Footprints in the Sand

Visiting Paradise...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:46:00 +0000

Our time in Santorini was wonderful and I hadn't anticipated all of the things there were to do.

Even after four days on the island there is so much more we wish we could have done. We rented a car - which was the best idea ever. Things on the island are really spread out and this made moving around more practical than waiting for a bus with two kids.

Of course first on our list was the beach! We decided to venture out to the red beach since it is supposed to be extraordinary. I didn't anticipate the hike down the beach, but once we saw the water - it was all so worth it.

The day was warm and the water was cool - perfect for a day at the beach. My boys wasted no time in getting and wading around the cool water. I could have easily spent the rest of our vacation here.

Once it started getting warmer we decided to escape the heat and went to go visit the archeological site just up from the beach - Akrotiri. It is truly amazing the ruins that they have discovered and even crazy to see how well preserved they really are.

One day we also decided to venture out on the caldera. We took a 'pirate' boat out to the volcano - did some hiking and enjoyed a day on the water.

I was a bit nervous since our first boat ride was a little iffy - but we sailed off without incident. They boys decided that it was surely because the first boat was not a pirate boat. Mystery solved.

We took long walks enjoying the Caldera views on the city of Oia at the tip of Santorini. Walking up and down these streets and visiting the tiny shops while you watch the crystal clear waters below is such an amazing experience.

They boys loved exploring the tiny secluded side streets while I absorbed the beauty of the whitewashed buildings with their striking blue domes. Everything I imagined and more.

We even stumbled upon a small playground and they boys took full advantage.

The island had many vineyards scattered around. The grapes and wine used to be a significant source of income for the island. Being a wine lover {at least according to French television} I couldn't miss an opportunity to taste some Greek island wines.

On our last day the boys asked {pleaded} to go back and visit the donkeys. We had a late afternoon flight and I had so many things I wanted to see - but how could I deny my boys the small pleasure of riding a donkey one last time. We hurried off to Fira and rode the donkeys back up the mountain taking in the beautiful sights one last time.

Before heading to the airport we stopped at a small cafe where I enjoyed my last Greek frappe with the Caldera view.

And while the trip went by much to fast, I'm already dreaming about the one day I'll get to go back.

Preparing for Greece....

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:10:00 +0000

I'm a planner by nature -especially right before we leave on a trip.

I like to scour the guidebooks, trip reviews - anything I can get my hands on.

When we decided that we would go to Greece - I read everything I could about our destination.

I knew everything we "needed" to do, things we "should" do and the things that would be "nice" to do.

While I did do a lot of planning I let my romanticized feelings about Greece cast a small shadow over some practical things - like deciding what to wear.

It's not like I didn't know there would be a lot of hiking - but I figured it was going to be hot and well a tourist spot so I kind of downplayed the amount of hiking that would take place.

We tried to pack lightly - so the boys were set with shorts and t-shirts but I packed a dresses - too many dresses, and two pairs of pants. This was my first mistake.

Dresses are my go-to when I travel somewhere warm but when you are hiking up the top of a mountain with those breezes coming up behind you - not a good idea. Let's not even mention the amount of people who were climbing up below me and could see, well everything. What was I thinking??

I also didn't anticipate that we would be hiking over cliffs and mountainous terrain to get to the beach. Secluded - yes. Beautiful - absolutely - practical with flip-flops - not at all.

I had packed cute sandals to go with my dresses - except with all of the hiking I ended up wearing my flats the entire time. Luckily they are a little sporty so it made hiking those slippery rocks a little easier.

Lucky for me, my poor wardrobe choices didn't prevent me from having the best vacation ever. This will also give me more things to plan the next time we decide to venture out on a family vacation.

Linking up with WIWW

Mother's Day a la francais....

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 27 May 2014 11:22:00 +0000

This past Sunday, while everyone was in the midst of celebrating Memorial Day weekend - we were doing something a little more low key - celebrating Mother's Day!

Truth-be-told I started celebrating on Thursday when I received Noah's "present" from daycare.

And while it was for me, I couldn't get him to put it down. He loved playing with the little baby chicks that he so lovingly colored and pasted on the canvas.

