Children's Science Museum

Last Sunday, our family met up with Michael's host and her daughter. We had planned to go to an outdoor park, but it was way too cold! Plan B was a interactive children's science museum. I felt a little left out tagging along with 2 physicists to a science museum...but we all had fun anyway:) I am pretty sure that my husband had as much fun as Eden and Camille:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside of the museum

Eden and her French friend Camille

Eden with a giant yo yo

American products

On Tuesday, we met up with our new friends to visit a store called McCoy's that sells American products in Paris...these are things that are very hard to find here...and you know I have tried! The "store" was closed, but we went to the McCoy cafe (owned by the same company) where you can buy the same products. I finally found a package of Crisco for a whopping 8 euros (which is $10.89), baking soda for 6 euros ($8.16), cream of tartar ($3 for 6 tsp) plus a few other things that are being rationed out! I really wanted to go a little crazy in there buying all of the things that our family has been missing...but I held back:) I had to share this funny fact too--(because I thought it was wild)...My friend Megan found a 12 pack of A & W root beer--for almost $40!! ... we didn't buy that:) We also found some cereals that are rare here...a box of Life cereal, Cheerios, or Fruit Loops are 9 to12 euros per box (or $11 to $16)...we didn't buy those either.

On this  little adventure, Megan, the kids and I also discovered the coolest little street that had a great restaurant and some fabulous shops! We will have to go back another time because...it was pouring rain (again) and we had 3 kiddos with us...but when it warms up a bit--we want to go back!

That is all for now...

Concert

Michael got tickets for us to go to the orchestra on Sunday! He picked a program that was specifically for children--to make it more interesting for Eden...but...she was bored to tears! She kept asking how much longer...oh well, we tried.  In her defense, the conductor was probably really good-but he talked A LOT and the whole program was in French, so we couldn't understand any of it. The music that we heard was nice though...maybe we will try again--or maybe Michael will go by himself:)

our tickets

Mommy and Eden

Before

Daddy and Eden

Silly family picture

the choir

the full orchestra and choir

New Friends

We have been blessed to make some new American friends! One of my friends from college noticed my posts on Facebook and messaged me to tell me that she had friends also living in Paris. We exchanged info and on Thursday, Eden and I went on our first "solo" Metro ride to the suburbs to visit them at their apartment. They have lived here since October and have a little girl and a little boy.
We have had so much fun! It has been nice to have someone who has lived here a bit and understands some of the frustrations of living in a foreign country. My new friend is also a speech pathologist (which is awesome!!!), and they are also doing schooling at home with their daughter--what are the odds? We all hit it off!! So on Friday we got together again, then the husbands joined us and we all went to dinner. We met up again on Saturday to go to Notre Dame and then the library. They knew of a good Mexican restaurant, so we all went to dinner for a second night in a row!! (The Mexican food was really good-- for France)

Here are some pictures of the girls:

The girls on a bridge near Notre Dame

Playing at Notre Dame

Notre Dame

 Here are some pictures of amazing and beautiful Notre Dame. We were all in awe...

Chocolate chip cookies

I realize that this isn't the most exciting thing to write about...but it is exciting for us. It's the little things in life right?? We have been trying for almost 2 weeks to locate some "basic" ingredients so that I can bake some chocolate chip cookies. All 3 of us have been craving them!!  After attempts at more than 4 different stores to locate baking soda, Crisco and brown sugar...I had given up! The main thing we needed to find was the baking soda--who knew that would be so hard to find! I wrote it down in French and took it to all of the stores asking employees to help me find it. Then Michael finally got a different translation for baking soda...and brought some home today.  Turns out, I had seen the package at several stores, but didn't know what it was! So, tonight after dinner, we went out and bought something that resembles brown sugar (the taste is different and the consistency is also different- it pours like white sugar).  Then I substituted butter for the Crisco as they do not have it here and we have heard of a substitute, but we can't even find the substitute. I used a mixer that we borrowed from someone at church...and I used my new pan (like a 9 x 13) since I cannot find a cookie sheet to purchase...and voila--I made some cookies! Now, they don't look anything like mine at home, but they are edible and at least the apartment smelled good for a bit!!

Taco Night

We had been told before we got here that there really aren't any great Mexican restaurants around where we live...so, imagine how excited we were to find Mexican food at the grocery store! I used my Google translate and made my grocery list...and off to the store we went. I bought the things you see pictured, plus a small carton of sour cream and it was quite expensive!

This was 28.19 euros...which equals about $37.50...totally NOT worth it! The seasoning mix was very interesting.... we *think* it was made with curry instead of  chili powder??...and the taste was so disappointing. The worst part...we are going to choke it down for a second night...I did tell Michael that we wouldn't have known if we didn't try it first --right???

Taco UP receives a thumbs down from the Oelzes.....