Aug 9, 2010

An Awesome Girl!

I am so lucky to have Justine as my kid! As I have gotten the house ready to sell without Mike, Justine has been an inspiration, a motivator, and a helper to me at a time of need. She got me started and helped me at times when I felt so overwhelmed or discouraged. As soon as school was out, she spent hours helping me pack, organize, clean, carry heavy stuff, paint, and so much more... She has so much strength and stamina, at her age she can stick to a job until it is done, and that without complaining! She sees a need and gets to work. Just her presence has been a source of encouragement and strength for me.
She is simply Awesome!!!! I Love her so much! Thank you Beautiful for being there for your mommy! :)

Je suis tellement benie d'avoir un fille comme Justine. Elle m'a tant aider a un moment ou j'avais grand besoin. Preparer la maison a vendre sans Mike etais souvent decouragent. Des que l'ecole a etait fini, Justine m'a motive a commencer le travail, elle a passer des heures a m'aider a faire les cartons, organiser, nettoyer, porter les choses lourdes, a peindre, est bien plus. Elle a beaucoup d'endurence et de volonte. A son age elle sait finir un boulot, sans se pleindre. Elle voit un besoin et se met au travail. Elle a ete une source de confort et d'encouragement pour moi, just par sa presence. Elle est tout simplement Super! J'e l'aime telement! Merci Justine pour avoir ete la pour ta maman! :)


Jul 30, 2010

Imminent move....

So I have been putting off blogging about our imminent move... Mike left a contract job of 12 years (well not completely, he is still working for them part time). Anyway, he got a new contract job and unfortunately it's not in Cincinnati. We are going to be moving to Houston Texas. His last "official" day with Lyondelbassel was on May 28th and he started his new job for BakerHughes on June 3rd.
I still have a hard time believing we are leaving... Even though our house has been on the market since June 22.

I feel very lucky that he got a new job so fast, but very sad to be leaving Cincinnati... I love it here. I am very well settled. I am giving up a lot. A great neighborhood. A great Ward (Church). All my favorite little spots (like Sharon Woods to name just one). The drive to my home down Maud Hughes, with the beautiful trees forming a tunnel. The red barn with the sheep, it's little goats and lambs being so darn cute in the spring.

I guess I can find new favorite places in Houston, but I cannot replace people... I have some very dear friends here that I just can't replace!

Jun 11, 2010

One Fine Day. One Fine Dancer.



Pink Ballerina


Amelie is always so so pretty in her ballerina outfit, just adorable!
Amelie est toujours si jolie dans costume de ballerine, si adorable!
She is very sad to leave Sister Olson, she has been her teacher for 3 years now...
She has been such a wonderful teacher!
Elle est tres triste de quiter son institutrice de ballet, elle l'a eu pour 3 ans maintenant...
Elle est une maitresse merveilleuse...

Jun 6, 2010

Our First Senior Graduation!!!



Alexi made it! But, not without a lot of work his Senior year! We are so happy for him! To tell you the truth a year ago, we were really wondering if he was going to graduate. Once he made the decission, he went for it and did everything he needed to do make it happen.
This was also the first high school graduation that I attended in my life. It was quite interesting. I think it is a nice way of recognizing these kids and the hard work they have put in their education. I got a little emotional a couple of times, when the grads clapped and stood up for their parents, and when they were officially graduated and thru their (ugly) hats. It was so good to see Alexi so happy.

Alexi a reussi! Mais pas sans beaucoup de travaille de sa part pendant sa derniere annee de lycee. Nous sommes tres heureux pour lui. Pour vous dire, on ne pensait pas qu'il reussirai apres avoire echoue 2 ans de ses 4 ans de lycee. Mais une fois qu'il a pris la decision de graduate, il c'est mis au boulot et a fait tout ce qu'il a pu pour ratraper le temps perdu.
C'etait aussi la 1ere fois que j'allais a un "graduation". C'etait tres interessant, je pense que c'est une facon sympa de reconnaitre les jeunes qui reussissent et les efforts qu'ils ont mis dans leur education. J'ai etais un peu emu quand les enfant on reconnu leur parents en applaudissant et en de levant, ainsi que quand ils ont ete declare "graduate de 2010" c'est la qu'ils lance leur chapeux (qui son moche d'aillieur!) c'etait bien de voir Alexi si content!