The gifts continued when Nathan brought home his 'special' bag for Mother's Day. And in his four year-old innocence he told me that while it looked like the bag on the boat - that he didn't puke in this one. That my friends is love.

I wasn't "allowed" to open the bag until this past Sunday - but he did recite the most precious poem - en francais!

Listening to this kid speak in an another language with a flawless accent always gets to me. It's incredible the things these kids can pick up at this age.

Sunday morning we spent outdoors with the boys riding their bikes while I got in a good run. There is something so refreshing about being out in the sunshine that is just good for the soul, you know?

I was then treated to a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant - where a fellow restaurant patron complimented the behavior of my boys. They are rarely both behaving at the same time, so it was so amazing to receive such a compliment!

Later in the evening I was able to enjoy my wonderful "gifts". Nathan made me a beautiful bag at school, my "sac a tresor" - treasure bag. It is such an amazing little detail with his name and signature. Something to treasure for so many years to come.

He quickly ran to retrieve his lego Pirates and filled my bag with the tiny plastic coins that came along with them. No treasure bag should be without treasure. In this tiny moment my heart was full. It was such an amazing Mother's Day!

Exploring Santorini....

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Thu, 22 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000

We had planned to spend four days in Santorini. We were afraid that we wouldn't have anything to do for such a long period of time on a small island - but in the end we realized that we actually needed more time. Go figure.

Our first half day in Santorini was spent exploring it's capital city of Fira - probably one of the most touristic areas of Santorini with great views of the Caldera.

Walking through the small streets was amazing. Small shops and restaurants wind through the narrow passage ways. Steps everywhere you go to help navigate you further down the rocky cliffs and amazing views at every turn

. We made it to the Old Town Cable Car which descends down the mountain to the Port of Fira to avoid the 1hr plus hike down. Since we were with the boys we definitely thought this was the best option - plus who doesn't want to ride a "flying train". They boys were ecstatic.

Once we got to the port and walked around we saw them. The boys were immediately smitten and we couldn't go anywhere else - you guessed it - the famous Santorini donkeys.

We were allowed to pet them and they were so gentle with the boys. We tried to lure them away to go back to the Cable Car but they weren't budging (neither my boys nor the donkeys) and so the only way to make our way up the hill with our sanity {somewhat} in tact was ride them up (the donkeys not my boys).

It is a 20 minute ride up the hill and I was terrified the entire time. The donkeys go up the stairs, dodging tourists and other obstacles. While the views of the sea are amazing - you begin to realize how far up you truly are and how little control of the animal you truly have. My boys - loved it. They named their donkeys, petted them, sang them songs - love. I think they would have brought them home given the chance. A once in a lifetime experience for sure.

The next morning the owners of the hotel brought us breakfast and served it on our balcony. This view - my heart was full. My small piece of paradise.

The boat to paradise...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 20 May 2014 11:28:00 +0000

While I was enamored with the city of Athens we knew that a vacation across Europe couldn't end with just a visit to one city.

Traveling with the boys we knew that we would need to see a beach and avoid many of the other ruins that involved more strenuous hiking and of course a Greek island was our only choice.

While there are so many different islands to chose from - all with their own unique charm - I have always wanted to see Santorini. In my head I had always imagined the small white houses with the blue roofs off the cliffs of the island.

We decided to take a boat out to Santorini because we thought it would be an adventure - little did we know what we had in store.

By speed boat it's roughly about 5 hours from Athens to Santorini and we booked the first one out in the morning. They boys settled in and they thought it was the greatest thing in the world and for the first 4 hours it was.

The speed boat made many stops at various islands along the way and some people got off while others got on but the boat remained rather empty and the sea was relatively calm - until we hit the island of Naxos (about an hour away from Santorini).

A massive group of people entered the boat and we were suddenly crammed like sardines. Imagine the middle seat of an airplane except with 5 people on either side. It was not pleasant at all. It was also at this point in our journey that the seas became extremely rough. With only about 20 minutes left in our voyage our boys made use of the seasickness bags provided - as did the other 75% of the passengers on board. Fun times I tell you! Since we were so crammed we decided to take the boys to the back in the bathroom to get them washed up and maybe get them some fresh air. While standing in the back holding Nathan the boat began to rock and a woman who was not holding on to anything flew across the boat and broke her leg. It was all rather surreal and we began second guessing our choice of destination.

