We went to the movies as a family for the first time to see Toy Story 3. Trilby gave me the tip of putting my kids in car seats with popcorn a long time ago, and it works like a charm.
Family Movie
NAUGHTY!
Since before we left to France, I have told Scout that he and Icka were going to share a room when we got back. I was not looking forward to the struggle it was going to become….and to my complete and delightful surprise, it was a smooth operation. Scout sleeps in his big boy bed, while Icka snoozes in her crib. They both seem to like it, and I love it — less crying on all ends. I decided not to have them nap together since Scout doesn’t think he needs naps anymore, and his “quiet time” is spent using his imagination. But on this particular day, because the cleaners were on location, I had them nap in the same room.
Mistake — BIG mistake — HUGE!
They had their way with a blue dry erase marker. Can you tell that Scout knew that he was DEAD!
The swollen eyes are from a massive lecture and a few other little disciplinarian actions.
This girl is just clueless! Maybe she thought just she was “expressing herself”.
Thank goodness for Google. I couldn’t get the pen off at all, but the internet let me in on the rubbing alcohol secret. About 90% is gone, but I have a few tough stains to still get out. In the end, Scout must have said, “Mom, I am SO sorry I ruined those things” 20 times. He even woke up and the first words from his mouth were, “I am going to be nice today. I’m not gonna do the pen. And if Icka gets the pen, I am going to say, ‘No No’. Sorry Mommy.”
Snug As A Bug
Since we’ve been home, my children have been a wreck! A week later, they still aren’t on a good schedule, they don’t think they need to sleep, and they have grown accustomed to whining. But every once in a while, when I am really lucky, they zonk out. I am talking deep sleep!
Here is Sissy with two of her french finds. “Sheepy” might be the cutest stuffed animal I have ever laid eyes on, and “Sushi” her asian doll that has become her own personal baby.
Miss Clifford
Ka has started up her preschool again this summer, and Scout could not be more excited. When I dropped him off, Ka asked where Navy was. I was sure that Navy wouldn’t be very cooperative, so I just assumed that there wasn’t an invite with her name on it. Miss Clifford was disgusted with my assumption, and had me leave her.
It was a rough go at first, but Miss Clifford whipped her into shape quickly. (Notice Scout’s “glasses”. He wore them the whole day.)
After some letters, they colored pictures for “art”.
They eventually ended up in the kitchen for their snack.
Miss Clifford came really prepared this year, and had them put together a pudding cup palm tree — isn’t she the best!
My kids were in heaven at preschool. Icka was even walking properly and following directions. Miss Clifford has the children walk with their hands behind their backs, so they won’t touch anything or bug anyone else — and Sissy was totally doing it. (She was actually folding her arms and walking on her tip toes.) Icka will now walk like that whenever she sees Ka. It is so cute and literally a miracle. My little sweet thing will actually be told what to do! HALLELUJAH!
Homeward Bound
After three and a half weeks of going and going, we were excited to get home to our very own beds. The problem was the large space between France and the U.S. that required a very long plane trip. They were really good on the way over, but I was quite sure that we wouldn’t be so lucky on the way back — based on the fact that my kids were highly deficient in sleep.
Scout managed really well. He got on his socks, his mask, was in his car seat and watched his own personal t.v. until he fell asleep after five hours.
This sweet thing wasn’t as amicable. She was sweet if my mom or I would hold her, but the second we tried to lay her in the bassinet, it went downhill. So I was lucky to get to hold her for nine hours of the trip, and my mom took about a two hour shift. Micah was really sad that she refused to go to him as he snacked away and watched movies the whole night long. I just chalk it up to a little bonding time I got with my little girl. My arms chalk it up to about 1 million curls with a 20 pound dumbbell.
Carousels and Toys
France just has more whimsy than the U.S. Everything there is picturesque. One of my favorite things to see were their carousels and their toys. I mean — just take a look at how darling everything is.
Crusties
Micah was famous for making “crusties” every night. He would cut up a baguette (in his words — some old and stale bread) and put a variety of cheeses on top. He would broil them in the oven until they became slightly toasted and warmed throughout. Then he would serve them with fresh tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar and herbs de provence. (I added a little bit of italian parsley to mine.) They were delicious — I mean delicious! That was my dinner for about four nights. And the little provencal cheese pack with four different toppings (white pepper, herbs de provence, chile flakes and chives) were amazingly good. Everyone laughed at me when I bought these at the store. Who’s laughing now!
The Ropes Course
We found a rope obstacle course near our place in France. It ended up being extremely challenging, and really fun. Scout was So into it, and was really good at it. He followed every rule, and wanted to do it over and over again. Micah, Skylar, Tristen and I tried the adult course and all came out bruised and wiped. Even Micah was impressed at how challenging it ended up being.
Scout was loving getting all geared up.
Scout enthusiasm was infectious — and Icka got the bug.
This was the very rickity bridge over to the course. I think on of the best parts of the course was that we didn’t know how safe it was. For whatever reason, when something like this isn’t in the U.S., you just have to wonder.
My mom wasn’t too keen (or talented) on the bridge. She kept getting so mad at us when we would walk on it while she was on it.
Scout was meticulous about taking one carabiner off at a time.
He had a blast!
But surprisingly, Icka the brut, didn’t have that great of a time. It probably had something to do with the fact that she was too short for everything.
It ended up being great exercise, and a good, solid four hours of fun.
The Park With Bella
We stopped in Nyons (in Provence), and Tristen was eager for me to drop she and the kids off until we secured a hotel. Great — kid free for an hour. I’ll take it. When we got back, I first saw Tristen relaxing while she read.
And then I saw this:
I would love to point out that when the kids were left, they were fully clothed. Icka had a bow and clean shoes, and Scout had his shoes on and a shirt.
Talk about orphans!
Just chugging a water bottle full of rocks she added for flavor.
Uptight because she didn’t want to get dirty.
Whaaaa Whaaaa!
The best part of the park was when Scout started asking me to take pictures of him in poses. Here are three for his upcoming portfolio…..
The Danger Seeker
The Balancing Act
The generic GQ pose.
Dordogne River
We stayed above a really beautiful river — The Dordogne River. We canoed down it one day, and swam in it a few other times. One particularly hot day, Scout was down to nothing, Micah was in his suit, Icka was in hers, and I wasn’t prepared. But as the heat wore on, I figured…when in Europe — do as the Europeans.
To my families disgust, I skinny dipped down the Dordogne.
Big Whoop. Who cares. There isn’t anything to look at anyway.
Plus, I was in the private as I disrobed. Minus the two babushkas that were sitting across the river.
The pervert Tristen had the camera, and this is one of the few PG shots she got.
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