well, do you know what it means?
"Yeah, like when I want a sucker."
Ahhhh, so I explain that you would say it if you fooled one of your friends and they believed you, then you would call them a sucker.
"Oh, yeah, can I do that!?"
As I continue and start to dive into the conversation about how Pink might not be the best music for her to listen to at this age she interrupts:
"Can we change this CONGREGATION?"
Excuse me?
"I want to talk about something more fun."
Well, then the word would be CONVERSATION.
************************************************
She may also have my problem of saying directly what's on her mind:
A new little girl walked into ballet tonight and as soon as Jaylee sees her she says,
"uh, that new girl is MEAN, there is NOTHING nice about HER!"
**************************************************
Walking home after ballet she says:
"I have a bad REPUTATION on Saturday."
What?
"You are making me do the Spectacle (French for show) and now I have a REPUTATION!"
She is trying to say practice, but the word in French is REPETITION.
I explain the difference, she doesn't seem to see what the big deal is.
**********************************************

Cheers

I can't help myself and yummy muffins

2011-03-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Sadly for Brandon (how I miss calling him Pretty, but it really pisses him off when I do that) there is a Brocante near our house every couple of months.
I always make a loop around to see first and then I go back for my purchase.
However, this time I just had to have certain things.
For example this,
It just spoke to me is all I can say for myself. Do you remember the movie, "The Incredible Mr. Limpet"? For some reason I think this fish looks like him.

The best part, it's a lamp too. I'm telling you, I love it.
Then there is also this,

I can't stand florist vases, but I like unique things like this.
Plus, I see a tea party in my future, even though my little girl likes Pink more than anything else right now.
I bought this little vase a while back at an antique book store for a Euro and I have flowers in it every week. Best Euro I ever spent.

You would have a flower obsession as well if you could by 50 tulips for 10 euros. I love Spring in Paris for that reason alone! I have no idea what I spend in flowers every week, but they make me really happy.

How about those muffins? There is a reason for multiple baked items a week. The heating is OUT. Yes, we've had some sun, but it is still COLD! So I bake like crazy to keep this place warm, since the guy downstairs could give a rip if I'm cold or not, due to his construction. They are completely gutting an apartment on the 2nd floor. I'm all for renovations, but heat is cut on this side of the building all day, the hot water is sporadic at best, if there is not a notice on the door downstairs saying it will be back on by 5:00!! City dwelling. So here is the best pumpkin bread recipe you are ever going to eat. My cousin Laura makes this for me every year, she has increased the loaves to two, because Brandon I fight so much over it. Then, I went and had two kids who apparently share the pumpkin bread love as well, plus lets not forget Gramps who loves it too! So she was kind enough to send me the recipe and now I'm going to spread the love as well.

Cream 3 cups of sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 cup salad oil together
(note to everyone, Laura is a Texas girl and we say, "salad oil" for canola, count that as your Texas lesson today).
Add 4 beaten eggs and 1 can (16oz.) pumpkin
*I substitue 4 tablespoons of ground flax seed blended with 12 tablespoons of water for the eggs. After it sits for a while and becomes thick I add it. Works like a charm. Plus if you're in Paris and don't feel like breaking the bank over pumpkin in a can, go down to Picard and they have fresh pureed pumpkin, nothing added just frozen little nuggets of pumpkin goodness, less than 2 euros. Makes me just about as happy as the flowers!!
Mix together

3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Add these alternately with 2/3 cups water
Pour into two well greased and floured 9x5 loaf pans and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. Or, go to Ikea and get the very cool, mini muffin tins with the way stylish paper liners and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Whichever, you chose, let them stand for 10 minutes.
Now go forth and bake and use this recipe, because it's good! Trust me, Laura is by far the most intelligent person I know (yep, she is a Mensa girl and if you could not tell, that gene skipped this girl!) Damn genetics.
It skipped this girl too, because as I took this picture she said, "Aidan, get on my elbows!"

