Eating in Paris

By Amy

Let's talk about food. Figuring out what and where to eat was so much fun in Paris. For breakfast we would usually get something at a bakery. It was always amazing. For lunch we tried to eat something that was fast because we were usually on the go. This was a chicken gyro. And yes that's the diet version of coke. I think I had a total of 12 of these bottles. They averaged between 3 and 10 dollars. Yes 10 dollars. My sister paid that at a cafe that had views of Sacre Couer. Location, location, location.

We refused to go to any place that we have here. We saw a lot of McDonald's and Subways. I do believe we even saw a Domino's pizza.

Although at one point I did crave a burger. So I ordered one. It looks the same but didn't taste the same. I guess I'm used to that good ole Nebraska beef.

We would try to eat outside because the inside of cafe's were usually very small with only eight or less tables. Although outside you do run the risk of sitting by a smoker. But it was usually worth it because half the fun of Paris is people watching.

For dinner we would try to find a place that was half way affordable. This was typically what I got for dinner.

I thought I would have been more adventurous but the truth is, it's very expensive and I wanted to make sure that I got something that I liked. So I stuck with chicken.

Water is not free. They always give you a bottle of it and it's between 5 & 10 dollars. It's almost cheaper to get a coke. Or wine. We did try to eat some veggies while we were there. One time for supper I got this. Instead of a hard boiled egg the salads come with a fried one.

And you don't get a choice of dressing. No ranch in France. But the vinaigrette was really good.

We did go to two "nicer" places. One was a restaurant where almost every dish had some sort of fruit in it. I just told the waiter to choose for me. It looked scary but it was actually really good. The more I ate it the more I liked it. It had halibut, rice, tomato, fruit in a light coconut sauce. Sounds gross even as I type this but I finished it all.

The other place we went to served alot of french food. Again I stuck with what I know. The steak was ok. I guess I'm spoiled with beef. The potatoes and salad were perfect.

Eating is a big deal in Paris. It's not uncommon for Parisians to spend two hours for a meal. In fact you have to flag the waiter for your check because it's considered rude for them to give it to you before you are done. It's also true that the portions are smaller. Probably one of the reasons why French women are thin. They probably also don't order dessert after every meal like I did. Oh dessert. That will be a whole other post.

Weekend

By Amy

Well I did get to cross a few things off my list. I got my floors all nice and shiny, I found cages for my tomato plants and I got a new recipe book to inspire me to menu plan (which I did). I tried to look beautiful for husband and I think he was happy to see me after being gone for five days. I didn't finish my Paris scrapbook or work on my closet. Maybe this week. Maybe not.

Today we went to pick up the boys from Grandma and Grandpa's. We had a BBQ at my brother's house and got to see sweet little Miss A. She is cuteness with a capital C.

Alert and Awake

My beautiful sister Ang. She hates pictures of herself and I'll probably get it for posting this.

My mom and dad with their only granddaughter

Sound asleep

My Grandma with her Great Grandchildren

It was a good weekend. It always is when my family is together. I love them all so much!!

Therapy

by Ang

I had a really rough week. I haven't been sleeping well, I haven't been feeling well, I am emotionally drained and exhausted. So today I am focusing on getting better. Sort of a 'pampering' day, but not really because I also have been cleaning, getting groceries and getting stuff done.

Here's a few things that have made me happy today.

Blueberry pomegranate white iced sun tea. I made it this morning.

It's delicious. Very refreshing! (an inside joke for my 7 year old nephew).

New nail polish:

It's purple.

Advil!

DVD commentaries of The Office:

This picture my brother sent me today on my phone of my niece:

Look at her round belly!

So hopefully I'll start to feel better in the next few days. I have a nice, relaxing weekend planned and tonight I'm going to a movie with my sister. Family is wonderful when you're feeling down!!

Free At Last!

