We are very fortunate because we have a large open air market a few blocks from our apartment.  It is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.  They begin setting up around 8am.  It is fun to walk to school and watch all of the vendors setting up their tables, stringing their lights and unloading all of their merchandise from their cars.   They disassemble around 1pm. 

Today was the first time I had nowhere to go and nothing to do so I grabbed my camera and walked the markets.  I hope you enjoy. 

I haven't had a chance to buy this vendors fish and seafood but it must be divine because there is always a long line in front of his stand.

This is just "the tip of the iceberg" as far as pictures and items sold at our open air market.  I will be posting more pictures this week. 

The energy at the market today was intoxicating; butchers were yelling out their specials and French men were flirting with the American girl who had a camera hanging around her neck; "take my picture", "you charming lady", "can I elp you"?  The French woman were very unimpressed as I stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk to take pictures of a carrot or a shiny strawberry.    Tsk, tsk, under their breath.

We live in a true middle class neighborhood and you do not see many tourists toting cameras.  I think this may be "my thing", it seemed to garner a lot of help and attention and it gave me a lift.  

Did I just wash my clothes with dishwashing detergent?.  

As you can see, it was an easy mistake.  The boxes sit  next to each other under the sink and they both have a tiny tablet to use. 

I am not embarrassed to say that I folded the clothes and put them away.  They were clean enough for me.  Who cares if I could see my reflection in my socks.  I was not about to do another load of laundry.  It takes a minimum of 2 hours and that does not include drying. 

Dan will be leaving on a business trip soon and he is not happy about it.  He does not want to leave his family in a foreign country.  A new gray hair sprouts on his head everyday just thinking about it.  He has been busy working hard to keep us safe while he is away. 

He fixed the windows that did not close securely so the "boogee man" can't come and get us. 

He went to the hardware store and bought smoke detectors for the apartment.

My personal favorite, he came home after a long day of work  and installed my curtains in the kitchen for me. 

He didn't even look at me funny when I told him that I wanted part of the window uncovered because I like to look up at the sky every now and again.

Oh, I just love this man and the way that he loves his family.  He loves us openly and with passion but he also loves us quietly, the way most men do.  If you are blessed to have a man in your life, look around and see the way he shows you that he loves you.  I bet he is showing it in small ways, add them all up and they are huge. 

Well, that was easier than I thought. 

I had to mail off some bills at our local post office this morning.  I remember reading in all of my books how dreadful the post office was; having to stand in line forever, everyone closing in on you. 

Things have changed in France.  They now have about five automated machines, that weigh your letters/packages and spits out your stamps.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a button on the automated machine in English.  Yes!  It was a breeze.  

I just hope that I filled the French checks out properly.  They are different than the US and I am crossing my fingers.  There are a number of mailboxes within the post office for different zip codes.  As I checked and double checked I dropped the letters in praying that they get to the correct location.

One more small "first" crossed off my list.  Piece of cake!  

Isn't she a beauty?  I spotted this bouquet  at the flower market and came home telling Dan "honey, I found my Valentine's gift."  He said "oh good, what am I going to get you?"  She has been posing for me all morning, and now she sits on the mantel plumping up her velvety petals every time I pass by.

I think Sophie summed up Valentine's Day perfectly over our pancake breakfast. She prayed "Dear God, thank you for Valentine's Day, you know Lord, it's not about the candy, it's really all about love.  I just love our family, Mommy, Daddy, Max and me......and Nana and Papa, we are a family, and that is what love is all about". 

I hope you love on your family and friends a little deeper today.  Enjoy one of the sweetest days out of the year.  I love how American's embrace this holiday.  What can be better than love?  Isn't that what life is about?  God's greatest commandment.  We need more of it in this world today.   

We were invited to lunch by a friend of Dan's from work today.  We made sure to have a beautiful flower arrangement for our gracious hostess......

We then made our way into Dan's work on the metro to retrieve our car.  We do not have parking in our building...........

Next, we were on our way. I sat impressed with my man as he easily maneuvered us out of the bustling city of Paris, onto the highway and finally into the lovely city of Laimur.

Within an hour we found Jacque Jean and Emmanuelles sweet little village and beautiful home made from stone.

May we come in ................

They welcomed us with open arms and we were introduced to their four beautiful daughters. They grabbed Max and Sophie by the hand and whisked them off to play upstairs. Dan and I were shown into the cozy living room.  It had large French doors that looked out onto the snow covered backyard.

We sat and talked over a champagne and canapes then the four of us retreated to the dining table and spent the next five hours eating, talking and laughing ..........( the children ate in the kitchen upstairs and played )

I loved spending the afternoon with this couple. They are extremely warm and have lead such an interesting life. Jean Jacque spent his childhood in Corsica. He and Emmanuelle married and moved to Australia for eight years where They had their four daughters. Then they moved to the South of France for a couple of years and then on to Ireland for four years.

They were full of encouraging words about our experience in Paris and were more than willing to answer our questions.

Thank you Jacque Jean and Emmanuelle for sharing your day with us .......

Only in France do you meet with your children's teacher and then exit into the hallway where wine and cheese are served. It's a different world here.