Cheers!

20 days to go

2011-03-01T03:18:00.000-08:00

It's coming.

There are signs everywhere.

However, I need no signs or calendar, my nose and eyes are the best detecting devises around.

These guys will come out soon.

When you look up in Paris sometimes it's funny what you find.
These little ones are ready for a bit of sunshine and fresh air.

If Aidan ever gets a "buzz" cut I will hurt him.
Oddly enough with the weather change I feel exhausted and yet motivated to cook.
Dinner: A Love Story is my new favorite right now.
Baked Chicken in Creamy Tomato Sauce, was a hit last night.
Cheers.

King Pin

2011-02-26T15:21:00.000-08:00

Ready

Set

Action

Watch it...

Will it.

Admire your work.

Cheers.

I smell something

2011-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

When I see country flags on side bar from places I don't normally see, I try to use my spy skills and figure out where they are coming from.

Thank you Keith!

It seems I got an award! Well, it was really Aidan, but I birthed him so I'm taking credit;-)

This week’s Blog of the Week has been won by Aidan at Rue Rice for Christening our own.

I would like to tell my high school English teacher who gave me an F on a paper (she didn't like my choice of words...) to officially take a hike (actually I want to insert a few curse words here, but I won't).

You can see what he wrote HERE.

He also did a review of the blog HERE a while back and I loved it even if he did call me weird, but in all honesty Brandon completely agrees with him.

Laying in bed after reading the review I asked Brandon if he thought I was weird,

"Yes."

You have to love the man's honesty.

Cheers.

Say Cheese

2011-02-17T12:48:00.000-08:00

It's official, we are getting our family photo taken with Blue Lily Photo!
I LOVE family photos.

The day of the photo always seems to kick my ass, but when it's done, I'm sooo glad we did it. I love looking at how far Brandon and I have come from when we first met in 1995.
Ours will be done in the evening, in the countryside of France. I can't wait!!!!
I really wanted Paris and I envisioned buses, metro, cross walks, me flipping the elderly off, you know the usual, but Jaylee's Pony Camp was rescheduled so you won't see me flipping the bird to any of the elderly Frenchies this year on the Christmas card.

Maybe next year.
Now the planning begins, clothes for the entire family. The only thing I know for certain is that I'm thinking about wearing heels.
Last week she asked me:
"Were you chic back in the days?"
Excuse me?
"Were you chic?"
What are you talking about, am I not chic now?
"NO".
Thanks. Why do want to know if I was chic...in the days?
"Because I saw your high heels in the closet".
There is so much wrong with this conversation I don't even know where to start! First off, she assumes "my day" has been had. That is a bit depressing. Second, just because I don't wear heels and red lipstick on a daily basis I'm not chic! I gave up the standard American Track suit when I moved here for crying out loud!!!

So, like it or not, her "pas chic" mother is going to take a picture with her;-)

Just to make myself feel better, this mom makes good Valentine breakfast and I'm crafty.

No, I did not come up with those Valentine's myself. Like a good little blog stalker, I found them here. Jaylee's, can be found here. The kids coming out of school with mustaches and lips was priceless!

Cheers.

A Valentine to Italy

2011-02-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Mr. Rice!

We missed you at our heart pancake breakfast!

Untitled from Peggy Rice on Vimeo.

Cheers.

Stupid with love or hormones?

2011-02-11T02:25:00.000-08:00

I know this month I'm supposed to be talking about love.

But, then I checked Yahoo.

For the LOVE of Pete!!!!

Stepping on soap box.

Gentlemen if you are over the age of say 25 or not Adam Levine, we don't want to see pictures of you half naked.
At this point in your life we are not looking at your muscles, we are looking at your retirement account. Regardless of what you may have heard from your buddies who are dating young girls. Got any broke ass buddies with hot young chicks on their arms? Nope, you don't. Notice a pattern?
Also, please do not fool yourself, if you find yourself in the dating market, please make sure you are NOT married, your wife WILL find out.
Finally, if you don't understand how social media works, as in putting your job title on Facebook, DON'T use it! Everyone Googles. Even stupid people know how to Google.
Finally, Craigslist is for used items that people are trying to get rid of, at least you got that part right.

