It has been a while since I posted anything so I wanted to wait for this very special post. Our six month anniversary in Paris!!! Woo hoo, we survived 6 months. We have had our ups and downs during the six months. There are times where I just wanted to get back on that plane and go home. Then there are so many other times, perhaps on a Sunday afternoon, when we are discovering more things about the streets of Paris, I think to myself how great it is here. Or I should say Keith keeps reminding me how great it is. His exact words "you can't do this in Clinton, NJ". However, It is a never ending roller coaster of feelings.

We have had a handful of visitors already in the six months , my cousin Chris just left a few days ago, and we are having a few more coming in the next month, which we are super excited for.

We have also visited so many places already and have three more big trips in the works. It is so easy to get to places here, which is wonderful!

Of course we miss our friends, our house, our family and the ease of everything back in the US. The weird thing is that thinking about it, so many things have changed and things will never be the same. I am not sure if that is good or bad....

Back to being here six months....I have put a list of just some of the things I have learned the first six months in Paris:

- A Bon Jour Madame/Monsieur and a smile can go a long way

- Grocery shopping can take at least two hours and then you are back in the store the next day.

- Summer time in Paris is wonderful

- Winter time in Paris is dark and gloomy, Keith feels right at home coming from Cleveland

- When you go to a doctor appointment the doctor will come out to get you. There is no nurse.

- Chivalry still lives on the Paris Metro. I have had people get out of their seats to give the kids and I seats and have had people help me carry the stroller up the stairs of the metro.

- Doing a long run past the monuments on a Sunday morning is my favorite time of the week

- Listening to my son and daughter speak french makes Keith and I smile.

- Even with over 20 swimming pools in Paris, there is never a down time when you are swimming with at least 6 people to a lane ( Keith had up to 13 in his lane), Luckily Keith has joined a triathlon club and he is able to swim and train with a few as 3 in the lane.

- My dog doesn't like anyone in our building, except for the really nice older lady that lives across the hall from us. She just loves him, doesn't speak any english but just loves Max!

- My daughter is not always as sweet a girl she acts like in public, she grows horns after 5pm. (she is 3, I do not like 3, I couldn't wait for Lance to turn 4 and Keith and I are counting the days unit then)

-Peanut Butter is a novelty. it is available but at least ten times the price with a smaller quantity. (When anyone comes to visit that is the admission fee, a big jar of peanut butter).

- You can get a great bottle of wine for 3 Euros (around $4)

- Eating at least two baguettes per family a day is normal (we definitely do!)

-Lamborghini makes an SUV and I have seen it on the streets of Paris

- French people are not being rude on the streets when they are looking down, they are just making sure they don't step in dog poo.

- When asking for something in Paris always ask twice, you will get a different answer. This has happened to me many times.

- Everything just takes longer and is slower in Paris.

- Although it is taking us time to adjust to the city of Paris, It can be breathtakingi!!!

As we are living here I plan on just adding to this list, if anyone has anything to add let me know.

This experience is and continues to be a life changing event for my family and me. I love my husband for bringing us over here (not always...LOL). I know our kids are going to have some life changing experiences. I also know that in only 6 months I have made the most wonderful friends. Friends from all over the world that are in the same circumstance and that can relate to any challenges we face. It is comforting.

The first 6 months has been interesting and we have many more interesting things to discover in our time here.

Enjoy some of the latest pictures from our adventures.

Thanks for Reading!

For now:

Life is good in Paris!