Museums

The last week I had vacation as the family went skiing in the alps... I wish I could've gone.. But it was nice to be alone, with no kids. As much as I love the girls, it gets tiring.

So, I had plans to visit 8 museums, if their was time. Knowing I probably wouldn't get to all eight I picked out the ones I ABSOLUTELY had to see. 

The first, Centre George Pompidou. If you are into that modern art sort of style then this is the one for you. There were some pretty cool exhibits, but mostly they were weird and I was surprised that it was considered art. For example, I walked into this one room that had all white walls, white ceiling, white floor, and that was it! That was the art! I felt like going up to someone and asking where it was. Another room was all red, but had raised shapes coming out of the walls.

I visited the pantheon. Gave me the creeps, as there were dozens of crypts in the basement. Crypts from famous French people like, Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Jean jaures, etc.

The rodin museum and the bourdelle museum, were both fantastic. Close to each other made it easy to visit both the same day. Very well layed out, you just had to follow signs and you would see everything. And both being small one could see all in an hour. 

Monet was amazing, loved him and water lilies. But they had a lot of other impressionists showing at that time too, and I loved them more. I couldn't take pictures sadly.

Oh right, and I dyed my hair! Red ombré! Carly and I did it together! 

Nickname

The girls have given me a nickname, it's so cute, with their Italian accents and everything.

They call me Ashley-o, but it ends up sounding more like ash-laay-o.

Ash-LAAY-o!!! Viens!! Regarde ash-laay-o! Ash-laay-o est-ce qu'on peux jouer sur la tablette?? 

Love them to pieces! 

Giulia and I.

Fajita friday

Every other Friday night, I'm needed to babysit the girls as the parents go out for dinner together. I don't mind this at all, it's not much different from normal Fridays because I already usually work late. Our Fridays are very busy. As soon as I pick up Letizia and Giulia and their friend Asia it's go go go. Asia comes over to learn English with us. I'm telling you, trying to teach a language is hard enough, but then teaching it from a language you aren't quite fluent in, that's difficult.

After English, Asia leaves, and we go to judo. I read while I wait. And then we walk home, or run, or play tag along the way. 

While they shower and clean up I prepare dinner, by this time it's 7:45. Usually the parents come home around this time but not today. Tonight I made fajitas! The girls loved them! They kept calling them crepes haha, and they weren't quite sure how to fold it and such, but after I showed them they figured it out.

After words, they tun on their Italian tv, and we watch winx together. The whole time I'm saying, "ça veux dire quoi?" They don't mind, kids love to be smarter than adults, and they are excellent explainers. 

Story time consists of passing a book around and each reading a paragraph.

This next part is cute, and I'm kind of use to it, since it was the only way I could get the Nichols daughter, Emma, to stay in bed. They always want me to stay in their room with them until they are asleep. I'll lay on the edge of Giulias bed, and sometimes they ask me to sing a song, and more then once I've accidentally fallen asleep with them!

I love my girls, I think I got the sweetest family of all the host families.

Little helpers

I find it rather intriguing how this came about, but lately I've been very slyly having the girls help me in the kitchen. At first, I would have them come play in the kitchen and keep me company while I cooked and we would talk and laugh. After a while of that I would casually hand them plates to put on the table, and pretty soon they were setting the table with me. And then I made it sound like getting to help me cook was a reward. Whoever finished their homework and piano and shower first "got to" help me make a salad. They get excited about that, because they get to choose what goes in it, they get to peel and cut some vegetables, and they get to serve it. And lately, they've been wanting to eat like Canadians do, which is put all the food on their plate at once, so they set the table, make the salad, and serve the food. It takes a bit longer to finish, but the mum loves it when she sees her girls helping. And it makes my life a little easier because I'm not getting after them for watching too much tv.