just around the corner

Playing outside on a day like this has me thinking spring.  Although we've had a really mild year here, the past few weeks have been a little on the dull and grey side.  I can't think of anything better then a little sunshine.  We have a few flowers blooming and trees starting to bud, so I'm feeling hopeful that spring may be just around the corner.  

 

More afternoon's outside with the soccer ball are definitely in order.  

strasbourg

Billy is in Strasbourg for the game today (and since they left yesterday, he is probably enjoying a really nice sleep-in while I type this).  I am more than a little jealous.  Look how beautiful Strasbourg is.  It boarders Germany and has such an idyllic look about it.  I've always wanted to travel there. 

Here is a little clip from Saturday's home game.  Definitely aggressive.  The result: a full bench in the penalty box.  And a few minutes later, to wrap-up the game this happened.   

Image via freevisits.com

saturday's game

Saturday's game was full of excitement. 
It was also the most aggressive game I've seen for a very long time.
My heart was just racing.
Jake was just glued to the game.

It went a little something like this:
We were up by one goal
Then down by two goals
Then tied it up
Then scored 
And scored again 
5 - 3 win for Amiens

Now they are headed to Strasbourg for game three on Tuesday and a possible game four on Wednesday.  Go team, go.

Here's how things look from our seats, starting with warm-up

The game is about to begin, time to pull out the giant banner that 

runs the entire length of the arena

My little cheering partner

It was a fun-filled, late night which even included a couple of high-fives with the mascot, or ma-cot as Jake likes to say.  

But more on him later...

supermarket

Jake loves to help with everything - sorting laundry, unloading dishing, sweeping the floors, wiping up spills... - so when we happened upon a unusually quiet supermarket one morning, I knew he would love to push a mini cart.  And he did.  He navigated the isles and helped me load the groceries in it.  By then end of our shopping trip, the cart was heavy and brimming with groceries.  It was so heavy I had to help a little around the corners. 

It was, without a doubt, our funnest shopping trip yet.  After, we walked to the arena on our way home and watched a little practice.  It made for a lovely morning. 

Luckily, I happened to have my camera on me, which is rare these days.  It feels like it adds an extra 10 pounds to my bag so I've been awfully lazy about it.  This is a good reminder to bring it out 

more often.    

playoffs

Playoffs start today, with a home game tonight and another tomorrow.

It is always such an exciting time of year, where really 

anything can happen. 

 Jake is always excited to go to a game.  We've learned not to mention an upcoming game before his afternoon nap.  Lately we've been staying for the entire match and we are both having such a great time.  I love sending Jake into the dressing room after the game.  He just lights up.

We will happily be cheering them on tonight!

Update: Amiens won 2 - 1 in last nights game and Billy was the 

Man of the Match.  What an exciting night.       

baby steps

I'm still trying to wrap my head around a little baby girl.  I've been thinking boy, boy, boy since the evening of Jacob's 20 week ultrasound and the switch is harder then I imagined.   I figured buying a few things in those sweet, soft pastels would be a step in the right direction.  And yet, even that proved to be a challenge.

There is an overwhelming amount of stuff in the girls section!  My goodness.  I stood forever trying to decide on something and to narrow down my choices, stayed strictly within the sale section.  Although it took an awfully long time, I finally came home with some sweet tiny-person things.  Billy came home and groaned.

in memory

ADOLF WEGER

1924 - 2012

"It is with great sadness the family of Adolf Weger announces his passing on February 2, 2012 at the age of 87.  He is remembered with love and survived by his children Klaus (Heather), Egon (Sandra), Nora (Rob) and Norman, grandchildren Lindsey (Bill), Ashleigh (Rob), Kaitlyn, Alexandra, Lauren, Colton and great grandson Jacob.  He was predeceased by his beloved wife Marie.  Adolf’s kindness, compassion, support and unconditional love for family and friends as well as his great love of the outdoors fulfilled his life.  A truly remarkable man of character, dignity and integrity.  He was hard working and reliable, you could always expect a smile, positive attitude and great sense of humour from him.  He has impacted the lives of many in such a positive way.  Adolf was blessed with a broad circle of wonderful friends who enriched his life and who have consequently been touched by his acquaintance, friendship and love.  To his family he will always be loved, dearly missed and serve as a role model.  He will be remembered as a kind man, a resilient man, a proud man. The Family would like to convey a special Thank You to the Staff of Mariposa Gardens and to Dr. De Vries for the loving care Adolf received over the past two years.  In lieu of flowers a donation to the Diabetes Society is requested. "

salted butter caramel

Up until now, I've never given too much thought to salted caramel.  Then I went to Paris.  Sat down at Breizh Cafe.  And fell in love.  Of course the French have known how delicious it is all along; they created it after all.  

Briezh Cafe is practically perfect.  They are tucked away in one of the cutest androssments, use all organic ingredients, the finest butter from Jean-yves Bordier, homemade jams and make famous crepes from Brittany.  Their menu is a delight: savory and sweet buckwheat crêpes, an entire page devoted to ciders (which is what you traditionally drink with crepes in France) and teas 

from Meriage Freres.

