Pictures and a little bit of Christmas

{Warning: Picture Overload!!}

He loves bathtime!

Can't wait to get in, but can't figure it out

Got a hand in!

Tae doesn't have a bath so he likes to sit in with Eli

Such a good brother, trying to help his brother

My crazy boy!

My other crazy boy

What the heck, mom?



Daddy gettin the tree out!



Tae thinks he is hilarious...



Daddy and Tae putting snow on the window



We had to tie strings onto each one



Haven't they heard of ornament hooks??



There's always a little basketball practice involved

We have our little place decorated for Christmas and Tae loves it!  Now we just need to get Christmas presents!!  I love this time of year!

Our Waffle Thanksgiving

So I usually do pretty good with the missing home thing.  I miss my family and friends, but I love my life here.  But this Thanksgiving has been a bit of a bummer.  Just beacuse Lavar had a road trip and is gone until tomorrow morning and it is just me and the boys and I don't have too many friends here.  I wanted to do something with just me and the boys and Tae's favorite thing to eat is waffles.  So we had waffles for dinner!  {I happen to enjoy waffles myself}

Tae of course, is always my helper in the kitchen and I just let him stir it up because the waffle maker gets so hot.  I could see that ending badly.  Here are some pictures of our evening and some things I am thankful for. 

My boys 'helping'

1.} I am thankful for my hard-working, reponsible husband who always puts us first and makes sure we are always taken care of.  Love him.

Little E man following me around helping

2.} My two strong, healthy boys.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.  And to top it off Tae's teachers told me that he is doing well in school and that he is a nice boy, no problems.  Good boy Tae!

My helper, not too sure what's with the face

 3.}  My extended family.  Cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sister-in-law, niece, grandparents, etc.  I am soooo blessed to have such an amazing extended family who all happen to live close together. 

Where Eli tries to spend most of his time.

 4.}  That we have food on our table.  I caught myself the other day, coming out of a grocery store thing 'I don't want to have to worry about money anymore! I am done counting pennies.'  I was getting a little annoyed and then thought, 'there are people in the world with nothing to eat and I am complaining about the budget being tight?  Let's get it together!'

My French waffle maker.

 5.} The opportunity to live in France.  Some people never get to see Europe, let along live there.  I get to live here!  Experience the culture, learn another language, meet new people.  It is fun, and it is hard at times, I still wouldn't change it!

Tae gettin' ready to chow down!

 6.}  The church family I found out here.  It has helped me integrate more and the people are so nice and inviting.  It is great to have all God's people all over the world!

Tae's meal

 7.}  My church family at home.  I have been having a hard time with Eli lately and it is so encouraging to get little notes, words of encouragement, and advice from my church family back home.  I don't have a lot of that here, so it is definitely refreshing!

Eli's meal

 8.} My Salvation. 'nuf said.

He had to have some waffles too!

 9.}  Packages!  My aunt sent me a package with French study materials and some christmas presents for the boys.  Love it!  Always fun and encouraging to get!

There are no words...

 10.}  Christmas season is going to be in full effect soon!  I can't wait for the music and decorations and food!  And this year I am sure I will get a white Christmas!  First ever for me!!

In case you were wondering, Tae did finish his mountain

 11.}  Christmas vacation coming soon! Tae gets two weeks off of school coming up December 18th.  And LAVAR gets 10 days off!  Lavar has never had more than two days off any of the seasons we have been out here together.  I can't wait!

It snowed!!

12.}  We woke up to snow this morning.  First time ever for me to be living in the snow.  Beautiful.

Missing Home

I think this is to be expected around the holidays.  I think I knew it would come.  I have been doing my best not to let anything bother me and so far I have been golden.  I am an 'enjoy life where you are at' kinda gal.  But Thanksgiving is coming up, then Christmas just around the corner from that.  And this is the first year of my life that I won't be spending it with my family. 

Brother and Husband Christmas Morning

Don't get my wrong, I love it here.  I love our lifestyle and I love living in different country, learning a new language, and trying to understand a new culture.  I like trying to integrate myself here and make new friends.  But it is hard because when I look on facebook, and I see all the friendships back home that are so effortless. {I don't have to translate everything in my head before I talk!}  Friendships I have had forever.  I miss my parents.  They are just awesome people to be around.  I miss my home church, although I am thankful to have found one here.  I miss all the other moms I know in the area and the support they offer.  I miss my cousins and their kids (Tae's friends).

Other brother and his wife Christmas Morning

But this is my life.  Some people never even get to see Europe, let alone live there.  (Granted, people probably don't care to live here, either).  I am learning another language, which is a huge, huge feet.  I have so much respect for people who know multiple languages.  I am giving my kids a broader view of the world, and allowing them to understand what other cultures are like.  I am getting a broader view of the world.  It is easy to be a closed minded American because America is so huge and does so many things well.  But other cultures and ways of life have things to offer too. 

Great pic, I know!

Over all, I wouldn't change anything about my life.  I love the experience that this is offering me right now.  I don't ever want to miss home so much I am not enjoying what is infront of me.  So I am embracing the new things of this year.  Being with my family, my boys, and my husband.  Creating new traditions for the Simmons family.  It is all very exciting and I am looking forward to it.  I just have to train myself to live in the now, enjoying what the Lord has given me for now.  And I do.  Thank you, Lord!

Tae and Daddy Christmas Morning

With my brother at Christmas Dinner

Christmas Blogger Challege: Day 3!

