We had a great mild winter here in Paris. At first I missed the snow back home but after reading about storm after storm I was actually happy not be in Jersey. I did miss the sleigh riding in the backyard and the building of snowmen but what I didn’t miss (Keith especially) was the plowing and shoveling of our super long and exceptionally steep driveway at home. Spring is here now and this weekend we get to spring ahead (Europe is still on the old daylight savings time schedule).

But first I have to catch everyone up on what has been going on the last few months. It has been action packed and since it has been a while since my last post I need to catch up on everything.

In January (wow, that was long ago) Keith and I went to our first wine and cheese class. He had wanted to go for a long time and so it was the perfect Christmas present for him. And of course I benefited also. It was at this really cool place called O’Chateau. They had this wine tasting room in the back of the wine bar up front that was so neat. We learned about the different regions in France and how to pair cheese and wine. We tasted all the different wines, cheeses and, my favorite, Champagne. It was such a fun time. Unfortunately I can’t really tell you I remembered what I learned but I had a great afternoon with my hubby and, got a little tipsy at the same time. Oh yeah …and no kids. Woohoo!

Next was my Christmas present from Keith, tickets to see Maroon 5. YEAH!!! As most of you know by now, I just love love love Adam Levine. A quote from another person attending the concert, “ I now know why he is the sexiest man alive”. Keith and I had a blast, I actually didn’t realize just how many songs I knew of Maroon 5’s; we pretty much knew them all. Fun..fun..fun.

Then came a really big day; my first day back to work. Yup you read that correctly I am employed again! I am once again working at Sanofi, only this time I am a French hire. I am very lucky that they asked me to come help for the next year (filling in for a girl going on maternity) and I am just thrilled to be back. The great thing is that I will be working with some of my old colleagues back in the states and learning a great deal here in France. Of course with happiness comes sadness. My children, especially Peyton were not too happy. She has recently been better but still has her moments. We did however find an awesome babysitter. She is a dream, picks them up from school everyday until we return from work. The kids really lover her. I can’t tell you what a nightmare it really is to find a good babysitter. We interviewed so many different girls before we found Rachel (our babysitter) and thank God. The great thing is that she is British and speaks French. LOVE HER!!!

Rachel with Lance and Peyton.  She is awesome! — Rachel with Lance and Peyton. She is awesome!

Two weeks after I started work I took a vacation. It was our annual ski trip. Only this year it was Switzerland! The kids were on what they call “ski break” for a week. No really, they call it that. I can’t make this stuff up. So we did what most other Europeans were doing; packed up and headed for the slopes. This year it was Zermatt, Switzerland, home of the Matterhorn. It was AWESOME!!! I know I posted some pictures to Facebook but the pictures do not do it justice. First of all, I have never seen so much snow. There was so much snow that when you were walking down the street the snow on the sides of the road was taller than you. And it wasn’t that it was a snow drift, it was the amount of snow they actually have gotten. There were so many great things about the trip but one of the best had to be the fact that Keith and I got to ski together every day. That is right, I said every day. This was the first time since pre-kids. It was awesome the kids went to ski school everyday and Keith and I hit the slopes. Although it was only half a day (the kids ski school only lasted that long) it was still great. I love skiing. My other favorite thing about the trip was something I also posted about on face book….. night sledding. We had reservations at a restaurant on the mountain where you take a gondola up to the restaurant but by the time you are done with dinner the gondola is already closed. There are no cars in Zermatt. The only thing allowed are electric cars just buzzing thru the streets. Anyway, the only way down from this restaurant was either hike it or jump on a sled. It was great! We were with our great friends who also two kids. So we paired off and headed down the mountain on our sleds. Lance and I were partners and we had a blast. Lance called our team the Jr team (Dale Jr). All of the adults had headlamps and we definitely needed them. At one point we almost took a wrong turn which would have put us on a very dangerous ski slope. Thank God that didn’t happen. It was such a blast! It was definitely too short of a trip.

Daddy and Lance taking a break from skiing

My girl in the snow...which was up to her shoulders.

Keith and I with our great friends Ashley and Scott!!

In the gondola going up to the restaurant

Then it was back to everyday life, except that the weather in Paris has been just so wonderful. The flowers are in bloom and the kids are outside playing in all the parks. Spring has definitely arrived. Of course I know better than to assume this weather is going to stay. It has been raining a bit more the past few days so I am just hoping the weather does not turn in some horrible direction. Also, with the nice weather came some crazy smog days. To be honest it hasn’t really bothered Keith or I. It just looks like a haze. I am convinced that the smog is not caused by all the cars but by all the smokers. It is ridiculous. I don’t know how these people live past 40, if they do. Can I get lung cancer from second hand smoke for a few years…just wondering.

I almost forgot, I did the Paris Half Marathon the first week of March. It was the Sunday after our ski trip and by no means did I feel ready for this race. It was a beautiful day and over 30 thousand people running. Thank God, unlike most races in Paris, they actually assigned you to a coral based on time. Also I am learning to run in Kilometers and not miles. The good thing with kilometers is that there are closer together so when you are counting down what you have left in the race you get there faster, the bad thing is that there are more of them. Anyway, even though I felt much slower training I ended up killing my PR, so I was happy.

We also had the first of our visitors this year. One of the Fahrney brothers, Scott and his wife Laura, came to visit. It was a short stay but great visit with them and now we are just really looking forward to the rest of the Fahrney family coming to see us; along with a bunch of our other great friends in the next few months.

Oh wait, I can’t forget Keith’s birthday. What a fun week. We went out with a bunch of friends to a great pub in Paris followed by an awesome dinner in one of our favorite areas, Montmarte. Lets just say it was such a great night that we were all moving a little bit slower the next morning. Haven’t done that in a while..LOL!!

The gang out for Keith's birthday....note the bottle of shots in front of Keith.

Some more great events coming in the near future so stay tuned.

Life is good…

In Paris!

Thanks for Reading!

I have included extra pictures …enjoy

Max just relaxing...its all about the position!

Lance and Peyton working on their coloring, it is a huge poster of all the Paris monuments.