Well I have to say, I am liking France more and more as the days go on. I have always liked it but it is becoming a deeper richer like every day. First off, I am calling B.S. on the concept of ‘French people are cold,  or to themselves, or rude. I just have not seen it-not with a neighbor or any shop or place we have been. According to my experience thus far, it is the polar opposite. People are extremely genuine, nice people. Even the French say that most are like this but so far, no sign! Maybe its against the law to be mean to a pregnant lady in France… I don’t know but the place is so great because the people are just so naturally nice! Yes of course there are the beauties of the surroundings and the culture and everything else that makes a place cool but that can all get old if the overall feeling of the place is not good. I will say.. the feeling here is beautiful and I am overly thankful for that because I was prepared for the polar opposite.

Anyway, I was planning on writing about all the many differences, and rules of being pregnant in France, but I decided I would wait until I have another appointment. I have only had one thus far because here they check you once a month. Shem and Tama both had holidays from school for the past little bit (Shem a week and Tama will have three weeks) so we have been doing some exploring around the area! I decided I would show a few of the things we have explored!

Bordeaux is such a great central location to venture out! We have yet to drive more than an hour and have seen some absolutely beautiful places. We really do feel lucky to have this experience. I really have no complaints. The only thing that I could complain about is that I think I have insomnia or some kind of weird sleep disorder for the past few months, plus I get some crazy pains in my lower stomach and I cramp up a lot in the night—all the beauties of pregnancies are coming full force!  Shem mentioned something to my baby doctor (who happens to live next door) and he had a solution that fixed the problem recently! He knew right away that I was low in magnesium and calcium which fixed all the related problems! He also gave me this band to wear around my hips which supports my belly which takes away the pain I was having and the numbness that I felt in my legs.  I could hardly believe the solution was that simple! So with that, I have had more energy and been able to be out and about a lot more. Thank you doc! p.s. If you are pregnant and you have pain in your lower stomach due to, I guess muscle memory from previous births which means your muscles expand earlier on causing there to be a lack of support… get one of these bands!! I will tell you more about it if you want information.

So yes, this past week we have been out an about on a few exertions that I will let the pictures do the talking! The names… Cap Ferret, Some Random Village.. (sorry no name but they are everywhere..), Dune de Pyla, and Lacauna Beach.

Cap- Ferret is absolutely beautiful and a must see if you are hear. The first picture in this post was also taken there. The best fresh oysters are served everywhere… not that I actually know because I can not have, but that is what everyone says. There is surf and enough beach to find your own private place! It truly was stunning!

Dune de Pyla, also a 45- 55 minute drive from Bordeaux. These sand dunes are the biggest in all of Europe and have been around for 100o’s of years. You have coast on one side and forest on the other! It was fascinating and really fun! We got a little picture happy!

Tama, having a moment.

The trek to the top!

woo hooo!

Yipee!

pow pow, boom boom, punch punch, ching.

point us in the way soldier.

almost there buddy!!

One thing that is also cool about Bordeaux is the climate… it can be scarf weather one day and a beach day the next. The fall season seems to have a total variety so you never feel like you are stuck in a ‘rainy season’ or ‘it’s cold for good’. All these pictures were taken within a few days of each other. This one below was in a little village that we stopped at on a Sunday drive in the country.

ching ching!

There is a carnival that lasts a month in Bordeaux! We went with our friends/neighbors and the kids had a blast… I wish I had better pictures but here is one!

So… Halloween is ‘not’ celebrated in France… but our street has been doing it for a couple years and becoming more popular! Our neighbors threw a Halloween bash and all the kids went trick or treating before hand. It was pretty hilarious because we were basically the only ones out trick or treating but most every place gave us candy whether they were planning to or not! And if you have read about ‘French parties’ going into the wee hours of the morning while the kids play…. it seems to be quite true! The adults did not sit down to eat until 10 pm and we didn’t finish until about midnight. The kids playing the whole time amongst themselves! It was awesome.

Oh, Jenny… if you are reading this… do these costumes look familiar? We copied you and Sterling ‘last years costumes’ muwaha! Fat Grandpa.. and a very ugly lady.. grandma..thing… I guess its a good thing that our husbands can’t pull off this costume super well! Shem’s female mannerisms though.. were overly impressive- He was the only one that didn’t take off his costume the whole night… not through dinner- nothing… He wanted to live in that dress and bra as long as he could. Actually I think he put it back on the next morning to get one more glimpse in the mirror.

Fat G-pa and Zorro!

Work it Gma!

Let the trick or treating begin!

Every beach seems to have a ton of camping areas and bike paths everywhere. You can’t really see it in this picture but just a friendly travel fact!