Paris Adventure back on

Paris is back on. My little superstars are so excited they are seeing stars. The potential merger with the company based in Denver fell through so we are back to the original plan of living in Paris. Whew! What a rollercoaster...

This week has been full steam ahead. We have applied to three bilingual schools in Paris for James. We have been searching for properties and lined up temporary housing for a month or so, until our permanent housing is ready. We have started the process for opening a French bank account. Jim and I fly to Paris on Saturday so we can have a couple of days to look at apartments and houses to rent and visit some schools. James and Mary Martin will go to grandparent camp for the week. I will fly back on Thursday to collect the kids and finish the packing process. Jim will stay in Paris and start working!

I learned today the furniture will take four to six weeks to arrive after packing it up. Hello - an empty house with no beds and no toys for four to six weeks?!?!?! No, no, no. Anyone up for grandma camp for four to six weeks? Maybe fun aunt and uncle week? Any takers?

In the meantime, we are still preparing the house to sell or rent. The painters, the yard guy and one of the painter's Pomerians were all here today to do some general clean up and repairs. Total choas at home. The best part? The Pomerians' name is Booger.

So Paris is back on with a little help from our friend Booger...

Eight years

Eight years ago yesterday, I slipped on my dream wedding gown and married my dream guy. To celebrate, here are eight reasons (among many!) why I love my dream guy:

1. His infectious laugh.

2. He taught our son to hold the door for the "ladies." And yes, James says, "wait mommy, we have to hold the door for the ladies."

3. He sent me the stunning flowers you see above because we could not be together this anniversary.

4. He instituted Sunday family movie night, complete with popcorn.

5. He encourages me when I am down or scared.

6. He lets me watch Pride and Prejudice anytime it is on TV and has taken me to see Harry Connick, Jr. three times!

7. He took me to Ireland for my 30th birthday (photo above) and Italy after our wedding.

8. He gave me James and Mary Martin, and they both have his laugh.

James' 4th Birthday Party!

On Saturday, we celebrated James' 4th Birthday Party at the Southeastern Railway Museum. The "train museum" as James calls it, is a large train yard where they have over 50 train cars and engines. There is a real diesel engine that you ride in and dozens and dozens of cars and engines to crawl through and explore. Most of my pictures of James were running away from me to explore more cool stuff!

We had friends from James' old class, his new class as well as some neighbors. After we all rode on the train, we got to eat cake in a real boxcar and everyone seemed to love it. The pinata didn't open correctly, but the kids got the candy out so they didn't notice. The highlight of the event would have to be the extremely blue icing from the Thomas cake that turned everyone's mouths blue. See picture of Uncle Darrell above... Priceless. Enjoy!

Paris Adventure?

This was my first week as a housewife. A Parisian housewife in training. I spent Monday running errands to get my household back in order: cleaners, jewelry store for a new watch battery (essential), bank, car title (long story). On Tuesday I spent three glorious hours shopping like I haven't shopped in years. I had gift cards from Macy's and Ann Taylor and without children hanging on me or having to hurry home before children woke from their naps. And I was able to gloat, "I am moving to Paris and about to become a stay at home mom. I need some casual clothes but still cool enough for Paris. Can you help me?" The girl at Ann Taylor Loft "got it" immediately and helped me create some cute but casual outfits - all of which are perfectly washable should I be thrown up or spilled on.

Then off to Brooks Brothers to brag on my husband. "We are moving to Paris, where my husband got a new job. He has been business casual for years but will now need suits." The reaction, everywhere, is the same, how exciting! How fantastic! Congratulations!

And then we got a call about Denver. Yes, Denver, Colorado. I can't disclose much but lets use these words: merger... headquarters probably in Denver...

Literally, Jim told me this in the middle of the Brooks Brothers where my new friend Bob, who will totally wear pink button down shirts under suits but understood when I explained that husband probably wouldn't, was still completing my transaction.

Well what now!?!?

I won't explain all the details but information has come rapidly and often. And is likely to change again. Because the likely merger means the new company will likely be based in Denver, it make no sense to move our family to Paris for just a few months. But Jim's new company needs him now. So the plan, for now, is that Jim will commute to Paris or wherever they need him for a couple of weeks. For example he leaves for Paris tomorrow night and will stay until Thursday evening. Then he will be home for a weekend and then off to New York the next week. We totally needed the suits by the way...

And where will the rest of our little family be? Well in Atlanta for now. We will pursue selling the house in Atlanta and see where that gets us. If we sell the house quickly we might relocate to Paris, temporarily. Or Denver. Or stay in Atlanta for a few weeks and then relocate to Denver.

Or the deal may fall through and we might move to Paris after all.

So our Paris Adventure has earned a question mark at the end of it. What I know is the Jim will have a job, will continue to have a job, and his boss needs him ASAP. Good place to be, we all agree. The "details" of where we will live, where James will go to school in the fall, whether we are admitted to practice law in Colorado at all - details, just details and not likely to be resolved anytime soon. So my marching orders, for now, stay flexible for a couple of weeks and investigate selling the house. All righty then...

I do not do well without a plan. I finished the "house things" last week: the photo albums are all caught up. The baby books are complete. I was next supposed to be packing and getting the house ready to rent.

Now I will get the house ready to sell (maybe?) and start investigating schools in Denver (maybe?). I guess I can be a true housewife this week and take my girlfriends to lunch.

Photos of James' party - which we did today - to come. I have to go schedule all my lunch dates this week.

Au Revior...

Paris Adventure Day 7 - Kate's last day at work

My last day of work was this past Friday. It was a huge relief to leave all that stress behind and pass on my files. But it was also a little sad to leave all my friends from work. They did take me out for drinks and we had a great time. The kids went home with Jim so I could have one last evening with my girls - pictured above. And no, we could not manage to get all of us in the photo. I was not holding the camera - not my fault nor the fault of my margaritas. Below is the email invite that went out to attend to the going away party. Some of it is inside jokes, but I thought y'all might like to see it.

Top Ten Reasons Why Kate Should NOT Move Paris

10. HELLO! THE DOLLAR ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE....

9. ALWAYS HAVING TO CLARIFY WHETHER ONE MEANS ROME, ITALY OR ROME, GEORGIA.

8. SHE'LL NEVER GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP ON A TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT -- http://www.terminalu.com/travel-news/man-charged-with-alleged-sexual-assault-and-kicking-air-marshal-on-delta-flight/6681/

7. ONE CAN ONLY DRINK SO MANY GLASSES OF CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE BEFORE ONE REALIZES ALL THEY REALLY WANT IS A QUIZNOS SUB AND DIET COKE.

6. THEIR ARC DE TRIOMPHE IS COVERED IN WAY MORE PIGEON DOO-DOO THAN OURS... http://www.yelp.com/biz/millennium-gate-atlanta

5. SURE THE CRIME RATE IS LOWER THAN OURS BUT DIDN'T SHE SEE LA FEMME NIKITA??

4. CRAWFISH? YES. SHRIMP AND GRITS? YES. FROG LEGS? NO. SNAILS? HELL, NO!

3. WHEN IT COMES TO ARROGANCE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AIN'T GOT NOTHING ON PARISIANS.

2. CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CORRECT FRENCH PEOPLE ON THE PROPER PRONOUNCIATION OF THE TERM VOIR DIRE.

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY KATE SHOULD NOT MOVE TO PARIS??? IN ORDER TO FIND OUT, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME JOIN US FOR CHIPS AND DRINKS AT TIN LIZZY'S THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011, STARTING AT 5:30PM...

Paris Adventure: Day 6 - James turns 4!!

James turned 4 today!! This birthday was especially fun because he seemed to "get it" for the first time. He asked to open a present this morning when he woke up. It was a train, of course... Daisy - a tram engine. We are missing her friend Boco if anyone happens to see him. Like we need more trains. Then we were off to school where James had cupcakes with all the friends from his new school and his new teachers.

I picked James up early for a trip to . . . the train store, you guessed it. We were going to get a bike for James for his birthday but that doesn't exactly go well on a plane to France. Trains will though!

We had dinner at McDonalds, James' choice. When James announced McDonald's as his choice, Mary Martin sang out, "E I E I O." She loves signing these days. After dinner we went back to the house for another cupcake and more presents. A few pictures to enjoy are attached. Love those 4 year old smiles!!

In Paris news, we are getting our health insurance set up through Jim's new company. It will be effective April 1, so we won't have a gap in coverage. Hooray for not having to purchase COBRA for a month! For us to purchase COBRA for our little family for one month was around
$2300.00 - and that was just medical coverage, not dental or vision. The new coverage covers us in France and at home. One thing off the massive list of things to do!

Paris Adventure: Day 4

OK so I sent an email to the casting people for House Hunters International. We will see if they want to talk to us. The website specifically mentioned buying overseas and since we are only renting, that might knock us out. But I have seen people looking for places to rent on that show. You had to submit a photo with your email describing your upcoming move. I attached three pictures, including our Halloween shot that made the Christmas Cards - which I am attaching to this post. Thought this might make the casting people think we were fun. They might think it is just sad.

No real Paris news today. Jim is working late and I am preparing for a long day in court tomorrow. I am watching a Defendant's interview - fun times. Countdown to leaving my office: 3 more work days. My girlfriends at work are taking me out for drinks on Friday and did a Top Ten list to invite others to come to have drinks with us. I will save that for tomorrow...

Top Ten Reasons Kate should NOT go to Paris...

Paris Adventure: Days 2 and 3

Day 2 of our Paris Adventure and we didn't do anything, um, to get us ready to go. We did go out to Aunt Kelly's house to let the cousins play. The pictures are from our afternoon at Aunt Kelly's. What did we do? Maddie, Mary Martin, Coach Day and Jim all napped. Kelly and I and the boys - not so much... The boys had king cake, put together puzzles and played TRAINS, of course. The cutest part was when we got to Kelly's, James ran inside and immediately found Spencer. Then he yelled, "Spencer! I missed you!"

Day 3 was a work day but Jim did return his signed letter of intent so we are official! Also, Jim and I have begun the debate over whether to live in the city or out in the suburbs. City = smaller apartment but in the heart of the action. Suburbs = bigger apartment and maybe an extra bathroom. We are taking all comments and advice...

Also anyone have thoughts on whether we should go on House Hunters International with our apartment quest? I am a little afraid of seeing myself for the next 10 years every now and again on TV. That is scary. Besides you all know Jim and I can be goofy. Why would I want that preserved for all eternity?

Paris Adventure: Day 1

We are moving to France! Holy cow! The Thorntons are moving to Paris.

I will document our adventure here and post pictures often.

Jim got his revised offer letter today so we will count today as Day 1. Today we took the kids to the post office to get their passports. We tried to accomplish this last weekend but did not have an appointment. Yes, you need an appointment these days to get a passport, at least at the post office. Who knew? And, for children, both parents need to be present with the requisite ID. Applications can be filled out online but you still need the photos with exact measurements. It probably took the same amount of time to get the photos we needed as it took at the post office.

That behind us, we headed to the train store, i.e. the toy store, to get a birthday present for a party next weekend and then lunch. For lunch we had Mexican and then home for naps. Well, Jim and Mary Martin napped. James "rested" but did not nap. We are sadly approaching the end of James' naps, I fear.

I forgot to take the camera to the post office, but here are a couple of recent pictures of the kids from our snow days and spaghetti dinner...