Jun 5, 2010

Talk about Sex-Education

Emric- "Justine, guess what class I have to take in school this semester!"
Justine- "What?"
Emric- "Guess!"
Justine- "Emric, I'm not going to guess."
Emric- "Just guess."
Justine-"No."
Emric- "Okay, I'll give you a clue, it starts with an 'S.'"
Justine-"I'm not going to guess"
Emric- "Okay, I'll give you another clue, it ends in an 'X-ed.' "
Justine-"Emric, its ok to say 'sex-education.'"
Mom- "Really, Emric, when do you start?"
Emric- "I've been doing it for two weeks now."
Amelie- (spits out some food) "Emric's having sex?!"

Emric- "Justine, devine ce que je prend a l'ecole ce semestre!"
Justine- "Quoi?"
Emric- "Devine!"
Justine- "Emric, je ne vais pas deviner."
Emric- "Just devine."
Justine-"No."
Emric- "Okay, je te donne un indice, ca commence avec un 'S.'"
Justine-"Je vais pas deviner!"
Emric- "Okay, je te donne un autre indice, ca fini avec un 'X-ed.' "
Justine-"Emric, c'est ok de dire 'sex-education.'"
Mom- "A bon, Emric, Quand est-ce que tu commence?"
Emric- "cela fait 2 semaines que j'en fait."
Amelie- (en crachant ce qu'elle avait dans son bouche) "Emric a du sex?!"

Jun 1, 2010

Words to Remember


Me: How many kids do you want Justine?
Justine: At least 3... I don't really care how many I have; it will be fun!

I just had to put this in writing!!!!

Moi: Combien d'enfants tu va avoir Justine?
Jaustine: Au moins 3... Cela m'est egal combien j'ai, ce sera amusant!



May 25, 2010

Senior Prom

The first and only Prom dance Alexi has attended during his high school years. Heavena and Lex were so cute all matching and in black, of course... They started by taking a few pics, dinner at O'Charley, dance at the Sharonville Convention Center, and After Prom at their high school until 3:30am.
La premiere et seul "Prom" que Alexi a participe pendant ses annes de Lycee. Heavena et Lexi etaient tres mimi tout assorti et en noir biensur! Ils ont commence leur soiree avec petite seance photos, repas a O'Charley, dance a Sharonville, et Apres Prom enferme dans leur lycee jusqu'a 3:30 du matin.

May 23, 2010

I'm showering in the rain! Just showering in the rain! I'm happy again!

So today it rained really hard for about 10mn. 
Who was in his swimsuit taking a shower, with soap and all? 
He even used gutter water to get soap out of his eyes! 
We never know what crazy thing Laurent is going to do to make us laugh????


Aujourd'hui il a plus des cordes pendant 10mn, qui etait dehors a prendre une douche, 
avec le savon et shampoo? 
Il a meme utilise l'eau des egoutoire pour enlever le savon dans ses yeux!
On ne sas jamais ce que laurent va faire pour nous faire rire????

May 9, 2010

My Mother's Day...

Got breakfast in bed. Love the turnover that only had half of it on the plate :) My Honey forgot to spray the tray! He is not a big Cook...
Emric made me some eggs, his specialty!
Amelie made a mothers day card.
Justine gave me one of her great heartfelt hug.
Alexi mumbled Happy mother's day, after I reminded him what day it was.
Got to take a nap.
Spoke on the cam to my family in France.
Didn't need to cook.
Had dinner with not one, but two of our favorite families.
Cried a couple of times at church. I loved that our Bishop got up and spoke to us mothers after several talks on motherhood. He was so sensitive to our mixed feelings; we love being mothers, but often feel so imperfect and/or we fail too often in our roles, and/or compare ourselves with others. I heard once that we are so unfair to ourselves when we make comparisons, we take our greatest weaknesses and measure those against other women's strengths... it does us no good!

J'ai eu le petit dejeuner au lit. J'ai aime le fait qu'il manquait la moitie d'un des chauson aux pommes. Mon cheri a oublier le beurre pour pas que ca colle! :) c'est pas un grand cuisinier!
Emric m'a fait des oeux brouilles, sa specialite!
Amelie m'a fait une carte.
Justine m'a donner un de ces super gros calin...
Alexi m'a dit bonne fete (apres que je lui ai rappele quel jour on etait.
J'ai pu prendre une petite sieste cet apreme...
J'ai parler a ma famille en France sur la cam.
J'ai pas eu a cuisiner.
Nous avons mange avec pas une mais 2 de nos familles preferer.
J'ai pleure plusieur foisa l'eglise. J'ai beaucoup apprecie ce que notre bishop a dit a la fin des discours qui etait sur les roles des meres. Il a adresse le fait que le role de mere n'est pas toujours remplis de joie, que c'est dur, et que meme si on aime etre mere, cela ne veux pas dire que l'on n'a pas des moments ou on se sent faible, imparfaites et qu'on croit desfois qu'on échoue. On ne doit pas se comparer aux autres meres, quand on le fait on ne se fait pas justice car on compare nous faiblesses avec les forces des autres, on ne se donne pas de chance...

May 8, 2010

Freezer trouble!

I hate the feeling I get when I go down to the storage room in the basement, and see a puddle of nasty bloody liquid coming from my freezer... Since we have had that upright freezer, over the past 9 years, it must have happened at least 4 to 5 times.
I usually ignore it as long as I can... hopping it didn't happen.
I wish Mike was here to help, somehow he rarely is when this happens.
I survey the damage.
I get the kids to help carry things up stairs.
I call a friend, today Stephanie H rescued me! She took a lot of meet to cook at her house
Then I start cooking the meet, that takes hours.
I refreeze the cooked meet.
We are not sure what is wrong with it. Today, nothing got stuck in the door and no one left the door open ???? And it's working fine now????

May 7, 2010

My New Soul


In a effort to lower our monthly expenses, we sold our big Toyota Highlander, no more 7 seater. We got instead a little Kia Soul, with surprisingly lots of interior room and lots of character. I love zipping around town in it, it's a perfect car for me,just my size! My favorite feature is the trunk... so roomy, especially for Chloe and the groceries!
Dans un effort a reduire nos frais, nous avons vendu notre grosse Toyota Highlander, plus de voiture a 7 places. Nous avons achete a la place cette petite Kia Soul, qui a beaucoup de personalite et de place a l'interieur... J'adore me balader en ville avec, elle est parfaite pour moi et just ma taille! Ce que j'aime le plus, c'est le coffre, ya plein de place pour Chloe et les courses!

Apr 29, 2010

A Job for Chloe!!!

Some dog experts say that every dog needs a job to feel good about themselves. Chloe needs a job. After all, we all have jobs in our family.
After searching on the net for ideas of jobs for dogs, and not finding very many, especially for a young puppy, one came to me this morning. It is so perfect! Since Chloe is teething, (poor thing...) and needs things to chew, and I need to get rid of the boxes Mike tries to keep around the house as storage containers, it's a perfect match!
I give the dog the box.
It gets destroyed.
Chloe soothes her teeth and gums.
She leaves our shoes alone.
I won't have to buy new shoes.
I don't have to smash any more ugly boxes with my feet.
Mike gets to use all the nice storage containers he has bought.
And it saves money, you know the less shoes thing...
Des specialistes en chien disent que tout les chiens doivent avoir un boulot pour bien se sentir.
Chloe a besoin d'un boulot. Apres tout, chaque membre de la famille en a.
Apres avoir regarder sur le net pour des idees, et ne pas en avoir trouve beaucoup, surtout pour un chiot, un boulot m'est venu ce matin. C'est parfait! Comme Chloe se fait les dents, (la pauvre...) et a besoin de macher, et moi, j'ai besoin de me debarrasser des boites en carton que Mike essay de garder comme récipients de stockage, c'est parfait!
Je donne le carton a Chloe.
La boite est detruite.
Chloe apaise ses dents et gencives.
Elle laisse nos chaussures intact.
J'ai pas besoin d'acheter plus de chaussures
J'ai plus besoin de detruire ces boites moches avec mes pieds.
Mike peux utiliser tous les beaux, efficace récipients de stockage qu'il a achete.
Et on economise...

