Color-splash!

It was a beautiful fall day here in France. The sun was shining and the leaves were in full effect. We decided to go to this really fun lake right by where we live. There are ducks and geese and the girls love feeding them. There is also a fun playground and a giant treehouse to climb. We took a picnic and I had a blast trying to catch their adorableness in pictures, they move so fast though!
Things are going well, this new baby girl is a shaker and baker, always moving and kicking and at every ultrasound she doesn't stop. We all finished getting over colds and are praying to stay sick free this winter but with kids it's so hard.
The election is finally over and I think now the GOP is regretting the choice of Mccain. No charisma, out dated and a weak campaign. Americans are ready for change it's true. Change is fine. Change can be good. But make sure that the change you think you want is the change you really need. Of course there was no way to forsee the Economy tsunami that hit, but I bet there are a whole bunch of people thinking that Romney would have been the ideal candidate to go up against Obama. I just think that Americans were wooed by Obama's flashy, energetic personality and him as a symbol for change. I just hope that we don't regret this one. America is already going down a dangerous road of change that is erasing the principals and moral goodness in which it was founded. Bon--enough soap box for me! I am tired , stayed up till almost 4am france time to watch the slaughter of the republican party.

Take note of the crazy,sick knitting skills of my sweet wife. She did this whole outfit--sweater, pants and all. It is soooo awesome. She never ceases to amaze me!

At the end of the day this is a great scene. Nothing like the tight little squeezes of love from a 2.5yr old telling you thanks for a fun day!

Further updates--I hate playing catch-up!

I know we've been here in Hagetmau now for 2 full months, and we've made several posts in the mean time, but I needed to post a few pictures and comments on fun happenings that we've missed here. Just a week after my arrival, Joy and Darrell made the trip over for the wedding of one of her brothers from her exchange student family, Remi Fouret. We were lucky enough to have them make the extra trip all the way down here to the south to see us as part of the same trip! Unfortunately they missed their original train, and therefore the first day of their planned visit with us, but they arrived safe and sound early that Tuesday morning. We came back to our house for some breakfast and a shower (their train was an over-nighter), and then Ryn and I set off with them for the coast. We took in the Basque museum and some specialty chocolate in Bayonne, three different 64 stores (favorite famous beachwear brand of Darrell's that originated here) and the beach in Biarritz, and then a way too quick and unorganized (completely my fault as the supposed tour guide for the region--shameful!!!) glance at San Sabastian in Spain. It was pretty funny because Darrell voted for taking the smaller roads through the little pituresque towns on the way out there instead of the boring freeways, but then he was asleep about 5 minutes into the trip :). So Joy and I quickly transfered him to the back with Ryn and the Disney movies so we could chat.



After breakfast Wednesday morning, we set out for Pau and its castle--birthplace of Henry IV--and major grocery stores so Joy could load up on chocolate and yummy treats to take home. That night we watched Kev's team play a practice game there in Pau and then we sped Joy and Darrell to the gare so they could catch their overnight train back to Paris. It was so fun to have them with us--our town isn't close at all to Paris so it was really an extra effort on their part to come all the way down here--we only wish it could have been longer!

The other picture I wanted to post was of Ryn in front of her actual school since the ones we took on the first day were in front of our house. She is really loving her class now and speaking French so much more! Before she would never say things in French on her own-- even if she knew the word, we had to ask her what it was 'en francais'. But now she will say the French word every time after she says something in English. Yesterday when she was helping me set the table she was so excited to put on the forks, "les fourchettes!", etc.