Total Steps: 14,480
French words: mome: kid (there is a circumflex over the o)
While the girls napped and Andy worked from home this afternoon, Warren and I tried out a new park just down from Sacre-Coeur. Then we walked up over the hill to ride the carousel, but it was closed for an event. We walked around and rode the other carousel. Since we didn't have the stroller we came home a different way and I realized there are so many cool little streets and areas I didn't know existed! There are also parks along the route, so I will take the kids without the stroller and stop at the parks all along the way. Warren really enjoyed the time together. He asked me if Abigail ever got to go out with me like that, "secret time" I think he called it. I told him no since she is asleep. He was pleased to have time together. Later we were writing a post card to our neighbor and Warren said to tell him that he was glad he got to have time with just mom. I'm glad we ventured out.
After naps, Andy figured out where 2 parks were that we hadn't been to that were very close to our house. We set off to check them out, and they were both great. I will definitely be going back. At the first one, there was a little bike/scooter/roller-blade track, and Warren just ran around it for lack of a set of wheels. At the second park, when Avery was sitting several feet away from me and was approached by another mom and little girl, Avery turned around and pointed at me, like, "I'm not alone." Avery is really in to pointing at things. 2 nights ago, while I was at the store, Andy bathed the kids and then needed to detangle and comb Abigail's hair. He got the comb but couldn't find the bottle of detangler. He hadn't even said anything about combing Abigail's hair, just sat down with the comb, when Avery looked at him, then pointed on top of the family room mirror to where I had put the detangler that morning. She really comprehends what is happening around her. Tonight she repeated, "I love you," after Andy as he was putting her to bed. Last week at the park, Abigail's shoes were missing and I asked Abigail where she had them last. She didn't remember, but apparently Avery did, because she set off and led me right to them, about 100 feet away at another sand box.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Warren's Dream Day
Yesterday could have been called, "Warren's Day," because we did the three things he has been pleading with us to do here in Paris: go up the Eiffel Tower, take a boat tour and ride the RER train. And, he loved the other event I chose, the Parc Andre Citroen that has rows and rows of fountains/water jets that burst up out of the ground for kids to play in. We even bought icecream--at the grocery store--and he bought the light-up Eiffel Tower that he has been coveting for about a week now.
We started off our day at the Eiffel Tower. When we got there, the line was HUGE! We were estimating about 2 hours in line. Still, you have to stand in line some time so why not today? Anyway, we noticed the huge billboards said the top level was temporarily closed. What's the point of paying the highest price to ride the elevator if you can't go all the way up? So, we changed to the stairs line, which was much shorter. We waited less then 30 minutes, paid a lot less and began our trek of 700 stairs up to the second level. We weren't the only one who snapped this picture of Avery; a grandparent-ish looking couple insisted that we let her climb a little longer
We started off our day at the Eiffel Tower. When we got there, the line was HUGE! We were estimating about 2 hours in line. Still, you have to stand in line some time so why not today? Anyway, we noticed the huge billboards said the top level was temporarily closed. What's the point of paying the highest price to ride the elevator if you can't go all the way up? So, we changed to the stairs line, which was much shorter. We waited less then 30 minutes, paid a lot less and began our trek of 700 stairs up to the second level. We weren't the only one who snapped this picture of Avery; a grandparent-ish looking couple insisted that we let her climb a little longer
Avery didn't really climb all 700, maybe about a total of 50-70 steps, interspersed with being carried by dad and mom. But Warren and Abigail did them all! This is us eating lunch on the second level (as high up as we went). It was yummy and had a great view.
Andy and the kids. Andy is SuperMan, because even though Avery is not that big, it's still hard work carrying her up most of the 700 stairs. And he carried Abigail down at least half of them. I carried Avery down and that was easy.
Next we went on a riverboat ride of the Seine. All day long these boats chug up and down the Seine and Warren always asks, "Can we ride one?" Here the kids are enjoying playing with the "phones" that the tour narration came through in the language of your choice.
Warren: "This is more fun than riding the Metro!"
After the boat ride, we were all hungry and thirsty. So we found a grocery store and bought icecream bars and a container of grape juice. By this time, Avery and Abigail were both asleep. Well, icecream melts, so each of us--Andy, Warren and me--ate 2 bars. Just as Warren started his second, and the last, bar, Avery woke up. I suggested that maybe she'd like it. Warren gave it to her. He was so happy; so was Avery.
She was even happier when she finished. As we walked and people saw her, they would laugh out loud. One nice older lady stopped, did a double-take, laughed and said, "Magnifique!" Another group called her an artist.
