Costume Parties....Bleh....

I have some very exciting news that I wanted to share with everyone!!! My mom and Pat are OFFICIALLY coming to visit!! They booked their flights Wednesday and since that's no cheap fare, it's a done deal!  We're working on finding them a rockin' apartment for the week in a fabulous location.  Which is easy since I live here! 

Marie-Césare went to school yesterday so after my morning classes I had the day to do as I please.  I had coffee with Charlotte, then met up with Angelika for some wandering and lunch.  Stopped into Paul near St-Michel for a good sandwich, wandered down to the Notre Dame and continued through Le Marais.  I spoke too soon on the beautiful weather, because of course we chose a day that was rainy and cold.    

Hope everyone had a Happy Saint Patty's Day!! I did go out for a quick green beer at an Irish pub just near the Moulin Rouge.  The company was hilarious with hundreds of French people trying to speak with an Irish accent all night in their green hats and green pants.  Although Saint Patrick's Day isn't widely celebrated here, a few still keep the tradition going in France.  The Moulin Rouge for one night....was the Moulin Vert.  Quite strange actually...and my picture doesn't do its green glow justice.  

Came home to find my apartment quite cold so I cranked up the heat.  I haven't had it on the past few days because it's been so warm!  I sat down to my newly purchased "hobby case."  Which is essentially a glorified fishing tackle box.  At home, I probably paid $2.00 for a tackle box and here....7 euros = $10.  Bummer.  For those of you who know me know that I am obsessively compulsively organized... I was tired of having a tangly knot of earrings every time I went to find a pair.  I have a jewelry tackle box at home, but upon packing my suitcase to come to France....it just didn't make the cut.  Voila!  

Tomorrow we are going to the Musée de la Vie Romantique as well as the European photography museum.  And whatever else is on Kerry's must-do list!  She only has 3 weekends left in Paris so we're just lucky to be able to see her for those weekends until she moves to Cannes!  I also have to stop somewhere and find some sort of a costume.  One of my friends is having a déguisement party for her birthday tomorrow night and I HATE costume parties.  I never was good at coming up with costumes or ideas so I've enlisted two of my best friends who are excellent at costumes...Katie Lyn and Hannah.  Katie Lyn has always had the best Halloween costumes since we were 2 years old and Hannah was so creative in college for every single swap!  Hopefully these two fine ladies will come up with something amazing on the fly!  

Bon week-end á vous!  

Spring!

The days are becoming longer and much more beautiful!  It's weird to begin shedding my pea coat and boots for spring jackets and flats.  Although, if you stepped out onto the streets at any given time during the day you will see the average 40 year old with hat, scarf, and gloves still on...the elderly woman with a trench coat, fancy hat with flowers, and more scarves than I even own...and the child riding around on his scooter begging his mother to let him take his coat off.  Is there like a universal date here that its acceptable to not wrap up in winter clothing??  

Mark had some flowers that were a few days old so as privileged as I am, he gave them to me today.  They really brighten up my apartment and think it might become a permanent addition to my place!  

Marie-Césare wasn't feeling very well this morning, and we debated whether or not she should go to art school, but she perked up so I sent her on her way.  Didou picked her up and maybe she is nursing her back to health today and tomorrow morning.  If not, I will be going after my class tomorrow to stay with sick Marie-Césare.  Bleh.  

Looked out my window this evening to a beautiful sunset.  Sure its over the city and its definitely not the beach, but it was still pretty.  I just sat on my counter and watched it go down with a cup of tea in my hand.  I'm sure all the other people in my building were thinking what is that girl doing?  But I didn't care...it was great.  It reminded me of springtime in Oxford...which besides football season is my favorite time of year there.  

Happy Saint Patrick's Day tomorrow! Don't forget to wear your green!  

Taking It To The Next Level...

Went to school this morning like every other Monday.  For some reason today just dragggggged on.  I'm pretty sure I looked at my watch 20 times to only find 3 minutes had passed.  As we were getting ready to go my teacher asked who was staying for the next trimester.  I raised my hand as I am paid up until June 18th.  She then suggested to me that I might move up to the next level.  *gasp*.  The whole class ohhhed and ahhhed.  Really?  Am I really ready for that?  That's a whole new book!  She told me to look over the rest of the material in our book and see if I thought I could do it....and maybe she would test me and see if I was ready.  Oh goodness.  I guess I should be glad that she thinks I'm ready to advance a step...but the real question is...am I?! 

I love weeks when its just Marie-Césare and I.  As much as I love having Gaspard there...it is 10 times easier with just one.  We've gotten to the point where we can conversate...and its warm enough outside after school where we can play in the park until 6 pm or so!  She had gone to a birthday party for her friend Éva on Sunday and had fake pink hair braids and beads to put in her hair.  Since mom's out of town and dad's not exactly the best coiffure....I took the liberty of fixing her 'do.  She loved it.  

Pretty good, huh?  Well...she liked it anyway...