But we finally arrived in Santorini and all of our second guessing was quickly put to rest.

We got settled into our apartment and walked out on our balcony and saw this:

This amazing view seemed almost unreal.

I was so thankful for what was about to be a small trip to paradise.

Has there ever been a place that has taken your breath away?

A dream came true...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Fri, 16 May 2014 12:28:00 +0000

Growing up I was always fascinated by Greece. Maybe it was learning their mythology, learning about their history and their countless contributions to life as we know it.

I have always wanted to visit but for some reason a trip there always seemed so out of reach.

When deciding where we would go for Spring Break this year I finally got to realize my life long dream of visiting Greece.

I was so nervous doing this kind of trip with the boys. Sure they've visited countless other European countries and cities - Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels - but for some reason I thought this was different.

It wasn't too long ago that our local news was filled with the civil and political unrest in Greece. I kept wondering if this was truly the place I wanted to vacation with my boys.

From the moment we stepped off the plane and arrived in Athens my mind was put to rest.

The people in Athens are amazing. Everyone was so incredibly friendly and welcoming. From our taxi driver, to the staff at our hotel, to the amazing waiter at a restaurant who spent the time playing and talking to my boys. It is a feeling that I haven't felt very often in our travels.

On our first day we hiked up to the Acropolis. It was a gorgeous day - and even in spite of the numerous stairs and the hike up to the top - everyone was happy. There was a lot of dirt and rocks and the ruins of course - my boys were in heaven. The views of Athens from the top were incredible. I can only imagine what it was like centuries ago.

We also saw the changing of the guards and my boys were in complete awe of the soldiers.

There was more hiking to the top of Mont Lycabettus.

Of course there was a lot of eating and window shopping.

Seeing all of the temples I had learned about growing up and getting to experience this with my family was a dream come true. I'm so glad that we took the time to disconnect and take this trip. It was a dream come true.

Our time in Athens went by too quickly and soon we were scheduled to take a boat to Santorini.

Do you have a place that you've always wanted to visit, but haven't?

Six Years....

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 11:17:00 +0000

Six years...really isn't all that long, is it?

It's only 72 months.

And yet, for me, 6 years seems like a lifetime - a lifetime that happened in the blink of an eye.

Six years ago my life changed forever. In April 2008, I left everything and everyone I knew and began this crazy adventure in France.

Six years, I started this little blog to update my friends and family about life abroad.

Never could I have imagined that I would still be here six years later - still in France; still writing.

It's amazing the adventures you can live in just six years.

I got married.

I've had two amazing children.

I learned a new language.

We have visited over 17 countries.

I have made some amazing friends.

Life has been full. Sometimes it's been hard and other times it's been wonderful.

And while I don't know where the next five or six years will take us but I can only hope they will be half as wonderful as the first six have been.

I guess this is growing up...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:08:00 +0000

Last weekend we attended the preschool's open house.

It was a chance for us to visit the school and talk to the teachers.

This is Nathan's second year at the school, so we're no strangers to the classrooms or the people at the school.

This was the first year, however, that we took Noah.

My last baby will be starting preschool at the end of the year.

And this all hit me rather suddenly. In my heart he just turned two years old, and I still the "baby" inside.

The thought of him going off to school always seemed so far into the future.

Yet, here we were, entering his future school.

He was apprehensive at first. The big room, the table and chairs, the stranger trying to talk to him.

We stood back, letting him explore and settle in to his new surroundings.

It didn't take long before he moved into all corners of the room trying out all the different activities. He warmed up to the teacher and let shared his excitement with her.

And that is all it took for me to see my "baby" transforming. He will do great in school and he is ready.

And he will have his big brother there to show him the ropes.

Sending them off to school isn't easy, is it?

Embracing...Spring Break

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 19:38:00 +0000

So much has happened since I posted last week.

I might have mentioned that for the past two weeks we were on Spring Break. In France, kids go to school for six weeks and then take a break for two. If you're doing the math, that means we have yet another "Spring Break" at the end of April.

With so many breaks, we don't usually have enough vacation days to stay home with the boys. Some families send their kids to see their grandparents - which is pretty amazing - but doesn't work for us.