I skipped over the entire savory section on the menu and went straight to the sweet crêpes.  Obviously.  Among the sweet crêpes is their crêpe au caramel beurre sale, which is what Kaytie and I both ordered. They are topped with either chantilly, vanilla bean ice cream and/or fresh fruit.  To die for.  I really haven't stopped thinking about how good it was.

This is the only picture I took.  The crêpe is hot, the ice cream starting to melt; clearly no time to fuss around with my camera for the perfect shot.  And after just one bite, I didn't give my camera a second thought.  All I was really thinking was, would it be gross if I ordered a second?!  And I regret not doing so, just a little. 

I am saving this Salted Caramel recipe for a day when we are back home and craving that delicious experience all over again.  

This recipe for Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate sounds really lovely too. 

six months

There is a growing baby in here and she's not about to let me forget it.  She is busy - moving, stretching, turning, kicking - all the time, all night.  (In fact, the doctor who performed my ultrasounds was getting exasperated over this constant movement.  She had to pause and rewind again and again in order to take her measurements). 

twenty-four weeks

Of course I cannot help but enjoy it.  

Feeling those little kicks has to be the greatest part of pregnancy.  All the rest of it I'm really not so crazy about.  In just four months I will be a mother of two and I just cannot wait.  I'm sure there will be hard moments ahead but I know the joy that comes with these sweet little babies and June just cannot come soon enough. 

be mine

Happy Valentine's Day to all our family and friends!

 Sending all our love and
wishing you a wonderful day.

I hope your day includes something sweet!
This morning Jake and I made Rice Krispie Squares, which we've been devouring. And this Chocolate Banana Bread is in the oven right now. It's starting to smell delicious in here.

Image vie Eva Black

new hair

It was time for another haircut!  Long overdue actually.   And we decided to attempt another at-home-cut, we just needed a new plan.  One that absolutely did not involve the bathtub.  We were wiser this time around and put Toy Story 3 on the computer.  Jake's really had almost zero exposure to the TV so this novelty was just the trick we needed.  He was thoroughly amazed and sat still, eyes glued to the screen, while fine blond hair fell all around him. 

  It was a bit of a mess but he was blissfully unaware. We were just thrilled he wasn't terrified and there were no tears.  It was definitely a success.

boulangerie

We've been here in France now for six months already and I can hardly believe it!  Also hard to believe is that we're not really taking full advantage of all the beautiful, buttery bakeries we have here.  How is this even possible!?  So now with the season dwindling, we've decided this has to be a priority.

We decided a stop at Maison Bocquillon was in order.  We always talk about going in, but never do because there is always such a long line-up (which really is a pretty obvious sign that we should be going there).  We went for the basics, baguette and croissants.  Yum.    

"The beautiful aroma".  Yes, indeed. 

Here comes the buttery, light and flaky deliciousness.

Croissants have never really been my number one choice.  Basically what I'm saying is I never choose them.  I usually go for something sweeter.  Something filled with chocolate or almond.  But if you go to a good bakery and go early in the morning, they are really very lovely.  Definitely a must while in France.

Such pretty packaging too.  All dressed-up in their fancy 

little bakery bags.

le choix du roi

In France this is what they call the choice of king's - first born is a boy and the second a girl.  So it is only fitting that while in France, we find out that a little girl is on her way.  A little sister for our sweet Jake. 

   

We feel so full of joy at the thought of our family growing to four and cannot wait to welcome this newest addition. 

snow, hooray

We've finally gotten our first snow.  It started off one evening as just the slightest dusting and then continued a little more the following night.  The result of our two day storm, one whole inch of snow.  Jacob's not nearly as enchanted by the snow as Bill and I were.  I love waking-up to new snow.  Jake stomped around a bit and then decided he would rather walk to the arena instead.   

Snow: Day One

The poor roses in the picture above are not happy

On our way to the rink

Snow: Day Two

Writing in the snow, snowballs and chocolates from 

our neighbor downstairs.  Thanks, Monique.  

 

game night

Last nights game was an exciting one; they won and Jake and I stayed the entire time.  Most often we stay until Jake is looking awfully sleepy and then walk home.  Since the regular season is quickly coming to a close though we thought we should stay and participate in some of the post-game fun. 

Going to games is such a highlight for Jake.  He sits so well and is so entertained by the game.  Often he just snuggles on my lap and couldn't be more content or sits in his stroller and eats his snack.  There are never any tears (although the closest to tears was last week when a giant mascot, a squirrel, skated around prior to the game.  He still doesn't want to talk about squirrels). 

Jake snuggled in my arms until the game was over and then got a second wind in the dressing room with all the players.  He was a happy boy.  He played pass and got to run around with a big stick.  After, we all went up to the VIP and he munched away on baguettes and ran in circles. 

I'm lucky that I have girls here that take Jake walking in the intermission and play games with him while we are upstairs.  It makes the evening so easy and Jake has so much more fun.

 

Of course he still woke-up just after eight this morning, no sleep-in for us.  He is running on four hours less sleep then usual but we all had a great time.