Coucher De Soleil...Marche de Noel!!

Most beautiful sunset ever! Although my face was so cold I could hardly move my mouth to speak when I called Hannah to tell her to look outside, I took a bazillion pictures.

Then I stumbled upon the Champs-Elysses Christmas Market! Coolest market of my life. I seriously want to buy everything there; food, ornaments, food, sweaters, nativity scenes, food, and Christmas treasures. I was in Holiday heaven. And that's only one market in Paris! Cannot wait to explore some more!

 Wait for it...

When the Family's away....

I make soup!!

I have wanted chicken soup so badly, I was starting to go a bit crazy. Actually, I just want broth soup made from and animal. Soup is not only pureed vegetables, France.

I went home after surviving a rainy storm/windstorm on the banks of the Seine and bought myself some garlic, some carrots, and a whole chicken so that I could begin the 4 hour-long process of making broth. <Heart Eye Emoji>

Nobody is home, I throw on my new PJs (thank you, mom!), turn on some Netflix, and the soup making begins! I was happier than a kid in a candy store. Ugh that soup was so good. And my host mom was totally impressed that I made broth while they were gone. Score!

 And then of course, some Hootenanny pancakes in the morning! Yumm! I love being home alone.

On a particularly difficult day with my 5 year old, I showed him the wishbone from the chicken. I told him to grab one side and pull and whoever got the biggest side would have good luck. GUESS WHO GOT THE BIGGEST SIDE. Ha. Take that. As a five year old, he couldn't admit defeat but I was soaking it up for about 2 seconds. Made the hard day a little brighter :)

When Traditions Just Don't Go As Planned...

It's a tradition in my family to go to Starbucks and get Peppermint hot cocoas and walk around Seattle and look at all the pretty Christmas displays. Well, my attempt to get a little taste of home didn't work because Starbucks here doesn't have peppermint! Crushed.

So I got a gingerbread hot cocoa and paid a pretty penny for it and then regretted all the milk I just drank. Ah, the struggle of a Seattlite in Paris. :)

Random guy on the train unknowingly became my model...

Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge

The memorials and symbols of support from around the World are amazing. Here are some from the city itself: Paris.

 My kids' school had flags at half-staff for a while

 We Will Not Sink

 What was originally going to be only a "three days of mourning" event, the Bleu Blanc et Rouge Eiffel Tower is going to be illuminated for the whole month of November because everyone loves it so much. So beautiful!

#PrierPourParis

Friday the 13th of November
 
"French prosecutors said on Saturday that three coordinated teams of gunmen and suicide bombers carried out a wave of attacks across Paris that killed 129 people in what President Francois Hollande called an "act of war" by Islamic State."

Friday night was going to be a fun night out on the town, or at least, just my friend and I going to see the new James Bond movie. I chose a theater close to my train station in Paris so it would be easy to get home and I reserved our tickets online. A busy night, excited to see my first James Bond movie, and arriving early to get in line, I was happy to be free of watching kids and going to my first movie since living in France.  

We're watching the movie, thoroughly enjoying it aside from the disgusting part where a guy gets his eyes popped out (spoiler!), when about halfway through, a guy barges in to the room through the back doors and yells something in French. It was a quick phrase/announcement and then he was gone. Hannah and I were so confused and it seemed everyone else around us was too. We asked the two guys next to us what was going on and they didn't know either.
I was imagining the theater shooting in Colorado immediately. 

We tried turning around and watching the movie again but people kept leaving the theater, everyone was on their phones, and frankly, neither Hannah or I could focus on Bond. Since I don't have data/internet on my phone, I turned to Hannah and said, "Can you check your phone, maybe something is on the news. What- was their a shooting somewhere or something?" I was kidding when I thought of a shooting or attack occurring. Little did I know, I was right. And the worst of it was only 3 miles away.

Hannah had messages from her family asking "are you okay", "where are you", and "go home right now". We had no idea what was going on and we were officially freaked out. All we heard was that there was an attack in the middle of Paris and immediately we decided that we needed to get home, now.

Once again, theater shootings played over and over in my head. We ditched the movie too nervous to even pay attention to anything other than getting home.

Knowing that Hannah lived in the 7th arrondisement ( the "center" of Paris), there was no way I was going to let her get on a metro into the heart of something we just heard as "an attack". It wasn't until I called my host mom and asked if Hannah could come with us that we heard that there was more than one attack (believed to be terrorist) and that one was where my host dad and 10 year old were at the soccer stadium. I thought my feet were going to drop out from under me when I heard that. Definitely the scariest part of that night was worrying about them.

We got on the next train home, praying we would get home safe, and I got word that my host family was okay. So grateful!!

When everyone was home and safe, we sat down to watch the news and piece together what was going on. Finally being on wifi, I got a hold of my family and sent out the news that I was safe and home. My family in America knew what was going on before I did! I still feel bad for putting them through an hour of torture not knowing where I was.

The next phase stretching into the early hours of the morning was reading news reports and responding to the hundreds of messages of concern from people all over FaceBook, Snapchat, Instagram, and email. Truly a time in my life where I have felt so loved and cared for from my closest friends all the way down to people I had met once in my life. This event was a testament to my belief that through tragedies such as war, the most profound moments of love and undeniable miracles that emanate pure light surface through the darkness. The members of my ward in Versailles made sure I was accounted for which I am beyond grateful for. The closest people I have to family here is my ward family.

http://graphics.wsj.com/paris-attacks/
-A timeline of the events

France immediately closed its borders and a national curfew was issued urging people to stay home and not be out at night. On Saturday, we read more reports on what was happening and it was confirmed that ISIS was responsible for the attacks. It took a while for me to wrap my head around the statement that "this was an act of war". France is now technically at war. Horrific accounts came out of people who survived in the Bataclan Theater and the restaurants. My 10 year old said to his mom that he "wishes he could have enjoyed the game" but the attacks now cast a gloom over the whole thing. My host dad, Fred, was clearly shook up that night over what they witnessed. Apparently, they saw one of the explosions and could hear the blasts. He said that it really doesn't register that they were there when terrorists attacked. But they managed to finish the soccer game.... still something I don't understand. No immediate evacuations or anything, but, whatever France.

My friend had to go home Saturday back to her apartment in Paris which she was nervous about. People avoided metros and public places at all costs. Since her host family was out of town, I offered to stay with her so she wasn't alone that night. Yes, some people have said how dumb of an idea this was to travel back into the center of Paris the next day, but I can make judgements for myself and I felt completely safe doing so. After all, the media is portraying the streets of Paris as if we are being marched around by troops and buildings are exploding around us. No. Not at all the case. Paris was completely deserted. While I didn't leave the apartment on Saturday, looking out the window showed probably a total of five couples walking around, a handful of cars, and police cars flying by every 5 minutes. Sunday morning was eerie; Paris was silent, frozen in time. The air around Paris was thick with caution and fear. It was unlike I had ever experienced. I knew what everyone was thinking and yet nobody knew what to think.

I was anxious to get to church on Sunday to hear what my church leaders would advise. The message coming from my Bishopric was comforting. My first counselor said that this may have been a battle in the war on terrorism and that the attacks may seem like a victory for the enemy, but the war was not won and it won't be won by them. Neither is the war actually in France. We must continue with life as normal otherwise we would be giving power to the enemy who wants us to submit. The real war we need to focus on is the war with Satan. We will always be protected by the Lord when we are on His side, doing what we need to. Good will always overcome evil. Always.

Monday was greeted with French pride, a somber remembrance of the victims, defiance to submit to fear, and a raging desire to show the World that life was moving forward. Personally, I've felt a little distant to everything going on here. I live outside of the city so I haven't seen any of the memorials or seen any of the tributes. I've been consumed with thoughts and decisions coming from family back home, and I haven't ever felt scared since the night of the attacks. All of the news and photos that I've seen are online as if I were not even here. I've chosen not to go visit the tribute sights yet because I know it would concern those who are worried about my safety since I am so far away and I've agreed to keep out of the public places. But believe me, the media makes it sound like terror is everywhere when really, I saw three police men on my way to class on Monday and it seemed like a normal day. The entire country held a minute of silence for the victims. My class and the entire rest of the building emptied out into the courtyard to pay our respects.