During this time we usually send Nathan to a day-camp of sorts. They do lots of different activities, take field trips - it isn't bad but it really isn't "vacation".

Which is why we decided we would take the boys away on a long weekend to Paris...to visit Disneyland Paris.

We go every year, but this was the first time the boys had no idea we were going.

Once we pulled up the driveway to our hotel, and the boys started seeing all of the Disney elements everywhere- they were so excited.

We decided to stay at the Disneyland Hotel {which is right at the gate of the park} so once we checked in we were on our way to start enjoying our vacation.

The boys had a blast. They're old pro's and were running and giggling the entire time.

Because our hotel was right at the gate we had AM.AZ.ING views inside the park. Our room even had a small balcony - and thanks to the amazing weather we spent endless time out there.

The best part of it all of course, was spending time as a family. We had no major breakdowns and we created so many memories. And while people might think we're a little loopy for taking the boys every year, the smile on their faces when they wake up and throughout the day makes it all worth it!

Have you had your Spring Break yet? Any plans?

Sunshine is good for the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:51:00 +0000

Oh my - the weather here has been AM.AZ.ING! The sun has been shining and I put away the winter coats {although not permanently because that's just tempting fate}!

The thing about sunshine here is that you never know how long it is going to last - so as soon as you see it - you make a mad dash to sit under it until it goes away.

We're kind of like lizards that way. And while growing up in Arizona I took the sunshine for granted - five years in France have made me change my ways!

We've been taking the boys outside and letting them run off their built up energy and they've enjoyed every second of it.

They've even opened up all of the carousels!

{I'm not sure why every French village/town has their own carousel downtown. It's almost as symbolic as the churches. Of course my boys can't pass a carousel without begging to ride one}.

We even took a stroll through Vichy - a neighboring village with an amazing history {from Napoleon to WWII} and even better shopping.

Needless to say that springtime in France is one of those seasons that has to be enjoyed!

Have you seen springtime arrive yet?

Going Greek

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:44:00 +0000

Well, it looks like I have turned into a weekly blogger. Sadly, that is about all I can handle at the moment.

Life has been crazy busy - but in a good way. Still trying to find my balance through all of the changes happening lately. Ironically, this is about the same time last year that I stopped blogging. I refuse to let it happen again this year. Not writing made it feel like I had a piece of myself missing - I didn't like that feeling.

The boys are on "Spring Break" for two weeks. We're on day 3 and Nathan keeps asking when he gets to go back to school. Le sigh. We're sending him to a "day camp" of sorts - but I think he is getting bored. Kid likes to learn I guess.

Yesterday we celebrated Mardi Gras. All the kids were dressed up in costumes, it was sort of adorable. The big tradition around here is to eat "Bugnes", which is essentially fried dough covered in sugar. Don't ever call it a donut in front of a French person - they don't like it. The boys really loved getting their free bugnes at the bakery by our house - Noah kept asking for "encore" {more}.

I've also had my very first ever sinus infection. What in the world? These things are super painful and it makes me feel like my face has been punched {I've never been punched in the face but I imagine this is what it feels like}.

I'm slowly working my way around to all of your beautiful blogs, be patient with me. I'll get there - maybe late but surely!

And while the weather has been nice and sunny - it hasn't prevented me from daydreaming about our vacation later this year. The big "mystery" location - GREECE! It has always been a dream of mine to visit and I'm so excited that we finally get to go. The timing worked out perfectly for everyone's schedules. We'll be spending one week in Athens and one week in Santorini. I would love to hear if any of you have been!

Just when I thought I was lost...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:34:00 +0000

Wow, it has been so crazy around here. February is always the busiest month around here - and by far the most stressful.

There were some touch and go moments there - those moments when I had to take the time and focus on what is really important. It's times like these that the little ol' blog suffers the most.

I also had a lot of times when I had to remind myself my word of the year:

I wasn't doing any embracing and was actually getting myself stressed out about all of the things that were out of my control. Amazingly enough, once I let go and decided to embrace the situations for what they were - the pieces started falling into place.

In the time I've been away - besides being super productive at work - we've signed up Noah for pre-school {I'm only in slight denial}, booked two of our vacations for the year {one of which is a lifelong dream of mine} and have been spending a ton of time with the boys.

