Paris

I got to sleep in today without the kids waking me up!! What an accomplishment! I had some breakfast and then just relaxed and got ready for the day. We had lunch later when the girls came back from the museum with their aunt. Sophie, Ines and I went to walk around Paris. Our first stop on the metro was Notre Dame. It was absolutely amazing! So much detail! We took a few pictures but it was kinda crappy with the cold but we kept going. We went to get a crepe which was basically delicious and then continued our trek. We stopped at some souvenir shops and I got a key chain and some postcards. Of course, no trip to Paris is complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. The elevator is too expensive so we took the stairs and made our way up. I was in awe as soon as we got there. It's just HUGE! So much work and paint and steel and wow! As it got dark they lit it up in blue lights and then every hour they make is sparkle. Quit the experience! I'm excited to come back haha. After we walked around up on the first level we went back down and came home for dinner. I taught the girls how to play MASH so we played for a while. The girls went to bed and now I'm getting ready to do the same. OH yeah!! My sister-in-law Kendra is having a GIRL!!! Two girls coming to the Swope family in March!!!! So excited! Oh yeah and Happy Halloween! I hope everyone is celebrating because they can! Here they don't celebrate so instead of dressing up, I'm dressing down and going to bed... Oh well I'M IN FRANCE!!

Yesterday's blog today...

Happy Thursday everyone! The last day of the work week for me =D! Oh yeah so yesterday I was going down the stairs in my socks and slipped and FELL down the last like five! Today my butt is a bit sore… The day started off ok. The girls are in charge of feeding the neighbor’s rabbit every morning while they are on vacation so we started off by doing that after breakfast. Ines was being a pain because she did not want to get out of bed so it started a bit rough for her. After feeding the rabbit I packed for PARIS! The girls played upstairs while the cleaning lady was there. We picked up Aurore from daycare and I fixed lunch. There is one thing that I remember literally gagging when mom forced me to eat it and that was beets! Oh boy so today I had to peel one! My hands were purple for an hour, but worst of all I actually had to eat them. I mean of course no one was forcing me but I couldn’t make the kids eat them and I not. It wasn’t too bad but I still had to choke them down.

It was one of those days that I just did not have the patience to deal with the whining and the crap they wanted to give me. Maybe it was the fact that I knew I was going to have to deal with them for a five hour car ride! Anyways, after lunch I put Aurore down for her nap and read her a story. Enrique invited me to go swimming with him and Juliana but of course I couldn’t. Would have been fun though. The next time in Paris will be for Christmas and they will be here too =D! That will be so much more fun for me. So anyways, Aurore only slept for an hour so she woke up and was so crabby I wanted to leave her home while we went to Paris. Sophie came home early thankfully and we got on the road after I made 12 sandwiches to eat for dinner in the car. We hit the road around four and it started SNOWING!!! HUGE flakes coming down and they were so pretty and romantic haha. Sophie showed me how we would start our trip for Amsterdam next weekend so that was helpful. I made an attempt to take a nap but it was pretty tough with the girls and my nose kept itching. I guess someone was thinking about me the whole time… So after I was awake and we stopped to use the bathroom I drove for about two hours. There was a point where I really wanted to “pull the car over!” and give those kids a good spanking! I’m starting to see how I will raise my kids. From the get go there will be NO WHINING!! I will make sure of that. Of course I know it’s much easier said than done haha. I’m sure every parents says all sorts of stuff but when it comes down to it they just say screw it and close the door or something.

We got into Paris and I saw the Eiffel Tower from a distance and it was lit up in blue. We drove passed the Arc de Triumph, which is HUGE! I never knew it was so big! And the traffic circle around it is crazy and is wide enough for about five lanes but there are no lines on the brick road so people just go nuts. The drive down the Champs-Eleyse (spelling??) was pretty cool. Another glimpse of the Eiffel Tower showed it lit up with sparklers, I guess they do that on the hour. It was amazing! The two oldest girls are staying at Sophie’s aunt’s house tonight so they can go to the museum with her in the morning so we dropped them off there and came to grand-maman’s house. It’s an old house somehow brings back memories of Grandpa Swope’s house in Arkansas and Jane Hogan’s house in Macon. I think it’s like four stories but not wide. It is so quaint and has so much character. I spoke some French with grand-maman and I asked how long she had lived in Paris. She was born here and I don’t think she has moved to any other city. She said she needs Paris, it was cute. I took a shower in a shower that shot water out of about 7 of the 25 holes in the head. But it warmed me up and cleaned me off. Now I am ready for bed and heading there right now. Bonne nuit!

Cookies!

