Another busy week- so busy that I am posting early!  Chris had a childhood friend arrive on Monday and we spent a couple days touring Paris.  On Tuesday Emilia had her birthday party at school.  The special trip into Paris to find the angel food Duncan Hines mix, pink frosting and skittles was well worth it as she came home beaming that her cupcakes were a huge success.

On Wednesday we took off for vacation. We had breakfast in France, lunch in Germany and dinner in Czech Republic.  It was a long journey and the kids behaved quite well. At one point Emilia was crying and my mom mentioned medicine and she stopped.  A few hours later- Luciana was crying and I  heard my mom say- "who wants medicine?" again and all the kids screamed "me!!!"  This time I turned around to see that my mom was giving the kids skittles whenever they cried and called it medicine. Only a grandmother would do this!  Poor Alex, he is still having stomach issues- so we had to stop frequently throughout the drive and eventually during the whole week.  I seriously think we spent about $10 in bathroom usage fees for the week we were gone.  The drive was about 11 hours but as the 9 of us were crowded in an over sized van crossing the Czech Republic border,  I could not help thinking of one of the lines in a favorite movie of mine- Stripes, "Come on, it's Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick them up, and we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czechoslovakia, it's like going into Wisconsin."


Prague is beautiful.   The castle, narrow cobble streets, dark passageways, bridges and buildings are truly spectacular sights.  The people here are also very kind and friendly.  It seemed as if everyone spoke English.   The streets are clean and the food fantastic.  We started our day by crossing the Charles Bridge which was built in 1357.  The bridge connects Old Prague to the castle.  As you cross you are guided by statues along the way.  We then toured Prague castle and climbed the 250+ steps up one of its towers.  Luciana made it up too- counting to 20 over and over again until she reached the top- breathless.  The view on top was well worth the climb up the narrow staircase.

Alex on our apartment balcony

One of the many marionette shops

Entrance to the Charles bridge

Castle guard- kids like the changing of the guards

Cathedral at the castle

Luciana climbing the tower

view from the top of the tower

The men drinking something very strong

The Lennies

The kids stopped along our way back and got themselves "European hotdogs".  Its great that they are now willing to go to a foreign county and buy things all on their own.  We stopped in Old Town square for lunch having typical Czech food- sausages and potatoes with sauerkraut.   The kids also stopped to get themselves a sweet dessert called Trdelnik.  It is rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with sugar and almonds.  Very delicious!  We then saw the Astronomical Clock.  It is the third oldest medieval clock dating back to 1410 and it is the only one still working.  Every hour a window on top opens and 4 dolls rotate around- Luciana said it was very creepy- I agree!  We ended our walk with a tour of the Havelske Trziste, an outdoor market.  We ended our evening with pizza and the kids were exhausted- so we went back home to call it a night.  Except for the men- they thought it would be fun to go to the torture devices museum. Glad I have no photos of that!

Olivia and Alex ordering their european hotdog

The trdelnik treat

Astronomical clock

Our first encounter in Prague seeing a homeless person was quite a moment.  You don't see them very often as you would in any other large city.  The poor that are begging for money kneel to the ground, bend over, and beg while bowed down on their knees and there faces in the ground. They hold a cup or cap in front of them with both hands and are silent.  It is the most humble position.  You feel they have a loss of pride.   Emilia dropped a coin in one man's cup and he immediately raised his head and looked at her and said words I can only assume were thank you.  It was so genuine and so different than what I see in the states.  I took a photo below.

The next day we went to New Prague.  It really isn't new- but it is home to Wenceslas Square.  It is a boulevard of shops and businesses.  At the top of the street is the national museum and the statue of Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia.

Our first Starbucks in over 3 months

pumping water for the city

Wenceslas square

We then headed to Petrin tower.  It is a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower.  It sits on top of a hill and is surrounded by gardens, playgrounds, churches and even a mirror maze which the kids really enjoyed. We stopped at large playground on the way down and I think people were entertained watching Chris and his friend on the equipment as well.

Petrin tower

View from Petrin tower

Mirror maze

Gardens

On the way home we stopped at a Thai Massage place and Alex and Olivia had their feet "massaged and exfoliated" by fish in a tank.  As the kids had their feet nibbled on for 25 minutes, they had their photos taken by several tourists!