Stepping down from soap box.

Cheers.

Christening our own

2011-02-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

Every night Aidan prays for a car.

Every night.

Shallow, yes, but he started when he was three.

However, thanks to Aidan's persistence and Brandon's hard work, we got ONE!!

In true Rice fashion we took it for a drive to the country.

Jaylee warned us, we did not listen, I thought she was being dramatic.

How many kids can say they threw up in front of the Palace of Versailles?

As for her brothers thoughts on the whole thing?

He couldn't be bothered.

Cheers.

What are you doing today?

2011-02-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

Brandon asks this question often. I think it annoys him that I can't get more accomplished in a day. When you start your days like this, the rest of the day you just tend to say forget it!
First item of the day:
Make an exchange at BHV...(this whole exchange takes place in French, except for a small portion when a lady tries her best after she sees I am lost)
Hello, I would like to make an exchange, where should I go?

What's wrong with it?

It doesn't work.
He points just behind me.
I stand in line and read the signs. This is the repair shop of BHV. I leave and try again.

Okay, go to the department where you bought it.

I go upstairs and approach the "caisse".
I would like to exchange this machine for this machine.

Oh, you need to go to the "caisse" at the other side of this floor.

Okay.
Wait, in another line.
Hello, I would like to exchange this...

Oh, you need to go to the section that you bought it and get an exchange reciept from the sales person and then bring it to me.

I approach a group of sales people, five to be precise. State my case one more time.
Salesman says,

"Go to the Russian woman over there".

WTF?
The only experience I have with Russian woman has to do with girls younger than me with lots of makeup and big boobs who my dad marries and none of these woman meet that criteria. So I walk up to this group of women, three to be precise and drive the point home of I have NO idea how the BHV makes a PROFIT, and place my faulty popcorn maker on their ironing board demonstartion and state my case yet again!
Apparently, Russians are also older and redheaded.
So, the Russian stops a lady walking by and states my case. The woman looks at her blankly and says,

"Do you have any corn?"

To which she replies,

"NO."

"Then exchange it",

and she walks away.
Mother Mary of Joseph!
We get the paper and then go back to the guy who told me to talk to the Russian, he signs it and off I go back to the "caisse".
Of course, I bought one more expensive, so you would think we would do a simple price adjustment. NOpe. We do a complete return of the other and a brand new transaction of the current one.
Can you see how I get less than motivated?
I went to lunch.
Cheers.

Food love

2011-02-04T01:27:00.000-08:00

I went on a market tour yesterday. Yes, I have been here a while and yes I go to the market often, but it was led by a parisian all in French and I got to spend some time with new and old friends. It was a great way to test my French, hear things pronounced correctly, and learn how a native shops.

The French are firm believers in eating seasonally. I must admit, in the States I did not do this. Here, the prices alone force me to buy seasonally.

It was fun to take my camera and be a "tourist" for the day. I was amazed at how much French I actually understand after three years and yet how when I go to speak I still get hung up on verbs. In my French verbs are optional.

After three years I still love seeing the food arranged just perfectly.

I can't get enough of these.

The seller and the guide had strong feelings on these. DO NOT PEEL, just scrub. Why do we peel them?

These make me miss fall.

I think it's good to see this. Those nice clean little packages in the store come from this. It's good to be reminded sometimes.

These stands are the best.

It is mandatory in France to tell you where your food came from. I also cracked up when I saw this number. When we moved here, Jaylee spent many of day with a writing specialist and I have never seen this one. I had to ask.

That's a 4.

And now, just so you know I'm not going "foody" on you, I have to share this, I it saw on Little Brown Pen.