The weather around here has been amazing - cold but much milder that the weather typically is at this time.

And when the sun is shining, and I look out my window I can be thankful for having the amazing opportunity to live this life.

Brothers

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:56:00 +0000

When I was pregnant with Noah, I would often daydream about what it would be like to have two boys.

I thought about what an amazing gift I was giving to Nathan - a brother, a lifetime friend, a partner in crime.

I would smile at the imaginary life they hadn't yet lived and prayed that with only a two year age difference that they would be much closer than my sister and I were.

After Noah was born, reality set in.

Life was not all puppies and rainbows and Nathan seemed more annoyed than anything else.

It seemed that I have spent the last two years just surviving and trying to keep the peace. It seemed my fantasy of brotherhood was just that - a fantasy.

And then lately life started evolving. Noah began looking up to his big brother and wanted to imitate everything he did.

Magically the boys started getting a long. They started getting along and even started playing together.

I thought it was the calm before the storm. I was so skeptical of this new found friendship. I was convinced that they were up to something.

Instead their friendship is growing - their bond is starting to develop and at every smile and every laugh my heart melts just a little.

Having a brother must be the best feeling in the world.

Random

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 20:03:00 +0000

So happy it's Friday again...it has been a pretty random week around here. With the wine and film festivals both taking place this week it seems like we were constantly on the go.

Sunday was the "Chandaleur", or as I like to call it "The Best Holiday Ever". It's the day we get to eat crepes after all. The boys were so excited to make crepes - but as Noah found out the hard way this dough is definitely NOT fun to eat. After the crepes were made we had a makeshift "bar a crepes" with all the fixings: Nutella, Jam, Sugar. Like I said, "BEST HOLIDAY EVER".

I'm guessing that there is something in the air around here. Maybe it's the all the nutella, but the boys have been getting a long lately. Did I just jinx myself? They've been playing together, telling each other stories. I'm trying to enjoy it while I can because goodness knows this probably won't last.

I'm also in shock that it is February. Am I the only one who is a little bit in denial?

In case you missed it, I posted the video of my French interview here. I had some people in my office comment on it yesterday, I must say I was more humiliated than flattered to which they responded "It's France". Indeed it is.

Do you have any exciting plans this weekend?

Linking up here

Ready for my close-up

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:54:00 +0000

Remember how I told you yesterday that my week has been a tad bit bizarre? At least most bizarre than usual?

Well as if my television debut wasn't enough, Monday night we got to attend a private screening of the International Short Film Festival.

This festival, which attracts film makers from around the world, happens every year in our town, and it is a big deal.

I'm lucky that my company is one of the major sponsors, and hosted a reception and private screening of some American films that were presented in the festival.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that while this festival happens every year, I have never been. Ever. So this was the perfect opportunity to finally see what all of the hoopla was about. And even more importantly to have a night out without the boys.

The reception started at 6:30, so we had to rush from work. While I would have normally gotten a little gussied up for such an event, my Monday work attire had to suffice.

Drinking wine again?

In addition to the delicious reception, we got to meet some pretty cool people - like the president of the NYU film school.

And that fly in the poster? It is the work of a young American artist, and it is plastered all over our town. We were lucky enough to get to signed posters for the boys - because what boy doesn't love flies and bugs?

And while definition, most short films don't last longer than 30 minutes I was surprised how much emotion they could capture. Some where hysterical and others were emotionally gut-wrenching.

Definitely a great introduction the film festival and such a great date night out!

And as promised here is the link to my super television debut {click here}. Does anybody technical know how I can post just the video?

In any case - for all my francophone readers please don't mind the terrible french accent. It's a work in progress!

{linking up here}

I don't always drink wine...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 19:58:00 +0000

Oh my. I've been a little absent lately but things around here have been a tad bit bizarre.

You may have remembered how excited I was when my tickets to the annual wine festival, Vinidome, arrived a few weeks ago.

We've been going every year and it is the only time of year that I can buy my favorite wine, Muscat de Rivesaltes.

Since the wine festival is pretty popular in this area it is always super crowded - except on Sunday morning.

Which is just a long drawn out story about how we ended up at Vinidome early on a Sunday morning - with two kids in tow.

