Jul 16, 2011

Belated-BirthDay-Pool-Party For Amelie

 Amelie had so much fun at her Belated-Birthday-Pool-Party!
She was so happy to have all her friends from Cincinnati with her!
Oh...What Happiness!
 Amelie c'est bien amusee a sa fete d'anniversaire (oui bien en retard)... 
Mais comme elle etait contente d'etre avec ses amis de Cincinnati!
Oh... Quel Bonheur!

Jul 6, 2011

Happy To Be in Cinci!!!

After a long long long drive across the country,
we arrived in Cincinnati late Saturday Night. 
I decided to come after Alexi was taken to the hospital. 
Mike had the 4th off so it made sense to leave this week-end.
We left Firday to pick up Emric from Trek in Oklahoma
 before he got on the bus to head home.
So our usual 17ich hour drive became a 25ich hour drive!!!! 
Oklahoma state is quite pretty, I thought it was all flat and boring but it wasn't.
Alexi was released from the hospital the day we arrived. 
Yesterday, he had some good news: 
He had slept well through his night,
and was considerably noticing a difference in his health. 
He started a new medication along with all the other stuff he is taking.
We are crossing our fingers and hoping this will help.
Mike got back in Houston on the 4th and will fly back to Cinci to drive us home in August. 

Jun 28, 2011

Emric has gone trekking...

Emric just left to go on a Pioneer Trek to Oklahoma. 
3 buses full of youth from 14 to 18, Ma's and Pa's, trail hands, cooks and so forth,
are on their way to Sooner Cattle Ranch
They will be back next Saturday morning. I'm so exited for Emric! 
It is a neat and unforgettable experience. 
Justine, Mike and I did it last year.
Mike and I were Ma and Pa.
We had 11 kids in our Trek Family.
It really was hard, hot, and awesome!

This trek has it's own-updated-frequently-blog:
(that I will be checking every 5mn so often)
Emric vient just de partir pour un Trek Pionnier en Oklahoma.
3 bus plein de jeunes de 14 a 18 ans, de Ma's et Pa's, de cuisiniers et d'aide de sentier... etc,
sont partis ce matin pour Sooner Cattle Ranch.
Ils reviendront Samedi matin. Je suis contente pour Emric!
C'est une experience inoubliable et unique.
Justine, Mike et moi, y sommes alles l'annee derniere au Kentuky.
Mike et moi etions Ma et Pa.
On avait 11 gosses dans notre famille de trek.
C'etait dure, chaud et genial.

Ce trek a sont propre-mise-a-jour-frequement-blog:
(que je vais toutes les 5mn souvent visiter)

(Click on colored words for links)

Jun 21, 2011

A few of 'those days'

This past week-end, we battled lice
Yuck!!!!! Amelie's 1st time, and hopefully the last!!!
Apparently it is pre-levent in Texas.

Yesterday, a plate, a glass and a vase were broken.

Today, Mike had a car accident (minor no injuries) but his fault.

2 hours later, in Ohio, Justine had a car accident with ticket but no injuries.
(We are afraid our insurance is going to go way up!)

Tonight, Alexi was taken to the emergency room. 
He is not doing so good...
He has been sick with an autoimmune disease for a year now...
He will be trying his 4th medication.
Nothing is working.
I feel bad I can't be there for him.

Tomorrow, I want to drive up to Ohio.
But I should wait for the week-end,
so Mike can help me drive the long 17 hours to Cincinnati.

Jun 15, 2011

Tubbing and Boating on Lake Conroe

We had a lot of Fun this past week on our boating trip as the Beehive class. 
I even got on the tube!!!! It was great!
 

Jun 6, 2011

What's that Stink?

For the last few days, there has been a bad smell in the house. 
I checked the pantry and found a rotten onion. 
After Church, as I walked in the house, that something-is-dead-smell was still in the air... 
After dinner, Mike had the thought to look up in the attic. 
(A week ago, a guy came to spray the perimeters for bugs, around the house and inside. 
He also put a couple of traps in the attic. )
Sure enough, a HUGE RAT was dead in one of the traps.
I guess texas has big bugs and big rats! 
So gross! 
Mike buried it in the woods next to our house. 

Ces dernier jours, il y avait une odeur super mauvaise dans la maison.
J'ai trouver dans notre placard un onion pourri.
Apres l'eglise, l'odeur il-y-a-quelque-chose-qui-est-mort etait toujours dans l'air.
Apres le dinner, Mike a eu la pensee de regarder dans le grenier.
(La semaine derniere, un gas est venu pour traiter les allentours de la maison et l'interieur, 
pour les petites bestioles. Il a aussi mis 2 pieges pour les betes plus grosses dans le grenier.)
En effet, un GROS RAT etait mort dans un des pieges!
Degoutants!
Mike l'a enterrer dans les bois pres de chez nous.

Jun 2, 2011

Road Trip on Memorial Day

Since Mike had a day off, we had to get on the road. 
We decided to go explore some of the Texan beaches.  
We drove to Freeport (not nice at all, hated it!)
We stopped at Surfside Beach (about 1h1/2 from Houston). 
Not going there again! I like Galveston beach a whole lot better!
We spent the night in Port Lavaca
There, the beaches are inland, no surf or soft sand. 
We then drove to Port O'Connor, to Rockport, where it started to look a lot nicer.  
From there we took a ferry to go to Port Aransas.
Nice beach, sand and surf!
Looks more like Florida.
It's on Mustang Island that connects to the well known and visited Padre Island
It is a 4 to 5 hour drive from Houston, and well worth the time. 
Unfortunately, we were only there for a few hours before we had to head home... 
Now we know where to go to find nicer beaches.
That's Justine and Amelie in the waves behind Mike...
I can't wait to go back and go further south to Padre Island.

May 19, 2011

Return of "the-poor-little-squirrel-who-might-get-lucky"

The screams are from seeing Chloe (who looks like a devil dog) throw him in the air

I'm afraid that this little guy is not going to get lucky; with a fast dignified death.
I think he came back for a second chance at being put out of his misery.
Us girls tried to finish him but we took too long. 
He left probably thinking we were useless!
My daddy would have done the right thing,
by sending him very quickly to squirrel paradise ...
Emric, the only boy here, was still trying to make him feel better
 by throwing at him almonds and cut-up apples.
Somehow he thinks that having a full belly will make his prolonged death better?
PS: This morning, I asked Mike if he's started having nightmares, 
of injured squirrels hunting him yet?

J'ai bien peur que ce petit gas ne va pas avoir la chance 
de recevoir une mort digne et rapide.
Je pense qu'il est revenu pour une autre chance a etre terminer rapidement en toute dignite.
Nous, les filles, on a essaye... sans succes.
Il est partis en pensant que nous etions une bande de filles incompetantes.
Mon Pere aurai fait la chose suivante gentille:  l'envoyer au paradis des ecureuils.
Emric, le seul garcon qui etait la, a essaye de le nourir en lui lancant 
des amandes et des bouts de pommes.
Comme si le fait de lui remplir le ventre rendra sa mort plus agreable?
PS: Ce matin, j'ai demander a Mike s'il n'a pas ete tourmante par des ecureils 
pendant sa nuit?

May 18, 2011

Little girls wanting to grow up too fast...

Yep, you are seeing right! 
Before Church, Amelie thought it a good idea to stuff her dress with toilet paper...
Oh, and she was ready to walk out the door like that too!
But who of us girls haven't done that sometime in our growing up years? 
(I found these photos on my phone. I find some interesting stuff on that phone!)

Oui, vous voyez bien clair!
Avant l'eglise, Amelie a penser une bonne idee, de s'embourer de papier a toillette...
Oh, et elle etait prete a sortir comme cela!
Mais qui de nous filles, n'avons pas fais cela en grandissent?
(j'ai trouve ces photos sur mon telephone. Je touve des choses bien interessantes sur ce telephone)

The Poor Little Squirrel... He might get lucky!


As we were having dinner on our porch, a real life drama happened right in our back yard!
It was meant to happen someday...
All those cheeky squirrels constantly teasing Chloe!
Well not this one anymore... She caught him and broke it's back!
I just wanted Mike to put him out of his misery by snapping it's neck.
But he just couldn't do it...
Hopefully a more compassionate cat got to him quickly during the night...
Or he might still be suffering right underneath our bedroom windows...

En mangeant hier soir sur notre patio, un vrait drama s'est developper dans notre jardin.
Cella allait arriver un jour ou l'autre.
Tous ces ecureuils qui taquine eet tourmente chloe constament.
Et bien plus pour celui-ci... Elle l'a attraper et casser son dos.
Je voulais simplement que Mike le finisse pour qu'il n'ai pas a souffrir...
Mais Mike n'a pas pu.
J'espere qu'un chat avec plus de compassion l'a fini pendant la nuit.
Ou peut-etre qu'il souffre toujours sous nos fenetres...

New Swim team...

Las Saturday, was Amelie's 1st swim meet here in Texas.
She had to report at the pool at 7:15 am!
Talk about early!
She did really good.
She got second in 3 of her events and third in Butterfly.
She loves going after school to swim practice.
But boy, is she just a tad cranky and tired at night...
Did I ever mention that her school bus picks her up at 7:30am!
I hate it!
I'm ready (sort of) for school to be out.
The team is twice the size of her Cincinnati team was.


Samedi dernier, Amelie a eu sa premiere competition de natation ici au Texas.
Elle a du etre a la piscine a 7 heure du matin!
Et ca, c'est tot!
Elle a bien fait. 
Elle a fini 2eme, dans 3 de ses courses, et 3eme en papillon.
 Elle adore aller a la piscine apres l'ecole...
Mais comme elle est fatiguee et de mauvaise humeur le soir.
Est-ce que j'ai mentionne que son bus vient a 7:30 du matin!
C'est horrible!
Je suis prete pour que l'ecole soit finie.


May 8, 2011

Mothers day thoughts

Today was a good day. 
I love my family.
We are far from perfect.
But we are a family and care about each other deep down inside.
Even though some of us often sometimes fight like cat and dog.
Talking about cat and dog, Tiny still barely tolerates Chloe!
Today, I wish Alexi was with us. 
I was happy to get a happy-mother's-day-call from him.
It's good to know our kids think of us just a little, after they have left the nest...

Aujourd'hui etait un bon jour.
J'aime ma famille.
On est loin d'etre parfait.
Mais on prend soins des un des autres.
Meme si souvent des fois se battent come chien et chat.
Au fait, parlant de chien et chat, Tiny tolere a peine Chloe!
Aujourd'hui, j'aurais aime qu'Alexi soit avec nous.
J'etais contente de recevoir un appel de Joyeuse-fete-des-mere de lui.
C'est bon de savoir que nos enfants pense a nous quand meme un peu, 
apres qu'ils ne sont plus avec nous...


May 7, 2011

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!

May 4, 2011

For My Man!!!!

HaPpY BiRthDaY
Thanks for Loving us...

Apr 27, 2011

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.

Apr 16, 2011

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)

Apr 9, 2011

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!)

Apr 7, 2011

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!

Apr 5, 2011

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!

Apr 4, 2011

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. :(


Apr 3, 2011

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