Nous Allons Françaises...

We're going to France...

Well, not really...but after reading this book, I kind of just want to pick up my family and move to France though.

I spent a month there when I was 16, touring the whole northern part of France, it was an amazing experience!  I also stayed with a host family for a week, loved them:)

Bringing up Bébé was written by an American mom, Pamela Druckerman, living in France.  She noticed some differences in their parenting verses ours and decided to research and write about them. 

For example, it's normal for most babies to be "doing their nights" by the age of 3 months, where here it's closer to 6-9...the reasoning is so simple too!  They just don't respond as quickly to their crying babies, but if you ask them about "crying it out," they don't understand what that means, because it never really comes to that.

Or their meal schedule.  Basically they eat at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. (snack), and 8:00 p.m.  Four times a day, that's it.  "You'll never catch a Parisian mother with a Ziploc bag of Cheerios, a snack that clutters the purse of every American toddler's mom."  They serve all meals in courses, not complicated courses, but they serve veggies first, and since they're not snacking all the time, they eat them because they're hungry!

I've been trying this with my kids and it actually works:)  I haven't been giving them as many snacks and they are actually hungry to eat whatever is put in front of them, so perfect!

Another thing about Parisian parents, they're just not as stressed, from pregnancy to parenthood.  No reading every single parenting magazine and book you can get your hands on, just a layed back, no big deal style.

Two words, free childcare.  That's all that needs to be said about that.

Obviously, there a few things that I would do differently.  They don't usually breastfeed for very long.  And their schooling is a bit detached and cold...but it would still be awesome to live there...a girl can dream, c'est la vie.

It's a fun, interesting book on parenting, that I had a hard time putting down.  Check it out:)

10 Years Older

This post will probably only interest a select few:) 

We headed back to ND for my 10 year reunion...holy crazy!

I only wish I would have taken more pics.

My best ladies, Kristy and Missy...except Jenni who was spending some time with her family.

Hanging out with the group, just like old times...AND with a hound dog too:)

If you're a reader from Fargo, my friend, Cristen, with the green hair:), just opened the most awesome pet salon, HotDog! Pet Salon.  She's amazing!!

What's a get together without a pyramid?!  Sorry about the fuzzy pics!

It was such a fun weekend getting to see old friends and some with kids now?!  It's funny how being around them just puts you right back in high school, good times:)

Hakan's 3rd Birthday

Our little monkey turned 3!  

We celebrated with both our families at my great uncle's lake cabin, it was a perfect day!

He said he wanted to make a crown for his birthday, so a crown he made, and then wanted to add a dinosaur.  I think it turned out awesome:)

Adeline kept trying to steal his, so she made her own crown.  Adorable!

We asked him what he wanted on his cake, his response, "A truck, a dinosaur, and monkey."  So my talented sister, Alyssa, made this yummy cake with a truck carrying a dino and monkey:)

I made the little 3 and dino applique on his shirt.

Adeline wanted to share with Daddy, ha!

Then we went for a boat ride, Hakan loved it!

Watermelon and Lake

After almost 40 years, my great uncle is selling his cabin.  Every time I think about this, I get tears in my eyes.  I grew up going to this cabin, since before I was even born.  Instead of going somewhere exotic for our family vacations, we came here.  It will always be in my heart and I can only pray that the family that has the privilege of owning it, makes as many wonderful memories as we have.

I found some pictures from over the years, you can tell some are from scrapbooks.

I think I'm 3 in this picture.

Playing with my uncle Wayne.

Spending time with friends.

Lots of family time.

Bonfires and s'mores.

Tubing and skiing.

Lots of ducks!  This picture was from 9th grade, ha!

We are leaving today to spend our last weekend there...tears.  We will enjoy every minute.

I also have a craft show just down from the cabin in Vining, MN, on Saturday, August 18, from 9:00 - 4:00.  All you can eat watermelon:)  If you're in the area, I'd love to see you! 

Zoo Dino's

Derek had the day off, so we went to the zoo.  They have a special Dinosaur exhibit, which turned out to be freakishly creepy...Hakan was terrified.  They looked, moved and sounded just like they were real!

Right before you go in, there's one that spits water at you over the wall.

Every summer, they have the Aveda Butterfly Garden.  It's so beautiful!  A bazillion butterflies flying around you, flowers everywhere, and soft music playing, so relaxing.

Can't wait for our little caterpillar, Carrot, to bust out of his cocoon as a butterfly!!