The unity around the world has been displayed in amazing forms of love, strength, and courage. The Eiffel Tower was illuminated in Bleu Blanc at Rouge for the first time on Monday, the NY WorldTrade Center, the Verizon Center Hockey rink, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower Replica in Las Vegas and the Eiffel Tower went dark in tribute of the lives lost, the Sydney Opera House, Mexican Senate, Seattle Stadium and Ferris Wheel, Tokyo Skytree, Peace Bridge between Canada/US, Jerusalem's old city walls, the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, The Christ the Redeemer statue, London's Tower Bridge, the White Tower in Thessaloniki Greece, the Branden Gate in Berlin, the London Eye, and hundreds of more world monuments and buildings lit up in Blue/White/Red for France. An astounding display of support from across the world. History in the making!

The journalist inside me wants to be in the middle of the action. I want to see everything first hand. Obviously not the actual shootings, but the reactions and the life after this tragedy. It's amazing how strong the French are in this time of sadness. It's a little frustrating being extra cautious because I just don't see a need to be hiding right now, but that's a whole 'nother ball game. (Don't condemn me on the lack of caution I feel. I've heard enough)

So while I am in the country of interest right now, I just want to reassure anyone who reads this that I'm okay, France is really safe right now, and to look past the hype of the media and just realize that this country is so locked down that even going into malls, everyone's bags and coats are checked. I'm fine, I am not naive to the situation around me, and I'm not putting myself in dangerous situations. In fact, walking around many streets in America are guaranteed more dangerous than Paris right now.

American Family Friends!

A bag of American candy corn, a Walmart fruit snack, and fruit leather from Costco deserve a post all to themselves. But the saint who gifted them to me deserves a huge shout out and a big, fat THANK YOU.

In my ward, I befriended the cutest family. Beth Schellhous is the saint who portioned me a part of her holiday treat stash and her husband was beyond generous in agreeing to ship home a package for me from the states while he is there on a business trip. Let's just say, I am extremely blessed to have found a friend in these people. Not to mention, their three children are adorable, well-mannered, and have traveled to way cooler places than I have.

When I went to their house to deliver my package, I walked into a home full of love, color, and Christmas!! Nativities perched on every surface and a sparkling tree in the corner of their living room brought a flood of emotions as I thought of the holidays and my family. Each nativity was from a different place in Europe and one, I believe, was from Africa. Seriously, I loved their house!

Sick Day

I'm not the one who is sick. It's my 5 year old. Well, he's "sick". Even the doctor said it was a very, very minor cold. So I was cooped up in the house all day with this kid who was bouncing off the walls and not being sick at all and in my hours of boredom, I turned to Pinterest.

My day has been spent laughing over memes. It was a day well spent, if ya ask me.
Have a good laugh, courtesy of moi!

My Nephews

Please, family, keep the pictures coming!

The Louvre

I've lived in Paris for two and a half months and I've just been to the Louvre. Two reasons justify my lack of being culturally inclined these past two months:
1- I wasn't exactly sure how to use my student card as free admission because there was no way I was going to pay. Aka I was terrified of going in!
2- Ever since class has started, I have no more time in my life to explore! Okay, that's not entirely true. Reread number 1.

Before I start with the museum, I just want to share a little story of my bus ride to the metro. I had my earphones in and was listening to some One Direction when a man came onto the bus and sat in a handicapped chair nearby where I was standing. He had some mental disability but we smiled at each other and I went on jamming to my teenage boy-band love. As the man prepared to get off two stops later, he said something to me which I couldn't hear because Harry Styles was pouring his heart out to me, but I quickly took out the earphones and said, "Quoi?" I definitely expected him to be speaking French just like every other person in this country who asks me for directions or has a random comment about the weather.  Instead, he responded in English with a big toothless grin, "Are you French?" Taken a a back, I said no and proceeded to say that I was American. "What country from America?" I understood what he was trying to say and simply said, "Seattle, Washington!" Then the bus pulled up to his stop and he stood on the sidewalk waving at me until I couldn't see him anymore. I have no idea how he knew that I spoke English or whether it was a lucky guess for him, but either way, his sweet soul made an impression that morning.

