Birthday fun!

Twinies

Jackson all spun out

Oops

zip line in park

The much anticipated birthday has arrived.  The girls spent their morning eating croissants with Teresa and having a blast.  The boys and I spent the morning getting ready for the "party" Part I.  Teresa brought some princess decor and the place was covered in pink.  We wrapped their presents and Austin even made confetti.  Jackson had prepared his own version of the Happy Birthday song and when they did arrive they were thrilled with their surprise.  When you are 4 you can start off your birthday by opening your presents (who wouldn't really if given a choice.)  

They got sunglasses, crowns, color books, clothes, and all manner of girly things.  We spent the rest of the morning playing and hanging out at home while trying to incorporate some school work into the self proclaimed holiday.  Teresa suggested that we go to the Luxembourg gardens.  The boys did not really want to go to "another castle park" as they put it, but the alternative was to stay at home with Dad and do more school work so they went...sort of willingly.  The park is beautiful.  There was enough shade for us to grab a drink and snack.  We wandered around and found a kids playground.  I was extremely annoyed that you had to pay to go in.  That's the first time we have seen that here and we really only planned on staying a short while as we had plans for the night.  So my suggestion that we pass and move on did not exactly go over well.  I mean what if I did not have the 12 Euros to get in?  That's just mean.  But I will say that the park was amazing.  It had zip lines, spinner things, and all manner of fun.  It was so fun in fact that Hannah forgot she had to go to the bathroom (which you also had to pay for so this serves them right) and she peed in her pants, she's never done this before.  She was crying that she had to go to the bathroom, though obviously she already had.  I took her into a corner of the park and she slowly got her wits about her again.  Then we had the issue of she now had a long shirt but no underwear and no pants. BUT she did have a twin sister who had both.  So I asked Sierra "Your sister had a little accident can she borrow your pants or underwear?"  Sierra's reply "Um, No."  I reminded her that she did not like her underwear and she willingly relinquished them.  By then though the fun was over.  We gathered the troops and made our way back to the metro.  Which was crowded but not as packed as it has been on it in the past.

I have become somewhat of a machine when it comes to the metro.  I know where to go, when to sit, when to stand, that it is worth staying near the door so you can get off if it gets crowded, etc.  It's still crazy though as everyone generally hangs on me and if you have ever stood on a metro you know it can be hard just to keep yourself upright let alone have 4 bodies using you for support.

We made it home and got ready for the "Party" Part II.

The girls were on their second outfit of the day(thanks in small part to Hannah's mishap at the park.)  They looked cute and everyone finally got a bath.  Sometimes getting a bath here can be an issue.  Historically I guess the French have endured some hard times therefore there seems to be no sense of urgency when say the hot water goes out, which has happened here twice.  Or in Teresa's case where there was a notice on the building that said the water would be off for 2 days?!  So getting a bath is sometimes a feat.

Negotiating a snail

Teresa had brought 2 boxes of mac n cheese...it was a hit

Coat rack, or crown rack whatever you got you hang it here.

 Teresa took us out to dinner.  We actually went to the same place we had gone last week with Todd's mom.  It was nice and we even got Teresa to eat a snail.  Todd kept trying to get Austin to do it.  Finally at the promise of Todd to take him to 10 Texas Rangers games (how he would deliver this I don't know) Austin said he would try a snail.  Escargot is basically a snail much like the ones you see in your yard stuffed with butter and garlic and baked or steamed.  Personally they taste no different to me than eating shell fish, I actually like them.  But I totally understand the idea of them being rather hard to swallow.  So Todd takes the snail out of the shell, they look like you'd expect, gross.  It passes Austin's lips (barely) and I see him look like he is gaging.  I give Todd my best if he throws up you are totally on your own look and mercifully the snail falls to the floor.  Austin was of course insisting he could do it if given another shot but I did not want to wreck the evening, and everyone else's.

Dinner was great and then we walked over to the Champs de Mars which is the park by the Eiffel Tower.  We found a clear spot, which was a challenge and set up for the Birthday Part III.  I was a little unsure how to do a cake here.  But Macaroons and Eclairs seemed appropriate and colorful so we had a makeshift but delicious cake.  We sang happy birthday and then the Tower lights sparkled as the finale.  It was a great birthday.  The kids played a little longer in the park, Jackson contemplated going up to complete strangers and asking them for one of their sparklers (he would have done it with the slightest encouragement).  Hannah came running over to tell us that "Sierra had a big stick and poked her eye out."  But she said it with a little too much enthusiasm so I was quite sure that was not the case and it was not.  And we walked home in the dark exhausted and happy.  

