A Day in Paris

Bonjour, chic friends!

We are back from a day spent in Paris, and are excited to share our adventure with you.

We were inspired to do another family homeschool project, like last year's Downs Hotel. So the idea for "A Day in Paris" was born.

We had so much fun together coming up with ideas, creating our vision, and setting up the house, and the final outcome was something we all felt very proud of.

Like with any make-believe game, everyone took on a character, and played up their role.

Soren and Elsa were immigration officers, checking everyone's passports and bags after their "flight" landed at the door of our house...

And Roman worked the Exchange, supplying eager tourists with play euros...

Because this was a homeschool project, (and since homeschool mothers know how to make a lesson out of anything) we studied passports, customs, and currency exchange.

We thought ahead, and supplied all of our travelers with passports (sticker books that I bought on Amazon) and the kids made labels for the inside cover, so people could fill in their information. Just like in real life!

Nola was a street artist on the Champs-Elysees.

She painted several creations so there would be original artwork to sell to tourists as they passed by.

While researching, we learned that street artists are professionals, and licensed by the city of Paris. It is such a sought-after job that there's a ten-year waiting list for new artists to set up their easels.

Doesn't she look like an accomplished french artist?

While she was busy at her craft, Elsa and I were locals, fresh out of Louis Vuitton, and annoyed with all the American tourists as we tried to catch our taxi back home.

(Notice the labels. 😊)

Roman and Elsa were museum curators at the Louvre...

 They selected two paintings and two sculptures to study and present, (with Mama's supervision, of course, since not all exhibits in the Louvre are kid-friendly.)

Micah was the overall tour guide...

And Soren, oh Soren... had his heart set on being a pick-pocket.

We warned the Americans to watch their belongings carefully, and told them that even though Paris is a beautiful and fun city, there is still crime.

Once we all had our job descriptions, we worked to transform the house.

All you need for a project like this is a little creativity and imagination.

There was a gift shop...

(The Louvre Boutique!)

A French cafe...

Complete with a host station...

menus...

and activity sheets for the kids.

Micah and Roman even constructed an Eiffel tower out of cardboard, paint and glue.

I love that it lights up at night!

My favorite part was the spectacular view of the Eiffel tower from the cafe...

What an authentic experience!

We were very pleased with the outcome and felt the mess and hard work was worth it!

After all, a home's purpose is to provide the backdrop for our family life, and support our dreams and ideas.

My prayer is that my children will cherish these family memories for many years, talking and laughing about it with each other even long after Micah and I are gone.

I also love the thought that perhaps we provided a fun and memorable day for our relatives who joined us!

We are very grateful to have family members who are willing to come over and "play along" with our goofy games and ideas.

Like grandparents who "accidentally" left some cash hanging out of their pockets so that Soren could feel successful...

And those who showed up wearing backpacks and cameras to look like real tourists...

It all was so fun!

(The French Cafe's world renowned chef preparing his cassoulet...)

(Nola, the cafe's chocolatier, along with the wait staff)

Home is the most important place, and we only get one shot at raising our kids. So, stretch your abilities at home. Do a little more and go a little further than what you think you can do.

And best of all, have fun doing it!

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Merci for reading, friends...

💐

~ Courtney 

Happy Valentine's Day

 Lately our days have been bright and clear, but very cold.

We are in the dead of winter.

Thank goodness for Valentine's Day to give us a lift!

It is our custom to browse through our old books to see if we can find a story or poem that relates to what we're experiencing.

Here's what we found...

I love how colorful it is!

"Good Morrow, 'tis Saint Valentine's Day,

All in the morning time,

And I a maid at your window,

To be your Valentine."

- William Shakespeare

💝

We always wake up in the dark every Sunday morning to go to church.

During the week I like to sit here with my buddy and my coffee to read my Bible and watch the sunrise. But on Sundays there's some hustle and bustle to get out of the house on time.

This morning there were even a few hiccups in my otherwise smooth routine, and by the time I neared the end of my getting-ready, I was tempted to tell Micah and the kids to go on without me.

Can you believe it?! I didn't feel like going, just because of a few snags in my routine.

But once I was there, I was SO glad I went.

I am always happy to be there.

😊

(These sub-zero mornings make for very chilly car rides over to church. The trick is to start the car fifteen minutes in advance, and take a blanket along for your lap.)

It was a packed house in church this morning, and the energy could be felt. It cheered me right up in no time!

Those of us on stage (I sing with the Music Team) are supposed to be the ones to encourage the congregation in worship, but it never fails that once I get up there and see everyone's faces, they bless and encourage me instead!

I love my bird's eye view from the platform each week. When I see how everyone worships, it inspires me!

🎶

Now back at home we are settled in to enjoy our evening.

I am preparing for our traditional "Red Dinner"...

 We will open gifts and read our cards first, so that the table can be cleared to make room for the food!

I hope you are having a lovely Valentine's Day!

If not, here are some wonderful ideas for being your own Valentine, written by Susan Branch (an author and watercolorist I admire very much!)

She says to...

~ Feed the birds

~ Take long walks

~ Eat good food

~ Breathe fresh air

~ Wear something pretty

~ Read good books

~ Grow flowers

~ Redecorate

~ Nap with pets

~ Soak in the bathtub

~ Sing in the car

~ Paint your nails

~ Write in a diary

~ Show love

"Because the smallest of little things can make you feel like something is special about today."

- Susan Branch

💝

I love this list, but I would not consider any of these things small or little.

When a few are done each day it can get you happily through the bleakest winter, while adding some dignity to your day.

If I could add to her list I would include, bake something sweet, set a nice table, wear jewelry and lipstick, chat with a friend...

What would you add?

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn 

Is how to love

And be loved in return."

🌹

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

💐

xo,

~ Courtney 

January Snapshots

 "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire. It is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell

 💗  ~🏡  ~  💗

Since becoming a mother, my goal has been to make our home the place we all want to be. 

The turmoil swirling around us over this past year has only strengthened my belief that home must become the most important place.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it's that I must use this time wisely to build up the next generation in loving God, loving family, and loving our country.

We may have been held hostage by our government and media's neurotic whims, but we can ignore a lot of it, and decide to thrive at home. 

The following is a glimpse into our January...

Winter is very enjoyable to me.

If you read my last post, this next photo will make sense...

The Eiffel Tower Micah and Roman are building for our "Day in Paris" is turning out great!

It's made of cardboard and glue.

Also, we were given a proper French lesson last week...

I keep what we learned on the fridge and the children and I practice our French every day.

It's a lot of fun!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Elsa is becoming a very skilled sous-chef...

She cuts up fresh fruit every morning while I make scrambled eggs.

We make a good team.

I try to keep our meals colorful and nutritious.

I like to eat as healthful as possible during the dull winter months.

It lifts the spirits.

I had some steaks in our chest freezer that I decided to do something with today.

I slow cooked them in my crockpot.

The result was very tender, yummy steaks for dinner.

(I think the key is to use butter!)

When I was younger I thought I couldn't cook anything without a recipe. Now I know that I can experiment based on my knowledge and experience.

Micah is definitely a "meat and potatoes" kind of man, so I've tried to honor that over the years by learning how to make different kinds of red meat.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I am encouraged by the realization that lately I've been setting the table by daylight...

"There is something infinitely healing about the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter." - Rachel Carson

But of course, we are still stunned by the hot pink sunsets that seem to only show up in the winter.

Elsa took this photo:

The colors in a country sunset are a joy to watch.

They can be muted and hazy one minute, like an old oil painting... grey, blue, lavender, with a touch of soft pink. Then the next time I look, the sky is lit up like bright orange fire. Just when I decide I better get out there to see it better, it's changed again. And within minutes, it's gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nola reached (and has now surpassed) lesson 100 in her Arithmetic this month.

She's the first child to do it. 

Diligence is always a reason to celebrate!

And to think, she's accomplished this even with the cat continually stealing her school seat almost everyday!

😂

Regal is loved but he is mischievous!! I just put together this winter vignette on my mantle shelf because he knocked over my last one, breaking a glass vase in millions of little pieces.

I rather like this new arrangement though, so it's ok, Regal's forgiven.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I made up my mind months ago that I wasn't going to participate in the hype and stress of the pandemic.

Those who are lording it over us do not have our best interests at heart.

It's important not to seem oppressed or rattled anyway, especially in front of children. They need a stable mother.

Remember what Joshua said, "Choose this day whom you will serve."

God's people are free.

So, friends... be happy.

Be productive.

Don't wait for the world to get its act together.

We don't look to them.

We are the examples, and the ones who are to be "salt and light."

Thanks for reading,

💐

~ Courtney

Making Plans to Enjoy the Winter

 It's always so nice to get the house back in order after the holidays.

January is an enjoyable time for me because I like winter and being home, and I also like the thought of a fresh, new start.

It's fun to plan a few events in the winter, too. It gives me the feeling that we have something to look forward to... like something bright is on the horizon.

Today we had a little get-together for Micah's birthday.

Yesterday I set a nice table...

(Here is my project manager, overseeing my work...)

When I was at the grocery store picking up fresh flowers and fruit, I thought I'd take a quick peek inside a Home Entertaining magazine. It's inspiring to look at all the very elegant and professional table settings. 

I found this statement to be meaningful and very true for me...

"Winter Gatherings - While the winter season gives us time to rest and reflect within our homes, planning meals and intimate gatherings for those we love can add so much happiness to our lives."

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Now that our family meal for Micah's birthday is over, we are throwing ourselves into getting ready for another fun event.

We are doing a unit study on Paris, France for homeschool this winter, and so far it's been a blast!

We've been researching French cafe's, exhibits at the Louvre, and learning facts about the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

Every couple of days Roman puts together a little French lesson for us and we all practice saying a few words together like, Bienvenue! (welcome) Bonjour! (hello) and Cannelle de gateaux (cinnamon cake). 😂

Remembering what a hit our "Downs Hotel" was last winter, we've decided to make it into a similar family homeschool project. We're calling it "A Day in Paris."

To get us in the spirit, I ordered some French music to start...

It is a very charming and relaxing CD, perfect background music for us this winter. Plus, it makes me feel tres chic!

The kids say, "We want to know what they're saying! What are they saying?"

But I reply, "No, no. It's much more fun this way!"

🎶

So, in our spare time we are working on little projects to get ready...

The kids are making Eiffel tower ornaments to sell in the gift shop...

And Micah is helping the kids create an Eiffel tower structure out of cardboard.

Their first step was to make some measurements and craft a plan...

I'll be sure to show you the end result!

Meanwhile I've been stashing away little trinkety items that I've been gathering for the event, like play money euros and a Mona Lisa print.

Everyone in the family seems excited for it, and we've been having fun coming up with ideas.

When someone has an idea I say, "ok!" and we run with it. Like Nola, she wants to be a street artist, so we assembled a little costume for her...

Planning an event like this provides such a fun distraction that before we know it it'll be spring!

 I hope you're enjoying your winter, friends, and I'll share more about this at another time...

💐

~ Courtney