Our first stop was my favorite vineyard to by the infamous muscat. While we were there we noticed the television cameras roaming around.

I quickly turned the other direction, talking to some friends, trying to avoid appearing on camera at all costs.

When I thought it was finally safe to turn around - there it was - camera and microphone in my face.

da..da.da

The guy quickly began rattling off questions in French:

"Do you drink"
"Do you drink often"
"How much do you drink"
"What do you like to drink"

I wasn't sure if it was an interview about the wine festival or an episode of intervention.

And so now my friends, I'm a local celebrity.

The best part, was that for all of my friends and co-workers who missed the airing live on television, could stream it directly from the internet.

The joys of technology!

I still haven't built up the courage to post the link on the blog, but stay tuned, maybe I'll change my mind.

Have you ever been interviewed to be on tv?

End the Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 19:54:00 +0000

Does anyone else feel like this has been a crazy week?

I can't even believe what is going on with Snowmageddon in the South. With so many of my friends in Atlanta I got to experience the madness through the magic of social media.

I have to admit that at first I thought it was funny. One of my best friends {and college roommate} posted this on Facebook and I think it summed it up for me perfectly {hi Nate!}

And while I thought it was comical at the time; seeing the people that were stranded - students spending the nights in school - it made me realize there are still great people in this world. The people that kept business and schools open for shelter for all those that couldn't make it home. Who says human kindness is dead?

But on to my week. There was no Snowmageddon here but life was just as crazy. Lest I forget my afternoon in the emergency room and my sick day at home.

By Wednesday though, things seemed to get back to normal - or as normal as things get around here.

Both boys were back to school and I was back to work - yay! Nathan was so excited to get back to his friends he couldn't get out of the house fast enough. I guess I'm not as much fun as I thought I was.

After all the craziness of this week, I'm so glad to see it end.

Oh Friday, I'm always so happy to see you.

Any exciting plans for the weekend?

Linking up here

This is the moment

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 20:13:00 +0000

Do you ever feel like you are constantly rushing and running? I do.

I'm always rushing in the morning. Trying to get everyone ready and out the door on time.

I'm rushing to the daycare quickly dropping off one boy so I can then rush to the school to drop off the second kid.

On the rare days that I have it together I can do it all and still manage to get to work in time to find a parking spot.

The afternoons don't seem to be much better.

I am always rushing so that I can go and pick up both boys and still get home and get everyone fed, bathed and in bed.

Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly shuffling everyone around without really taking the time to "enjoy the moment".

And while sometimes I feel like all I do is rush from one place to another nothing compares to the feeling I get when I pick up my boys.

Their faces immediately light up and they rush to me arms wide open. They are so excited to tell me all about their day, to show me their artwork.

In those moments when we reunite at the end of the day when they smile at me, everything else is forgotten. I'm truly, "living in the moment".

I know the days are coming when they'll want to walk home or get dropped off blocks away from the school, but for the time being I want to embrace these simple moments.

My boys always have a way to make me smile - especially in the afternoon. This is the best part of my day.

Linking up here

Our very own sick day

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 19:42:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who left such encouraging comments on yesterday's post. My son is doing so much better and even went to school today... Yay!

For some reason my kids are always deathly ill at school/daycare and then when they're home it's like they are miraculously cured. Is that just my boys?

And while it wasn't under the best circumstances, having a day at home isn't always all that bad.

Nathan was under strict orders to rest, so while he had a lot of energy it meant spending a lot of time in bed and on the couch. He hated every second of it. As I found out, there is a limit as to how many movies a four year old can watch consecutively.

He helped me make lunch and then we fashioned out a robot disguise out of tin foil. Oh the things you can do with tin foil and bored child. This kept him entertained for about 10 seconds.

Take my picture please!

Truth be told by mid afternoon we were both going a little stir crazy. All of the drawing, puzzles, crafts could only do so much for us. I suggested we do laundry - but he wasn't too crazy about that idea.

Obviously my time on Pinterest has not been well spent since I couldn't find any activities for us to do.

How do you keep yourself from going stir crazy when you are in-doors?

He was so excited to wake up and get out of the house this morning. Guess all it takes to get over the stomach flu is get stuck at home with me for a day.

