Going Away

i miss the christmas lights in paris!

but..so far 2013 has been great.

i started an exercise/eating plan 

at the start of the month

and i've stuck with it

and feel terrific.

when we moved here 6 months ago..

i ate everything! 

mostly bread.

man, i love my bread and cheese.

moving to paris is like

going off to college...

beware of  the freshman 15!

so this weekend 

i'm going away.

ALL.ALONE!

i'm taking the train from

paris to london

and could not be more excited!

it's a quick trip and i'm torn

between relaxing and reading

and spa treatments..

and cramming all kinds of sights

and shopping in.

i've been to london years ago

and didn't get to see the 

victoria and albert museum.

so that's a must.

if you had a weekend to yourself

in a big city

what would you do?

"i hate pa-wis"

yesterday was not a 

good day with this little guy.

after our morning routine..

we headed out for a walk.

it was the coldest day of 

the year here in paris.

but we were bundled up

and i will admit,

it felt good to be out walking

in the cold.

we walked through the 7th..

winding in and out of 

the residential boulevards.

after bribing the g-man 

with yet another eiffel tower

i asked if he'd like to go

to a cafe for some hot chocolate.

fine, he said.

like i was putting him out in some way.

:)

we find a cute cafe with 

heated outdoor seats and a perfect 

view of the tower.

we wrangle ourselves in the small entry

find a seat

and he starts screaming.

"i hate pa-wis"

"i want to go home"

i do so hope he starts 

to love pa-wis.

it breaks my heart that he's 

unhappy right now.

so instead we came home

and i finished my stock.

and warmed up with a nice

bowl of soup.

bon weekend!

la baguette

dinner tonight.

i found this recipe on pinterest

and it couldn't be simpler.

it's called 

lazy day sunday casserole.

cut up peppers..

all colors..

onions..

red and/or white

a few small red potatoes

and some carrots.

in a small jar mix

about 1/2 cup of olive oil,

1/2 cup chicken stock

a few garlic gloves..

some herbs..

i had sage and thyme on hand.

pour over veggies and roast in a

425 degree oven..

covered in aluminum foil.

meanwhile..brown some sausages..

when the veggies are done..

cut up the sausages and add to the veggies.

back in the oven for another 1/2 hour..

uncovered.

i served ours with wide noodles 

and a baguette.

of course.

oh the french baguette.

how i love thee.

seriously though..

is there anything more 

quintessential than the french 

baguette?

my experience with the french

baguette has been nothing less

than what you'd think it would be.

and it's not just about eating it.

i feel my "frenchiest"

when walking down 

the street with a baguette

tucked under my arm.

i smile when i see others 

doing the same.

especially children.

on our daily walks,

griffy is sitting in the stroller

munching on a baguette.

if there is any left..

we spread it with 

buerre

hummus

jelly

nutella.

(i grabbed this image off of pinterest.)

we do have a favorite boulangerie.

sometimes we're there twice a day.

and 

about the only french that 

i have mastered is..

"deux baguettes s'il vous plait"

had to add this pic.

griff and i at our favorite cafe today

enjoying a chocolat chaud,

cappucccino, and a croissant.

good day.

:)

Snow Day in Paris

the kids have a snow day today!

it snowed all weekend

and paris looked amazing!

it's been raining for a few hours

so most of it is gone..

but yesterday,

we got out and walked 

and snapped some pics.

after six months of living here..

i still pinch myself.

i am a very lucky girl.

a brave soul skiing 

the steps of trocadero!

Paris Snow and Pizza Night

last night it snowed

here in paris...

and it was the most

beautiful sight.

is there anything more

peaceful than going to sleep

while the snowfalls outside?

the normal bustling and beeping

sounds of paris

turned soft and quiet.

such a wonderful way to drift

off to sleep

i think.

hannah had a few girls sleepover..

and they went out to take pics.

i took one of them from our balcony..

we also resumed our friday night 

pizza night...

i finally found some yeast.

don't ask what i paid for the american croutons.

snow in paris...

is just lovely.

paris weekending

it was a nice weekend.

after steve being gone all 

last week..

we just enjoyed being home 

together.

we watched movies

(my tech savvy kids figured

out how to stream through

the internet and the PSP,

Les Mis!)

it was wonderful.

we are HUGE Les Mis fans 

here

and the movie is not even

opening in Paris until February.

what a treat to see it.

we ate lots of comfort foods

 and slept in.

 sunday,

will and i had a date

to visit the american library in paris.

we hadn't been yet

and now i can see us being 

frequent visitors.

it was nice to catch up on all the 

american magazines/newspapers

and to spend some quality time with 

my will.

fleurs

when steve goes on a trip..

i buy myself flowers.

it's just one of those

things that i've always

done for myself.

flowers make me happy.

:)

City Living

transitioning from our own home

near the beach

with a yard and the freedom

to talk and play as loud as 

you'd like..

to an apartment in the city

 has been challenging.

especially for the younger kids.

when the kids start to get cooped up..

and they do..

i can't just say, 

"go out and play."

 don't get me wrong..

i love the city.

there is so much that i love about

living here.

i love walking everywhere.

i haven't driven a car since august

and i don't miss it.

i love that there is 

always something to do

or somewhere to go.

i love the lights

and the hustle and bustle

of living in a city.

i'm still trying to adjust

to the noisiness of living in

a city.

and not just the noise 

coming from outside.

moving our family of six

to a new country..

piece of cake.

dealing with crazy loud 

neighbors...

not so much.

Top of the Arc

the house is so quiet.

kids back to school today

after nearly 3 weeks off...

and steve off to CA.

sad to see it all end..

but ready for the new year.

we ended our vacation

with a birthday weekend

celebration for steve.

friday night he and i 

dined out at a traditional

french restaurant. 

saturday night the whole family

went to a local chinese food 

restaurant.

we had homemade cards and a 

few presents and cake.

one present,

from hannah..

was a wine glass filled 

with dijon mustard.

steve LOVES  the dijon mustard here.

sunday we walked up the 284 steps

to the top of the arc de triomphe.

it was very overcast

but the views were still magnificent.

sacre' coeur.

looking down the champs elysees

towards the louvre.

notre dame is in the upper right corner.

i just love the rooftops in paris.

heading back down.

another terrific weekend in paris!

Bonne Annee!

we've had my mom here visiting us

from martha's vineyard!

she had never been to paris

and we were blessed with 

beautiful weather.

sunny most days and 50!

we strolled the christmas markets,

rode the ferris wheel,

dined at some wonderful restaurants,

shopped the champs,

walked the jardin de tuileries,

visited the eiffel tower on new years eve.

there was so much more to see!

but, i'm hoping her visit here

was a nice one.

we loved having  you mom!

for christmas,

steve gifted me with a new camera!

i have been having so much

fun taking pictures with it.

i can't wait to learn more..

because i truly have no idea

what i'm doing!

i gave our old nikon d40 to hannah..

as she has shown interest in photography too.

my new one..the nikon d5100 is equipped 

with video..which i'm happy about.

i have NO video of my kids!

he also included the 300mm lens 

which i LOVE!

we are still enjoying time off.

the kids don't go back to school

until monday..steve went back to work today.

happy new year friends!

may this year bring us all

 peace

good health

and happiness.