By Amy

I love these guys, I really do. I know that I complain about them driving me crazy. Because sometimes they do. But I really do love them. They make me laugh and they make my heart swell sometimes. However that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy a break once in awhile. Tonight I dropped them off at my mom and dad's for the weekend. I was feeling pretty giddy all the way home thinking about all the stuff I can get done without them here. Here's my list so far:

1. Scrub the floors (easier without boys running in and out tracking in grass and mud)

2. Finish up my Paris scrapbook (only four more layouts to go!)

3. Try to look beautiful for the husband (he has been out of town and deserves something nice to look at)

4. Get some menu's ready for this week (I have been so lazy with the cooking thing lately)

5. Try to find some metal things to put around my tomato plants (not sure what they are called but you all know what I mean)

6. Clean out closet (on-going process)

There is loads more but I'm trying to be realistic here. I'll give you a update on Monday. Have a good weekend!

I'm a Gardener!

By Amy

Bad things happen to me. Not horrible things, more like... unfortunate things. Like, I make hotel reservations and when I arrive they have no record of who I am. Alot of things that i buy are defective, missing parts or broken. When I crave McDonalds icecream and I drive there, about half the time the machine is broken. I find the perfect shoe but they have every size but mine. I order things online and it comes one day after I really needed it. One of the biggest things that has happened to me was one time I had invited 100 people to a co-ed bridal shower and when I show up at the place to get it all ready it was completely locked up, dark, and no one is in sight. Talk about panic! It was resolved, but still. Unfortunately I have passed on this trait to my boys. I always know where my oldest is in a store because whatever he touches, it crashes to the floor. I hear it four isles away. He picks one thing off the rack and the whole rack of twenty falls to the ground. My youngest get's sick everytime he has a fieldtrip to go on. We have missed three of them and he is only in first grade.

So when I try anything new, I usually expect the worst. Not the most postivie way to go about life but at least I'm not disappointed when things don't turn out. My point is, when I decided to have a garden I wasn't expecting much. In fact, I didn't think anything would grow at all. But low and behold.....

My beautiful tomato plants

Green beans


cucumber

Fruitage!!!

If it all shrivels up and rots tomorrow I won't be surprised. But if I actually get something edible out of this.....well, I just may have to change my profession.

It's Official

By Amy

School is out. Summer has begun. Well, not 'officially' but in my book summer has begun. When I dropped the kids off, I could feel the excitement from the students and the teachers. I remember my last days of school and how we would count down the seconds and when the final bell rang we would scream "ya!" and run out in the hall and hug our friends because it would be a longggg three months before we saw each other again. I would walk home and hope I didnt' get sprayed with shaving cream or some other kind of prank. And then I would go home and plop on my bed and read over my year book and all the thought provoking comments people wrote like....'have a great summer!!' I'm glad school is a part of my wayyyyy distant past but it sure would be nice to have summer off again. I'm excited for my boys. So tonight I decided to throw a last minute end-of-the-school-year party. Nothing fancy, in fact all the decorations was stuff that I already had. Wednesday I went to a couple places and bought some stuff they can do during the summer so when they say 'I'm bored' I'll have some ideas. We had hamburgers and hotdogs and ice cream with all the toppings.

The boys were surprised and I think they had a really good time. It was a beautiful night and a great start to summer. I hope I'm this postive after a few weeks. Hopefully they will still be smiling. And not killing each other.

I've Got Three Months

By Amy

When my 13 year old started junior high last year I expected the worst. Junoir High was the worst years of my life. I transformed into a mouthy, sullen, emotional and insecure teenager. So I braced myself when he made the switch from elementary school to big, bad middle school. And guess what? Nothing happened. He is still the same good kid that left sixth grade. Taller maybe, and a little more moody, but basically the same.

When my kindergardener made the transition into first grade I thought nothing of it. I should have. Take a look at the sweet self portrait he made of himself at the beginnning of the school year. The date on the paper is August 19th. Look at my sweet boy! Cute hair nice, colorful clothes. I am such a proud mama!

Yesterday he brought home another self portrait dated May 19th. Nine months later.

Oh dear. What happened to the color? What's with all the black? And the hat that's sideways, and the..... is that CHAINS? Gulp.

And look at those arms. I do believe he drew some muscles on them. And there seem to be something around his wrist and neck. Oh boy. I guess I have three months to de-program the little guy. Make him sweet and colorful and innocent again. So he's not the same as when he entered first grade. I still love him though. Chains and all. (: