Dreamy

All pictures I have been posting are from my cell phone. 

These somehow turned out dreamy and fairytale-like

     So this is where I walk everyday! How can I not Love it!

 I feel like I live back in France. 

There, I would take long walks with my dog in the country around our village. 

I especially loved going in the woods... 

This week I found some wild blackberries and have been eating a handful every day!

For My Man!!!!

HaPpY BiRthDaY

Thanks for Loving us...

Coral Snake Encounter

Today, I just had my first encounter with the deadly Coral Snake. 

Very dangerous, but seldom bites.

It's head is so small so it is hard to bite a human. 

It rarely attacks and usually scoots away.

It was about 5 feet from me slithering away... 

Along with my mace, I now carry with me benadril just in case Chloe or I need it, 

or anyone else...

Aujourd'hui, j'ai eu ma premiere rencontre avec les Serpent Coral.

 Tres dangeureux, mais dont les mordures sont tres rare. 

Sa bouche et tres petite, donc difficile a mordre les humains,

en general il n'attaque pas mais se sauve.

Ile etait a un metre de moi en train de se sauver...

Avec mon spray au poivre je transport avec moi un medicament 
au cas ou pour Chloe ou moi, ou n'importe qui d'autre d'ailleur.

Walking trails

One of the reasons I fell in love with The Woodlands, 

is it's neat walking trails... They are everywhere! 

It's very unique, I've never seen this anywhere else in the US. 

Here are the ones I walk everyday.

There are people always on them, running, walking, biking...

It makes me feel like I am in France...

I especially love it when they form natural tunnels.

The shade is so very welcome in the heat of the summer days.

    Une autre raison pourquoi je suis tombee pour Les Woodlands, 

c'est tous les chemains de marche qu'il y a dans cette petite ville urbaine. 

C'est tres unique aux Etats Unis. J'ai jamis vu cela nule par ailleur.
Il y a toujours des gens qui coure, marche et font du velo dessus.
J'ai l'impression d'etre en France...
J'adore quand ils forment des tunnels naturel.
L'ombre est bien appreciee pendans les chaleurs des jours d'ete.

Little lake

    Chloe and I walk by this little lake every day. 

We always see birds, and turtles. 

Sometimes little kids fish in it with their dads...

In the Woodlands their are 7 villages,

all with little lakes,

a big park and little neighborhood parks.

I feel like I live in a huge park...

All businesses and neighborhoods are behind trees,

no billboards are allowed, thus the country feel.

I can't tell I live in the 4th biggest city in America (unless I leave the Woodlands)

Chloe et moi passons tous les jours a cote de ce petit lac.
Il y a toujours des beaux oiseaux, desfois des tortues.
Parfois des enfants viennent pecher avec leurs peres.
Dans les Woodlands il ya a 7 villages, tous avec des lacs,
un grand parck et plein de petits parks de voisinages.
J'ai l'impression d'habiter dans un grand park!
Tous les buisness et voisinages sont deriere des arbres, 
les grosses affiches sont aussi interdites, donc l'effet relaxant et de la campagne...
Je n'ai  pas l'impression d'habiter dans une des plus grosse ville des USA
(la 4eme pour etre exact)

Love Letter found in our MailBox

The envelope front and back

Dear Mom and Daddy,

I hope your But is Feeling Better.
and Dad I hope your leg Feel's Better.

I hope you Had a Great day.

So I was wondering if I could Get a Iphone?

I can call you when I get lost.
I could call my Friend without useing your phone.

and when we go on vacation and we forgot to tern the lights off.
i can tern them off with my Iphone.

Oh and the Best part is I can text people! and put music on it!

love,

Amelie

(yes, she just turned 8!)


Cher Maman et Papa.
J'espere que tes fesses vont mieux. 
Et Papa j'espere que ta jambe va mieux.
J'espere que vous avez paser eu une bonne journee.
Donc, je me demandais si je pouvais avoir un Iphone?
Je peux vous appelerer quand je suis perdue.
Je peux appeler mes amis sans utiliser votre telephone.
Et quand on va en vacance et qu'on a oublier d'eteidre les lumieres.
Je peux les eteindre avec mon Iphone.
Oh et le mieu, c'est que je peux text les gens! 
Et metre de la music dessu!
Love,
Amelie
(oui, elle vien d'avoire 8 ans!)

The Perfect date. Not!

So Justine had a date with a nice kid from our ward named Alex.
It was her first date here in Houston.
It ended up being a double date at the last minute,
with her parents and her annoying little sister, and yes,
she was very annoying, like "you-can't-kiss-my-big-sister"annoying!
Oh, and on the ride home, since the annoying little sister fell asleep,
he got to hear funny stories about Justine
 from Mike and I.
What a date from h-e-double hockey sticks!!

Glenn Beck's comedy show was good though. 

I must admit at one point I was laugh so hard I was crying!

PS: It must have not been that bad of a date cause he has asked her out many times since.

I guess he kinda likes her...

Justine est sortie avec un jeune homme de notre paroisse; Alex

C'etait son premier "date" ici a Houston.

Cela a fini par etre un date avec ses parents et sa petite soeur bien enervante!

 Elle etait terrible surtout dans la voiture! Comme: tu-peux-pas-embrasser-ma-soeur, enervante!

Oh et au retour comme Amelie s'est endormie, 

on lui a racconte des histoirs de Justine rigolote.

Un "date" d'enfer quoi!

Le show comique etait rigolo! J'en ai pleurer de rire!

PS: Cela n'a pas du etre trop horrible car il est resortie avec elle souvent... 

Je croix qu'il l'aime bien!

Enjoying my hamack and yard...

As a result of my little injury, I have been relaxing more in our yard,
  reading and just being...

The weather has been perfect for it! Before I got hurt I planted lots of container flowers.

 Some might say I go a little nuts in the spring with flowers and plants!

I have to say, Mike was taking a big gamble buying a house without me seeing it first... 

As it turned out I love our little town home. 

I especially love the back yard and patio!!!!

 

A cause de mon petit accident, ces derniers temps, 

j'ai passer un peux plus de temps dans notre jardin a relaxer, a lire et a just etre... 

Le temps est parfait pour cela! 

Avant mon accident, j'ai plante plein de fleurs, j'adore cela, Mike dirait meme un peu trop!

  Je doit avouer que Mike a jouer a la roulotte quand il a achete une maison sans que je ne la voie... Mais en fin de compte, j'adore notre petite maison. 

Surtout le jardin et le patio!

Big shoes

On October 6th 2003

Emric (then 7) asked Mike while pointing at his shoes:

"Is it hard Daddy, to walk in your big shoes?"

Emric (a 7ans) a demande a Mike en montrant ses chaussures:
"C'est dure Papa, de marcher dans tes grandes chaussures?"

Hold your Breath!

When Justine was about 4 or 5, we would take our kids to our 

local pool, for the end of the season celebration. 

They would turn off the chlorine in the pool and fill it with tons of little gold fish. 

Then they would let the little kids go and catch some for them to keep and take home.

In the car, on the way home,
Justine was holding her prized container on her lap while intently staring at the fishes.

Mike amused said:
 "You sure like those fishies"

Justine still stairing:
"Daddy, they sure can hold their breath a long time!"

Quand justine avait 4 ou 5 ans, on avait emmener les enfants a notre piscine de voisinage,
pour la celebration de fin de saison.
Ils arraitaient la chlorine dans la piscine et y mettaient des poissons rouge dedans
 pour que les enfants les attrape pour les garder.

Dans la voiture pendant le voyage de retour a la maison,
Justine tenait son conteneur avec ses poissons dedans,
et les reardait attentivement.

Mike ammuse a dit;
"tu aimes beaucoups c'est poissons!"
Justine toujours attentive"
"Papa, ils peuvent vraiment tenir leur souffle longtemps ces poissons!"

A Pain in the Derrière

In the morning Mike and I took Chloe on her daily walk in the forest.

She met an Australian Shepherd to play and run with. 

When suddenly it knocked me of my feet as they were running right between Mike and I. 

I hit the ground so hard, it knocked the wind out of me!

It took me a least 20mn to get back up. Mike was with me, thank goodness! 

He was trying to get me up and I kept feeling faint.

Only after I drank a whole bottle of water (some good Samaritan gave us) 

was I able to get up, stay up and walk home.

Unfortunately, I did get a nasty bruise in my derrière area.

But lucky for me no broken tail bone, I think!

But it sure has left me with a big pain in the behind!

Had to put my yoga and running routine on hold for a while. :(

Watching out for Snakes

So now I've got to really watch were I step I almost stepped on this 

5-feet-long-sunbathing-snake!

The spring is when they come out and like to lay in the sun...

Alors maintenant je doit regarder ou je marche! 

J'ai presque marcher sur ce grand serpent qui se faisait bronzer au soleil... 

Le printemps est quand ils sortent et qu'il faut faire attention.

Here are the poisonous ones in the Houston area:

Les serpents venemeux de la region:

Coperhead

 Coral (deadly)

 Cottonmouth

Field trip to the Theater

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

 We had a lot of fun!!!!

I was really happy I got to go with Amelie and her class.

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

  On a bus full of 2d graders:

Ear plugs are a must!!!

Doggie Birthday Party!!!

Chloe went to her new friend Jasper's birthday party who turned 9.

 She had lots of fun and especially loved the Birthday cake for dogs!

You see, Jasper is Jamie's baby.
She has a party every year for him.

3 neighbor dogs and a few families on our street where also invited.
Jamie and Jasper are great with all the little kids.
We love our new town home community.

Chloe est allee a un anniversaire pour chien!!!
Elle s'est bien amusee et a surtout aime le gateau fait specialement pour chien.
Notre voisine Jamie, qui est seul, et qui a un chien; Jasper, a fait la partie.
Jamie et Jasper sont super avec les enfants.
3 chiens et quelques familles de notre rue etaient aussi invite.
On a des gens bien sympa et unique dans notre petit voisinage
ou on se plait bien.

Perfect Timing and Small Graces...

Our walking buddies left to return to Scotland, Chloe and I miss them. 

Laura gave us a few things they could not take with them. 

A palm, I put on my porch, pantry stuff, an iron, and a brand new washer and dryer!!!!

 We had bought some used ones when we first got here... 

They were very old and we had to replace a part on them. 

Anyhow, believe it or not but the day after Laura and her husband
 left the washer broke! 

We just had to replace them with the washer and dryer that were sitting in our garage, 

they so kindly gave us. 

We felt very blessed and thankful...

Sleeping beauty...

So last night, Amelie went to bed upset, 

cause I wouldn't let her watch the movie "Life as we know it" with Justine and I.  

I had the hardest time getting her to bed! 

Yeah, I could have been less selfish and taken more time with her; 

but it was getting late, my patience was running out and I just wanted

 to watch the movie...

( One of those Being-a-Mom moments I'm not proud of ...)

 Anyhow, when I went to bed myself I found her in my bathtub. 

(It was comfy cause I had put all my winter scarfs and sweater in it 

until I could put them in storage.). 

I just had to take a picture!!! 

In the morning Mike had moved her to our bed

 when he got home late from Basketball.

Alors hier soir, Amelie a ete au lit pas contente

 car je ne l'ai pas laisser regarder un film avec Justine et moi. 

Ca a pris un temps fou pour qu'elle aille finalement au lit, 

apres avoir perdu ma patience, 

j'aurais pu faire mieux avec elle, mais je voulais just regarder le film... 

( un moment de mere dont je ne suis pas fier)

Bref, au moment de me coucher voici ce que j'ai trouver dans ma baignoire... 