For a good laugh, go to Jobs for Dogs
written by a Harvard college med student I think...

Apr 26, 2010

Questions on a Rainy Monday Morning...


Sometimes, I do not like Monday mornings...
Today, is one of those mornings!
I have so many random questions...




It's been a month since we bought a new
faucet for our kitchen sink.
Still in the box in our dinning room...
Should I call "rent a husband" ?





In the dinning room, Chloe finished chewing on the decorative sticks Zorro had started on!
Why can't puppies chew their own stuff?
Why is Chloe so soft, adorable and cuddly?





In the office, Chloe riped up one of her red balls, it's all over the floor! She also leaves her toys laying around...
Can you train a dog to clean up after itself ?





My Desk is a fine mess...
Could somebody, anybody,
clean up after me once in a while?



The iron is out on the kitchen counter reminding me
I haven't ironed in over 2 months!
Isn't there a ironing fairy?
Why can't everything be wrinkle free?



I still need to finish my laundry from last week..
Why do people have to wear so many clothes?






Looks like we had a party all night in the kitchen!
When will kids do their chores when and how I want them to?



And why do they have to eat all the time?
Will they stop eating if I stop buying food?
What am I going to make for dinner?



Why do little girls make such big messes?
Why is little girl's art so darn cute?



Even my bed is a mess, my mess!
Can't I just stay in bed on this rainy cold Monday?
Why does the house look like a war zone on Monday mornings?
Why am I the only one who cares?




The kids will be home soon... since it's the afternoon now.
I'll just wait and hopefully get answers to some of my questions, maybe they'll know?
Then again, maybe I'll just go finish that laundry...
I could go take a shower too... Or maybe not today...

Apr 25, 2010

The Five doors to reaching your greatest Potential


While on a book tour in Cincinnati, the New York Times Best Selling Author Richard Paul Evans, came to our Ward building for a fireside last Sunday night. It was a very inspiring talk. I just wanted to recap the few points he made, I wish I could write down all the personal experiences he shared for each point, but I didn't take notes on those. They made him the success he is today and helped him come to understand these five doors to success...

He started by stating that we are all "special". We are somebody, and all have special gifts.

1. There is a reason why you are here. We all have a mission to fulfill. We need to learn to listen to that still small voice inside of us that will lead is to find and accomplish that mission. Keep the communication with the Divine open. We are all divine...

2. Release the bonds that hold you back. Forgive others and self.

3. Take risks. Do something with your special gifts. Don't be afrad to fail. You will fail. Think trial and error! If you have a dream, go for it!

4. When you hit road blocks, challenges, adversity, an you will, embrace them! Good grapes grow in poor soils... He spoke about his health condition "Tourette Syndrome" and how it made him who he is. We are who we are not despite our trials or trouble, but because of them.

5. In the end, the only real success is the ability to Love.
Love is not a feeling, it s a choice!
The hardest times to love will be to love the unlovable.
We love those we serve.
God Loves us just for being us.

Apr 19, 2010

Get off the roads!!!!


Last week, Justine got her Temporary Licence... Let me tell you, I am quite happy to have her drive with Mike! Got in the car with her for 5mn and that was plenty for me! It's a good thing my car is a stick shift, and she is definitely not ready for that, and neither am I!

La semaine derniere, Justine a recu son permis de conduite accompagnee. En tout cas, je prefere qu'elle fasse la conduite avec Mike! J'etais avec elle pendant 5mn, et cela m'a suffi! C'est bien que ma voiture ne soit pas une automatique, elle n'est pas prete pour cela... et moi non plus!

Apr 4, 2010

EGG HUNT


Could it be the Easter Bunny?



Mar 24, 2010

Real Good!

I just love this yummy French lunch! For the know how clic HERE
Don't make it for too many people though, they are best cooked and eaten
right after they slide of the pan onto your plate...

Mar 19, 2010

Justine & Chloe


Conversation n# 1
...a few days before I got Chloe:

Justine: "Why are you getting a dog?"
Moi: "For our family, don't you want one?"
Justine: "I could have gone my whole life without one..."

Conversation n#2
...a week later as she is steeling her from my lap:
Moi: "You can't just take Chloe away from me like that!
I thought you could live without a dog!"
Justine: "Well, I didn't know what I was missing..."