Today the girls and I made cookies and fudge to take to grandma's house in Paris tomorrow. We had a pretty good time but none of it really turned out like we had hoped except for mine haha. I've done so much more cooking and baking here than I usually do, but it's been nice. I took them to their friend's house and then picked up the baby from daycare (yeah kinda strange I know but I like that I don't have her all day). I brought her home and we hung up the laundry downstairs. She was being quite the little helper. I've been teaching her English words and I love when she catches on. Today she started calling me Hannah Mae and I have no idea where she heard it but I love it!! I put her down for a nap and then I took one too. It was pretty nice. Sophie came home and we chatted then she picked up the girls. I went to babysit for an American family at 6:30 but when I got there no one was there so I just came home. She called me and they had gotten stuck in traffic and she didn't have her phone to call me. So I went back over there. They have the cutest little golden retriever puppy!! I fed the kids then had to bathe them and put them to bed. I watched Nanny McPhee and cuddled with the puppy. It's nice to have extra money for my jobs =D. After that I came home and I'm going to get in the shower and pack for Paris. We leave tomorrow =D. Bon soir!

Rainy Movie No Go's

I did Ines' hair in four French braids
Me and Ines


Making our pizza
Welcome to Tuesday everyone! Today started out pretty relaxed. We had to feed the neighbor's bunny and then I had the girls work on their English homework for a bit. It's been raining ALL day!! Not raining cats and dogs, raining men practically... that would be nice though! We made pizza, yes, actually made it ourselves. Everything but the dough. After that we drove to Gex to see Curious George in French. I've never driven to Gex but getting there wasn't bad but for some reason my defrost was NOT cooperating so I had to drive like a grandma all close to the wheel to see out the little area of the window that was clear. It took us over half an hour to find the stupid theater. It was like a basement really, not big at all. So after looking forever and then not having a place to park close, we walk in and they are SOLD OUT! So frustrating. The girls were pretty disappointed, I, on the other hand was a bit relieved haha. An hour and a half of a French speaking monkey didn't sound too fun to me. So we came home and I kinda fell asleep for about twenty minutes and they just played upstairs. Sophie came home then left again to get some groceries and the girls and I watched Pocahontas (in English). We had some kind of fish soup for dinner. It was...interesting. But Sophie bought almond yogurt!!! I LOVE THAT STUFF! I went to Enrique and Juliana's after dinner. It was just her there at first so she ate and I just sat and talked with her. Every time someone comes home they just ring the doorbell because the door automatically locks and it's easier than getting their key. It rang while she was eating and I knew it was just her family so I open the door and it was her dad and Enrique. Her dad wasn't expecting me to be the one opening the door and the look on his face was just cute. He's such a nice guy! So we all sat down to eat and at first I just sat there but then HAD to try the Colombian soup. It was so tasty. After dinner the three of us (yes, Enrique too) decided to go see "Mamma Mia" =D. We look at what time it plays and we have ten minutes to get there. It was a pretty entertaining ride there. I had both of them telling me directions and usually they were different. We get there and the people said it started 40 minutes ago! Juliana had gotten the wrong time and the wrong theater. We were pretty bummed so we just headed back to their house. I got pictures though!! That was the best part of the night probably!
How can you NOT love these two?


I am ALWAYS entertained!

We really could be models haha!
Yes those are Enrique's feet...
I'm so gangsta!
His idea...

Swimsuit Models

On Monday I took the girls swimming after we met Sophie for lunch at this Vietnamese restaurant. We swam for a few hours and had a pretty good time. I had to keep telling them to be good so we could go to the pool. They did a really great job and we had fun. After the pool Sophie picked them up and I stayed in Ferney and went over to Enrique and Juliana's. She and I ate some steak and then I fell asleep in her bed. She left me there by myself since I knew I couldn't take a nap at my house with the girls home. I slept for about 20 minutes and the door rang and Enrique came home. He, of course, had no idea anyone was there so he was downstairs singing. It just made me smile. I should have let him know I was there sooner but decided to listen for a few minutes. So I went down there to say hi and he was a bit surprised I was there. I sat and talked to him while he ate his dinner. He's really easy to talk to and we have a good time. His parents came home so he and I went and watched a movie. I just have so much fun with him! We hung out and just talked and then Juliana came back from class so I sat with her. We all watched Stomp the Yard. Enrique was so in to it! By the time it was over it was midnight and since I had to watch the girls all day today I decided to go home. It was a good day =D!!

