Moving to France. It's kinda a big deal

So it is kinda ironic how horrible I am at packing and organizing and my life consists of moving to a different place every year. Maybe I will get better! Or just realize how truly awful I am. Either way, this is my life so I must do the best I can. This year was especially difficult because I had been home in California for so long. So I just didn't remember what I had in storage over here or what I needed. I had to pack the lives of three people into 4 suitcases. Well, that was the originally goal. I ended up using 9 bags for just my family. But in my defence I had to pack 2 huge boxes we intended to send until we found out the shipping costs: $177 for one box as opposed to $48 for an extra luggage allowance. Thankfully my aunts were travelling with us so they were able to 'help' with the luggage. They were actually once referred to as our pack mules... Thank you Aunties! :)

We actually got pretty lucky on the flights this year. I actually booked our flights this year, coincidence? I think not. We flew from LAX to LHR non stop. Our flight left at 5:35 which was perfect. We got on the plane hung out a little bit, ate their wonderful dinner (yes, I'm serious. I love British Airline's meals) let Tae watch a movie and feed Eli, change into jammies, and put to sleep. We actually had a bulk head sit this time so we were able to put Eli in a bassinette thing that he was almost too big for, but completely awesome because he slept so good. We set up a nice little bed on the floor for Tae and he slept great. Until the flight attendant came and told us that he wasn't aloud to be on the floor. Then he had to sleep on our lap, which, if you have seen my child lately, isn't that easy. But we made it work. We woke up, had breakfast, and got ready to get off. Tae slept the entire time, even through landing until right to the end. So really, must say, one of my best, easiest flights. Bummer was that we had to wait 4 hours in the airport in London for our next flight. It ended up being fine, just boring and we were tired. We did find a Starbucks though! Then off to Lyon. Another pretty easy flight and we were there!

I think on the drive home from the airport we were all a little delirious from being so tired. My aunt still had the utmost patience as I listened to Tae ask Aunt Veta the same question probably 50 times she answered in the same sweet tone, like she wasn't at all annoyed. I was annoyed just listening! Another thing that must come with age and experience, right?? Man, I hope so, because to be honest, not looking good for me right now!

We arrived at our house at around 8:00 probably. Our house is one of those houses in France where you think "who lives there?" Yep. We live there. France is very rural outside of the cities. St Etienne is a bigger city, but we are living just on the outside of it. So the highways that connect everything aren't very big, they are like our regular streets in California. So you will be driving down this little 'highway' in France and all of a sudden there is a little house right next to the highway. I always wondered who would live there. Well now that's me. But it is a nice place. Two stories, 3 decent sized bedrooms, 2 couches that turn into beds with lovely slip cover things... The unfortunate thing is that the floor creaks pretty bad in the kitchen, well most of the house. But we are learning where to step to not make it so bad. There is only one bathroom and it is downstairs which stinks when we have guests. Which I hope we do! :)

Then the transformation began. All my aunts and mom walked into this place and went to work. Even after that long flight, they started right away. I can't tell you how awesome the difference is. I will show you with before and after pics. I just can't find them on my computer right now, so they will come later.

Our luggage

He is gonna miss Poppy!

My happy little guy

That bumbo came in handy!

Tae being the awesome little boy he is

Eli not sleeping in his basinette

So cute!

We were tired

Aunt Veta and her never-ending patience

Yep, we had the team bus get us from the airport

Aunt Donna and Lilo chattin' it up

Poor baby was so tired!

We have arrived at the apartment!

So that is all for now. You might have an idea of why I have to break up the trip into sections to write about. It was seriously jam packed! So stay tuned!

Our next adventure...

