Couvert de Neige à Paris

Some days I will be out running errands
with the kids and look up to see the
 Eiffel Tower. It is in those moments
that I remember how lucky I am to be
living in such a beautiful city. 

     Bonjour! This has been a crazy long week. I have been busy with one thing or another all week long. School has picked up, both French classes, and online classes with the university. Then of course both kids were home sick, and it SNOWED!

     Daniel was out of school for three days due to a fever. He slept for most of the day, then was calm a quiet at night, until he started feeling better. By the end of the three days he was driving Cecile and me insane! Running all over the house and yelling. In the end we were happy to see him go back to school. Aimée also “got sick,” although we still don’t know if she was actually sick or not. She slowed down and didn’t eat (which only happens when she is sick), but didn’t have a fever or anything. She stayed home on the short Wednesday, but that was it. It was nice when the kids went back to school.

Gotta love the Louvre

     I have been overwhelmed with work this week. Between taking care of the kids, homework for school and filling out paper work for the University, I am exhausted! It’s to be expected. It’s the beginning of a new year, so everything is fresh. I really enjoy my French classes this semester. I hope they will be more a challenge for me, and I will be able to understand more. The teachers I have are really good.

Virgin of the Rocks (Madonna of the Rocks)
is by Leonardo da Vinci and it hangs
around the corner from the Mona Lisa.
Yet most people walk past this to see her.
In my opinion this is more beautiful than the
Mona Lisa. Took my breath away when I saw it.  

     All week it has been FREEZING! Then on Friday it snowed, and hasn’t stopped since! It’s really quite funny. I am used to the snow since I grew up in Utah where it snowed even in the summer sometimes, but Parisians are NOT used to the snow. It has been very amusing to watch everyone buddle up in their thick coats, and raid the super markets as if this is their last chance to stock up on food. I will admit, it’s been very wet and cold, and it is not fun walking everywhere in the snow. The kids have enjoyed the snow. In fact everyone I have been with has enjoyed the snow. It is fun watching friends who rarely get to see snow running around and throwing it like children (which resulted in me falling on my face). It is almost like I am back at home.

     This week I watched the kids a lot during the night as the parents went out to dinner with friends and hosted potluck parties. One night, the kids and I were having dinner and there was music playing, the kids weren’t paying much attention until I started to dance to Low Rider. They were laughing so much! It wasn’t long before they had joined in, and that was how the dance party started. I now understand why parents sometimes make fools of themselves for their children. There is nothing better than watching a child laugh.

My Louvre buddies. Louis, Emily, and Joanna
after a very cold snowball fight .

     I have also been reading the Percy Jackson series with the kids. Daniel gets so much into it! He will ask me so many interesting questions about the story and about the Greek Gods (thank goodness I took that Mythology Class in College). It’s even better when they talk about it at the dinner table with their parents. Telling them about the various monsters and hero’s that I read to them.

     Maybe the book isn’t a very good idea, because two nights in a row Daniel has woken up with nightmares. 11:00 PM, parents are out, *phone rings* it’s Aimée (keep in mind she is down the hall in her room). Me: “Yes? Why are you calling? What are you still doing awake?!” A: “Daniel is sad!” Me: “OK I will go talk to him.” I walk into his room to find him up and moving around while mumbling. I was only able to wake him after turning on all the lights and calling him name. To which he then said “Hello! Can I have a drink of water?” He was asleep as soon as he lay back down. I don’t think the book is the result of the nightmares though, because he really enjoys them.

Freezing my butt off at the
Eiffel Tower with Brittany/ 

     Something weird happened to me this weekend. Last night my elbow swelled up for no reason. My guess is that I was bit by a bug (thought I have no memory of this), so that has put a huge damper on my weekend since it is quite painful. I have taken care of myself for a long time, but there are still those times when I need to call home and ask for advice. Let’s hope that putting ice on it will do the trick.

     Here is another piece of knowledge you may or may not know. Last Friday France entered in war against rebel groups towards southern Mali at the request of the Malian authorities and the United Nations. Although nothing is expected to happen, security has been increased all over Paris. The family isn’t worried, so there is nothing to fear, but it is strange living is a city so close to war. Living in the United States is different during war (since it's so big) compared to France. I will keep you all posted on this. 

In Paris you don't make
snow men, you make Eiffel Towers.

     This week I was able to enjoy the company of lots of great friends. Lunch and dinner dates, random get-togethers and an amazing trip to the Louvre. I learned that with my student pass I have free access to many of the art museums, which is amazing! Especially since the Louvre is so big it’s impossible to see the whole thing it one day. I predict many visits in the near future. I am so lucky to have met some really amazing people while living here in Paris. Every single one of them has changed my life in one way or another, and it has made me into a better person. I don’t know what I would do without their love and support.

     Tomorrow I go to my first private French lesson, and this week I work hard on getting my school work under control. I guess some trips to the Louvre are going to need to wait. Oh, and the title this week “Couvert de Neige à Paris” basically means Snow covered Paris.

     Thank you all so much for reading my blog. I don’t know who is out there following every week, but I see that you are. This is my 30th post since moving to Paris, which means that I have been living in Paris for 30 weeks, which doesn’t seem like that long but it is! I am so lucky for this opportunity, and, despite the trials, it has been the greatest experience. Until next week!