Dreams Coming True With Your Help

On Friday night at the dinner thing we went to a guy came to talk to Alisha and I about babysitting for him. He's from the states and is here working with the United Hope Organization. So after talking about babysitting he started talking more about what he does. He goes to Africa with groups of volunteers and works with families that have been stricken with AIDS. I'm not sure if everyone knows this about me, but one of my main reasons for become a nurse is to go to Africa and do this exact thing! He has a group going December 27- January 7. So instead of spending New Year's in Rome as planned I will now be spending it and my birthday in service in Africa. The group will consist of 40 doctors and I'm not sure how many volunteers. Here is the thing, it costs money (obviously). I'm not positive how much but I'm positive that with the help from friends and family I will be able to raise it. I know so many giving people so if you'd like to help it would be most appreciated! Please contact me. And I will bring your love with me to share with those I come in contact with!

Yesterday I stayed home most of the day. We all slept in pretty late so that was really nice! I read to the kids for a while and then Dimitri's son came. He's twenty and just got married. He's a really nice guy and looks just like his dad. We all played Clue after lunch and then I went to babysit for another American family at seven. It was two boys and that was fun to have just boys since it's just been girls lately. We ate crepes which I LOVE and then I read to them and put them to bed. The parents got home at about 10:30 and I went home, showered and then went to stay the night at Juliana's. I got there and we sat and talked for a really long time. Enrique came home and we all sat around the table and talked and ate food =D. We all started watching P.S. I Love You and then Enrique went up to read. He was going to let me sleep in his bed and he would take the couch but he fell asleep and I felt bad waking him up and making him move, so I slept on the couch. Well Miss Hannah here did not remember about the time change! I set my alarm an hour early anyway and if I had set it for the right time I would have been ok because my alarm is my phone. I had to pick up this guy for church and well I show up at his house and he never comes out so I went back to Juliana's and then realize the time change. So I ate breakfast and went back to his house to pick him up! It was a long day, especially running on only 4 hours of sleep! Church was nice, especially the Relief Society lesson on motherhood. Of course that didn't help my baby hunger! I came home, had lunch with the family and took a nap after talking to Sara Faith for a while =D, who by the way reads my blogs faithfully, like so many of you do =D. It's so nice to keep in touch with people and see how everyone else is doing! I love it! Well I think that is about it for the night.

Pigeons and European Doctors

Wednesday night I had a horrible nightmare! I dreamed that this guy was going to murder me in two weeks, but wouldn't do it sooner and I was absolutely terrified when I woke up that I didn't really want to go back to sleep. It was one of those nights that I wished I had a guy next to me... Anyways, Thursday was class and so that was fun like always. I showed Enrique the battle wounds he gave me. It was really funny because in class Enrique and I talk quite a bit and have a good time. Well she was asking me my favorite month and I said July because of the 4th and it's summer. She continued asking other people and then asked Enrique and he said July too. She asked if he liked it because I did. I thought it was HILARIOUS!! Poor kid. I won't have class until November 6th, all the schools are on fall break so we'll head to Paris next weekend =D. After class I came home and started lunch. The girls were being a bit unruly so it was a bit rough but we made it through. I came home and took a nap. I picked up Ariadne after school and we walked home and started her English homework. We had a pretty quick dinner and I headed over to Enrique and Juliana's. We watched 10 Things I Hate About You. After that we watched this comedian from Canada who was SO FUNNY! I had a pretty good time and came home at 2 am.

Today I had a doctor's appointment for my social security thing in Lyon. Lyon is about two hours away and Dimitri had a meeting there so he drove and I kinda slept. We went to where his meeting was and then I was supposed to walk and find the doctor's office. I got a bit lost but then found my way. I walked for at least two hours! It was nice though. I got to see quite a bit of the city and stopped at a bakery where as soon as the cashier found out I was American asked who I was voting for haha! So I found the office and still had about two hours to kill. I found a little church with a park and sat on a bench to eat. There were pigeons around and even though they are nasty and gross I felt bad for them because a few of them had string stuck on their feet that had deformed them. Then they all flew away at once for no reason. I watch them go wait on the sidewalk for a lady that was still 30 feet away on the other side of the street. When she gets to them she throws seed. Obviously these birds and this lady are friends. I thought it was pretty cool. THEN!! Prepare yourselves for this!! I finish eating and still have about an hour and a half before my appointment so I sit there just listening to my music. Well this really attractive guy (aka Trouble) comes along and sits on this bench across the way from me. I started randomly thinking how asking someone the time would be a great way to start a conversation. Not even three minutes later he asks, "Quel heure est-t-il?" (What time is it?) I think my mouth probably hung open for a second before I answered wrong. He was a bit confused so he came over to look at my watch. When he got closer I realized that to go along with his black hair he has gorgeous blue-green eyes!! I melted! He went back to his bench and we kinda just sat in silence until he asked me where I was from. He kept saying stuff I didn't know and so I just went and sat by him so we didn't have to yell across the park. I found out he was 21 and a working student in Lyon. He told me I had beautiful blue eyes and asked if he could kiss my cheek (a common practice in France, except they usually don't ask). I said yes of course haha. It was an interesting half hour! French guys are very friendly! Oh and at one point he pulled out a cell phone so I knew he could have looked at that earlier to see the time haha! So I went to my appointment. On the way there I realized I have no idea what that guys name was!! I never asked! I was so mad! But anyways it was like a mad rush up the stairs after the doctor opened back up after lunch. I waited for a while and then the lady called my name and I went into a room and she told me to take my shirt off for the X-ray. Well I kept my bra on at first but she told me to take it off and, yeah, they don't have hospital gowns! Little awkward... then I waited some more and then did an eye test and waited and then checked my heart. It was an interesting experience and I got to keep my X-ray!!! That was exciting! Dimitri picked me up and I fell asleep in the car again. But not the whole way. There was some beautiful country. Sorry I didn't get pictures of that. I was a bit out of it. We came home and I took a shower because I couldn't warm up. I made an attempt to take a nap but was pretty unsuccessful. We went to the village for this huge dinner thing and had some interesting meat with some potatoes. Pretty tasty though. Alisha came back to the house with me and I put Aurore to bed while the family stayed out til midnight haha. Now I'm getting in bed!! Here are the pictures from today =D