Oh my gosh, I am so  nervous and anxious.  I have so many mixed emotions.  We just found out yesterday that our next location will be St. Ettienne, France!!  It is about 45 minutes south of Lyon, France which is the third biggest city in France... I think.  It's up there anyway.  Lavar might have to leave tomorrow.  This is the part that I hate about our lifestyle.  Even though I love the opportunities we have with living in other countries and experiencing different cultures, we have to leave home.  I feel like Lavar just got here and now he is leaving again.  I feel like we haven't really gotten to experience the summer.  Because of our lifestyle it is hard to maintain friendships throughout the cities that we live in.  I know that a big part of that is me and that I need to do a better job with being a good friend to people.  The other part is that people honestly don't understand our lifestyle, (I don't expect them to) and they have their own.  They don't need friends so why reach out?  It is hard.  But the last thing I want to happen is in 6 or so years when my husband is done playing and we come back to So Cal and live a 'normal' life for me to look back at our time spent traveling and regret how I lived.  I have an opportunity some people only dream of (and some people think I'm crazy).  I get to live in another country and experience another culture.  Europe is at my fingertips.  Everything is just a little train ride or flight away.  I am putting my 3 year old son in preschool this year to learn French.  I've always wanted to learn another language and to learn from such a young age.  He won't even have an accent in either language.  I wish someone could have done that for me.  Hopefully he can appreciate it later.  I get to experience the world.  And although this might not be appealing to some people, I have always loved travel, adventure, and different. (I mean look who I married!)

So here it is, our next adventure.  I am nervous and anxious and excited all at the same time.  I keep telling myself all the fun things, the benefits of our life right now because when I don't actually believe them, if I say them enough it will be true!  I know once I am there it will be great.  I just hate leaving my wonderful family and taking my son away from all his awesome cousins and friends.  This is our life, crazy or not, so I have to make the best of it!

My boys

Here are some new pictures.  Tae is such a good big brother, I am so proud of him.  He loves to 'play' with Eli even though Eli can't really respond.  I continue to hope and pray that they will be good friends growing up. 

 

Look at my handsome boys!

 

Eli Looking right at the camera! Yep, he's a fatty!

 

This one is funny.  Anyone who knows Lavar, knows how he likes watching his movies, TV whatever.  Well this is him and Eli 'watching' together.  Uh-oh, he is started young!  They were watching something on the laptop. 

 

This is my little muscle man.  He got a tattoo.  He was so proud. 

 

Daddy and Tae showing off their tattoos.  Daddy's is soldiers and Tae's is a rocket ship.

 

Brothers

 

He was flexing his muscles.  Funny boy.

I love my boys.  All three.  I am so blessed. 

How do you do it?

Okay, so I just gotta know, how do you do it?

I recently joined the bloggy mommy world and I see so many women out there with two, three kids and having etsy stores, and managing their blogs and twitters and facebooks.  I don't have a doubt that most of these women are also good mothers and wives.  But I just don't know how people have the time to manage all these things!  I might need some insight, I must not be that organized of a person... hmm I guess that could be my problem. 

I have two boys now.  My younger boy is almost 3 months old.  He is on a pretty good schedule and has been sleeping through the night for a couple weeks now.  No complaints, for sure.  My older son is 3 years old now *sigh* and goes to school two mornings a week.  I try to cram as much as I can into those two mornings, but I can't not do anything (wow a lot of negatives) throughout the rest of the week.  I run a business, Bliss Makeup Artistry, have my two boys, and a husband who eats A LOT of food, and now managing the blogs as well!  Phew, I am already tired just thinking about it!

So I need suggestions!  How do you manage your morning, day, evening?  Do you schedule things in or do them as you have time?  My husband says I need to schedule.  Maybe I do, but I don't really stick to a schedule all that well...  So maybe I need a little discipline too.  I am just super curious to hear how everyone else handles their lives.

So leave a comment.  Let me know what you do.  Give me some advice.  I am always open for advice! It seems like all the moms I meet are supermoms!  Maybe I need a time management class or something...

Juggling

I have a lot going on.  I can't stay still and I need to learn to manage my time better.  I have two wonderful boys.  Tae is just a bundle of energy who needs to spend most of the day outside.  Then there is Eli who doesn't do much yet, but today he gave me a run for my money!  Lavar is out of town a lot lately and I am running a business!  The problem is that I LOVE all of those things!  I love love love my husband, I love love love my boys, and I love running my business.  I didn't feel like I could put another two loves on business, because they really don't compare to my boys.  But it is fun and it is another way to bring in a little money and flex some independence.  So I am juggling.  Waking up early and staying up late and trying to spend all the in between time with my family.  I know I need to focus on my boys mostly for now because they wont' be this age forever.  And they are fun, and it is fun to make them happy.  Such as the life of a mommy.  I feel like I am constantly trying to find the balance between all these things so that no one gets jipped (sp?).  Maybe that is why I married my husband.  He takes life one thing at a time and never really over extends himself.  Talk about opposites.  Keeps me sane though!