Olivia and Alex on display 

Nibble fish

"It feels like a vibration"

We had a nice last evening in Prague.  We decided we were going to celebrate Emilia's upcoming 7th birthday in each country.  They gave her a cake with what seemed like a firecracker on top.  We ended the night in Old Town square.  Tomorrow we are headed to Vienna......

Emilia and her cake

The week began on a very sad note.  My grandma (abuelita) died at 98 years of age.  She was truly the kindest person one could ever meet.  Alex asked if abuelita had ever been to Paris.  I told him that she had not.  He said - "Thats OK- now she can come visit us an angel".  We were all hoping she would make it to 100 because we were planning a big party in Ecuador, but I am so fortunate that all my children had the chance to see and hug her when we went to visit in the summer of 2011.

My birthday was the following day and I really didn't feel like celebrating.  The kids made me paintings and brought me gifts of chocolate.  Chris and I went to the Musee Carnavalet. It is a museum dedicated to the history of Paris.  I think its a unique museum in that it shows Paris in all different types of historical elements- from artwork to sculptures to bedrooms designed with furniture owned by famous parisians.  There are over 100 rooms dating from prehistoric Paris to present day.  There was too much to cover in one morning so we will be back. On a different note,  Emilia lost her two front teeth in two days.  Rather than a tooth fairy, there is a mouse in France who comes to take your teeth.  She looks pretty adorable!

The week got better as my parents arrived on Friday.  Poor Alex had a stomach bug for two days but it was nice to have family here.  Makes you appreciate them all the more.  Kids were so happy to see them.  Tight squeezes that lasted minutes.  We kept it low key the first 24 hours to get them acclimated to the time zone.   My mom kept falling asleep at random moments so we thought it best to stick around Saint-Cloud.  

On Saturday evening we went out to celebrate my birthday with my parents.  We went on a dinner cruise along the Seine.  Paris at night is beautiful.  All is illuminated and it really does take your breath away.  We have seen the monuments around Il de Cite many times but on a boat in the evening really puts a new perspective on it.  

Abi and  Opa are here!

The Lourve

Dinner cruise along the Seine

Sunday, we went to Saint Germain en Laye.  Sundays they have a very large marche. The kids got a kick out of the seafood.  There are many great places to shop but as we were with Chris and my dad, my mom and I couldn't take advantage of it all!  We also went to the chateau and took a nice long walk along the gardens.   Olivia and Alex were our photographers today. 

Luciana dipping her croissant in her hot chocolate

Outside the market

langostinos

Alex and the crab that was still alive

Olivia and her baguette

Browsing the bookstore.  Most of the children's books in France are written in comic book form.

Opa, Abi and Lulu

In front of the chateau St. Germain

chateau gardens

Goopy and opa taking a scenic break

Playing hide and seek in the chateau gardens.  Alex hid deep in the gardens and came running out with some kind of  plant rash

Emilia and the three tree ladies

Me and my mom

Olivia disgusted at the pig and cow tongues for sale

Sunday evening my mom made empanadas.  My kids favorite dish that my mom makes.  We made 30 of them and they ate them like there was no tomorrow.  We then headed to evening mass in Saint-Cloud.  I can not remember the last time I went to an evening mass so I can not compare it to the US but here in France the church was packed- close to 1000 people.  It was mostly young adults and families with older children. Everyone sings and I think my dad may have been the only one who didn't take communion.  We ended the evening playing Uno with the kids.  Feels like my parents have been here the whole time!  Looking forward to next weeks adventures.  

I had my first french lesson this week. We are learning to count and write numbers.  I still find it quite odd on the numbers once you hit 70.  There is no number for 70- rather it is 60 plus 10, 60 plus 11, etc., Then 80 is quatre-vingts, or four 20's.   The teachers response to the number 99 ( four twenties plus nineteen) was that it is all quite logical.   I need to learn how to write numbers as well because anytime I need to write a check it takes me at least 5 minutes to figure it out.  The french have such pride in their language.  It's funny- I think they prefer that you attempt to speak french then revert to English because they can't take hearing their language butchered.