Later that morning:
It was a very relaxed promenade through the Italian and French paintings of the Louvre. I'm not much of a museum-goer...I mean, who got to decide what was art and what wasn't? Why did they choose this naked statue over another? Why is the Mona Lisa so amazing? I see a painting- I appreciate the painting- then I move on. Boom. Thankfully, THANKFULLY, there is no modern art in the Louvre. I just can't with modern art.

 Some days I go pant-less and some days I feel like I have no head too. Gosh, I can totally relate to these statues.

 Ya know, there are postcards available for purchase that have the exact same painting on them over in the gift shop. I mean, it would probably save you a lot of time...

 Okay this painting is actually one I wanted to see. The French Revolution: featuring: the topless lady.

 Once again, so relatable!

 How can you not photobomb a bust that is sitting in front a mirror. It's inevitable.

I had to do a double-take. Jaycee, this is totally our Halloween costumes next year.

Armistice Day/Veteran's Day

Aka...the day off!!!

I was going to wake up at 7 am and go for a run buuuuuuut that didn't happen. Instead, I woke up to something even better: my brother opening his mission call!!! I may have vague thoughts of dismissing a skype call coming in at 3 am but none the less, I was greeted by a video of my big brother being called to Wisconsin to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Dude I'm so proud!! I'm in such a travel buzz right now that even visiting different states in America is like visiting another country. I'm definitely adding Wisconsin to my travel list now.

So after that excitement, I was so thrilled to have a Wednesday all to myself that I made a flaming stack of flap jacks for my host family. They loved them, I was relishing in my freedom, and definitely commemorating those who have and are serving my beautiful country. And the other countries, but I'm just considered with America right now. (I mean I have 2 things on my mind this week: Thanksgiving and cheap stores...Does that not scream America? Yes. Yes it does).

My mom is always the first to come to mind when I think of the military. An insanely strong woman who has done some insanely cool things while serving in the US Army. She is who I celebrated that day! Cheers, Mom!
But also my grandpa who served and the rest of the soldiers who have sacrificed so much for the United States. I am proud to be an American!

In my desperation to get out of the house, I called on my friend Emily to meet me somewhere and I may have forced her to be my model. We walked around the huge park in Saint-Germain-en-Laye for a few hours and it was great. Super chill and I didn't have to think about kids. Ahhhhhh yes.

A Whole Bunch in One

Apologies to my fan-club for deserting my blog for such a long time. (Is anyone reading this, really?)
My days consist of so much free time and yet none of it is ever consecutive. And is it really ever "my" free time when I'm a live-in nanny? Think on that one, Julia.

But alas, I am updating about my life here in Paris. I am doing superb and I love it! I'm feeling like I fully fit into the family now. Phase 2 of naturalization: Thanksgiving. But we'll have that feast when we get there.

The greatest purchase I have made so far is these boots. They are bright and wonderful and I wear them with everything. Because let's be honest: I will never, EVER, fit into Paris' fashion forward swagger. Cummon, who wants to wear black all the time and dress like you're the CEO of some fancy firm everyday....Not this girl. I need yellow, rubber boots in my life. And people can spot me from a mile away so, "hey!"

 I had such a delicious breakfast date with another au pair from my neighborhood this past week. Finally a day where I'm not eating yogurt in between herding cranky kids out the door for school! Delicious, delicious, delicious. That's all I got to say. Yum!

 Little baby French bathrooms are the cutest. Who knew miniature sinks and toilets could be so cute?

 Because my 5 year old was inconveniently refusing to continue our game of Pictionary, I had to rework the way we played so that it could suit three people. Well it was these two against me, the guesser. They could never decide on a subject to draw so we made it through half the stack of cards before resuming...

 I want a bag of tennis balls that each say "GET A ROOM" to carry around with me so that I can chuck them at all the French people who feel it is okay to the single people feel awkward and depressed as they flaunt their love in public. I would thoroughly enjoy pelting them.

After class one day I walked over to Luxembourg Gardens and chilled in the sun, read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and watched old people play chess. So nice to just relax...