Happy Friday.

No soy in French chickens;-)
Cheers.

A Kleenex please

2011-02-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

A little slice of our night:

Me: "Aidan, can you bring me a Kleenex please?"

Aidan: "What does that mean?"

Me: "Bring mommy a mouchoir."

Aidan: "Okay."

Cheers.

A month of LOVE

2011-01-31T13:05:00.000-08:00

In honor of February I am going to show you some family loving from the Holidays. I have no idea why it has taken me so long to post Christmas stuff!?
My sister-in-law is awesome.

I'm not even saying that because she is a reader of this little blog!
Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Cheers!

If walls could talk

2011-01-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

We've been inside for a few days.

Jaylee had a cold that got immediately followed up by a case of "gastro", which is French for diarrhea stomach bug.

Which I must say, I like it much better than what I used it call it, "the trots".

Ah, the French are Chic.

Since I'm a lazy mom and didn't feel like fighting the metro with a "gastro" kid in tow, Aidan got to stay home as well.

Let's just say we have had a LOT of together time and I pretty sure itunes wants to know if we every stop watching movies.

She was angry at her brother and I.

Since they were not fighting I cleaned out my closet.

This gave her plenty of time to grow her list.

Cheers.

Perfection

2011-01-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

I was about to go to bed. I thought I would mindlessly check the internet for 10 minutes, no blogging tonight, just sleep, start fresh tomorrow. Sick kiddo at home today, never got out of my pi's. Ate too many oreos and watched Freaky Friday over and over again.

But, I stumbled upon this blog, which took me to flicker, where I stumbled up this little photo,

Ice breaker tags.

Perfection.

Cheers.

off the top of my head

2011-01-24T02:53:00.000-08:00

I am loving this song. Can't get it out of my head.

The kids love it too. To hear them say, "pantie snatcher" is just wrong, but it still makes me laugh.
Our friends are starting a church and we attended on Sunday. It's a small group so it feels like bible study and sadly for Brandon that small of a setting makes me feel like I can say whatever is in "my head". Not to mention they are friends, read this blog and I'm friends with them on Facebook, so trust me nothing I say would shock he or his wife.

After we left Brandon said,

"I knew what you were going to say before you would say it. I know you."

On the subject of helping those in need I may have said,

"I don't give money on the streets to homeless people that have highlights in their hair. I know how much highlights cost in Paris!"

He asked if we thought people were innately Good or Bad?

I said bad. Before children I would have said good.
Ever been around a infant who's hungry? Wet? Just simply wants something? They scream their heads off until they get it. You have to slowly teach them NOT to throw themselves on the ground while screaming.
Every heard of the terrible two's? Which is a lie, because it starts at 18 months, it's just that nobody want to scare you too early.
I rest my case at the unmentioned terrifying 3's.
You train them well through these stages then you have a "GOOD" if not, well good luck!
I am including my mothering in this category as well, no judgement here, at least not that I'm going to confess here.

At one point a young woman (college, no kids, she will come up again in this post (count this as foreshadowing)) said that guilt was built in, as in, we were born with it.

I disagree.
Your mother, father, and any Baptist or Catholic you may have encountered in your life introduced you to this fine feeling! Hang out with a two year old, they have no guilt whatsoever over waking you at 2:00am because they crapped themselves and feel like a small snack. None, I promise you.

For some reason I was also moved to confess that I elbowed an elderly man on Metro 1 last Friday. In my defense he did it first. I'm not even Catholic, I just felt like I should share in front of perfect strangers.

Which brings me to my last point. When you move to another country and meet people from the States you are always going to ask two questions or be asked two questions: "Where are you from?" and "How long have you been here?"

The first is just kind of an ice breaker, not that anyone really gives a shit where you're from, but let's say if I know someone in Paris from Texas, I can connect you with them and perhaps the two of you can make a connection and have a great friendship. Or, we could talk about how bad the Cowboys suck. Or how much we miss Mexican food. Something, it's called an icebreaker for a reason. But, when you meet someone at say, I don't know a casual Sunday morning gathering, and they say, "The Dust".