I have also really been concentrating on teaching her English words.  I know she doesn't like it...because its hard for her, but after all, that's why I'm here so I feel like before I leave she should know a few things!  Some of the words she knows so far are door, kiss, open, close, apple, fork, spoon, I want, I love you, goodbye, thank you....very simple words but words you would use often.  And I try to teach her words without the "r" or "th" sounds because that is seemingly difficult for a French person.  

Laying low this week, Didou is coming Wednesday after art class and staying the night so I will have Wednesday evening off.  Too bad all my friends work all day on Wednesdays!!  Maybe I'll go wander around The Louvre.  

Gypsy....Circus?

I can honestly say that I was not looking forward to babysitting all day on Saturday.  It was both of the kids, and spending an entire day with them is intimidating.  I felt like I should keep them entertained, which is hard when one is 12 and the other 3.  Friday night went well, Marie-Césare and I had fun doing things like putting on our pj's together, brushing our teeth together, fixing each others hair, and exchanging stick-on earrings.  

Typical girly, sleepover things to do.  I watched NCIS in French with Gaspard after I put Marie-Césare to bed.  Of course I had already seen the episodes in English, but that actually helped me out a lot in figuring out what was being said!  

Franck left around 8:30 Saturday morning, and the 3 of us piled up on the couch to watch some Saturday morning cartoons.  Of course, those cartoons were in the form of Playhouse Disney so that Marie-Césare could watch and not have bad dreams the next night!  Dora, Strawberry Shortcake, Wonderpets (yes Melanie, you can't escape those precious singing animals even in France!), and some talking four eyed creature that I have never seen before.  

Marie-Césare and I left around 11 to go to the library and the supermarket to get some things for lunch.  I figured Chloé would like the fact that we went to the library instead of sitting at the house all day.  ha!  I called a taxi for 3 pm to take take us to the circus.  It was at Porte de Champarret which is not far, but with Marie-Césare sometimes it is easier to take taxis.  We walked up to the gate which opened up to a bunch of rv trailers and little kids with loads of makeup riding tricycles.  I know that Franck wouldn't have sent us to something that wasn't legit, so I trusted his suggestion and we walked through the circus "tent."  It was a bunch of brightly colored sheets all sewn together.  We chose our seat (on the front row of course) and waited another 30 minutes for it to begin.  A middle aged lady with a bright green sweater, lots of jewelry, a skirt that looked like the circus tent, and a few gold teeth came to greet us and take our tickets. At this point....I wasn't sure what I was in for.  The kids didn't seem to mind or notice, but I of course couldn't help to check out the surroundings.  

In the middle were 2 huge carpets...that looked infested with dust, germs, and animal hair.  Every time someone would walk across it you could just see dust fly.  And yes, I will probably be sick in a couple of days...just give it time.  The circus began with lots of loud music and singing, a little belly dancing 7 year old, and the grandfather proudly introducing the circus of his family members.  I was surprised at how many people had come from the city to see the circus....I would say a good 200.  An hour and several acts later, Marie-Césare fell asleep in my arms.  She just couldn't take it anymore.  She's pretty cute when she's sleeping!  

Gaspard enjoyed the second part though so it was worth sticking around for.  And I'll have to say, overall....they did a pretty good job.  The performers looked like they were having a good time and I'm sure they were all related in one way or another.   Pictures were not allowed, so we snapped these at the beginning before anyone noticed.  Clearly the lighting was not good.  

Afterwards, the crowd was invited for beignets and vin chaud (for 2 euros of course).  I was glad to be heading home with a sleepy Marie-Césare in my arms.  Franck arrived a short while later and I went and met Kerry and Ashleigh for dinner.  They had gone to Chartres yesterday and had just arrived from the train station.  

This morning, we all met back up again for church.  Kerry went with us this time, and Angelika as well!  It's always nice to have visitors.  We searched for a good place around Montparnasse to have lunch but ended up just grabbing some savory crêpes...ham, nutty comté cheese, and a runny egg.  Nothing better! Being a dreary day, with not much energy in any of us, we turned to the closest thing, Tour Montparnasse.  Tour Montparnasse is a giant skyscraper right smack dab in the middle of Paris.  Their advertisement is for 360 degree views.  It hasn't been on the top of my list of things to do...mainly because I think it is probably one of the ugliest things about Paris and I find it quite an intrusion in such a beautiful city.  

We boarded the elevator similar to the one at the Empire State Building in New York.  Ears popping twice, we flew to the 56th floor in a matter of seconds.  The views were pretty amazing, even on a cloudy day.  It always amazes me how small this city is.  You look over to see so many familiar places, that are so close together!! We take the metro everywhere because its easy and convenient, but you could easily walk the city in a day.  

I don't know if you can see the Pompidou Center in the photo, but with our eyes...it looks like a McDonald's playplace in the middle of the city.  

And a pretty decent view of the Eiffel Tower with La Défense in the back.  La Défense is the industrial business district of Paris-but we will save that for another day!  

Yes, Ashleigh is cut out of our self-timing picture...but the other one was absolutely terrible so this was the only option! 

Not much else to see around Montparnasse besides the cemetery so that was our next move.  Walked through an outdoor antique market along the way we found some really neat buttons, a guy that creates art on old metro tickets, and century old teapots.  

There wasn't anyone too famous in the cemetery besides Samuel Beckett...and again about 10 people to whom metro stops are named after.  Also a French singer-songwriter who has a head/ears like cabbage....so people come a bring heads of cabbage to place on his grave.  

Also found this strange tree trunk/pelican statue on someone's grave.  So random and unique.  

It was 5pm or so and we were all exhausted and wouldn't even be able to sit through a movie or anything....so decided to go home!  I needed to blog anyway...and am hoping to Skype Laura Cassie Redfearn Yancey tonight!!  

This week should be good...just Marie-Césare to look after and will have Wednesday afternoon off after I take her to art class.  Am hopefully meeting another new au pair tomorrow for coffee...from Dallas!  Hope everyone got caught up after daylight savings time.  We don't have it for another two weeks so for now there is only 6 hours difference between us!  Funny how that works....

4 months!!

It's official, I have been in Paris exactly 4 months!!! I flew into Charles de Gaulle on November 12th and it is now March 12th!! Yes, we au pairs count month anniversaries.  It has flown by so fast I can't even believe its March!  

Spent last night at Chloé and Franck's because I babysat all day today! It wasn't too bad, although with all the refereeing (is that a word?) I did between Marie-Césare and Gaspard I'm exhausted!! We went to a popular gypsy circus here in Paris and also a trip to the library.  Will blog tomorrow or Monday about the weekend!  Am too tired tonight.  Love you all!  

This afternoon I returned to the Lachaize household to find Padi and Marie-Césare watching a movie and Didou cleaning the kitchen, as usual.  As soon as I walked in she handed me a present, a really great book about Paris that has lots of information and facts, but it has fun illustrations for Marie-Césare as well.  They are so thoughtful and probably the sweetest grandparents I know...besides my own of course.  All 7 of my grandparents are wonderful and the best I could ever ask for!  

After bidding them farewell and bisous, we headed to the kitchen for some finger painting.  I told her we could under one condition.... we paint letters.  I am trying to work really hard at getting her to recognize letters and numbers because that is what they are learning in class.  Things went well, and since she had so much fun we painted her hands and did handprints on another page.  She LOVED having paint all over her hands.  

She has been asking me to stay the night for a month now, so we decided tonight that Friday I will spend the night and have a sleepover.  Chloé will be in Dubai and Franck will be late coming home Friday night so why not?  I have to be there Saturday morning to babysit all day because Franck has to go to school so I figured it was as good a time as any!  

Tomorrow after school, weather permitting, I am meeting some girls in Montmartre for a sunny break.  After, am meeting some different girls for a late lunch before I go get Marie-Césare.  Should be a busy day!  

Another afternoon in Vincennes.

After class on Monday Ashleigh and I met and headed out to Vincennes.  Ashleigh wanted to see the Chateau as well as the Parc Floral and of course meet Kerry and Yann for the afternoon.  I had only been by the Parc Floral, I think the last time I was there it was closed.  Even though its not spring yet, I was still impressed with the park!  Upon first entering the park, your eyes are drawn to this strange ball of leaves, which once you get a closer look you realize its actually a spider!! Then, we took a step back and realized there were spiders all over the place.  Made from sticks, leaves, bushes, flowers, pine cones....it was fascinating! And such a genius idea.

As we walked on we could see all the signs of spring! Buttercups, crocus', sunshine, children, sunglasses, and Ashleigh saw her first white swan.  As we reached the top of the hill, we stopped and she took off running with her camera waving in the air yelling, "A white swan! A white swan!" I of course didn't see the big deal so I followed after her and asked what color their swans are.  She said they were black! Black?! Black?!? There is no such thing as a black swan.  Yes, turns out in Australia there are actually black swans.  And from their pictures they are quite ugly little creatures.

Ashleigh chasing after the white swans with her camera.

We went to meet Kerry for a little stroll and to take Yann to play.   On our way we passed a delicious looking boulangerie.  I hadn't tried an éclair until now, so decided to get one for an afternoon snack.  

I will have to say it wasn't my most favorite thing I've had since I've been here, but still good.  I mean....how can French pastry and chocolate go wrong?  I think I was expecting more of a strong chocolate flavor in the middle, but instead I got a whipped chocolate pastry cream taste.  Which, of course, is what it's suppose to be.  

Just on the other side of the Parc Floral we stopped at a small playground to let Yann out of his stroller.  He is a fun little guy, but I am thankful that I don't have to chase after a 12 month old all day long!  I don't know how Kerry does it then still has energy on the weekends for all that we do.  

Yes, he is a little snotty and chocolate-y, but what's the fun without that?!

Had a good morning with Marie-Césare, Padi and Didou took them for the afternoon.  Hopefully tonight will go well and not too many fights between her and Gaspard!  Am trying to start planning something for April holidays. Anybody want to come and visit!? :)