Whistling WALL-E

Yesterday I got to sleep in a bit until the construction guys woke me up yet again. I had stayed up way too late on Monday night posting all those pictures! I picked the kids up for their two hour lunch. After lunch I drove them to Ferney for their English class. I was going to go to Enrique and Juliana's house but I didn't get a hold of them so I came home and I may have taken a nap but I think I just relaxed. I picked up Aurore and a neighbor Phillipe. It was a bit rainy so we didn't stay outside like usual, instead we came inside and danced to some music. The other girls came home and then Sophie did as well. Aurore is really starting to warm up to me finally and I so thankful for that. Today marks me being here for exactly four weeks. I can't believe how fast it has gone by! But at the same time it feels like ages because I've made a few close friends already. I love it here, I'm not gonna lie. Of course there are a lot of people and a few things I miss about the States but that's expected. Who knows where I'll end up at the end of my contract! I've thought of a few different places but we'll see.

Last night after dinner I went to Enrique and Juliana's. Their parents had some people over from work for dinner. They all spoke Spanish so that was a change. I've never realized how beautiful of a language it is. Maybe it was just the people speaking it haha. There were two kids there so we entertained them. We watched WALL-E, which is a really sweet movie by the way. Then we had some food and ended up staying upstairs with the kids and basically it was war! I have two bruises from last night! It was a lot of fun! I stayed pretty late then came home.

Today I woke up to Ines screaming something at her mom. I hate that! So I got up and got ready. I walked with Aurore in the stroller down to the school to get Ines after her music class. I had fun on the way down with Aurore. She really liked me today. Wish I could say the same for right now... We're sitting in my room and they are playing on my bed waiting for Sophie to get home and then we'll eat. I think I'll just stay in tonight since I have class tomorrow. Until next time...

PICTURES! A bit mixed up

This was from this morning =D






Me and the Alps

Sophie and Aurore

It was soooo clear the day we went hiking!!




From our hike
The Alps towering over Lake Leman
Aurore and Dimitri

Sophie
Clear morning

From my window
The oldest, Ariadne
Sunrising over the French and Swiss Alps, to the far right you can see Mount Blanc (from my bedroom window)
Lake Leman in Geneva
The soccer boys we always look for
Sunrise

A lot of the houses are cute like this
The smaller chess pieces
Our giant checkers game...
That I obviously won =D
This is a "South Park" type of character and South Park is a cartoon based in Colorado! So Colorado has influences France!! Woooo
Hot guy at the skate park that I stalked
Geneva


I went to the bathroom in this theatre
The giant chess pieces! Taller than me
Most days look a little hazy and foggy so when the sun shines we are sooo excited!

My bathroom and shower











My bed and view from my window and then my car!



Part of the village
That is the mountain I live on
Cool buildings in the village
Better picture of the mountain
The youngest, Aurore




Still in Colorado

Me and Renee
Carley and Me
Me and Alyssa
Some of the gang by the little fire

Landon with Joseph, Evelyn













Me and Joseph





At the Bon Voyage before I left.


My cord came!! Today was a great day!! After French I went to Enrique's with him, his sister and Alisha. We had some bacon and eggs and just hung out. We walked to the store and just had a really good time. I came home, got the kids and my cord was here! So yeah now it's just gonna take ages to upload all the photos.