I reply with a "WHAT?".

I omit the dirty look because it is Sunday after all and I've already elbowed an "elderly" earlier in the week.

She replies something like, "You know from the dust we are born..." Oh, so you want to play (not said allowed), and yes I get it, I did have a VERY Baptist grandmother and yes I've read Genesis too and apparently didn't like it nearly as much as you do. But, considering you are flesh and bones and all 20 something I'm going to guess someone did the "deed" and in fact you were born in a hospital (again, not said aloud).

Condescending smile, "Yes, but what STATE were you born?".

I'll confess, I don't even remember what she said, because I quickly followed with "How long have you been in Paris?" and the answer was something like 6 weeks.

At 6 weeks you are still eating crap croissants because your baker doesn't like you enough to give you the really fresh ones and you are still smiling at everyone you see on the streets wandering what in the world is wrong with these people.

If you are an expat with at least a year under your belt, you know exactly what I mean. Because in the expat world if someone doesn't want to tell you where they are from it throws up a giant red flag. One, you're tres cool and subtle and we later find out you're a billionaire, Nobel peace prize winner, daughter in-law to Sarkozy, Saudi royalty, or daughter to one of France's best known author which trust me, it happens. Or two, you turn out to be from multiple States because you are running and hiding from the FBI and just in case that wasn't enough excitement, you thought you would throw in some fun with a girl tres younger than you, only to get busted because girls of this age post pictures to Facebook and like a dumb ass you are friends with your wives friends (because your wife isn't on Facebook, because she IS actually too COOL for Facebook, I'm not too cool for Facebook, I'm addicted) and your new little girlfriend decided to tag you.

So, here's a little tip, answer the ice breaker or it looks like you're covering your DUST!

Okay, since you went through all of that, you deserve this:

Cheers.

A short poem

2011-01-20T04:58:00.000-08:00

My girlfriend posted this poem on her blog and I loved it.

I have many conversations in my head when we go back to the States, mostly around food, but certainly about the newest fashion trends in the States.

He sums up just the way I feel in one of the first few lines: we can do better.

Now if only he would do a poem about the current fashion trend of pajamas as day wear?

Cheers.

Me and 1985

2011-01-19T02:04:00.000-08:00

If you have divorced parents you know very well, that many things get misplaced during the finale of a marriage. But, thankfully sometimes things have a way of making their way back to you. Over Christmas my cousin gave me a box she had found during her move and it was filled with old family movies and my "School Days" book.

The movies were given to my mom and I kept the School Days book.

Jaylee is shocked that I got good grades. I now have proof that mommy is not an idiot. And as my cousin puts it, "Not much has changed in your writing style". *Scroll to the side if you can't see the full frame.

Let me translate for you:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm MAD! Debbie is a brat. She told on me just because I didn't let her hold the kitten. She told Kathern. And I told her don't get a wad in your pannies (panties). And don't throw a hisses (hissy). And to top it off you haven't Written. Eh, so I suddjest (suggest) you best.
Loves Peggy
Send our address.

Apparently I've always had class.

Cheers.

A king

2011-01-14T03:24:00.000-08:00

Jaylee now talks on the way home from school, not about her scores or what her other friends got for a score, but actually talks about her day.

It is so much fun to see her excited.

When she learned about hibernation and migration last week and told me that her teacher dressed up as a bear complete with a suit, I was all smiles. Change is good.

Here is a little glimpse into the walk home yesterday (remember that her days consisted of only 40 minutes of English instruction before, so she takes things very matter of fact when taught in English):

"I learned about a king today. His name sounds like milk, but it's not spelled the same way."

Hmm, was this in French or English class I ask.

"English, it's spelled MLK."

