Our House

Our container came last Wednesday, so we're all moved in!  I have to say, I'm regretting not taking the time to organize before the movers packed up our house in SC because we have stuff everywhere. 

I love our new house!  We've definitely got some work to do (painting, removing wallpaper, that kind of thing) but the location is awesome--right across from a beautiful park, a 10 min walk to school, 2 min from the Williams family who we're crazy about, and maybe 20 steps away from this crepe truck.

The only downside of the house is what the French call "the cave"-- similar to an unfinished basement in America but darker, less open, and with little narrow hallways that lead to rooms that have doors that go to other little creepy rooms that I'm too freaked out to go in.  Terrifying.  Totally not an issue if it was just storage space, but unfortunately the washer and dryer hookups are down there.  Not good.  

I'm seriously considering trying to pull up a you tube video that will show Baylor where to put the soap in a European washer and sending him down there with his tennis racket.  He'll do almost anything if I pay him in twizzlers and he hasn't seen the movie Prisoner, so he has an advantage.

Other than the cave, we really like our house, enjoy the town and love all the sweet families we've met so far!

Mistral Gagnat

Right around the corner from Massillon, is Mistral Gagnant--the cutest candy store!  We're starting a Friday tradition of stopping by on our walk home from school.

We've started working on our house.  Today, Ethan painted over the yellow entry hall in white.  Check out the ladder he was using.  Scary!

....and this is what my little worker bees did when I told them to start peeling wallpaper in Baylor's room.  Standing on the mantle.  No bueno.

How many adults does it take to figure out Bay's homework?

More than two, evidently!

Around Town

This week the big sales started in France.  I don't entirely understand how this works, but it sounds like the government allows the stores in France to hold two big sales a year--one in January and one in the summer.  The first week, things may be 30% off, the second week 50%....and the price continues to fall for about 4 weeks (I think?).  Not a bad time to arrive!

After school we went inside the black cathedral so the kids could look around.  It's beautiful!

And we squeezed in a ride on the Ferris wheel because I was scared it would get taken down before they had a chance to ride.

Our view from the top.  Not sure I'll be doing that again, but glad the kids enjoyed themselves :)

I think we found an apartment!

...and of course I forgot my camera today.  Duh.  

Done.

The floor of Intermarche is probably not the best place for a nap.  

A half day of Moyenne Section must be exhausting!

God's Kindness

I am one relieved mom!  

I'll admit that when I walked up tp the school and saw how many kids were running wild through the courtyard, I briefly considered grabbing my babies and heading home.

But I'm so glad I didn't because their first day was great!  It was the best feeling to see them running toward me at lunch with big smiles on their faces.

Kennedy wanted to tell her teacher "Au Revoir" before leaving, so I stood with Baylor and Emory while she ran up to Madame Arnaud.  When Madame Arnaud saw her, she held Ken's little face in her hands, and gave her a big kiss on the cheek and a hug.  

I so needed to see that.  It was the reassurance I'd been looking for--that my kids will be valued and nurtured while they're there.

They're in good hands.