Anyone who has ever had children or been around children at Christmas time knows of the hyperactivity of children awaiting the arrival of Santa.  The kids love opening Christmas treasures that have been locked away for a year.  They are underfoot the entire time I am pulling out boxes.  At this age they remember what we have and dig around for their stockings, their small Christmas trees for their rooms, the snow globes we started collecting when they were two years old, our nativity scene, their special ornaments, etc.  

By the end of the day I have had just about enough of them bouncing off the walls.  I suppose the hot cocoa doesn't help matters as we decorate our tree but it is tradition and I can't deviate.  Enjoy a glimpse of my family enjoying the beginning of this Holiday Season.   

I love watching the kids concentrate.  They have always stuck their tongue to the side of their mouth, or pursed their lips while concentrating.  I will be so sad when this ends.

We started our "minimal" Christmas decorating this weekend.  I pulled out our nativity scene and began to put it on our mantel and laughed at how sad it looked.  The donkey was missing an ear and one side of his face was all banged up, the cow was missing part of it's front leg, our angel had one wing, was missing an arm and her "good" hand was missing its fingers.  The shepard boy was missing the top of his staff.

We have only had this nativity for five years.  I dropped the angel the first year and caused her deformity but what in the world happened to the rest of our friends?  I think Max and Sophie "happened".  I love letting them play with it and they love hearing the story of Jesus's birth year after year. 

Maybe it is not such a bad thing that it is "banged up" a bit.  I don't think that it should be high up on a shelf  away from chubby little fingers to hold and ask questions.  I would rather have a shabby looking nativity scene with the knowledge of the true meaning of Christmas locked away in my children's hearts than an untouched  nativity with questions lingering in their minds.

Ring, ring, ring, ring..........."Hello",  "Hello Gina, this is Ralda, I have some good news for you.  I have spoken to the headmistress at the bilingual school and it looks like a 90% chance that Max and Sophie will be accepted."  

This was the phone call I received as I was rushing out the door.  Can I tell you a secret?  I felt like God directed me to this school and that He wants Max and Sophie to be a light at this school.  I am taking 90% to mean 100%. 

It's been an interesting week of sending applications, report cards, teacher reports, etc. to Paris.    I heard back early in the week that the school did not have any openings for our children.  For some reason, I did not lose hope,  I wasn't ready to "throw in the towel."   Our amazing relocation representative, Ralda,  has been working "behind the scenes" all week and talking to some influential people at the school and obviously worked her magic.  She actually called on Thanksgiving Day to give us the good news.  (She grew up in the US until age seven when her family moved to Paris.)  She thought it befitting to tell us on Thanksgiving.  I agreed.  Just one more reason to give thanks!       

That would be me at the moment?  Beth outdid herself and we just about licked our plates clean.  Thank you McAdams family for a memorable Thanksgiving.  Thanks for being so accomodating with my camera lense in your direction for most of the afternoon and evening.  You are a beautiful family and fun to photograph. 

I have so much to be thankful for it is hard to know where to begin.  I am thankful for my health and the health of my family.  The support I feel from my friends and family is humbling.  God continually pours his love on me day in and day out.  I see it in the big and the small things.

Yesterday was such a gift for me.  After a busy couple of days, I took the kids to the park and played with them and sat in the sun enjoying it's warmth.  Thanks to some special friends who invited us over for Thanksgiving, I did not spend the day before Thanksgiving cooking and running to the market for last minute items.  My only requirement was to make my potato gratin (my Mom's recipe) and show up.  Their thoughtfulness warms my soul. 

Enjoy your family and friends today and thank you for taking an interest in my life and this blog.  I appreciate all of your comments, emails and support. 

Max and Sophie tagged along with me as I ran errand after errand.  I love hearing their little voices and thoughts on my life.  Max told me on our fourth stop, "Mom, you do too much".  (Can't you just eat him with a spoon?)  Sophie asked as we entered the bank "Mom, are you getting Paris money?"  Then as we were finishing up on or about our sixth stop Max says "Mom, this is never going to end, it just keeps on going and going". 

He is so right. It never ends.  It is just a part of life but so much sweeter when shared with my little chicks.

I love Fall.  The color of the leaves changing daily, bright blue sky, cooler weather, fog hanging in the air in the mornings, awe-inspiring sunsets, apples and pears, oh my.   I am enjoying my camera and have been taking some snippets of Texas in the Fall.  Enjoy!

I think Max and Sophie grew an inch while we were away.  They looked so much older.  How is that possible?  The kids pounced on us as Mom snapped photo's.  I couldn't get enough of them.  They were bouncing off the walls with excitement.  Everyone had so much to say so we just talked over each other.. 

Mom and I swapped stories of my trip and her adventure watching the kiddo's.  She thrived, as usual, taking the kids here and there.  She wrote down some funny stories about the kids.  (I love it when she does that).  Max was an absolute peach and Mom was brought to tears sharing sweet stories about him.  Sophie was a peach with a few bruises.  The girl always has to have the last word and can be quite "snippy" with brother.  She also didn't eat much for Nana.  I told Mom she went on a hunger strike until I came home because the girl "scarfed" up her dinner last night.  She practically licked the plate.  Mom sat there astonished.   Girls!

We just dropped Mom off at the airport.  She can't wait to see Dad.  Those two are adorable.  They have been married for almost 50 years and they are like bread and butter.  They just go together.  Neither Mom nor I like long goodbyes so we just hugged and kissed and said "see you in Paris"!  Perfect! 

The Christmas market was a reminder of childlike wonder.  Children were everywhere; wide eyes, smiles, laughter, balloons, cotton candy and gingerbread filled the air.  We were shoulder to shoulder with every nationality.    Dan and I kept on saying "oh, the kids would love that". 

I am sitting at the airport eating a crusty, buttery, flaky croissant.  I have eaten too many of these this week but I think all the walking counter balanced the fattening little treats. 

My eyes feel heavy and I am enjoying the quiet at the moment.  I glance up every now and again at my man.  So proud of him and thankful that I get to join him on this adventure.  This would not be happening if it weren't for him.  

I am bubbling over with anticipation to see my little chicks.  I can't wait to relieve my Mom of mothering my children.  I know that she has enjoyed herself (I hope) but I know how tiring it is as well.

"American Airlines, flight #49, ready for boarding"............that would be me.    

I have been pleasantly suprised by my VERY limited vocabulary and understanding of the french language this trip.  When we were in Paris this summer, I  had difficulty picking out anything that sounded familiar.  I was constantly responding to the shopkeepers in spanish; "si senor".  It was really ticking me off.

Dan and I took our beginner french class this fall and although we felt lost and stumbled through it, we actually learned something.  I am picking out words here and there and I am feeling more confident "trying" to speak to the french.  They are very encouraging and happy when I try. 

Today we are off to the french Christmas market.  I should have some great pictures with all the Christmas decorations lit up tonight.   I will try and post them when we come back to our room.