Conversation n#1

... avant d'aller chercher Chloe:
Justine: "pourquoi tu veux un chien?"
Moi: " Pour la famille, tu n'en veux pas un?"
Justine: "Pas vraiement, j'aurais pu passer ma vie sans chien."

Conversation n#2
...une semaine apres, pendant qu'elle essaye de prendre Chloe de mes genoux!"
Moi: "Tu peux pas juste la prendre comme cela!
Je croyais que tu pouvais vivre sans un chien!"
Justine: " Ben... je savais pas ce que je manquais..."

Wall Art


Ever found this kind of wall art when you have to move beds around? Just in case a couple of kids want to deny it all, or don't remember and think I am crazy!!!!! Well, here you go my precious: the proof!
No names to protect the guilty. You know who you are... Oh, yes they are buggers!

Vous avez jamais trouver ce genre d'art mural en bougent des lits? Au cas ou les gosses denient, ne se rappellent plus, ou me prenne pour une vielle qui raconte des histoires... Voila, mes precieux: la preuve!
Pas de noms pour protege les coupable. mais vous savez qui vous etes... Oui, c'est des crottes de nez!

Mar 18, 2010

My Happy Toes


Yesterday and today, my toes got some fresh air,
after what seemed like a long winter...
What Joy!
Hier est aujourd'hui, mes doights de pied on eu de l'air frais,
après ce qui a semble un long hiver...
Quel Bonheur!

Mar 15, 2010

Our little ingeneer

Justine is a great little engineer. She can put together an office chair, today I had her put together the rest of a vacuum. I know that she can figure things out like that. It's like a puzzle to her! :)
Tonight Justine, Amelie I and shoveled the driveway, not an easy task! I am so proud of my 2 girls, they are not afraid of hard work, and they stick to it until the job is done. What wonderful skills to have!

Mar 13, 2010

Sticking to Chloe

After deliberation, we are sticking to Chloe. We got used to it and she just is a Chloe.That's all there is to it.
Apres deliberation, on garde le nom Chloe. On s'y est habitue et elle est une Chloe. C'est tout.

Mar 10, 2010

Chloe or Zoe?


After having this darling Puppy for a few days, I really feel like calling her Zoe.
I find it is easier for me to pronounce and it flows better for a dog.
So I think that her name on her official papers is going to be Lady Chloe Zoe de La BelleCourt. 
Some will still call her Chloe, and some Zoe... 
How lucky is that? 2 names! 
To tell you the truth, they are so close in sound, she won't even notice a difference, 
then again, she might develop a dual personality disorder? 
My guess though is that one name will prevail! 
Want to guess which?

Apres quelques jours avec cette petite chienne, j'ai vraiement envie de l'appeler Zoe. 
Je trouve que c'est plus facile a prononcer pour un chien et cela lui va mieux. 
Donc je pense que sur ses papiers officiel, cela va etre Lady Chloe Zoe de la BelleCourt. 
Il y en aura qui vont l'apeler Chloe, et d'autre Zoe... 
Elle aura 2 noms! 
En fait, ces noms sont si proche, 
elle ne va pas faire la difference ou elle va developer un problem de double personalite? 
Je pense qu'un des 2 va prevaloir. 
Vous devinez lequel?

Mar 9, 2010

A Great Little Brother

A tasty guilty pleasure: Croissants toasted with melted swiss cheese... So good!
Un plaisir culinaire: croissants chaud avec gruyere fondant... Si bon!


So last night after Justine found out that Emric made himself breakfast every morning (and he packs his own lunch, and he feeds the cats, and he takes Chloe out to potty...) asks him:
J: "Hey, Emric, do you want to wake up at 5:30am and make me breakfast too?"
E: ...pause... "sure"
...And He did! What a great kid we have been blessed with!

Hier soir Justine a decouver qu'Emric se fait un petit dejeuner presque tous les matins, (ainsi que prepare son lunch, donne a mange au chats, et s'occupe de Chloe...) Elle lui demande:
J: "Hey, Emric tu veux te lever a 5h30 et me faire le petit dejeuner aussi?"
E: ...pause... "Ok"
... Et il l'a fait! On a ete benis avec un si bon gosse!