I was so eager to meet with the kids teacher. I was pleasantly surprised that they are doing very well adjusting to their new enviornment and classmates. Their teacher said that they are extremely confident and are always eager to share their opinion. (This stamped a happy face on my heart because I lacked confidence as a child in school).

Max and Sophie were in kindergarten in Texas and are currently in first grade in France. (They only had openings in first grade). I was not surprised to hear that they are struggling to keep up in class. Their teacher said that it doesn't stop them from participating. They want to learn and do not give up. She has a small group of children that she is able to teach and give kindergarten material. She only has 12 students. What a blessing.

I walked away from the meeting very pleased that Max and Sophie are so happy at school. Who knew? I think they must be exhausted by the time they get home and I get their "gunk" for the time being.  Patience Gina. 

"What's going on behind those eyes of yours?"

I look all around me and my children are right beneath my feet in little puddles. It can be as simple as giving Max the wrong pastry, he gets red in the face and crocodile tears form and he begins to cry. (He does not like to cry and always tries holding it back).

Sophie is having the greatest difficulty with this new life of ours. She cannot express it with her words but I can tell by her argumentative behavior. She is constantly fighting and disobeying me about everything under the sun. My patience is wearing thin.

What happened to my (very irrational) and beautiful picture of my family? I have a tendency to not worry about "the uglies" in a situation until I am stuck right in the middle of them. I always hope for the best. Our kids have always rolled with our life and I assumed that they would do the same with this new life in Paris. I was so wrong.

After a very long day of trying to either step over or mop up my little puddles that I call Max and Sophie, I was exhausted.  I ended the day picking the wrong battle with my daughter.  Why I insisted that she go pee before bed, I do not know? When I say, I insisted, I mean, I really did!  Yelling at her, "now you get on that toilet and pee little girl!"  "But Mom, I can't, I promise" said Sophie, looking up at me from the toilet.  "You WILL go pee and I am going to stand here in this little closet of a room the French stick  their toilets in and pee!". Dan heard all the commotion and came in. I looked at him and said "you deal with her." He, very calmy tried explaining that she had pee'd in her bed two times this week and she needed to go pee. "" But Dad ......." , Sophie said. "But Sophie ......." Dad said, (his voice getting louder).

Shockingly, we were able to get the kids to bed and by this time Dan was looking at me like I was losing it. (Prior to the pee incident, Sophie was arguing with me about something and I literally said "Hey Sophie, watch me " and proceeded to put my hands over my ears singing" la la la la la la. "Real mature, I know. Not my proudest moment but the truth.

We are in the middle of a major transition. My rose colored glasses are off and my prescription lenses are on. Is this what people were trying to tell me about before I left?  This period of adjustment. It's not fun and the day after all the drama, I am spent.

I am a bit scared of this daughter of mine who is incredibly stubborn and argumentative. I am already fearing her teen years. It is so hard to see the kids struggling.  My heart physically aches for them. I know my Dad would tell me, "Kids are very resilient, they will be just fine."  I know that kids are strong but that Mother in me, who has a perpetual guilt complex, worries that I am scarring them forever. Is this amazing dream of mine turning into a nightmare for my little darlings?

"Sophie, I think if we go that way, we will find our way back home to Texas"

We were riding a very clean train the other day and Max said, "Mommy, how come this train does not have any coloring on it?" I said "that is called graffiti."

I was so excited to get the kids off to school  because I had a few ideas "up my sleeve".  I was going to begin decorating our little apartment. 

I love our kitchen, it is tiny and all the drawers roll out easily, there seems to be plenty of space for pots, pans, dishes and I have a dishwasher.    I adore our tiny table where the kids have their breakfast in the morning and I sit; nursing my coffee in the mornings, staring at the wall.  I can pull up a chair for me from the dining room and sit with the kids.  "You need an extra spoon Max",  "No problem", as I stay seated and reach for the drawer and pull it out.  "You need more milk?"  "Here, let me bend over and open the refrigerator."  "You want me to throw that in the trash?"  "Sure, ahhhhh, (longer reacher), done!"  It's a snap to clean too. 

I bought the cyclamen flowers this afternoon.  It snowed lightly most of the day and was 33 degrees.  Why I chose to do my grocery, flower and froo froo shopping today?  I have no idea.  Although, now I am so happy I did because our little kitchen looks so much happier.  

Don't forget to notice the lamp I found today, so petite and slender, just like the french women.  Hate them! 

Our view from the kitchen isn't pretty.  It faces all of the other apartments and at the bottom is a small courtyard where they keep all the trash.  Hum, not sure that we will keep our kitchen windows open much.  I have noticed that everyone has lace curtains on their kitchen windows.  Great idea!  I found these crisp, white, sheer, gauzy little numbers that will hang like a cafe curtain. 

I will leave you with my favorite part of the kitchen.  Our little table.  I LOVE sitting at it with the kids in the morning.  I LOVE our after school snacks at our table and our nightly homework sessions.  Every now and again when we are having leftovers, I cram all four of us at the table.  No complaints yet. 

I think I would climb inside my family if I could.  They are comfort and joy to me!   Hope you enjoyed the pictures, now go and have a fabulous day!