(Qui etait bien rembourer de mes habits d'hiver, pulls, echarpes, manteaux, 

qui attendaient d'etre mis en storage)

J'ai du prendre une photo!

Au matin elle etait dans notre lit, Mike l'a mis la quand il est rentrer tard du basketball.

Mindy Gledhill - Whole Wide World (Official Music Video)

Forest Songs

I love the songs I hear in the early mornings. 

I especially love to hear Mr Woodpecker. 

On those days, it is a delightful treat. 

It makes me smile.

Birthday Wishes

Amelie had a birthday cake today for her 8th Birthday.
(I know a little late, but we wanted to celebrate
with her cousins and Aunt)

As she was about to blow the candles...

 Auntie Audie:

 "Make a wish"

Amelie: 

"I wish for nothing 'cause

 I have everything. Right here. Right now..."

How beautiful is that?
I wish I could always feel that way...

Amelie a eu un son gateau d'anniversaire aujourd'hui pour ses 8 ans.
( on a attendu de celebrer avec les cousines et Aude)
Au moment de soufler les bougies...
Aude:
"Fait un voeux"
Amelie:
"Je souhaite rien car j'ai deja tout.
 Ici. Maintenant."


Que c'est mots sont beau...
Moi, je souhaite avoir ce genre de sentiments toujours...

Amelie's 1st Primary Talk

I am going to talk on one of the ways I can follow God's plan. 

Yesterday, I followed the example of Jesus Christ by being baptised.

My daddy baptised me. 

When I came out of the water I felt warm inside and grateful.

Then I received a special gift when my dad, the Bishop
 and Jordan's dad put their hands on my head. 

I received the Holy Ghost. 

Again, I felt grateful and warm inside. 

And I knew I was following Jesus's example.
 I am glad I got baptised. 

I love my family. 

I love Jesus. 

I know the church is true.

In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amelie's Special Baptism day!

Today was Amelie's Special day. 

Today her Daddy baptised her and she became a member of 

The Church of Jesus christ of Latter Day Saint.

Today she received the precious Gift of the Holy Ghost.

To help her, teach her, comfort her, and guide her to follow Jesus
 and return to her Heavenly Father.

Today she describes her feelings as: 

Happy and Warm inside.


Aujourd'hui etait un jour special pour Amelie.
Aujourd'hui son papa l'a baptise et elle est devenue un membre de 
L'eglise de Jesus christ des Saint des derniers jours.
Aujourd'hui elle a recu le Saint Esprit.
Qui va l'aider, l'enseigner, la reconforter, et la guider a suivre Jesus 
pour qu'elle puisse retourner vivre avec son Pere Celeste.
Aujourd'hui elle a decrit ses sentiments:
Heureuse et chaud a l'interieur...

Diving Meet

Justine had the opportunity to actually go to a diving meet this winter. 

The season is over now, even though she is still practicing. 

There are a lot of girls on the woodlands team that are on national teams

 and even one training for the Olympics! 

Needless to say that they are really really good. 

So they are the ones that get picked to go to the meets... 

Anyhow, Justine did a good job at the one meet she attended! 

She may not be Olympic material but she sure is beautiful, 

awesome, and Gold medal material in our eyes! 

Coyote update

I'm so happy! A couple of days ago as we were walking in the forest, we met the guy who's dogs were chased by coyotes, and.... he had both dogs!!!!! He found his dog waiting for him by his truck! What a relief! And he didn't have a scratch on him... He said they may have been a pack of wild dogs... Chloe is so fast I'm sure she can outrun them!

Hot dog

Made Skyline hot dogs for lunch today.

Justine: Mom!!!! How do you know when hot dogs are cooked?

Great Storm Houston, TX

This is too funny!

Snow day without Snow!!

So the kids are home from school today.

Reason: Snow day!

Well it is more like Ice day...

There is a huge storm in most of the USA,

that is causing a lot of trouble.