Mar 8, 2010

Favorite Spot


This has to be our Chloe's favorite spot, our laps, it's a good thing she is so little... She has been so great! She had one accident on the hard wood floors because some one didn't wait for her to finish her business. She sleeps all night, no winning or barking. The hardest thing has been crating her during the day... I spent some time today sitting by her until she fell asleep, got a good book! Hopeful she will soon get used to it.

L'endroit prefere de Chloe: sur nous. Heureusement qu'elle est toute petite. Elle est super! Elle a eu un accident dans la cuisine car on l'a pas laisse dehors assez longtemps. Elle dors toute la nuit sans pleurer. Le plus dur c'est de la metre dans sa cage la journee... J'ai du m'assoir pres d'elle jusqu'a ce qu'elle s'endort, sinon elle pleure... je prend avec moi un bon livre... j'espere qu'elle va s'y habituer bientot.

Mar 6, 2010

Solving the crate problem

We put Chloe in her crate, she cried. Since some of the family members couldn't bare it, we had a genius idea. We put Amelie in it with her. As you can see we didn't have to tell her twice! Chloe cuddled up to her and fell asleep. When Amelie left to go to bed herself, Chloe was all calm, no more crying... Do we dare hope she will spend the night that way????
Quand on a mis Chloe dans sa nouvelle cage, elle a pleure. Comme certain membre de la famille ne pouvaient pas suporter cela, nous avons eu une idee de geni! On a mis Amelie avec! On ne lui as pas demande 2 fois! Chloe s'est caliner avec elle et c'est endormie. Quand Amelie est partie pour aller au lit elle meme, Chloe est restee calm. Est qu l'on ose esperer qu'elle fera sa nuit sans pleurer???? C'est a voire...

Welcome Home Chloe

We picked up our Chloe today! 
She is so adorable and gentile! 
It was love at first sight!
She did so well on her 5 hour ride home... 
No potty accidents, she peed every time we let her out in the grass. 
She stayed on Amelie's lap the whole time. 
Chloe cried for about a minute, I think she just realized what was happening. 
I felt so bad for her, she just left her owner and her sister... 
But, we are her Family now... 
And she is going to be just fine, because we are going to just love her, 
and love her some more.

Nous avons recupere Chloe ce matin. Elle est adorable et gentille! 
C'était le grand coup de foudre! 
Tout c'est si bien passe pendant nos 5 heures de voyage... 
Elle n'a pas eu d'accidents dans la voiture, elle a fait pipi a chaque fois qu'on l'a sorti. 
Chloe a pleure pendant 1 minute, je croix qu'elle a realise ce qu'il se passait; 
qu'elle quitait son maitre et sa soeur. 
Mais, nous somme sa famille maintenant. 
Et tout ira bien pour elle, parce que on va l'aime tout plein.

Mar 4, 2010

PuPpY ProOfing The HouSe


I've been getting the house ready for Chloe. I've been calling around for baby gates, reorganizing my landry room for her crate, putting things out of reach, buying a few chew and play toys... I feel like I am baby proofing it! I have almost everything ready, just need to go get Chloe some food...

Ces derniers jours, je m'ammuse a preparer la maison pour Chloe. J'ai trouver des barrieres a bebe, mis les affaires hors de portee, reorganiser my buandrie pour sa maison, acheter des jouets... J'ai l'impressions de preparer la maison pour un bebe! J'ai presque tout pret, reste plus que le manger de Chloe.

Mar 1, 2010

Meet Chloe

We found the one! She is so cute! We all fell in love with her from the pictures. 
We are going to get her this week-end. The whole family is so excited to welcome her in our home,
 especially Amelie! I am bracing myself for all the extra work; the sleepless nights, the potty training, the hyper puppy energy, kinda like having another baby for a few months...

Nous avons trouve notre chienne. Nous sommes tous tombe amoureux d'elle d'apres les photos. 
Nous allons la cherche ce week-end. Toute la famille est impatiente de l'accueillir, surtout Amelie!
Moi, je me prepare au travail extra que je vais avoir; les nuits sans someille, l'apprentissage de toilette, l'energy enorme d'un chiot... ce sera comme si j'avait un bebe pendant quelques mois....