S Nicols' Day

No, not a holiday you've never heard of, but rather "my" day of the year.  Yesterday, December 14th, was my birthday.  Since it's close to Christmas it's a great time to get a tree and decorate.  So, we popped some champagne, called in our German friend, her son, and Grandpa to join in, and had a fun eve.

Here's a picture diary for you....

The night before Emm and Daddy went to find a tree.  A job well done!

Before...

Mommy and T designing a star for the top.

T is clearly not in a picture taking mood!

And the decorating begins...

Emm showing G-Pa all the fun ornaments.

A Chantilly cake designed just for me by the baker.  He's never made one like this before and
I don't think he's ever come across someone who likes Chantilly like me!!  Ahhh, France!

The top is a burnt sugar piece.  Soooooooooo yummy!

After.
I think they did a super job!

Now, while drinking a cafe from my new fab machine.... J presented me with my B-Day pressie and it's.......a weekend in PARIS!!  So, Saturday we all hop a plane to see Paris in all it's Christmas decorated glory.  Look out for the pics!

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St Nicholas Day...

Ok, a little late in sharing, but on December 6th it was St Nicholas Day and our German friend introduced us to her yearly tradition.  The kids loved it!

Seems the idea is that St Nicholas and his partner the "bad guy" come to deliver a little pressie to all the kids who have been being good as an encouragement and a stick to those who haven't.  Also an encouragement, to change their behavior, I suspect.  Here's a pictorial and a giggling video for you to relive it with us......


The kids clean their shoes, place them outside with their letter to Santa, and wait....

We spent the time decorating a gingerbread house (a bit of a ramshackle house) and telling stories.  

Since gingerbread was the food theme, James told them the story of Hansel and Gretel.  

Then the kids heard a bang, must have been Santa taking off, and ran to see their shoes.

Ahhh, looks like everyone has been good this year...so far.  I just love the magical belief kids have in Santa.  It never would occur to them that Mommy and Daddy had anything to do with the pressie giving.  Let's keep it our secret just a couple more years, this is way too fun.


What a great tradition!  Think we'll make it our yearly addition to the holiday season. :)

Tidbits....

Well, lots of little things have been happening.  So I thought I'd put all the tidbits together for you.  Life in France... 


First, Emm....she became potty trained this week using the Pee Pee Poopy chart.  I found that when she didn't have a diaper on she would use the toilet when she felt the urge.  Figured this meant she was finally ready.  So...after school we (she more specifically) would go au naturel and when she did something in the toilet she got a treat.  


Weeelllllllll, she's VERY treat oriented and thus found that the more she went the more she got.  Sooooo, in order to save her teeth, the chart was made and when she reached the red star she got her treat.  Now, at the end of the week she doesn't even keep track.  Success!

Way to go E!!

Then, I've been itching to try to make a quiche.  So the other night I went for it.  The tomato is my piece, no one else likes toms in their food but me.  Came out great.  I had always had it in my mind that it would be difficult and it's actually a lot easier than I thought.  Not a very exciting thing to share, but it looked so pretty I just had to. :)

Way to go S!

Next, T has really amazed us all with his progress in French.  I was blown away the first time I witnessed him jump back and forth from English to French.  Now he speaks to his friends in French as well as people he meets if they speak to him in French. (even if he knows they speak English too)   

His comprehension is really doing well and he answers in full sentences.  Now, he isn't fluent yet of course, and he doesn't always understand every word of the sentences being said to him (more of an overall gist sometimes) but I'm proud of him for just getting in there and speaking.  I was worried in the beginning that it may make him less extroverted...not our Taylor. :) 

Way to go T!

Rounding out the team, Daddy had his first experience with running out of dishwasher soap and substituting dish soap.  Ooops!  Hahaha... 

Finally, mommy got an early Christmas pressie so she could make her cafe coffee at home.  Love my new machine!!  A DeLonghi by Nespresso.  Makes espresso, cappuchino, and lattes all by the push of a button! (fresh milk, not the powdered in the capsule kind)  Ahhh, I'm so pampered. :) Either that or J is thinking in the long run he'll save money since a cafe cream is about 3-5 euros at the cafes ($4-$6!).


George Clooney is the spokesperson for Nespresso here in France so fingers crossed he'll drop by for coffee one morning. A girl can dream. :)

The team putting together the capsule holder.

Say hello to my new best friend!

And then we end our days with this...

So there you go.  Just because we live in the lovely South of France, life can still be pretty normal.  The views are just better and the champagne cheaper. :)

Sunday by the Sea...

Ahhhh, lazy Sundays.


Spent the morning working on some soup while the kids played and J had his weekly tennis date.  Then, decided the kids needed some outside time before G-Pa came over for dinner.  


So, off to our favorite spot by the sea to throw rocks, search for sea creatures, take some pictures, and climb...

Have no idea what this creature is, but it's facinating.

 I like that the French closed everything on Sunday so you make sure to have family time......

Thanksgiving France style...

Happy T-Day to all!!


Sadly we're not celebrating my favorite holiday today.  The French school system fails to see that my kids should be off today. :)  But, thinking we may move it to Sunday when we have time to cook, nap after eating, and even catch some football on the internet with Sky TV! :)  Now, if I could just import some family....it would be perfect.


With that being said, I returned home today after gathering T from school to find that Santa had come to visit.  He had been shopping at Harrods and thought of us. Seems he wanted to tell the family that we'd been awfully good this year and should celebrate the American (mommy) T-Day with some traditional English (daddy) Christmas goodies.  What a great way to start off the holiday season.  Pass me a mince pie please!!

Mince pies, Cranberry and Orange sauce with Port, Christmas cake, Brandy butter,
Boxing Day chutney, Christmas pudding, and cute little chocolates.

Digging into the mince pies with some brandy butter. 

Yummy!!

Ahhh, back to normal....

Well, the excitement is over.  The sun is out, the seas are calm and the sunbathers and swimmers are back in full swing...

Holy Waves Batman...

So Grandpa says that the moon and sun are in perfect alignment right now so the oceans will be a bit crazy.  WELL, he sure wasn't kidding!!  


Take a look out our windows at what we had in store today..... (not usual for the South of France!)

Now, let me remind you that this is NOT normal for the South of France and that these are the beaches that we swam in just a month or so ago!

For those of you new to this blog, we live in the La Reserve building pictured here getting pelted by the waves.  Luckily, we live on the top floor!

All photos shot by me, not taken from the media coverage. Just in case anyone wants to purchase one or two. :)  ...gotta pay for that pricey French cafe somehow!


Aanywayyyyy, it's still going on and we hope we don't float away overnight.  I'll let you know. :)


Update...we're still here and all is calm again. :)