Mommy of the Year

Linking up here

Letting go at the mommy guilt

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:52:00 +0000

It's never easy when your child is sick. As parents we would do anything to take their pain away - to be the ones that are sick in their place.

When your child is sick and you are far from family - things seem to be even harder. You always have to make those decisions that weigh heavy on your 'mommy' heart. Do I keep him home from school? Should I send him in?

When you're a working mother this is followed by a completely different set of questions - can I stay home from work? Is there anyone that can stay home? Can I re-schedule my meetings? What about that conference call?

Nathan started running a low fever on Sunday afternoon. He was in good spirits and was eating well. I gave him some tylenol and put him to bed. He woke up in good spirits and fever free - and so I went on with our normal routine.

In the early afternoon I got the phone call.

Nathan had a high fever and sharp stomach pains. Everyone feared appendicitis and I rushed to the emergency room.

He looked bright red and his little body was listless. He crawled right into my lap and just melted into me. At that moment it was as if he was a tiny baby again and I just cradled him hoping it would be enough to make him feel better.

Four hours later and we were still waiting. Waiting for answers. Waiting for anything.

The entire time my mind was racing - why didn't I stay home? Why didn't I realize how sick he was? Was there something more I could have done?

His fever went down and after tests and x-rays appendicitis was ruled out - it was just a virus and we had nothing to do but let it run its course.

We both stayed home today for some much needed R&R and I tried hard to let go of my mommy guilt.

Does guilt ever get the better of you? How do you deal with it?

Linking up for PYHO

Paris with Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:42:00 +0000

Paris is one of my favorite cities and I am so lucky that I get the chance to see it and visit it as often as I do. It truly is one of the perks of being an expat in France.

Paris is most known for being the city of lights, the city of lovers. Romantic walks along the Seine while drinking champagne. And oh my is it all of these things. However, if you scratch just a little bit further, Paris is such an amazing place to visit as a family.

The magic of Paris is not lost on my boys. They absolutely love it and are constantly talking about the Tour Eiffel and Notre Dame. The truly wonderful thing about a city like Paris is that there is so much to do with kids if you just scratch the surface.

1) The Eiffel Tower

This is a must see for everyone isn't it? My boys love it! It is our homing beacon when we are in Paris. We love to walk along the Champ de Mars and just run and explore with this amazing backdrop. It is beautiful any time of day but the best is watching it at night when the lights are sparkling.

2) Cruising down the Seine

Boys and boats - there is something so fun about this. They love to just be on the boat and watch the city float by. We wave at the passers by and tourists on the bridge. We marvel at the beauty of all the buildings. Paris is truly more beautiful on the water.

3) Notre Dame.

The gargoyles and the mystique are all my boys need to know about Notre Dame.

4) Lunch on the town

Whether it's a crepe with nutella, an omlette or a croque monseiur {French grilled cheese}. The best part is sitting outside on a terrace and people watching while you enjoy a quick but delicious meal.

5) Dome des Invalides

This is truly the most fun a boy can have in Paris. Boys of all ages really since this place is a hit with all of the men in my life. It must be the cannons and war museums, or possibly Napoleon's tomb. My boys rave about this place and they could spend hours here.

And the list could go on and on. It always it seems that everytime we wander the city we find something else to fall in love with. And while we have had the chance to do the romantic Paris many times, Paris as a family is so much more fun and enjoyable.

Do you have a favorite city? I would love to hear why!

One of those weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 20:25:00 +0000

Have you ever had one of those weeks? One of those weeks where you can't seem to get it together or when things aren't going as you planned?

This was one of those weeks for me. I was super busy at work and I couldn't seem to get it together at home.

We were running late most mornings. One day the backpack was forgotten and we had to go all the way back home. One day started with screaming and tears because the thought of putting on a coat was just way too traumatic (I love the terrible two's) and to boot it was raining ALL.WEEK.LONG.

Oh my.

It was one of those weeks when I was so happy that Friday finally came - and the universe sent me a smile for surviving.

Nathan planted this bulb for me at school as a Christmas gift. Today it has a small bloom ready to appear. I can't believe I haven't killed it yet, and I am so excited to see the beautiful flower soon.

He also made a trip to the post office this week and mailed us a New Year's Card. It was so cute to have a letter arrive from him.