Our last destination was the Parc Andre Citroen, which has great water fountains for the kids to play in. Warren went wild running around in them. I didn't really get a great picture, due to the water squirting everywhere and my camera batteries dying, but, trust me, he had fun. 
We could've taken the Metro home with a few transfers, but we were also close to the RER, the train system, so we took one of those to our Metro transfer. Warren and Abigail were so excited to ride "above the ground." RER's have two levels, and we rode on the top, which made it especially great, they thought.
Total Steps yesterday: 20,575
After the boat ride, we were all hungry and thirsty. So we found a grocery store and bought icecream bars and a container of grape juice. By this time, Avery and Abigail were both asleep. Well, icecream melts, so each of us--Andy, Warren and me--ate 2 bars. Just as Warren started his second, and the last, bar, Avery woke up. I suggested that maybe she'd like it. Warren gave it to her. He was so happy; so was Avery.
She was even happier when she finished. As we walked and people saw her, they would laugh out loud. One nice older lady stopped, did a double-take, laughed and said, "Magnifique!" Another group called her an artist.
Our last destination was the Parc Andre Citroen, which has great water fountains for the kids to play in. Warren went wild running around in them. I didn't really get a great picture, due to the water squirting everywhere and my camera batteries dying, but, trust me, he had fun. 
We could've taken the Metro home with a few transfers, but we were also close to the RER, the train system, so we took one of those to our Metro transfer. Warren and Abigail were so excited to ride "above the ground." RER's have two levels, and we rode on the top, which made it especially great, they thought.So far today (Sunday): 7,313
French words: affluence: crowd; heurs d'affluence: ru
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Andy here,
One of the fun things about being in France is the attention to detail they put into the food. And not just the taste of the food, also the presentation of it. There are bakeries (boulangeries) everywhere and most of them also sell desserts. Many or these stores design and arrange the food so beautifully that going inside is like visiting a high-end fasion store. Well there was one dessert at the bakery around the corner that I thought looked absolutely amazing. One night I ran to the hardware store and saw the bakery and the dessert again on the way back. I came back and told Bekah and my mom how delightful it looked and that I was going to have to get it some day. Well my mom wanted to see it so we went back, and then she bought it for me. It wasn't that expensive, but I hadn't treated myself to it yet--it was so nice for my mom to do it for me. Here's what it looked like: (It's about 2.5 inches on each side.)
See the gold dust they sprinkle on top? And the way they write the bakery name in tiny gold writing on that top chocolate square? Wow.One of the fun things about being in France is the attention to detail they put into the food. And not just the taste of the food, also the presentation of it. There are bakeries (boulangeries) everywhere and most of them also sell desserts. Many or these stores design and arrange the food so beautifully that going inside is like visiting a high-end fasion store. Well there was one dessert at the bakery around the corner that I thought looked absolutely amazing. One night I ran to the hardware store and saw the bakery and the dessert again on the way back. I came back and told Bekah and my mom how delightful it looked and that I was going to have to get it some day. Well my mom wanted to see it so we went back, and then she bought it for me. It wasn't that expensive, but I hadn't treated myself to it yet--it was so nice for my mom to do it for me. Here's what it looked like: (It's about 2.5 inches on each side.)
And when you buy individual desserts like this they give them to you in a cool box that looks like this:
So I told Bekah that the dessert couldn't possible taste as good as it looked, because it just looked too good. Well we broke it out later that night when the kids were asleep and it DID taste as good as it looked! It was amazing. It was like chocolate mousse inside, and the outside was nice and soft dark chocolate. Exquisite.
Thanks for listening. We will now return to our regularly scheduled program.
Friday, May 09, 2008
In My Life, I've Loved You More
Andy and I celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary today. We were going to have a nice dinner at home--no babysitter, but we went out when Melinda was here--but ended up fasting instead for my good friend's newborn baby who is having heart complications. So, we picked up Andy at an earlier Metro stop, walked to the carousel together and the kids all had a ride. It was so picturesque: Sacre Coeur just up the hill, the pretty carousel, the music--which wasn't the usual circus-y type--was very nice. After that we walked up the steps to Sacre Coeur and then took a longer way home to see a street we haven't spent much time on, but that Lindy said was really nice. It was. (See the fruit stand below; I liked how all the red fruits and vegetables were grouped together.)
I bought bread at a bakery on that street and made PBJ's when we got home. I had told the kids about our anniversary and we had planned to light all these candles that are around our outside eating area. Since we weren't really having a big meal, Warren carried this little wooden table down to our meadow. Abigail brought 3 candle holders and I brought the PBJ's.
We all sat in the meadow and lit a candle for each child that has come in our 6 years of marraige. The kids ate their sandwiches. I picked some of the little daisy-weeds that grow all over so we would have flowers. It was fun.
Total Steps today: 9,280
Yesterday: 14,100
I bought bread at a bakery on that street and made PBJ's when we got home. I had told the kids about our anniversary and we had planned to light all these candles that are around our outside eating area. Since we weren't really having a big meal, Warren carried this little wooden table down to our meadow. Abigail brought 3 candle holders and I brought the PBJ's.
We all sat in the meadow and lit a candle for each child that has come in our 6 years of marraige. The kids ate their sandwiches. I picked some of the little daisy-weeds that grow all over so we would have flowers. It was fun.Total Steps today: 9,280
Yesterday: 14,100
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Gratitude
"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine
influence."
(Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness," Ensign, May 2007, 35)
As I got on the elevator at my Metro stop tonight, I thought how well-designed the area we live in is for our family. It is nothing short of miraculous; I could never have planned it so well. I thought how many times in prayer I asked Heavenly Father to help us find a place that would be good for our family, and to direct us to it since He knows Paris better than we do. Then, as I was flossing my teeth--which is a resolution from a few year's back--I remembered this year's New Year's resolution: to note daily in my journal a way I had seen God's hand in my life. I did really well for about 2 months, but have forgotten for awhile. Then I got on my email and read the quote above, which I saved and try to read daily while I am here. So, in the spirit of these three occurrences, I'm making the following list:
Things that Remind Me of God's Love for Me Here in Paris
1. Our apartment is on the ground floor. I didn't realize how valuable this was until I saw a bike hanging out someone's 3rd floor window, and I thought--how in the world would I get my stroller up stairs, or in one of those tiny apartment-building elevators? Not to mention that there is no one beneath us to hear all the stomping, dropping and yelling we do. And, after being at a friend's apartment this Sunday that was on the 4th floor, and dealing with Warren trying to climb out of windows, or lean out of them and Avery dropping sippy cups down to the courtyard below, I fully appreciate the beauty of the ground floor. Most ground floors here are businesses, and then apartments above it. I am so grateful for the ground floor.
2. We have a yard. Now I knew this was a great find, but it still amazes me how great it is, anyway. It is like having a house much larger than the 400 or so square feet we actually have. When I am going stir crazy trying to finish a meal or clean up, the yard is there! The kids love the smooth gravel that covers it, and they are fascinated by the grassy "meadow" that is next to that. To find a place with a yard is like looking for a needle in a haystack--it takes divine eyes to see it!
3. There is a grocery store directly across the street from our house. It's as close as parking in the front spot of an parking aisle in the states--all without a having to find a parking space! This is fabulous for several reasons: I carry all my groceries home. I still grocery shop a bit like an American, meaning, I buy more food than a reasonable French person will carry home and up stairs. I can do it, though, because I don't have far to walk. Also, fridges are small here--like 3 feet high and maybe 2 feet wide. You have to buy food more often. Hence the convenience of a big (by French standards) supermarche across the street. And there is a really helpful store manager who speaks English well and is very helpful. He's the one who helped me figure out what "whole-grain" is in French: complet. Besides this, there are numerous bakeries--we buy bread daily--on every street corner, which is harder to find in tourist-y areas. I know, because sometimes I plan an excursion and think, "We'll buy bread when we're close," and then I have to walk a few blocks to find a boulangerie. Not here.
4. There is a park about 100 yards down the street. And it's a big park, and a children's park. Especially the first few days when I was a bit paranoid, the park was a reasonable excursion that got us out of the house, but was so easy to get to and didn't cost anything. There are lots of parks in Paris--but generally the children's play areas are much smaller. This park is first and foremost for kids. I couldn't have planned out getting an apartment next door to a great children's park. (I don't worry about the noise my kids make outside in our yard because the park is right next door and just as loud. French culture is not so accomodating of loud people, so the constant din of the park is a real blessing.)
5. We are right at the base of a hill. At first this seems like a problem, and yes, pushing the stroller up it is a good workout. But, this also means that there are SO many steps to get down to the Metro underneath the hill that it is the only line I have been on with an elevator. And not just any elevator, this elevator is huge--it fits like 40 people plus our stroller easily. On the way into the Metro, I roll my stroller in, take the elevator, then have to take 1 flight of stairs to the platform. (There are usually several at any other station.) On the way home, I get off the Metro, walk to the elevator and it takes us all the way to the street--no stairs this time! I had no way of knowing this before I came; there are hundreds of Metro stops in Paris. Getting this one is like an exclamation point at the end of the sentence: God cares about my little life!
6. Our apartment has a piano. I once told Andy, while in the frustrating throes of finding a place to stay, "We'll know that God is telling us that a place is right for us when it has a piano." I was mainly just kidding, but, what do you know? We have a piano.
7. Our stroller has no room to spare on most of the elevators we get on: as in, if it were a half-inch longer, it wouldn't have fit on the airport elevators, the hotel elevators, the handicap accessible elevators on line 14, the Louvre elevators--you get the point. Elevators here are smaller, not nearly as deep as they generally are in the states. How thankful I am that Joovy (stroller company) didn't make the stroller any bigger than it is. The only elevator it doesn't fit on is the one in our friend's apartment building--the elevator is for 3 people and was added in the middle of the spiral staircase built back in the 1800's when the building was built--but we don't need the stroller there and they have a lovely courtyard that you have to pass 2 security features to get into, so I'm not worried about someone taking it.
8. All the nice people who offer to help me carry the stroller up and down the stairs at the other Metro stops.
9. The French ward--congregation--also has an English-speaking Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting due to the number of English-speakers who live here for business and those who come here for vacation. It's wonderful to hear the gospel in your own language, and to meet other people who are in a similar situation.
10. Oh, and the price was at the bare minimum that we expected to spend; I mean, it's still about 6 times as expensive as our house back home per square foot, but it gets the job done!
There are many more things, but these are the most obvious to me, the ones I think about almost daily. My testimony that God hears and answers prayers has been strengthened by the location we have here in Paris. I know He manifests his tender mercy by preparing blessings that I hadn't even thought to ask for, didn't even know to ask for. I know He cares about my life, amidst all the billions of His children.
Total Steps Today: 22,401
Yesterday: 22.114
What we did today:
First, we went to Pere Lachaisse Cemetery. Crazy little chapels over most of the graves. Google it if you want pictures. This is Frederic Chopin's tomb! I love Chopin's music and played it at my senior recital in another lifetime (college, one kid)
Ate chocolate waffles before walking a nice, long walk--which Abigail and Avery napped on--to Luxembourg Gardens.
Detour at this great park along the Seine River to change diapers and play. Warren brought his soccer ball and found 2 welcome playmates easily. You don't have to speak French to make friends if you have a soccer ball.
Look--the view from this park was beautiful--that's Notre Dame in the back.
After this, we met Andy at school, got yummy pitas and paninis from a place close by and walked to Luxembourg Gardens. The play area was closing soon, so we didn't pay to get in, but we did something the kids have been longing to do when they see them in other parks: ride ponies! See a short clip below. After this we played in the sand boxes and then rode the Metro home. It was a lovely day.
influence."
(Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness," Ensign, May 2007, 35)
As I got on the elevator at my Metro stop tonight, I thought how well-designed the area we live in is for our family. It is nothing short of miraculous; I could never have planned it so well. I thought how many times in prayer I asked Heavenly Father to help us find a place that would be good for our family, and to direct us to it since He knows Paris better than we do. Then, as I was flossing my teeth--which is a resolution from a few year's back--I remembered this year's New Year's resolution: to note daily in my journal a way I had seen God's hand in my life. I did really well for about 2 months, but have forgotten for awhile. Then I got on my email and read the quote above, which I saved and try to read daily while I am here. So, in the spirit of these three occurrences, I'm making the following list:
Things that Remind Me of God's Love for Me Here in Paris
1. Our apartment is on the ground floor. I didn't realize how valuable this was until I saw a bike hanging out someone's 3rd floor window, and I thought--how in the world would I get my stroller up stairs, or in one of those tiny apartment-building elevators? Not to mention that there is no one beneath us to hear all the stomping, dropping and yelling we do. And, after being at a friend's apartment this Sunday that was on the 4th floor, and dealing with Warren trying to climb out of windows, or lean out of them and Avery dropping sippy cups down to the courtyard below, I fully appreciate the beauty of the ground floor. Most ground floors here are businesses, and then apartments above it. I am so grateful for the ground floor.
2. We have a yard. Now I knew this was a great find, but it still amazes me how great it is, anyway. It is like having a house much larger than the 400 or so square feet we actually have. When I am going stir crazy trying to finish a meal or clean up, the yard is there! The kids love the smooth gravel that covers it, and they are fascinated by the grassy "meadow" that is next to that. To find a place with a yard is like looking for a needle in a haystack--it takes divine eyes to see it!
3. There is a grocery store directly across the street from our house. It's as close as parking in the front spot of an parking aisle in the states--all without a having to find a parking space! This is fabulous for several reasons: I carry all my groceries home. I still grocery shop a bit like an American, meaning, I buy more food than a reasonable French person will carry home and up stairs. I can do it, though, because I don't have far to walk. Also, fridges are small here--like 3 feet high and maybe 2 feet wide. You have to buy food more often. Hence the convenience of a big (by French standards) supermarche across the street. And there is a really helpful store manager who speaks English well and is very helpful. He's the one who helped me figure out what "whole-grain" is in French: complet. Besides this, there are numerous bakeries--we buy bread daily--on every street corner, which is harder to find in tourist-y areas. I know, because sometimes I plan an excursion and think, "We'll buy bread when we're close," and then I have to walk a few blocks to find a boulangerie. Not here.
4. There is a park about 100 yards down the street. And it's a big park, and a children's park. Especially the first few days when I was a bit paranoid, the park was a reasonable excursion that got us out of the house, but was so easy to get to and didn't cost anything. There are lots of parks in Paris--but generally the children's play areas are much smaller. This park is first and foremost for kids. I couldn't have planned out getting an apartment next door to a great children's park. (I don't worry about the noise my kids make outside in our yard because the park is right next door and just as loud. French culture is not so accomodating of loud people, so the constant din of the park is a real blessing.)
5. We are right at the base of a hill. At first this seems like a problem, and yes, pushing the stroller up it is a good workout. But, this also means that there are SO many steps to get down to the Metro underneath the hill that it is the only line I have been on with an elevator. And not just any elevator, this elevator is huge--it fits like 40 people plus our stroller easily. On the way into the Metro, I roll my stroller in, take the elevator, then have to take 1 flight of stairs to the platform. (There are usually several at any other station.) On the way home, I get off the Metro, walk to the elevator and it takes us all the way to the street--no stairs this time! I had no way of knowing this before I came; there are hundreds of Metro stops in Paris. Getting this one is like an exclamation point at the end of the sentence: God cares about my little life!
6. Our apartment has a piano. I once told Andy, while in the frustrating throes of finding a place to stay, "We'll know that God is telling us that a place is right for us when it has a piano." I was mainly just kidding, but, what do you know? We have a piano.
7. Our stroller has no room to spare on most of the elevators we get on: as in, if it were a half-inch longer, it wouldn't have fit on the airport elevators, the hotel elevators, the handicap accessible elevators on line 14, the Louvre elevators--you get the point. Elevators here are smaller, not nearly as deep as they generally are in the states. How thankful I am that Joovy (stroller company) didn't make the stroller any bigger than it is. The only elevator it doesn't fit on is the one in our friend's apartment building--the elevator is for 3 people and was added in the middle of the spiral staircase built back in the 1800's when the building was built--but we don't need the stroller there and they have a lovely courtyard that you have to pass 2 security features to get into, so I'm not worried about someone taking it.
8. All the nice people who offer to help me carry the stroller up and down the stairs at the other Metro stops.
9. The French ward--congregation--also has an English-speaking Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting due to the number of English-speakers who live here for business and those who come here for vacation. It's wonderful to hear the gospel in your own language, and to meet other people who are in a similar situation.
10. Oh, and the price was at the bare minimum that we expected to spend; I mean, it's still about 6 times as expensive as our house back home per square foot, but it gets the job done!
There are many more things, but these are the most obvious to me, the ones I think about almost daily. My testimony that God hears and answers prayers has been strengthened by the location we have here in Paris. I know He manifests his tender mercy by preparing blessings that I hadn't even thought to ask for, didn't even know to ask for. I know He cares about my life, amidst all the billions of His children.
Total Steps Today: 22,401
Yesterday: 22.114
What we did today:
First, we went to Pere Lachaisse Cemetery. Crazy little chapels over most of the graves. Google it if you want pictures. This is Frederic Chopin's tomb! I love Chopin's music and played it at my senior recital in another lifetime (college, one kid)
After this, we met Andy at school, got yummy pitas and paninis from a place close by and walked to Luxembourg Gardens. The play area was closing soon, so we didn't pay to get in, but we did something the kids have been longing to do when they see them in other parks: ride ponies! See a short clip below. After this we played in the sand boxes and then rode the Metro home. It was a lovely day.
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