We sadly had to say goodbye to Teresa.  We enjoyed having her here and not simply because she baby sat, though that was appreciated.  

Today has become a day of regrouping.  We have some serious laundry to do, which with no dryer takes a good day or two to dry. We also were almost totally out of food so we had to go to the store.  Taking all four has become a lot easier.  The real issue is how to get enough food, but still be able to carry it the 1/2 mile home.  

Sun and fun

Ah summer is here.  There is a mixture of humidity and warmth in the air that is so welcome that we continually have all our windows open to enjoy it.  If that last 2 months have taught us anything it an appreciation for good weather.  The girls and Teresa are having a great time.  They split their time between hanging out at her apartment and playing in parks, etc.  

Yesterday Todd watched the kids so Teresa and i could go visit Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame.  We took the metro to the Latin Quarter and then walked to a small Cafe where got lunch.  It was really fun to see the cathedral which I have wanted to see.  It was built in the 1200's and about 2/3 of the stained glass is still original.  Which considering we break glasses on a daily basis is pretty impressive.  

After we went to the cathedral we walked along the river through some flower sellers.  They have some amazing plants and flowers here.  

We then walked to Notre Dame and walked through it.  I am not sure why but I keep taking people through it going against traffic.  Maybe it's better to  see it that way I don't know.  Last night Teresa was gracious enough to offer to watch the kids again.  She wanted to take them to the Mc Donalds that's near here.  I tried to warn her that it was a zoo but she seemed determined so off they went.  They found it ok and though zoo like I think they all had fun.  Well at least the kids did.  Todd and I just walked around a bit.  We ended up near the Bon Marche where we went into their food store.  We discovered the "American section"  They have almost everything we had been missing while here, peanut butter, syrup, salad dressing, regular "frenchs"(how ironic you can't find it here) mustard, and Dr Pepper. Now had they had Mt. Dew Todd would have been in heaven but it was funny to see all that stuff...not that we have really missed it it's just you start to realize there are several things you just can't get here and there they all were.  We sat at a small outdoor cafe and split an entree.  Eating out here is an experience.  It's very slow. I think that it's offensive here if your waiter hurries you.  So the goal is to be waited on but not rushed.  So there is a lot of sitting and waiting.  I understand why so many french smoke.  At the least it gives you something to do while you wait the 30 minutes to get your bill.  The only good part of that is that here tipping is not done, you can leave a tiny tip but it's not expected.  I really wanted Creme Brûlée but we could not afford the hour that may take.  

It's like a Volvo and a Honda got together and had a kid.

Panic attacks, public bathroom disasters, and Foie Gras.

Overcoming a fear

So with one foul swoop we took Marcia to the Airport to get her on her way home and picked up Teresa who's here for a week to visit.  I think if this experience will give anything to our children it will give them some serious survival and lessons in overcoming fears experiences.  I was blogging during Todd's mom's and the boys trip to the Eiffel tower so I missed most of that experience.  I've been up it before and to be honest I was a little worried about Austin who is afraid of heights.  I knew if I took his sisters up there he'd likely freak out and be consumed with concern over their safety.  What I failed to appreciate was how worried he would be for his own safety.  Apparently when the doors of the elevator opened at the second level where you have to transfer to another elevator he had a full on panic attack.  It took a good 20 minutes to calm him down.  Eventually he gathered his courage and ventured out and up further.  It was great he overcame his fear, he's even asking if we can go there again.  Todd's mom came home a little annoyed with Todd who had her walk all the way home.  All the while telling her they were walking the the metro stop.  He's done this to me and many others.  I once recall when we were hiking and he told me we only had 2 miles to the camp site...3 hours later we were still hiking.  Anyhow, I think she forgives him.  The next morning it just worked out that Marcia's flight left and Teresa's arrived at almost the exact same time.  So Todd took her to the airport and picked up Teresa.  

"Teresa Time"

Teresa rented an apartment(nicer than ours) on our block.  The girls and her are in"Teresa Time" heaven there.  Teresa was a pretty good(jet lag wise)the first day.  We walked to Champs de Mars and the girls played around.  We then went to the grocery store and gathered some more "stuff."  Teresa's landlord also speaks no English.  So once again I was relegated to role of translator in a language I don't speak.  Her landlord was a sweet older man who seemed to be amused with our attempts at communication.  Eventually we succeeded in our exchange and she was set in her temporary home.  