Laughing I say, "Martin Luther King?" and she is completely surprised that I know his name.

"Did you know that he liked to break the rules?"

Yes, but he did it for a reason, not just to break the rules.

"Did you know that black kids and white kids were not allowed at the same schools?"

Yes.

"Why?"

Well, a lot of things have changed and people just didn't know better...followed by much more explanation and I finally ended with, we will get a book!

"Did you know he broke the bus?"

What?

"He broke the bus. He just broke it in half."

Ahh, did you hear the name Rosa Parks today?

"YES!!! That's her, she broke the bus too!"

Cheers!

*Any children's stories on Rosa Parks and MLK would be greatly appreciated!

Learning new things

2011-01-13T04:03:00.000-08:00

Hmm, you can't give a girl 9 comments and then just go to 0 like that, it's really a buzz kill.

But, I forgive you.

I vow a lot of things each year in January, but as you know, my follow through is not grand. However, 2011 seems to be changing my bad habits.

One of the goals of this year is to get the camera off of "auto".

I signed up for a photography class on line and I'm loving it.

I went to the pool with Aidan's class today and I got all their feet while sitting outside of the pool. It didn't have the feeling I was looking for.

I pulled the kids from their previous school and placed them in a new school...my happy, smiled filled children are back!!!! I will dedicate an entire post to why I did it, but for today I'm keeping this post short, because the laundry is going to start attacking if I don't.

When I got home I read my lesson for today.

It's all in the ISO folks.

I adjusted the ISO setting very low, to get the details of what I wanted.

This photo is not edited a bit.

I can say goodbye to "fancy focus" on Picnik, now I'm fancy!!!

I officially want to go back to Holland during the blooming of the tulips and have a "do over".

cheers!

Good to know

2011-01-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

All of your responses to the pajama jeans made me laugh and just confirmed to me why we are friends. However, I must say I did expect a bit of backlash, so if anyone feels like telling me off go ahead, but be warned as you can tell I don't edit myself well.

Jaclyn, your comment made my day! For any reader interested, the Sasquatch who never saw the warm wax coming to her lip never did ask for her money back(insert smile here). I recall the client laying on the bed asking, "Is it that bad?". To which I replied, "No, not if you're a man" and then quickly ripped the hair from her lip before she could protest.

I'm all class, which leads me to my next subject, Costco.

When I walk in I just smell rubber and excess and I like it!

I love the bulk and the fact that in the states you can actually buy "extra" and still have room in your cupboards, however from the food in the "deli" I'm guessing by year end some may need more room in their pants. I kid you not, I saw prepared mashed potatoes with sticks of butter cut in half and firmly inserted into the mash. Multiple sticks of butter. Just go ahead and have a side of that right next to the mammoth size "pot pie". Who plops an enormous pot pie in the middle of the table and says, "dig in!"?

You eat a pot pie, by yourself in front of the TV, when no one is watching.

What did we buy at Costco?

I'll give you a hint, it's red, liquid and there is none left thanks to Mom and Brandon.

However, I think we will smell good for a while.

For the record, I voted for the very comfy mattress topper, but there was no way it was fitting on the plane and it turns out that Costco is closed on New Year's Day.

Before you ask, "Don't they have deodorant and toothpaste in Paris?".

Yes, but where you have an entire isle of selection, we have two or three brands to select from. So for some reason, when Pretty goes to the States, he always thinks we are down to our last stick and I assure him we have plenty and he is certain that we don't. As for the large amount of travel size toothpaste, you would be shocked that for a country with 8 weeks of vacation time, it is nearly impossible to find travel size toothpaste!

Cheers.

Sorry, I have to say it.

2011-01-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, USA, I bag on the French from time to time, so now it's your turn.

I'm not sure when the trend in the States went to Pajamas all day, but I don't like it.

Get dressed!

There is so much WRONG with this commercial I don't even know where to start, so let me just be frank here.