Today I am going to talk about tips and tricks for keeping a budget friendly holiday.  This is something I try to do every year.  I kow Christmas is huge, but we try to keep it within reason for us (which is probably small for others).  It is just a holiday and we don't want to overlook the real reason we are celebrating, Jesus' birth.  I also don't want my son to be the kid that opens a gift that isn't 'as cool' as something else some one else bought him and throw it to the side.  I want him to be appreciative for every gift he gets.  So far so good because he doesn't get very many gifts, but I am proud of his attitude.  Anyway, here are my tips:

1.) Have a limit for each person.  Mine is usually 20 euros per person.  (More for the boys and Lavar) DO NOT go over the limit, no matter how cute or good that present it.

2.)  Be specific.  I used to like to spend a ton of money on presents because I thought it showed I loved that person more.  But since money has been tight for us, I realized I can be just as thoughtful with something simple that the person really needs or wants.  My dad and younger brother always like a good book.  My sister-in-law, something organizing or cute.  I get them a specific gift within my budget.

3.)  Use your change.  I know this sounds funny, but most people when they get change from a purchase, put it in their purse and don't think about it again.  I try to pay everything exact if I can.  I think you spend less money using up the change!

4.)  Be creative.  Without being cheap or unthoughtful, make some gifts.  I have made little girl headbands for my neice and cousins.  If you have a talent, use it!  Not like 'one coupon for a free hug' or something like that though.

5.)  Coupons!  I have never done black Friday, so I am not good at that, but there are always good coupons out there for different things.  20% off Bed Bath and Beyond or Borders.  You can always google coupons for whatever deals you want to find.  If you get the gift for cheaper, don't buy more to supplement to get the gift up to the allotted amount.  Take the deal and you saved money!

I am very frugal and planned during the holiday season.  I think it can be enjoyed and at the same time not break the bank.  After all, how can you enjoy the holiday if you are stressing over money issues!!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!

Okay, so I missed day 1 of the blogger challege over at Aly's blog, but I thought I would join anyway, because I LOVE CHRISTMAS!  I think I am ambracing Christmas more this year because we are away from all my family and friends back home and in the Bahamas, and it is the first time we are having Christmas as a family, just us 4.  I am doing my best to make traditions and make sure it is super enjoyable for Tae, I know he misses family too.  So the topic I chose to write about is Holiday Traditions!!

I chose this because as my family has many of our own, my family being my parents and brothers, our family, Lavar, me, Tae, and Eli have to start some new ones.  I going to post some of my ideas and we will see how much of them I actually do this season.  I have a tendency not to follow through...




1.)  December 1st is decoration day!  I am getting everything ready this week and next Wednesday we are going to wake up late, have a ymmy breakfast, listen to Christmas music, drink hot coco, and decorate the house!  It won't take much time, but I want to do it as a family and have fun doing it!  {We chose Dec. 1st because Lavar doesn't have practice til late and Tae doesn't have school.  It just happened to be the first day of December!}

2.) Christmas Movie.  Lavar doesn't really like my family's Christmas movie {A Christmas Story} Boo!  So we have to find a new one.  Lavar suggested Chronciles on Narnia I was thinking the Grinch.  We haven't decided the movie, but we are going to put it on the lap top and cuddle in mommy and daddy's bed with lots of pillows and watch our Christmas movie!  Can't wait!!

3.) Christmas Lights.  This year it happens to be in Lyon where they have this huge lights display.  But I figure that is something you can do every year, no matter what country you are in!

4.) Gift on Christmas Eve.  Perhaps pajamas?  Maybe a cool pair of Spiderman Socks (just saw some today) Something to get us in the Christmas spirit!

5.) Christmas dinner with friends.

6.)  Christmas Breakfast.  Probably one of my favorite traditions.  After we open up all our presents, my parents went in the kitchen and made everyone breakfast.  Yummy eggs over easy with toast and bacon.  I want to continue that tradition and I am pretty sure I won't get an argument from Lavar!  We will just have to change up the breakfast a little bit.

That's it!!  I hope I get to them all.  I love Christmas, but my biggest wish this year is for my son to have a wonderful time full of memories that will last him a lifetime.  I want him to feel loved through the times we spend together more than the gifts.  {Quite frankly, there won't be that many!}

I look forward to reading everyone else's traditions!!  Maybe I will steel a few!

Faux-Thanksgiving Weekend

Oh my goodness, so handsome!

This weekend was Thanksgiving weekend at the church that we are attending. We were able to find this church through GBIM (Grace Brethren International Missions) who connected us with a church in Lyon (a little too far) and they connected us with a church here. It is funny because the few other basketball players that we know who are believers and lived in St Etienne have attended this church. I didn't even talk to them before trying it, so I thought it was a pretty funny coincident!
Anyway, it was great. I made two pumpkin pies, which turned out okay, but the crust was a bummer because I bought it premade and I think it is supposed to be used for tarts or quiches. (I know, I know, Dad) But they still tasted good and I didn't get any leftovers, so that must have been a good sign. The sweet potato casserole was a huge hit. I think because it is so sweet. I didn't use my grandma's recipe, which is one of my favorites, because I couldn't find it, but this one was good too.

It was really nice fellowship and fun. I didn't get to use a lot of French because I was sat at a table with all English speaking people. Which is good for Lavar. But my friend Lydie was there and she told me in French to always speak in French! I got a little scolding... Overall it was fun. I just have a few pictures, not many, I have got to get used to taking more pictures!!

Tae grubbin

Eli in a big boy high chair!

Eli just couldn't hang



Handsome



Handsome!