And here in Houston, we are getting a little taste of it:

A little sleet

A little freeze
Lots of school and businesses closing

But unfortunately:

No sledding
No building of snowmen
No snow ball fights
Followed by hot chocolate and a movie
...

And I thought that it was so silly to close everything in Ohio,
when we had just a little snow or ice, so here it seams even more ridiculous

Meet our walking Buddies

Meet Campel and Tiero, Chloe's friends, she loves to run with them in the woods.

Meet Laura, my walking buddy

She just recently moved to the USA from Scotland.
She is expecting her First baby! :)

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means (Official Music Video)

Another scary moment!!!!

So this past week, I went as I do everyday to take Chloe to the state forest.

I was with Lindsey and her mom. We met this man there and his dog.

I had seen him before but with 2 dogs, but one of them was missing, the bigger one.

We were just talking before we met him about coyotes.

He asked us if we had seen his missing dog. We hadn't.

He then told us that a pack of 5 coyotes chased his dogs

while he was on one of the smaller trails... One came back but the other didn't!

I felt so bad for him!

I hope he found him, but the chances are the coyotes got him!

I still take Chloe there but do not venture close to where he lost his dog.

I do think about it every time I go there now, I worry when she goes too far...

I know that they can lure dogs away from you while pretending to want to play.

Then the whole pack comes in for the kill!

My little bottle of pepper spray would be no match for a pack like that,

especially if they are far away from me,

and they have Chloe.

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

Holiday trip to the Emergency Room

Amelie had a close encounter with a dog.

She hugged him too tight and he snapped at her.
Sarah took care of her until I met them at the emergency room at Children's.

She got a stitch on her upper lip.

She was a little dopey to say the least...

We had another little scare, but hopefully,

only a tiny scar will be left as a memory.

And no, it hasn't stopped Amelie from loving dogs!

Amelie a eu un petit incident avec un chien.

Elle l'a caline un peu trop fort et il l'a mordu sur la figure.

Elle s'est retrouve aux urgences a l'hopital, ou elle a recu un point

de souture audessu de la levre.

Apres qu'il lui ai donne un relaxant, elle etait toute fofolle!

On a eu un peu peur mais une petite cicatrice sera le seul souvenir...

Et non, cela n'a pas arrete Amelie d'aimer autant les chiens.

Big scare on Christmas day!

We almost lost our little Chloe today!

She fell in the small lake where we went sledding...

She jumped in to go after ducks.

It had ice on it and she couldn't get out.

Justine got her attention lucky for all and she swam to her...

We put her in an electric blanket for 30mn until she stopped shaking!

What a big scare!

Snow Fun on Christmas day

Mike looked so Stylish with Chris's Boots too big for him,

and Sarah's orange coat too small for him!!!

Mike avait la cote avec les bottes de Chris trop grandes,

et le manteau orange de Sarah trop petit!!!!

Christmas Eve at the Johnsons

We kept our tradition and got to sleep and watch Cxmas movies in new Pj's!

Nous avons garde la tradition de dormir et regarder un film de noel avec des pijamas tous neufs!

Surprise!!!!

So I had the scheme all planned out exept the actual surprise. I had made up flight schedules for Alexi and Justine and emailed them to Sarah, so she wouldn't suspect anything.

We first surprised the kids at their house.

The shocked look on their faces: So entertaining

Then the big one; surprising Sarah and Chris.

We decided with Sophie and Ben to pretend Sophie had hit a dog (Chloe)
on their way to meet them at Aldi.

While we (justine, Mike and I) hid behind the store wall and in our car,
Sophie called her parents in a panic to make them come out to the parking lot.
They did and got the surprise of their life.
Our friend's JOY on this Christmas eve: Priceless


Sarah's thoughts as it all enfolded:
Oh... no, we'll fix the dog. it looks like Chloe. Chris won't mind keeping it.
As she sees Justine:
Oh she came a day early? She brought Chloe with her?
Then she sees Mike and I and it dawns on her that we are all there!!!