Daily dose of girls

Gotta get our daily dose of the sweetest girls on the planet.

Rainy day in Paris. Took shelter from the storm in the Rodin museum. Spent more time there today than I had originally planned...but I can think of many more worse places to be. Also, got very lucky and managed a dry walk down the Champs Elysee and climbed to the top of the Arc d'Triomphe.

Currently waiting on Jim to return so we can skype the girls....bought some pre-dinner snacks at 3 different bakeries. Going to a dinner tonight at the Orsay Museum. Oh la la!

Morning update

Thanks to Pop Paul, we're getting a daily update about the girls. I don't know why I bothered to pack clothes for Lolo. Seems like she's decided to wear princess outfits every day.
In less than 24 hours in Paris, I've managed to hit 4 different bakeries so far. Our apartment is on the 7th floor. I'm telling myself that if I walk the stairs every day, that I'll at least burn off some of the bread and chocolate.
I'm probably enjoying Paris far more than Jim at this point. Love the markets. Bought some deliciously fat and sweet raspberries and cherries this morning (along with an assortment of bread)...brought it back to enjoy with a cup of coffee...and a little blogging. I'm stunned that Parisians can afford to eat breakfast in a cafe in the morning. 6 Euros for a cup of coffee and croissant? Wow.
Poor Jim. He left this morning about 6:30am to attend his conference. I feel a great duty to be his eyes, ears, and stomach while he's in conference :-)
So I'm going to finish up breakfast and it's off for a historic city walk (ala Rick Steve's guide book).

Update from Paris

Well, it sounds (and looks like) like the girls are having a ball with Gramma Peg & Pop Paul. The morning I left, Lolo was pondering her options..."Mama, what should I wear today? Should I be Belle?" Looks like she did decide to be Belle after all.
We're going to wait until we're not so jetlagged to call them....although as you can imagine, we're missing them like crazy. Everywhere I turn, I think of them. In the pastry shops....wandering through the parks....
Jim and I got into Paris early this morning and have started the "touristy" thing with gusto. Wandered over to the Eiffel Tower and Trocodero, had lunch at an outdoor cafe while people watching, and yes...stopped at NOT ONE, but TWO pastery shops. We had earmarked one shop on our way to the Tower and then we ran into LeNotre on our way back. So, yes, I've decided to make it a quest to try a chocolate croissant at every shop.
And no, I don't believe that French lessons have helped me at all. The first three people I tried to speak French to....replied in English. However, the girls at the pastry shops let me suffer and attempt French. However, I did manage to get a croissant and some macarons. YUM!
This is going to be fun.

Snow White in Tennessee

Pets

Lolo (and Norah) now have pets. Lolo and I went out and captured a few lady bugs, an inchworm, and 3 caterpillars. She's got them in a bug "home".

Upcoming trip

The girls and I are heading to Knoxville tomorrow. They're going to have a visit with Gramma Peg & PopPaul for a week while Jim and I head off to Paris for a week. Jim's attending a conference and I'll be touring museums and pastery shops ;-)

Pets

The girls are on a big kick to try to get a pet. Lolo has been asking for a horse for quite some time. Norah has dropped the request for an owl (from christmas) and is now hoping that we'll get a kangaroo.
Stuffed animals need not apply. Lolo has been plotting where we could possibly put a shed for the pets in our yard.

Soccer Video

And of course, no game day is complete without a little video action.

A couple more photos

Here's a big moment for our girl. Lolo shoots and scores! Her very first goal!!

From Lolo's first day of soccer.

First Soccer Game today

Lolo's first soccer game is this afternoon. Here she is (with her cheering section)...we got these snazzy socks and shin pads from Target yesterday. Lolo asked "Why do I need shin pads?" I said "because you might get kicked in the shins." She was shocked. The game should be interesting.

Not yet trained

And lest you think that our Norah is potty trained....
She's not.
She's just got a bad case of m&m addiction.
She's the junkie. I'm the dealer.
Bad. Bad. Bad.
Tomorrow, is a big test....dare we try church in panties?!

Only with mom

In the process of getting hosed down after a long hard day of play, Lolo insistently says "Mom! Here!" And proceeds to hand me the biggest booger in the whole world.
(1) I can't believe that came out of my child and
(2) I'm stunned that I accepted it bare handed and willingly.
A lot has changed in 5 years.

Dry all day

and mermaid panties to cap off a successful day.

Goatees all around

The girls had a great time "being Daddy".

Mother's Day Book

Lolo came home from school today with a Mother's Day book that finally dried enough to come home. She's such a sweetie....here it is :

"Do you know my mother? She is 5 feet tall and weighs 5. Her hair is black and her eyes are brown. Her favorite food is meat. When she has free time she likes to play with me and Norah. If I had a million dollars I would buy her a hug. Why do I love her? Because she loves me.
Love Lolo"

Allergies

Well, with me and Jim as parents, it was going to be wishful thinking that Norah could be spared....Poor Nor, her eyes are watery and itchy today.

My little gardener

Here is Lolo's very first bean....grown from seed. She proclaimed it "delicious". Funny how the green thumb skipped me and Jim, but Lolo seems to have gotten it. She told me this morning that if I ever decide that I'd like to have a garden....she would probably need to be in charge of it.

M&Ms

Bribery may not have been the most effective method of potty training. Norah may try to stretch out potty training until she starts college.

Hooray

a naughty step free day AND 2 m&ms for a job well done!
Wondering how long Norah will be "on" m&ms....

Naughty step

Norah's been spending quite a bit of time on the naughty step the past couple of days. Stubborn girl.

Allergies

Poor Lolo. She's got allergies just like me and Jim. She's got itchy eyes, runny nose, and a cough. So far, Norah has been spared.

Lolo's new biker gang

It appears Lolo is now in a bike gang. There's a regular pack of 5 kids on bikes plus 2 in strollers. Roaming the neighborhood. I'd get a picture, but I can barely keep up with the pack while pushing the stroller with Norah as my lookout.

A photo from last night

Brag Moment

Skip this post if you don't want to hear bragging. Lolo rode her bike this afternoon with a pack of kids from our neighborhood. She was so excited (and proud) to be riding in a group of kids with no training wheels. The moms were run ragged chasing after the pack. Norah (ever so helpful) chimed in from her perch in the stroller "Mom, I'm keeping an eye on Lolo for you!"

The bribery may be working

Norah announced this morning that her imaginary friends, PJ and Leo, are now potty trained. They stayed dry and are wearing panties. Hmmm. Now that is a good sign. I'm liking PJ and Leo a lot more than Lolo's friend, Dadabooboo.
In other news, Lolo is completely excited about her bike riding abilities. Instead of climbing this afternoon, she wants to go to the park to ride her bike.