If you own these jeans/pajamas and none of your friends have told you this was a bad idea, they are not really your friends. You may not like me now, but trust me, years from now you will thank me when your ass isn't the size of a small truck, because you never felt the "pinch" or "discomfort" of a "good" pair of jeans. There is a reason your pants get tight, listen to them. When did getting dressed become "uncomfortable" in the states?

Freaking get dressed and you will feel better!

Don't even try to tell me it is too expensive to buy clothes, because I saw more acrylic nails, tinted hair, cell phone talking pajama wearers than I care to mention! If you feel uncomfortable right now, then, yes, I'm talking to you.

Put down the Big Gulp, take off your pj's and get dressed!

Plus, I went to Wal-Mart, Target and TJMaxx so I know you have options.

If I wasn't jet lagged I'm certain I could figure out how to paste photos of the very cute dresses for as low as $8.00 from Target.

You can call this tough love or you may call this the delusional rantings of a sleep deprived woman, call it what you want, but I'm telling you USA peeps, we can do better!

Cheers.

Not for me

2011-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

I would not make a good stewardess for many reasons.

Factoid for you all, my mom was a stewardess, on international flights no less.

Jet lag bites and ranks number one on my list of reasons why I wouldn't cut it as a stewardess.

Cheers

Options

2010-12-29T22:23:00.000-08:00

Jaylee lost tooth number four today.
She has decided to step up her wishes.
She wanted to know how many coins she could get. So, we informed her that you get the currency of the country you lose the tooth in.
She didn't like our answer, so from the back seat we hear:
"Well, can I get a credit card?"
This was met with laughter. She decided another option was called for:
"How about a gift card to TJMaxx?"
There is no doubt she is my daughter.
Cheers.

Slow pace

2010-12-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

The internet connection in the mountains is less than super hero fast.

You have no idea how long it took to upload and edit these two photos.

Back to my daily laziness of dress up, Leapster, drawing, watching my daughter turn Aidan into the best dressed tranny you have ever seen and cocktails.
Cheers.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T10:36:00.000-08:00

I saw this video over at Joy's Hope. We are big DMB fans. We used to go see them every year, when we were cool.
Dave come to Paris, please.
This may be the best Christmas song I have ever heard.
I love the line all soul searchers.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!
Cheers.

Washington DC

2010-12-20T05:21:00.000-08:00

We took the kids to the White House. Oddly, it was smaller than I imagined.

Jaylee wanted to know if the President moved. What? "Sarkozy, did he move houses?"
Hmm.

As we took this picture, there were French protesters in front of the White House, complete with a translator, I don't believe it helped clarify anything for Jaylee.

We can't escape France.
But, we carried on.

Our Nations capital is beautiful. Another fun fact about Washington DC, all the museums are free!

Smithsonian National Air and Space completely kid friendly.

Smithsonian national Museum of Natural History where we let our wild side come out.

Cheers.

This won't end well

2010-12-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

There is a reason we go on a diet every time we leave the USA.
But it sure is good while we are here.
If you find yourself in the area I recommend Bens.
Cheers.

USA Lovin'

2010-12-17T17:13:00.001-08:00

Cheers!

Christmas color

2010-12-15T00:58:00.000-08:00

When we were in Texas I did a tree in each kids room. Nothing was breakable, everything was completely kid friendly. One was very girly, one was all boy.
Now in Paris, I have combined them together. Now there are lego men, playmobil people, Hannah Montana bracelets and cars side by side with each other.
The only rule, is that mom puts the lights on.

We also do an advent calendar, with chocolate of course. Only in Paris, when you get to the counter you find out that two advent calendars will set you back 25 euros.

Yes, there are cheaper versions, but they are not from Jeff de Bruges, and when you live in Paris there is no reason to eat cheap chocolate!
So, yes the chocolate is top notch, but when I saw this tree, I must say, I have tree envy!

Check out her blog, she is a designer and she's amazing!!