One afternoon @1:30 while Luciana was at gymnastics class, I decided to sit outside her gym and work on my french homework- just writing in a notebook my two verb forms and practicing writing numbers.   A Frenchman came up to me smiling and rattled off something I couldn't get at all.  I said I didn't speak french and he replied " I was just saying about how impressive it was that you were working so hard in the middle of this sunny day"  (keep in mind french have a 35 hour work week and often have a long break for lunch from 12-2.   During these times nearly everything shuts down).  I showed him what I was doing and he sat next to me, corrected all my homework and took off on his bike with his tennis racket.


I went to the grocery store the other day and grabbed what I thought were the sausages I normally get. When I got home I noticed that it said Andoulliette and it looked a bit odd.  I chopped it all up, added potatoes and onions and served it up.   Kids told me it was a bit different but still ate it all.  I googled it after dinner and turns out it is pig's intestines.  I will never tell them. On second thought, I will at just the opportune time.

Alex had his first field trip at school.  They went to Il de Cite- visiting Notre Dame and took a cruise on the Siene.  He also had to bring 5 euros.  As part of the field trip, he had to order either a crepe or ice cream in French to a street vendor.  Alex had been practicing all week.  I told him that I was going to Paris that day as well and his advice was for me to watch for pickpocketers and to wear a jacket in case it rains.

A boy from Olivia's class has been emailing her all week.   He is from Korea.  It is obvious he has a crush on her and its fun that she is letting me read everything and asks for advice. I hope that we will always have this close trusting relationship because I have a feeling that I am going to have my hands full with Emilia.  I found her flirtatiously wrestling a boy who is two years older than her in the playground.  All giggles and throwing her hair back- Lord help me!

Chris joined me this week for another of my Paris tours. We went to Le Marais.  We had come here as a family last weekend, visiting Bastille.  Going on a guided tour was much better.  We learned of of its historic significance as it was located within the kings passage from the Louvre to St. Vincennes.  It is interesting as you walk through the narrow crooked streets- you will find mansions or hotels particuliers still intact.  One which we saw is now the Musee Carnavelet.   Le Marais is also the location of Place des Vosges. Henry IV built the square.  He wanted uniformity and all the homes facades were to be identical.  Victor Hugo lived in one of the apartments while he wrote Les Miserables.

One of the oldest building- built in 1506.  Today is rented out as an apartment.

A hotel particulier owned by Catherine Henriette Bellier 1654.  The king hired her to "initiate Louis XIV into manhood" when he was around 14. She was obviously paid quite well!

One of the original walls enclosing all of Paris- now a playground for the high school. 

A church wall where Louis XIII and XIV hearts were once buried.  When a king dies- there bodies are buried in St. Denis but they choose where they want their hearts to be buried. 

The only statue of Louis XIV that survived the revolution.  It is now in the courtyard of Musee Carnavalet.

Place des Vosges

Chris took off for the states early today and asked the kids what they wanted him to bring back from Chicago.  Alex said Mac and Cheese, Luciana said her friends Zoe and Sophia and Emilia said a piece of her friend Blakely's hair....anyway I caught the kids this morning all dressed in black pretending to be ninjas.  They had tied the hose to two trees and were trying to make Luciana a human catapult- so I decided we better get out of here and drove into Paris.  I took the kids to A La Mere de Famille.  It is the oldest candy store in all of Paris- dating back 250 years.  Of course- we bought way too much chocolate.

We then picked up a friend of Olivia's and went to Jardin d'Acclimation.  We went there our first week in Paris and the kids had a great time again...It is a bit expensive but with Chris away it makes it easier to entertain 4 kids- or in todays case- 5 kids!

Kids are always singing songs in French. I found many videos on my phone that I assume were directed by Olivia. I am sharing a few below. It is funny because Emilia and Alex have the best accents. They are always correcting me with my "r" sound. Luciana says a few things in french at random moments and mostly to herself. I asked Luciana who her friends are at school. She replied, "Eleanor and the girl with the blue jacket. And the girl with the gray coat loves me too. The boy with orange coat is not nice to me" She can't seem to get the french names yet!

