Random Thoughts

Random Thought #1:

It's so fun to celebrate Christmas again!  Here are snapshots of the kids by our Christmas tree (which smells AMAZING!).

I have to include this one too.  We have a photo of Lena at about age 3 kissing this dog ornament.  She remembered that, and decided to do it again.  There are lots of fun memories hanging on this tree!

It is just so much fun to get the Christmas photos and letters, to share gifts with friends and family, to see snow and play in snow again!  So fun!

Random Thought #2:

For some reason, I have been remembering things lately.

Remembering how Ryan used to be petrified of animals of all kinds.  Why was that?  Who would have guessed going to Camp Forest Springs would solve the problem forever.  I guess the Camp Forest Springs animal farm full of baby animals was the best place of all to lose all fear of animals.

Remembering when Todd was a baby and Lena was in Kindegarten in White Bear Lake.  I decided I wanted to walk, so I took the double stroller to the Mall of America to do laps.  Ryan was in the back of the stroller in the seat, and Todd was in the baby carrier in the front.  But, Ryan would NOT keep his hands off of Todd who was facing him, so I had to switch them and put Ryan in the front.

So, as I was walking around the Mall of America - trying desperately to get some exercise - Ryan was in the front of the double stroller swinging his body sideways as FAR as he COULD, again and again and again to entertain himself -- all the way around the Mall of America.  He was a big 3 year old.  His swinging with such force made it nearly impossible to push that double stroller!  What a little stinker!  He put an end to my walking single handed-ly.  Kids!

Random Thought #3:

A few weeks ago, I overheard a conversation between Todd and Ryan.

Todd: (He had the game Headbanz out, and he was holding a card with a photo on it.)  "OK, guess what this is.  Here's a clue.  It has an 'e' at the end of the word."

Ryan: "I have no idea what this is."

Todd:  "It has black eyes."

Ryan:  "I have no idea."

Todd:  "It has big stripes."

Ryan:  "I have no idea."

Todd:  "Guess!  I gave you 3 clues!"

Ryan:  "I have no idea.  It could be anything with an 'e' on the end of the word, black eyes and stripes!"

Todd:  "OK, it's a bee."

Oh, we laughed our heads off!!

Random Thought #4:

If we were in Paris still, we would have had a Christmas cookie bake with our friends last week.  I miss doing that!

Random Thought #5:

French in haunting me here in the USA.  Who knew that there was so much French here!  It is on tons and tons of labels.  Did you know that?  I certainly didn't, until I learned French.  If you buy a kitchen tool, almost certainly the label will be in French too.  Hair products, household items, some food (although you are more likely to find Spanish on food stuffs)...it is everywhere.

Just last week, I was in the bathroom at one of Ryan's basketball games, and this is what I saw.

Now look closely and what do you see?
 

I was standing there, drying my hands thinking, "NO!!!!  That horrible verb 'arriver' (to arrive) is haunting me in my home country!  It should not be doing that to me here!"

I learned an enormous amount of French vocabulary while overseas and really enjoyed that.  But, the struggle of 'how to say things' was with me all the time.  I would say things in French the way I say them in English, and that just doesn't work.  French people don't think the way we think.  So, quite often they didn't understand me very well when I spoke, even though I was using French words when I was speaking.

This hand dryer is a good illustration.  In English, it says 'disconnect from power supply before servicing."  Simple, right!

In French, it says, "Unplug the arrival of electricity before all maintenance."

See!  I would never ever think to put it that way!  UGH!!!!!

And, this is why I am so, so, so, sooooooo very happy to be doing life in English all the time again.

But, why can't the French just leave me alone?  I want to forget how hard you are, French.  Go away!

Random Thought # 6:

Today was supposed to be the last day of school before the Christmas break, but we got a wonderful winter storm which caused a snow day today!  Yeah!  It is so nice to be home, looking out at the white outside, and enjoying an unexpected day with the kids.

Random Thought #7:

This past Wednesday, Mark's Mom had open heart surgery to replace a valve that has been malfunctioning most of her life.  We are so very thankful that the surgery was a success and that she is on her road to recovery.  We anticipate that once she gets through the recovery (not an easy process), she is going to have a whole new lease on life!  Praise the Lord!  What a great Christmas gift for Kathy!

Well, I think that's enough for today.  I am off to do fun things with the kids.

Merry Christmas to you all!