And despite my small moment of pre-school denial and the day after day of rain - somehow my boys started acting in perfect harmony. They were filled with smiles, hugs and kisses.

Thank you Friday!

How was your week?

Linking up here

Winter Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:42:00 +0000

The weather here is getting progressively worse. Welcome Winter. How much longer do you plan on staying?

The worst part of the weather is the borderline depression that comes along with it. The sun has yet to rise when I'm corralling the kids to get to school and the sun has already set by the time we come home. Even though it is still early, there is something about the sun not being out that makes it seem like you have no time at all. Is that just me?

In an effort to snap out of my "winter blues", I've started trying to put more effort into my work attire. I mean I love looking at all of those cute clothes and styles on Pinterest, but none of them would ever work for me Monday - Friday.

I own a ton of dresses that I wear to work during the fall or summer. In the winter though I always go back to wearing my slacks and sweaters - and I hate wearing slacks with boots.

So in an effort to snap out of my "winter blues", I've started taking out my dresses and trying to adapt them to winter.

Like this dress from Mango - there is something about the pattern that I love. Except that the dress is short sleeves. I tried wearing a sweater or cardigan with it, but it just made the dress bunch up in the front and back and it wasn't really flattering.

So instead I wore it over a basic long sleeve black tee. I added a pair of thick winter tights and voila. Summer wear becomes winter wear.

Nathan took this picture of me and insisted that I say "cheese".

I also paired it with my high black boots.

The best part is that I feel like I got a whole new wardrobe, for free!

Do you try and get the most out of your clothes?

Linking up here

Denial

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:44:00 +0000

This morning I spent some time at the principal's office.

It's kind of funny that even on this side of the ocean they still make me feel like I'm the one in trouble. It must be uncomfortable chairs.

And while I'm sure I will have many visits to the Principals' office, this wasn't one of those visits.

Instead I was there facing a moment I have been dreading for about two years.

That moment when my "baby" is no longer, technically, "my baby".

I knew this day would come, I just thought I had more time.

The day when I had to sign him up for preschool. Say it isn't so!

In France school grades are determined by calendar years and my "baby" just made the cut-off by a matter of days.

Lucky him.

Didn't he just start daycare?

Wasn't I just doing this with Nathan? It can't be time to be doing it for Noah.

How do they grow up so fast? I'm still in denial.

Denial that my "babies" are evolving into tiny, responsible, little people.

Denial that this is my last baby.

Denial that my daycare days are truly over.

And while this moment is bittersweet to say the least, I'm going to try and embrace these next few months - because for the next few months I still have my "baby".

Have you ever been in denial about your children growing up?

Linking up with PYHO

Mind your Manners...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:39:00 +0000

I am extremely lucky that my boys have had a chance to experience some of their formative years in France.

Ever since they were at daycare they have been taught that there is no excuse for bad table manners.

If my boys don't like what they are served - they don't have to eat it. They DO have to sit there quietly until everyone else has eaten.

It baffles my mind that even when we're at home the table manners continue.

Oh we have lots of those moments. You know the ones, the "I don't want to eat this" moments. It takes everything I have inside of me to not try to appease them. To get in the kitchen and make them something else to eat. And I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes this happens. Although more often than not, the boys will sit there until dinner is over.

While this is no thanks to me, this has made going out with them so much easier.

We don't usually eat out but when we travel we always take on the ultimate adventure and dine out with both boys.

We get "those" looks. The looks when we ask for the highchair. The look when the people and their fancy bottles of wine glance over at our two children under five.

Then our meal happens.

Our boys eat. Our boys behave. No meltdowns. No running around. No yelling or throwing food.

On those days when one of the boys just isn't feeling the "sit-down" and we feel a tantrum is about to happen we remove ourselves from the situation.

Yes. Sometimes these moments can't be avoided. Sometimes you child is just overly tired and having a bad day. And on those days we hope that we have sympathetic people around us.

Then there are those moments when random strangers come up to us and tell us how well behaved our kids are.

I'm lucky that growing up in France, my children have learned that there is no excuse for bad table manners. That the meal is a family adventure and a time to share special moments.

And when that isn't the case, I make sure to always have paper and crayons handy - or drink lots of wine.

What do you do to keep you children entertained when eating out?