We started the week off with another mini- adventure.  Luciana woke up at 10pm screaming that her ear was hurting.  She has been coughing for over a week during the night so it was to no surprise that she had an infection.   From one of my seminars- I learned to call SOS at night for doctor advice.  What another fantastic French service!   A doctor was at our home within the hour and gave her medicine to get her through the night.  A total bill of $148 for incredible customer service.  I went to the pharmacy the next morning to fill her three scripts- ammoxicillin, a pain/fever reliever, and Betamethasone.  This steroid is given to reduce inflammation for 3 days- this is was what she was given that evening by the doctor and she was fine within hours.  Another interesting fact- is that you are given the whole bottle of medicine- not just the amount for days required.  Our total pharmacy bill- $14.  The cost of medicine still surprises me- especially compared to other goods to here.  I had to buy Emilia a water bottle for school and that cost me $14 too!

Chris and I joined the Paris Country Club.  We never have been members in the US but given the cost here- we decided to join.  I started out with a workout class with 40 other woman while Chris was on his own.  We then enjoyed a coffee and croissant at the restaurant.  So much for those calories I just burned.   Chris and I also will be starting tennis lessons there as well.  Unfortunately Chris was sick all week- just a bad cold. According to him, it was life threatening and he needed to rest all the time so we didn't make it back to the gym.

Horse riding lessons have been getting better and easier.  I finally feel comfortable putting the bridle on and the kids know how to saddle the horse.  Each week they have a different horse and each horse has different equipment so they can read the symbols as to what they need to get.   Emilia's horse managed to stick his head in the garbage can on the way in to the course and it got stuck. I pulled it off of him but he had a mouth full of garbage.  Horses can't vomit so here I am shoving my hand in the horse's mouth trying to get anything out.  Fortunately the instructor saw and came running to help. Never a dull moment at riding lessons! The kids did great though as they stood on their horses and are trotting now.

Olivia is really breaking out of her shell.  At gymnastics she has made some friends and they all try speaking English to her.  Olivia wanted to show them she knew a bit of French- so at the break she gathered everyone around her and starting singing a French song.  Her teammates all applauded.  It was very cute.  Also, the temporary change in gyms is good for her.  She feels she needs to prove herself and is doing new tricks she would have been afraid to do before.  

I joined a group of five moms at school who are responsible for creating the 5th grade memory book.  I chaired the yearbook at Lake Bluff so I think I can handle the one grade.  It is recording all the 5th grade events and it is a gift for them as they enter middle school next year.

Friday we had our visit with the OFII.  This is the office that gives us the final stamp of approval for our year long visa.  We missed the first two appointments as Chris was out of town.  They told us we "better make this one".  We had to have a medical exam which included lung x-rays. Now we are officially approved to stay for one year.

Saturday, Chris and I finally had another date night.   Chris and I were dressed nicely and Alex kept looking at us smiling.  He told me I looked beautiful with loving eyes.  I told him - "You can't marry your mom Alex- and he replies "I can in my dreams".  He cracks me up- he is already quite the charmer.  We went to a place called Thoumieux- its in the 7th Arrs. of Paris.  Excellent food and atmosphere!  The dessert was fantastic - I had to take a photo.

Sunday was Alex's first hockey game.  His team is Les Tigres de Boulogne. He scored one goal and had four assists.   One of Alex's coaches coached Marian Hossa from ages 11-14.  He told Alex- its all about the footwork at this age.

I can't believe it is almost October.  We are already 1/4 into our trip. My parents are coming soon and we are headed to Prague, Vienna and Munich.  It's a road trip so it will be an adventure as we rented a humongous van.  My dad will finally get to drive on the autobahn!  My sister and Lucas are coming in November and Bonpapa and Laura in December.   I am also super excited as we just booked our New Years plans.  We are headed to Morocco for 10 days!  Spending a few days in Marrakech and then driving out toward the Sahara- stopping along the way.  Once we get to the desert we have a 2 hour ATV drive out to our luxury camp where we will stay for 2 nights.  We will all be sleeping in a tent together.  We will have camel rides and will be going sand surfing.  So excited for all the vacations and that our family is coming!