Last week: snuggle buddies and animal field trip

Snuggle Buddies! A spontaneous time of snuggling on the same pillow had to be captured by photo:)

Marianna at her class field trip which Daniel was able to join in on. They visited an exhibit at the library about animals.  France is very good at providing cultural and educational experiences, the kids walk to LOTS of field trips.

Menu Plan

For a few weeks I fell off the menu planning band-wagon and thankfully no hunger related disasters occurred:). Most of it was sickness related, but also time-related, but that always ends up backfiring, because I spend way too much time figuring it out every day since we don't eat much of any convenience food. We rarely eat pasta anymore even (for health-issues, etc.), so a quick meal of pasta with sauce is usually out. So menu planning helps me so much...and back at it I am.

Monday: Taco Soup, cornbread
 Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie or Chicken and Dumplings
 Wednesday: Pumpkin Soup, spelt bread (machine)
 Thursday: Cabbage and bacon stir fry
 Friday: Homemade Pizza, raw veggies/dip
 Saturday: Hamburgers, homefries
 Sunday: Taco Salad with our french friends, hopefully!

What's are you cooking this week?

Sunday Rendez-Vous

Our new friend and the friend to all foreigners, Claudia had us over for her delicious lasagne and cake lunch yesterday. She even made her own noodles! So yummy. The kids practically licked their plates afterward...she was happy they ate so well:). Anyway, she has been helping missionaries and foreigners of all types from the church to feel welcome for years and is so sweet. We spent the afternoon with her and her husband for lunch and then afterward with her at the park. It was a special time and encouraging to me that we could actually communicate with her fairly easily. Our sentences weren't pretty, but we could understand and make ourselves understood. That is encouraging:). She also offered to meet again to teach the kids how to make homemade pasta! What a fun time that will be!! Here are some pictures from our time at the park:

Half dead and sick in bed:(

Again, post frequency fail, but this time its legitimate. This is one of the few times I've been on the computer in the last week and out of bed in the last few days. A sore throat that felt like knives with fatigue, fever etc. turned quickly into the worst sinus infection of my life. I wish I was exaggerating. I made it to the doctor today and back with some meds and hoping for the best. Daniel's been working overtime to care for all of us and still learn french...thankful for him and for friends who've sent us leftovers and pizza on occasion! The good news in all of this...our grocery bill was probably reduced by 25% this past two weeks since I couldn't eat most of the time. Okay, not worth it. So there you have it...back to bed now.

Sick again, sisters and what's fo' dinner

Here are some pics of the cute girls who seem to get cuter every day in my house:

Lots of playing inside lately as we've gotten ravished by a round of nasty sick-bugs. I am the latest victim, but Louis is still pretty sick (and struggling with an ear infection I think). So no french-learnin' for me this week, minus reading my John Grisham novel in french (because that's what I got!), and watching the occasional french cartoon with my kiddos. And for dinner, even though half of us are too sick to eat, will be Peking Duck! Daniel brought a whole duck home from the grocery store and I had no room in the freezer so voila...duck for dinner:) I think I will serve it will rice and steamed carrots or broccoli. Has the cold season been rough for you all in the Etas-Unis? I hope it isn't as nasty as here? And for fun what's on your menu tonight?

October Visit avec les grandparents

It's about time for some pictures of the visit with my parents. Thank you to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Blake for these pics:)

Marianna's 5th bday with grandparents...helping make chocolate cupcakes:)

At the farmer's market (on a very wet Saturday) in Chambery. 

Rachael trying to show off some mad french skilz (or at least be understood;)

Livvie Sings her made up french song

Avignon part 2

The anxiously awaited second round of Avignon pictures. Okay, not so anxiously awaited, but I figured if the other post was titled Part 1, I should probably add a part two sometime:)

This was from one of the few hours I felt well on our trip...so excited to leave the hotel room!

Our front door at the bed and breakfast.

Daniel at the Palais de Papes I think