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


Mar 30, 2011

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!!!

Mar 27, 2011

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.