 The next day we got up and went to the farmers market.  The girls and Teresa looked over the jewelry and then we headed over to our local park.  The kids played a while but it was too crowded for Austin to use his plastic baseball bat that we seem to take to the park with us each time we go in the hopes that we can play home run derby.  However, with the weather turning nice the parks are more and more full of people and he does not get why I won't let him hit a ball into a crowd of people.

So after some disappointment we moved onto the Rodin museum.  Teresa had been there before and suggested it.  There is a really nice garden area there that is actually free. We walked around and enjoyed the artwork as well as an ice cream cone.

Jackson practicing his "moves"

Anyone got a napkin?

Teresa and the girls shopping for jewelry.

Summer is here.

Bringing bread home.  There is a bird at the flora shop across the street...we've named him tweetie.

Teresa's street at night

 That night I had told Austin we would head back over to his park to see if the people were gone so that we could go play baseball.  Teresa had kept the girls for the night so it was just us and the boys.  The girls kept telling Todd and I that we could not pick them up.  In fact I had to go over there to give them something and I was met with scowls when the door opened. We asked  the boys what they wanted for dinner.  They of course wanted Mc Donalds..surprise!  So we went there and I was at a minimum grateful I didn't have to cook for once.  The park turned out to be more crowded at 10:00 at night than it was at 2 in the afternoon.  The weather here has done a complete 360.  It is summer here, where as last week it was winter.  Where we were curled up by our heaters we are now sitting with the windows open the breeze blowing in.  I guess when that happens everyone goes to the park.

The Thinkers

Checking out Teresa's house and the girls room.

Funny sign

 So our friend Aaron from Hawaii was in Europe and took a day trip over to Paris to see Todd.  He arrived at our door in the morning and Todd and he went out to the Catacombs.  The kids, Teresa, and I went to the "Cotton Candy" park.  Which to our disappointment had no cotton candy that day.  We ate a small picnic and the plan was to meet Todd and Aaron at the Sacre Coeur later in the afternoon.  Eventually we got a text from Todd saying they were done and headed that way so we packed up the troops and headed to the metro.  On the way we passed one of those self closing, self cleaning toilets.  The boys had to go I went  in and explained how it worked...there's an open door button and close door button, etc.  So in they went but when the door started to close Austin freaked out and pushed it open.  Jackson stayed in to go but what we did not realize was that it was about to clean itself because the door had been opened again.  So the door closes and then Jackson is in there and saying he cannot get out.  THEN there is an alarm going off...then there is screaming from Jackson who for the most part is the calmest coolest member of our family.  Austin and the girls start to freak out on the street.  I am trying my best the talk to Jackson to figure out exactly what's going on and how to get the situation which is quickly becoming a major incident rectified.  I turn and yell at Austin and the girls to quit crying and go over by the park because their freaking out is not helping poor Jackson.  I have no idea what is actually happening in there, I only know there is a lot of spraying water sounds and a screaming 7 year old in there.  So I am trying to pry the door open while trying to get Jackson to use the emergency door open lever I saw when I was in there.  (I am also telling him it's ok and that this is supposed to happen, which seems to calm him down a little.)  Eventually he gets that pulled and the door finally opens.  He is wet from his knees down, soaked and very upset.  After a few moments of group hugging we gather our wits about us again and head home...that was enough adventure for one day.

Wet shoes...poor boy.

So that night Aaron, Todd, and I went out to dinner while Teresa watched ALL the kids, in fact they spent the night at her apartment.  So we went to some authentic french place.  We ate escargot, foie gras, and other French yummies.  We decided to walk back to the Champs de Mars which is filled with people.  It was like a big party.  It was fun to watch the lights sparkle, somehow I ended up in a line dancing to Brazilian music I think and eventually we made it home.  It's funny we have been here 2 months with no company and all our company has come in a 2 week period so it's been really fun to have other people here.  It's also given us an excuse to go see sites.  Today Teresa and I went to the Orsay Museum.  I actually got to take some time to look at the art today rather than paying attention to kids making sure they were not trying to re-hang pictures and set off alarms.  

Teresa came over for dinner and then we made crepes for desert.  The girls went back over to her house to spend the night.  They even have their "own room" there.  Poor kids too bad no one likes them...

Aaron