A wedding, a birthday, and some toast

The umbrella fun just don't stop.

According to his smiley teacher, Lucien is doing fine in school.  Lucien, however, claims he's vomited ten times, was bitten by a giant spider, and has gotten into many fights with many people, at least one of which involved real swords.  Jesus Lord.

He doesn't have school Wednesdays and it was actually nice to have him around again. We stood in the kitchen Wednesday morning and debated who would win if an Ankylosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex got into a fight.  I also made our favorite breakfast -- a little something I like to call "assorted toast."  Some pieces have jam on them, some cinnamon, some nutella.  Then we arrange all the pieces of toast on a giant platter.  I know, I know, I just really blew the roof off this whole breakfast thing.

Coco has spoken her first word (aside from all the mama, dada, baba crap) and much to everyone's surprise, it's a French one.  She held her bottle up to me last week and repeatedly said something that sounded like "Uncle!  Uncle!"  I was like "Uncle?  Uncle?  What the hell?" Then she sobbed and hit me with her bottle because she was upset she'd been birthed by a moron. 

The cleaning lady, who was standing nearby said, "So cute!  When she wants more milk she says, "encore!"  I turned in astonishment -- I'd already started a frantic online search for purchasable uncles -- and said, "Coco, are you saying 'encore'?" She nearly split herself in two with the grinning and the laughing and the rolling joyfully on the floor.  She had been understood!  Finally!  By the cleaning lady!

Now she says encore for everything -- more food, more time in the bath, more movie -- and frankly, it's getting a little old.  Hope she comes up with a new word soon.  When she does, hope our cleaning lady is able to figure it out.

We went to Vancouver Family's apartment last weekend to celebrate Vancouver Mom's birthday.  I'd never been to their apartment before but had heard great things about the view.  The rumors were true.  If I lived in this apartment, I would never leave it --

Luxembourg, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, St. Sulpice, Grand Palais.  Ridiculous.

Here's the birthday banner we brought.  It was Vancouver Mom's first birthday banner in her entire life and it was in FRENCH.  That makes it super special and a bit snobby --

Lucien, when he's with Vancouver Son, goes insane.  I can't say it was the most relaxing evening for Alex or me because we had to keep jumping up to pull Lucien off the curtains, or out of the china cabinet, or off the roof of the building.  Virginia Mom and Dad, who have two quieter and calmer girls, sat at the table and got drunk while the rest of us dealt with the chaos of boys.

A storm rolled through.  We sat at the table and let rain pelt us in the face through the open balcony doors.  It was wonderful. Then the storm passed and we watched the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle, as it does every hour on the hour.  No matter how badly Paris has abused me during the day, I forgive her when I see the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

Vancouver Family leaves Paris next month.  It's sad but I take comfort in the fact they'll only be a few hours drive from Seattle.  If we really have a hankering, we can go see them.  Of course, with the way Lucien tornadoed through their apartment, they probably won't let us through the front door.  So we'll look through their windows and wave, and that will be enough.

This was our walk home that night with two very tired kids --

Here we are in our building's tiny elevator.  It's a tight squeeze for the four of us.  I won't miss Paris-sized elevators, except for the hilarity.

I attended a very joyous occasion this morning.  Coco and I got all dolled up (and by that I mean I took a shower) and took the five dozen metros necessary to reach the 19th arrondissement, where we witnessed the marriage of fellow Paris bloggers, Paris Paul and Paris Karin.

To get married around here, you must have a civil ceremony at the town hall.  After the official marriage at the mairie, you can have a church ceremony or scuba wedding or pirate ship wedding or whatever you want but it's really just for show because the deed is already done. (so cool! pirates!)

The civil ceremonies happen in a fancy room.  The wedding guests gather down in the lobby and walk up the big staircase together.  Once you're in the fancy room, an important lady wearing a sash enters and you have to stand up again.  The important lady then mumbles a buncha somethin' somethin' in a language you thought you understood right up until you attended the wedding.  (Seriously, was that French?  I should study my marital vocabulary.)

They may be saying something about loving each other here but I really didn't catch a damn thing

 Congratulations, blog friends.  You are most excellent together.

Coco considered ruining the wedding several times, but ultimately held it together.  There were a few excited exclamations accompanied by some pointing and a few dozen "encore"s, but it wasn't nearly the disaster I feared it was going to be when I couldn't find a babysitter.

The metro ride home was long and Coco was tired.  She wanted off at every stop.  Every time the  doors closed and she was still on the metro, she felt betrayed by me.  The sight of a little girl in a pretty dress pounding on the metro doors and hollering at her mama was pretty funny to several passengers and they laughed out loud.  She waved her arms at them, probably casting spells.

Mmmm.  Assorted Toast.
MJ