Going on a Hike

It is really beautiful here in France and last weekend we found 2 great little hiking areas.  It is the perfect activity to do with rambunctious boys.  They loved running, collecting sticks and rocks then throwing said sticks and rocks and climbing and jumping off whatever they could.  We had a great time too the trees are changing so the scenery was so gorgeous.

Bonne Journée

Thanksgiving Abroad

The task of making Thanksgiving here initially seemed overwhelming and it really was!  I made many trips to the store and had a friend help me with some of my translations, she was a great help.  I couldn't find canned pumpkin so I made my own, which really wasn't hard just time consuming but I think it was worth it because the pie was delicious.  I planned my week accordingly and Derek was in charge of the turkey!

Making a Pumpkin Pie

Start with a pumpkin

Then gut it

Cook it

Puree it

Then make a pie but after all that I forgot to take a picture of one!

The Food

Ben had school on Thursday but he came home for lunch so I made the boys "turkey sandwiches," and we had pizza for dinner.  Not very traditional but we had some great family time and we got to skype both of our families.

We celebrated traditional Thanksgiving on Sunday with two families and had a great meal.

Our turkey, we also had stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes,

cranberry sauce, green beans, pumpkin pie and apple pie

They are gobbling like turkeys!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Bonne Journée 

How Life has Changed Part II

The Weather
It is now fall but most days don't seem like it, we did have a few weeks that seemed very rainy and dreary.  Today is very sunny 68 degrees Fahrenheit and I took the kids to the park.  I love the weather don't get me wrong but it feels wrong for the weather to be so nice when I am so used to freezing this time of year.  I am just going to enjoy it and stop feeling sad for the fall I'm missing in the states!

Bread
I read on the internet that 9 out of 10 French people buy fresh bread daily.  Fresh bread is a big deal and it is very delicious.  I myself don't buy ours daily but I am going to make an effort to buy more fresh bread in the future, it is so worth it.

Wine
Oh the wine!  I don't know what else to say about it except that its good.  We also need to try the Champagne, after all we are in France.

Cheese
I don't know much about cheese and just recently ventured to the very intimidating cheese section at the store and I had no idea what to buy so I just picked a few.   Some of my favorites so far are the Camembert, Gouda, Saint Albray and  P'tit Basque.  The boys love cheese too except Derek isn't as crazy about it as we are.

Bonne journée

How Life has Changed Part I

I have wanted to do this post for a long time but was a little overwhelmed thinking about all the changes in our life so I decided this will be a several part series.

 
This is two loads of Laundry, no dryer so I hang it on these racks and put them outside.  This actually doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would.  I do about 2 loads every other day to stay on track.

We buy our milk and eggs off the shelf, we refrigerate our milk as needed and the eggs stay out.

Our bathroom with no sink, more common here than I thought.

 

Our master bath with no toilet. These 2 bathrooms are not near each other. We do have one normal one!

Also apparently I have 2 lego ninjas living in  my house!!  They love to play in the garage and ride bikes in here on rainy days.


Bonne Journée
Gina

Oh What a Wednesday

I have a new addiction that is Pinterest!  If you don't know what it is you should check it out.  I have been getting lots of fun crafty ideas from it and my kids love projects.  Today we made rocket packs!  They wore them all afternoon and we even went on a bike ride around the neighborhood with them on.  Yes we are those crazy Americans!

Hot Chocolate and Chicken

We just recently bought Dylan a new bike because his tricycle couldn't make the trip with us to France.  He loves it, I think it makes him feel like a big kid.  He goes on bike rides now with Derek and Ben and he loves being included.  We also have a sidewalk that runs all around our house so the boys enjoy riding on it.  Dylan loves to play like he is leaving to go to the store or work, he gives me my hugs and kisses at tells me good bye "Au revoir."  I usually have him pick up some milk at the store but today he went to get "hot chocolate and chicken!"

The boys behind our house

Bonne Journée
Gina

Vacation to La Palmyre Atlantique

We had a wonderful holiday here in France over the weekend.  We headed to the Atlantic coast and stayed at a Club Med hotel which was very helpful with children to have everything at the hotel.  We spent the weekend swimming, biking, eating, and enjoying quality family time.

  

 Boys enjoying a bike ride

 A big inflatable park with small rides, the kids had so much fun!

Love this picture of Daddy helping Ben.  He really enjoyed learning archery.

My little loves!

My happy family!

My favorite quotes from the kids:

"Cotton candy, it's my favorite candy, I love that soft furry stuff" -Benjamin

"Dad roll up the window I'm freezing-hot" -Dylan

Bonne Journée

Gina

First day of School

Today was Benjamin's first day of school here in France and I have to admit I have been pretty nervous about it.  Not only is he starting Kindergarden (which he shouldn't be old enough to do) but he is starting at a French school.  His teacher and the director of the school speak very little english but are both very nice and helpful.  We had a translator with us the day we met with the director to make sure we had everything done for him to begin school and to answer the many questions we had, this was very helpful.  We also have a part-time nanny who speaks very good english who came with us today to pick him up, we wanted to make sure he had a good day and the teacher said he did well and that Ben was not shy!  He met a girl in his class from the UK who also spoke english, he was very excited about that!

The top 5 reasons Ben liked school today:

1. No nap!

2. He got his own desk, pencils and markers.

3. His friend Jenna.

4. He had 3 recesses.

5. He got to eat lunch at school.

                                                   All ready to go!

                                            Had to get one of all 3 of them!

                                               This one is my favorite!

Bon Journée 

Gina

Sorry Folks

I am sad to announce that the monkey surfing outfit is going into retirement at our house.  No Landon hasn't grown out of it but I'm convinced he hates it!  Everytime he wears it he has a blowout.  The other day I put it on him knowing he already had his one poop of the day but sure enough he had more, out the back and out the leg holes.  Sorry if thats too much info for you but I sure do think it's funny and I think Landon does too!  My friend Melissa better watch out this outfit is coming to her!

What I'm Currently in Love with

My little Angels!  This was taken on the 4th of July when we were visiting Wichita.

I love:

When I tell Dylan I love him he says "ok."
Whenever Landon sees himself in the mirror he smiles.
Watching Ben pop wheelies on his bike (kinda scary.)
My Husband and Family of course!

Boxes

We have been in France for a little over a month and we have yet to throw away a moving box!  Our stuff made it's way over the ocean in 5 really big boxes and we have done some pretty creative things with them and the boxes are my kids favorite toys so far, they play with them everyday coming up with something new. 

A Fruit Stand

A Bedroom

He had to have one too

A toy box, no need for a fancy one

We also had a hot-wheel ramp but that became something else today!

Bonne Journée

Gina