Noel

Joyeux Noul a tous!!

After Skyping my family at 2 in the morning, I woke up early again to meet the Soeur Missionaries on the train to Saint-Germain-En-Laye. (Thank you public transportation for insanely long itineraries)

I love the Soeur Wooley and Soeur Walton! They are the epitome of happiness and seriously make me want to be a missionary. *A French-speaking missionary* I loved talking to them and just being their sister for a while.

We made it to the Schellhous' and as I walked in to the living room with scattered toys and wrapping paper, I couldn't help but really feel like it was Christmas. It was just what I needed to get into the spirit of the holiday! So many memories and good times came flooding to memory.

After playing with toys and conversing, we had a fantastic brunch....BREAKFAST BURRITOS! My oh my, I was in heaven! American food choices for the win!! Seriously it was a prime Christmas day. On top of that, the Schellhous' gave me a gift that I will love forever and ever; a petit nativity from Spain! My heart was bursting with joy! The one thing I wanted to get during this season and they gave me one all the way from Spain. Seriously, these people are amazing. Every single person in France who I have befriended will be a friend for time and all eternity.

As Beth, the sisters, and I sat around the table talking, we were talking about stem-cell transplants and cancers and medical operations and what-not because Soeur Walton's mom is in the Phillipines receiving special treatment right now for MS. After that confusing discussion, we got onto the topic of birth....Definitely not my first go-around with birthin' baby talk. Turns out Beth would dream of being a doula and is completely enthralled with the miracle of life and would give birth everyday if she could. *Cue mom..this one's for you! Either the Soeurs were completely terrified of having kids now or just want to be married and birthing babies by now. I dunno. I certainly am not birthing anything anytime soon.

After the soeurs left for another rendez-vous, the elders showed up for some fun and games. Elder Lattin (who leaves tomorrow for home) and Elder McBride who Emily describes as "the cute one with glasses" came for brunch round 2, a muddy game of soccer, and a down-sized version of baseball. It felt great to work off some of those calories that I indulged in! Following the outdoor games was an intense round of card games. I can't remember the name of this card game but it had to do with green lights, mph cards, wreck/repair cards, run out of gas cards, etc... During round 2, I may have played with a touch of vengeance and nearly murdered Reid's ability to win and yet he came out with almost as many points as me and I didn't win. It was hilarious! And he said he'd remember not to invite me again hahahaha

After that, I accompanied the Schellhous' to the Portwood's for an after party thing. Natalie and Tyson Portwood not only have the cutest kids in the world, but they have the cutest home filled with pictures on every surface, and are hilarious people.

One conversation went:
Everyone discussing the genius-child named Jacob Schellhous
The dad's were playing some sort of trivia game and one question asked if "so-and-so" (a very complicated and ridicules name) was an actual capital  in the world.
Dads: Psshh no. That's totally a made-up word.
Jacob: Ya. That's the capital of "so-and-so".
Dads: *looking up country..... Woah, he's totally right.
Sara Flamm: And to think my kid asked me today if he "got born in America"!! Honey, it's not "got born in America", it's "born in America".
Kid: Was I borned in America?
*Palm to face

We were dying!! Seriously, Jacob Schellhous is a child prodigy. He needs to be on Ellen.

We munched on appetizers, chatted, and had a great night watching kids get whipped cream slapped in their faces. Still to this day, I enjoy adult's company way more than people my age. Such a fabulous Christmas away from home!

And once again, a ridicules amount of time passed to get home. Curse you public transportation. But bless you because I would not have a life without you.